Thursday, 8 Sep 2022

Rail Network

Questions (258)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

258. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport the ring-fenced funding that he has made available since taking office for low-cost actions that would improve speeds on the slowest rails lines in the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43417/22]

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Written answers

Minister for Transport

As the Deputy may be aware, the Infrastructure Manager Multi-Annual Contract (IMMAC) provides the funding framework for the protection and renewal of our railway infrastructure. Works under the IMMAC include such actions referenced by the Deputy.

This is the third year of the current five-year IMMAC programme, as approved by Government in 2020, and over the five years of the programme in excess of €1.1 billion in Exchequer funding will be made available to support under the contract. As well as improving track speeds and journey times, this funding will increase service reliability and punctuality and ensure continued safety of rail services across the rail network.

Driver Licences

Questions (259)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

259. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Transport the assistance that is available in the Dublin 9 and 11 region to assist young people in obtaining their driving licence which will help them to gain employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43459/22]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Transport

Irish driver licensing law operates within a framework of EU law. It is important to remember that driver licensing law aims to protect public safety and to ensure that people licensed to drive on our roads have reached certain recognised standards.

To obtain a driving licence, a person must apply for a learner permit, take at least 12 Essential Driver Training (EDT) lessons and pass a driving test. A first-time learner permit costs €35 and is valid for two years. A driving test for category B (car) costs €85. A driving licence costs €55 and is generally valid for 10 years. Driving lessons are provided by private individuals and companies and my department does not set the costs for lessons. The State fees for driving tests and driving licence applications have not been increased since 2011 and 2013 respectively.

In addition, the Road Safety Authority on their website (www.rsa.ie/services/learner-drivers/resources) has a number of resources available to assist learner drivers.

Question No. 260 answered with Question No. 188.

Bus Services

Questions (261)

Niall Collins

Question:

261. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Transport when the Bus Éireann 314 service from Foynes to Limerick will have an increased frequency in view of the recent announcement in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43469/22]

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Written answers

Minister for Transport

As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport.

The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally and for the scheduling of those services.

In light of the NTA's responsibility in this area, I have forwarded the Deputy's specific question in relation to the frequency and capacity of public transport services to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.

A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 51

Local Authorities

Questions (262)

Fergus O'Dowd

Question:

262. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport the details on the total amounts of moneys awarded to Louth County Council by his Department in each of the years 2016 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form; if he will seek details on the total moneys drawn down and spent by Louth County Council over the same years, in tabular form, and, if not spent, the total moneys that were returned to his Department over the same years, respectively, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43530/22]

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Written answers

Minister for Transport

Deputy, in response to your query on the total amounts of monies awarded to Louth County Council, my Department has invested funds in the following areas, in the period 2016 to 2022 inclusive; National Roads, Regional and Local Roads, EV Infrastructure and Active Travel Infrastructure. Where appropriate, the funds are set out in tabular format.

Road Networks

In relation to national roads, as Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme. Once funding arrangements have been put in place with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 and in line with the National Development Plan (NDP), the planning, design and construction of individual national roads is a matter for TII, in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. This is also subject to the Public Spending Code and the necessary statutory approvals. In this context, TII is best placed to advise on funding in Co. Louth. Noting the above position, I have referred your question, on this occasion, to TII for a direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.

With reference to regional and local roads, the improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from Councils' own resources supplemented by State Road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the local authority.

As regards the regional and local road grant funding allocated to Louth County Council in each of the years 2016 to 2022, details of the regional and local road grant allocations to local authorities are outlined in the regional and local road allocations booklets which are available in the Oireachtas Library. The funding drawn down by Louth County Council in each of the years 2016 to 2021 is reflected in the regional and local road payments booklets which are also available in the Oireachtas Library. To date in 2022, Louth County Council has drawn down €1,107,872.

EV Infrastructure

In 2021 €82,463 was awarded to Louth County Council to install 20 EV charge points.

Active Travel

Please see below in tabular format the Active Travel grants awarded to Louth Co. Council, the amount spent and the amount returned.

YEAR	€ AWARDED	€ SPENT	€ RETURNED
YEAR	€ AWARDED	€ SPENT	€ RETURNED
2016	-	-	-
2017	-	-	-
2018	€3,000	€3,000	0
2019	€30,283	€25,111	€5,172
2020	€641,069	€585,193	€55,876
2021	€4,662,795	€1,788,045	€2,874,750
2022 To Date	€6,786,301	€1,515,374	€5,270,927

As well as the long-established investment in our road network, I am pleased to see that the type and range of funding extended to Louth County Council in recent years is reflective of Government policies concerning EV Infrastructure and Active Travel. Compared to the scale of investment in roads over the decades, both programmes are still in their infancy. This has led to some Active Travel underspends as Councils gear up both resources and approved projects to invest the grants awarded. As the programmes mature and the investment is maintained, in line with the commitments under the NDP 2021-2030, I am confident that Louth will reap very positive dividends from sustained investment in the coming years.

It is vital that we provide alternatives to the private car, particularly in all urban areas, of all sizes, for people who only plan to travel short distances, when cars are typically used more from habit than necessity. A high-quality active travel network is one of the fastest ways that we can reduce carbon consumption as well as provide a financially more economical alternative to driving. When the private car is required, for longer distances, a comprehensive EV network will be required to support the future state, where EVs are the dominant car on our roads and ICE vehicles are rendered functionally obsolete. My Department's policies and funding will assist Louth Co. Council in meeting these objectives.

I have contacted all Local Authorities personally in recent weeks to encourage them to drawdown the funding allocated to them by my Department in 2022 to fully benefit the citizen.

Transport Costs

Questions (263)

Brendan Howlin

Question:

263. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 240 of 17 May 2022, if he will ensure that all companies providing transport for students to college are covered by the fare reductions in relation to ensuring parity of treatment for all third level students paying transport fees to access their places of study; if he will set out his intentions in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43536/22]

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Written answers

Minister for Transport

Written answers

Minister for Transport

I propose to take Questions Nos. 268 and 269 together.

As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the planning and development of certain public transport infrastructure, including procurement of the PSO bus fleet.

Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.

A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 51

Question No. 269 answered with Question No. 268.

National Car Test

Questions (270)

John Lahart

Question:

270. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Transport the status of NCT certificate cover for persons (details supplied) in the event of being stopped by An Garda Síochána. [43658/22]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Transport

The operation of the National Car Testing Service (NCTS) is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and I have no role in individual cases.

However, I am very aware of the challenges that the RSA and the NCTS are currently facing to meet demand and the delays which vehicle owners have encountered since the start of this year. This is a serious matter and my department will continue to monitor the RSA's progress in reducing test delays, as part of ongoing corporate governance processes, as well as supporting any appropriate requests from the RSA for assistance.

I understand that the RSA has made An Garda Síochána aware that some vehicle owners have had issues securing an appointment. However, vehicle owners and drivers are reminded that they are legally required to ensure their vehicles are in a roadworthy condition at all times. It remains a penal offence under Section 18 of the Road Traffic Act, 1961 to drive a vehicle in a public place without having at that time a valid certificate of roadworthiness in force against it and as with all road traffic legislation, enforcement of this requirement continues to be a matter for An Garda Síochána.

Vehicle owners seeking test appointments may contact the NCTS directly by calling 01-4135992 or may avail of the priority waiting list function via the NCT website www.ncts.ie. In the vast majority of cases, these vehicle owners are provided with an appointment within 30 days.

National Car Test

Questions (271)

Jim O'Callaghan

Question:

271. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Transport the reason that there remains an inordinate delay for drivers seeking to book a national car test; the steps that he will take to reduce these delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43691/22]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Transport

The operation of the National Car Testing Service (NCTS) is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority (RSA). I have therefore referred the question to the Authority for direct reply.

I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.

However, I am very aware of the challenges that the RSA and the NCTS are currently facing to meet demand and the delays which vehicle owners have encountered since the start of this year. This is a serious matter and my department will continue to monitor the RSA's progress in reducing test delays, as part of ongoing corporate governance processes, as well as supporting any appropriate requests from the RSA for assistance.

I am also given to understand that customers seeking test appointments may contact the NCTS directly, by calling 01-4135992, or may avail of the priority waiting list function via the NCT website www.ncts.ie. In the vast majority of cases, these vehicle owners are provided with an appointment within 30 days.

A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 51

Transport Costs

Questions (272)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

272. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport if he will extend the young adult travel card to 24-year-olds. [43769/22]

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Written answers

Minister for Transport

In recognition of the importance of incentivising young people to use public transport, as part of Budget 2022 I secured €25m of funding to provide for the introduction of a young adult card (YAC) which will allow any person nationwide who is between 19 and 23 years old, to avail of an entitlement for discounted travel costs, and to increase the level of discount over and above the current student discount to an average of discount of 50% across all services, including city, intercity and rural services. The YAC was introduced on PSO services on the 9th of May and then extended to participating commercial bus operators on the 5th of September. This will not only promote modal shift in the transport sector among this age group but should also contribute towards a reduced reliance on private transport with associated benefit of transport emission savings.

The YAC and other fare initiatives will form part of my discussions with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in the context of Budget 2023 negotiations.

Questions (276)

Holly Cairns

Question:

276. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport the steps he is taking to provide grants for persons and families who require wheelchair accessible or special adapted vehicles. [43917/22]

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Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Transport

The provision of funding for disabled vehicle adaptation does not fall under my remit as Minister of State for Transport.

The Deputy may wish to address this query to my colleagues, the Minister for Finance, who oversees the operation of the Disabled Drivers and Passengers tax relief scheme, and the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, who is responsible for disability matters more generally.

Public Transport

Questions (277)

Holly Cairns

Question:

277. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport the steps he is taking to ensure that persons with guide dogs or assistance dogs are accommodated on all public transport, including taxis. [43918/22]

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Written answers

Minister for Transport

Under the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008, the National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the day-to-day operations and promoting the development of an integrated, accessible public transport network, which includes carriage of guide dogs or assistance dogs.

In light of the NTA's responsibilities in this matter, I have forwarded your questions to the NTA for direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.

A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 51