Written Answers Nos. 71-101
71. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Transport if he will examine the booking facilities old age pensioners currently have to use in order to travel (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55843/22]
View answerAs 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 operation of public transport services. I understand that the Deputy's question regarding booking facilities is in relation to a commercially operated bus service. As such, any queries in relation to the company's booking practices should be directed to the operator.
72. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport if he will ensure there is a fully integrated, fully accessible transport system across the country, including a door-to-door service and that this would be covered by the free transport scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55023/22]
View answerAs Minister for Transport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to (open) public transport.
I am fully committed to strengthening our public transport offerings and progressively making them accessible for all, especially for disabled people, persons with disabilities, persons with reduced mobility and older people.
However, I must emphasise to the Deputy that specialised non-public (closed) door-to-door services do not fall under my aegis. Dedicated transport services, for example disability type transport services, fall outside of the remit of my Department and its agencies. For further information, the Free travel Scheme comes under the remit of the Minister for Social Protection, and can be used on all PSO funded services and commercial bus services who have opted into the scheme.
73. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport his plans to continue the work ongoing on the western rail corridor connecting Foynes to Westport, Ballina and Sligo; the progress made to date in upgrading these lines for both passenger and freight; the reason for the delay in progressing construction, particularly on the sections of the lines closed at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55044/22]
View answerAs Minister of Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding of public transport. The operation, maintenance and renewal of the rail network, including closed and disused lines, is a matter for Iarnród Éireann in the first instance.
In relation to the development of the Western Rail Corridor, as the Deputy may be aware, a financial and economic appraisal of the proposed reopening of this line was commissioned by Iarnród Éireann and conducted by EY economic consultants. This appraisal was published early last year and is available to view at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/1174d-review-of-western-rail-corridor-phases-2-and-3-athenry-to-claremorris/
The appraisal was subject to an independent review commissioned by my Department and conducted by JASPERS, an agency of the EU/EIB, and that review is also available to view at the above link.
The ongoing Strategic Rail Review, which is being undertaken in co-operation with the Department for Infrastructure (in Northern Ireland, will inform the development of inter-urban/inter-regional rail on the Island of Ireland over the coming decades. It will establish the long-term strategic backdrop to rail investment in our regions and on our mainline network that the JASPERS review noted was lacking.
This type of strategic analysis informs our consideration of specific projects and in that regard, the Review will consider the potential scope for improved rail services along various existing and potential future corridors of the network. That scope includes the potential afforded by disused and closed lines for both passenger and freight services, such as sections of the Western Rail Corridor.
I expect to receive an analysis from the Review later this year.
75. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Transport his plans to extend youth fare reductions to commercial operators. [55402/22]
View answerAs 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 responsibility for the regulation of fares charged to passengers in respect of public transport services provided under public service obligation (PSO) contracts. The Young Adult Card (YAC) was initially introduced on PSO services in May. Following extensive engagement between my Department, the NTA, and representatives from the commercial bus sector the initiative was broadened to include participating Commercial Bus Operators (CBOs) on the 4th of September. As a result, holders of a YAC or Student Leap Card can now avail of the 50% fare discount on both PSO and CBO services.
76. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide an update on the Connecting Ireland rural mobility plan for County Meath; if he intends to accelerate the roll-out of the plan, given the lack of public transport options in rural Ireland and the need to accelerate the reduction in emissions from the transport sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55356/22]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally. The NTA also has national responsibility for integrated local and rural transport, including delivering the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan, which is a major national public transport initiative with the aim of increasing public transport connectivity, particularly for people living outside the major cities and towns.
In light of the NTA's responsibilities for the rollout of services under the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan, including in County Meath, I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
77. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport if he will extend the 20% fare reduction to commercial bus operators; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55359/22]
View answerAs 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 responsibility for the regulation of fares charged to passengers in respect of public transport services provided under public service obligation (PSO) contracts.
Commercial bus and coach operators are an integral part of the overall public transport system in Ireland. The Government has continued to provide temporary financial supports throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, with a view to protecting capacity across the public transport sector throughout the crisis.
The 20% fare-reduction initiative was introduced as part of a suite of Government measures to help combat the rising cost of living. The fare reduction was rolled out to all Public Service Obligation (PSO) services outside the Greater Dublin Area from the 11th of April and nationwide from the 9th of May. These discounted fares will benefit the hundreds of thousands of people across the country who use PSO public transport every day in 2022. The fare reduction is funded until the end of this year; however, the funding allocation does not include an extension of the scheme to commercial operators.
Unlike with PSO services, the National Transport Authority (NTA) do not set, monitor or regulate fares on services run by commercial operator, which are set by the individual operators.
While it is not currently intended to include the commercial operators as part of the 20% average fare initiative, it should be noted that the Young Adult Card which was initially introduced on PSO services on the 9th of May was extended to participating commercial bus operators on the 4th of September.
78. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport the up-to-date position regarding the construction of the south Kerry greenway; when he expects works to commence; if the necessary finance is in place to meet the costs of the project; if he will provide an anticipated timeline for completion of the project; if any phases of the project can be completed at an earlier date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55842/22]
View answerMy Department provides significant funding for Greenway projects, with €50 million allocated in 2021 and €60 million in 2022. This funding is being used to progress existing projects such as the South Kerry Greenway as well as assisting with the development of new projects. €1.7 million has been allocated to progress the South Kerry Greenway in 2022.
As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to Greenways. The planning, design and construction of individual Greenways is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), who became the Approving Authority for Greenway projects in September 2021, in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. In this context, TII is best placed to advise you in relation to the construction contract for this project.
Noting the above position, I have referred your question to TII for a direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
79. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport if he has been assured that road, footpath and boundary realignments arising from the electrification of the north Kildare rail routes will be minimised to ensure the least impact on the existing population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55815/22]
View answer185. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport the progress towards the extension of DART services to Maynooth, County Kildare and further afield in north Kildare to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56044/22]
View answer186. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport if he will ensure that realignment of roads and bridges in the context of the extension and-or electrification of rail services throughout north Kildare does not involve disadvantaging local communities, and that road and bridge realignments outstanding for many years are satisfactorily dealt with in the course of programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56045/22]
View answer187. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport the extent to which he expects commuter rail passenger numbers to increase when the lines are upgraded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56046/22]
View answer189. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport the extent to which the electrification of the Maynooth railway line is progressing; the extent to which timetables are being met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56048/22]
View answer190. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport the degree to which progress towards the electrification of the Dublin-Maynooth railway line continues at pace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56049/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 79, 185 to 187, inclusive, 189 and 190 together.
As the Deputy may be aware, both DART+ West and DART+ South West are elements of the DART+ Programme. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area, including, in consultation with Iarnród Éireann, the planning and implementation of the DART+ Programme.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in this matter and the specific issues raised by the Deputy, I have referred the Deputy's questions to the NTA for a more detailed reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
80. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Transport the reason the Government refused to financially support the City of Derry Airport for over ten years, even though 40% of the passengers that use the airport are from County Donegal; and if he is aware of the serious additional financial strain placed on the rate payers of Derry city and Strabane District Council due to this ongoing refusal. [55768/22]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware the Regional Airports Programme provides Exchequer support to airports that deliver international connectivity and handle fewer than 1 million annual passengers. The primary aim of the Programme is to target funding, which is limited, at Ireland’s smallest airports so that they can maintain compliance in the areas of safety and security in line with EU rules on State aid. Eligible airports facilitate connectivity to the regions, including the North-West via Donegal Airport.
While it is acknowledged that City of Derry Airport (CODA) also has a role in helping to facilitate connectivity to the North-West region, extending the scope and cost of the RAP to include CODA has not been an option in the context of securing efficiencies and reducing demands on the Exchequer. Other Irish airports have also sought inclusion under the RAP but there has been limited capacity for widening the field of supports.
Whilst not eligible for funding from the Irish Exchequer, it is acknowledged that CODA, which is owned by Derry City & Strabane District Council, is in receipt of funding from that Council and has received funding from the Northern Ireland Executive and the Department for Transport (UK), including most recently a €3 million grant to CODA announced by the Northern Ireland Executive in March.
I can advise the Deputy that I met with a delegation including management of the airport on 8th November and informed them of this position.
81. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Transport the funding provided under budget 2023 for the N2 Clontibret to the Border road scheme. [55403/22]
View answerAs 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.
The 2023 allocations for national roads will be announced in December. These allocations will be made having regard for the NDP, and all national roads projects included in the Plan will be considered in terms of the overall funding envelope available to TII. This includes the N2 Clontibret to the Border project.
In this context, TII is best placed to advise on the current status of the N2 Clontibret to the Border road scheme. 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.
82. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Transport his plans to allocate additional capacity to PSO bus routes in east Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55744/22]
View answerAs 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 and timetabling of these services in conjunction with the relevant transport operators.
In light of the Authority's responsibility in this area, I have forwarded the Deputy's specific question in relation to additional capacity to PSO bus routes in east Cork, to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
83. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he will introduce in 2023 a funding stream for the local improvement scheme, as existed in his Department's Estimates up to 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55861/22]
View answerThe 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 local authorities' 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. The maintenance of roads not taken in charge by local authorities is the responsibility of the relevant landowners.
The Local Government Act 2001 provides the statutory basis for the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS). Under that scheme, funding can be provided to local authorities for the construction and improvement of non-public roads (that is roads not taken in charge by local authorities) which meet the criteria set out in the Act.
Up to 2012 this Department did provide ring-fenced funding for this scheme. However, due to the major cutbacks in roads funding arising from the post-2008 financial crisis, it was necessary for the Department to stop providing dedicated funding for LIS in 2012 and there was no funding for LIS in that year.
After that from 2013 to 2017, while there was no separate allocation for the Local Improvement Scheme, local authorities could use a proportion of their Discretionary Grant for the Local Improvement Scheme if they chose to do so. The reason this approach was taken was that it was considered that Councils were best placed to decide whether to concentrate the limited grant funding available on public roads or to operate a local improvement scheme for non-public roads.
In September 2017, the Minister for Rural and Community development reintroduced dedicated funding for the LIS and is continuing to fund the scheme. In light of the significant funding being put into LIS by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the need to direct resources into maintaining and renewing public roads, it was decided that the option of allocating a proportion of the Department's Discretionary Grant to LIS would no longer apply from 2018. This remains the position.
84. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he has any plans to consolidate public transport ticketing in one monthly ticket, such as the €49 monthly ticket scheme for all regional public transport in Germany, announced in November 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55763/22]
View answerAs 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 responsibility for the regulation of fares charged to passengers in respect of public transport services provided under public service obligation (PSO) contracts.
In light of the Authority's responsibility in this area, I have forwarded the Deputy's specific question in relation to the possible consolidation of public transport ticketing in one monthly ticket, to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
85. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding the Cork metropolitan area transport strategy rail projects in Cork city and county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55745/22]
View answerI thank the Deputy for his question.
The Cork Area Commuter Rail Programme is a key element of the Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy. The programme aims to deliver a transformational enhancement of the commuter rail system in Cork to improve the attractiveness of rail, support compact urban growth, encourage and enable modal shift to public transport, and reduce congestion and emissions.
The Cork Area Commuter Rail Programme comprises a number of separate but interrelated projects that aim to deliver:
- The integration of the three existing railway corridors in the Cork area, which arrive in the city at Kent Station, providing a high-frequency north-east connection through the city;
- Full electrification, or alternative fuelling, of the suburban rail network;
- Other infrastructure improvements required to accommodate a transformative 10-minute frequency (from current 30-minute frequency) for the suburban rail network in Cork;
- Additional rolling stock to be introduced to meet existing and future demand;
- A multi-modal integrated transport hub for the city at Kent Station to promote modal shift from the private car and enhance attractiveness of the city docklands regeneration and development; and
- New stations at prime regeneration sites, park and ride interchange points and new development areas.
Work is already underway on aspects of this overall programme, with a Strategic Assessment Report, the first formal decision point under the Public Spending Code, now submitted to the Department of Transport for approval, and initial design development work ongoing.
The Government’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan 2021 includes European funding of initial parts of the overall programme, which have been prioritised for progress, as follows:
(i) Re-signalling of the lines to facilitate the subsequent electrified service;
(ii) The creation of an additional through-running line, with an additional platform at Kent Station; and
(iii) Double tracking the current single line between Glounthaune and Midleton.
A planning application has been submitted to Cork City Council seeking planning consent for the additional platform at Kent Station. Subject to consent being received, construction of this element of the programme will commence next year. Separately, the tender process for the re-signalling project has commenced. Subject to market response, the detailed design phase is expected to commence next year.
Following a four-week non-statutory public consultation on the preferred option for double tracking the current single line between Glounthaune and Midleton, project plans have been finalised and Iarnród Éireann will lodge an application to An Bord Pleanála for a Railway Order for the construction of a second rail line along the 10km section of track between Glounthaune and Midleton in Co. Cork. The Railway Order application will be lodged later this month. An 8-week statutory public consultation period will follow.
86. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Transport the progress made by the steering group to advance the flood mitigation works at Ballycar; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55751/22]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, I met with Minister O'Donovan in January where no agreement was reached about which agency would lead on the mitigation works or where funding would come from. At this meeting the OPW Chair advised he would reconvene the steering group behind a December 2020 report on Ballycar to continue discussions. The steering group in question includes Iarnród Éireann, the OPW, Clare County Council and the Geological Survey Ireland.
From official engagement with IÉ, however, I do not believe the steering group was ever reconvened by OPW.
Officials in my Department are now engaging with officials in the OPW to find out what actions have been taken on this project since January and what are planned. I can provide the Deputy with an update in the near future if he wishes to follow up.
88. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport his plans regarding the chronic problems with delays and no shows (details supplied) on routes across the city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55024/22]
View answerAs 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 and timetabling of these services in conjunction with the relevant transport operators.
The performance of all public transport operators is monitored by the NTA as part of the contractual arrangements in place between it and the operators.
Many operators in the sector are experiencing difficulties with staffing difficulties both as a result of COVID-19 related absences and also difficulties in recruiting new drivers. These issues are found across all types of operators – public and private; however, it is also the case that Go-Ahead Ireland is experiencing higher than normal levels of Covid-related staff absences at present resulting in a knock-on effect on service delivery with some services not operating as scheduled.
The NTA is working with operators to try and mitigate the impacts through –
- Recruitment campaigns in recent months with significant numbers of additional drivers expected once required training and tests are completed and licenses issued by the RSA;
- NTA engagement with the RSA to try and expedite the testing and licence process for new bus drivers; and
- NTA working with operators to minimise service cancellations, ensure first- and last- service buses operate and on low-frequency routes to avoid, where possible, the cancellation of consecutive low frequency services.
Further, as part of the NTA’s contractual performance monitoring system with operators, issues of poor reliability and punctuality performance can result in financial penalties for those operators, such as Go-Ahead Ireland. Payment deductions for poor operating performance were applied to Go-Ahead Ireland for Q4 2021 and Q1 2022, amounting to €266,968 and €209,188 respectively.
Operators are forecasting significant improvements in reliability in the coming months, dependent on successful recruitment and retention of critical staff, in particular drivers. It is hoped that this will resolve the reliability issues currently being experienced.
