Written Answers Nos. 260-278
260. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Transport if he will outline plans for the further development of the rail network over the next five years; if his Department intends to increase investment in new stations and routes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16828/23]
View answerThe Deputy may be aware that plans for the further development of the rail network in and around the State’s five major cities are set out in their respective metropolitan area transport strategies. These strategies each provide a twenty year horizon for potential investment and are reviewed every six years, with that of the Greater Dublin Area the most recently reviewed and a revised strategy published earlier this year. A further strategic consideration is the Government's Climate Action Plan 2023 which, among a suite of policy measures, targets growth in the national market (or mode) share of public transport, of which rail is a part, from circa 8% at present to 19% by 2030.
Moreover, for the inter-urban rail network, in cooperation with the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland, I have commissioned an All-Island Strategic Rail Review. This Review will inform policy and future strategy for the railways in both jurisdictions. The Review is now at an advanced stage and I look forward to its finalisation and ultimate publication.
Within and related to these strategic frameworks, there is a wide range of activity occurring across the rail network, designed to improve rail services for passengers.
In terms of the rail fleet, this year will see the introduction of 41 new additional carriages into passenger service, while a total of 185 carriages have also been ordered as part of the DART+ programme. The first of those DART+ carriages will arrive next year for testing and commissioning, before entering service in 2025.
Exchequer funding has been allocated for the redevelopment of Ceannt Station in Galway as well as track and station improvements at Oranmore, with both projects scheduled to be completed by 2025. In Cork, Phase 1 of the Cork Commuter Rail Programme, largely funded through the EU's National Recovery and Resilience Plan, is to be completed by end-2026. This will facilitate more commuter rail services in the Cork area and the longer-term electrification of this network. In Waterford Plunkett station will be relocated as part of the wider North Quays redevelopment which has recently commenced construction.
Focusing on commuter rail stations, Kishogue station in West Dublin is due to open in December 2023, and Woodbrook station near Shankill on the DART line will open by the end of 2024. A proposed new station at Moyross in Limerick is also at detailed design stage.
Furthermore, the high levels of exchequer investment in protection and renewal of the rail network will continue to deliver safety and service improvements, as evidenced by the ongoing track works on the Dublin-Cork mainline, the improvements already delivered on the Ballybrophy Line, the rehabilitation works underway to restore the Foynes Line for freight traffic and coastal protection works being undertaken along the Wicklow coast.
Finally, there are a number of very significant rail programmes currently in the planning system, with applications for Railway Orders with An Bord Pleanála in relation to DART+ West, DART+ South West and the Cork Commuter Rail Programme. Subject to receipt of permission, works will also commence on these projects over the next few years.
All of this represents a major level of investment and activity in the rail network, and I look forward to seeing considerable rail service improvements over the next five years.
261. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the estimated cost of installing an electronic timetable with real time arrival times at bus stops that currently only have a sign; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16909/23]
View answer262. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the estimated cost of installing a roofed shelter at bus stops that currently only have a sign; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16910/23]
View answer271. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the process for applying for two types of bus stop (details supplied) for a particular bus stop; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16911/23]
View answer272. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport his Department’s and Dublin Bus’s plans to install two types of bus stop (details supplied) across the city and county over the coming year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16912/23]
View answer273. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he and Dublin Bus will consider installing two types of bus stop (details supplied) at Stop 2380, Cork Street, Ardee Street, servicing routes towards Dublin city, in the same fashion as the stop directly opposite going the opposite direction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16913/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 261, 262, 271, 272 and 273 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 public transport infrastructure, including the provision of bus stops, bus shelters and real time signage.
Noting their responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's questions to the NTA for a direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
263. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport if there is evidence that changing to E10 fuel can cause damage to pre-2011 cars and motorcycles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18310/23]
View answerI published the Renewable Fuels for Transport Policy Statement 2021-2023 in November 2021 which signalled the move to E10 as the standard grade of petrol in Ireland by 2023. Following a 28 day statutory consultation period on the draft Regulations and consideration of responses and stakeholder feedback, I made these regulations which will be kept under review within the context of the development and implementation of the Renewable Transport Fuel Policy.
The move to E10 is one of several transport measures to achieve a 50% reduction in transport emissions by 2030 - a projected 1.08 MtCO2eq abatement in greenhouse gas emissions. This will be achieved through increasing biofuel blending to E10 (10% Ethanol) and B20 (20% Biodiesel equivalent) as set out in Climate Action Plan 2023, with an interim target of E10/B12 by 2025. In 2022, approximately 307m litres (9.6 PJ) of biofuel was placed on the market.
Moving to E10 will bring an immediate climate-change mitigation measure within the existing vehicle fleet. Since 2009, E10 petrol as standard has been rolled out across 15 European countries as well as the US and Australia. The new regulations will also ensure Ireland’s petrol supply will now align with the standard petrol supplied in Northern Ireland since last year, and in Great Britain since 2021.
All vehicles can operate on an E10 petrol blend, and it is safe to do so. In some older vehicles pre-2011 (predominantly pre-2003) sustained use may result in more frequent maintenance, for example of engine seals and hoses, but it does not mean that they cannot use E10.
In countries where E10 and higher ethanol blends have been used widely for years there is no evidence of issues. Further information concerning individual vehicle types can be obtained in operating manuals, information on vehicle’s manufacturer websites, or inside the fuel cap (on newer vehicles). All vehicle owners and operators are required to maintain their vehicles to operating and roadworthy standards.
The annually declining number of petrol cars along with the increased uptake of zero-emission vehicles, such as EVs, is likely to reduce the number of affected older vehicles even further over the coming decade. As Ireland’s vehicle fleet is predominantly diesel (c.63% at end 2022) with approximately 1 million petrol vehicles, there is a very low level of older vehicles (c.2.4% which includes vintage) that are pre-2011 (predominantly pre-2003/pre EURO V standard).
To ensure public awareness of the move to E10 petrol, my Department is running a public information campaign, through advertising at forecourts, print, radio, digital and social platforms. The gov.ie/E10 information website which was set up last year is the main point of reference for further information on the move to E10 and will continue to be over the course of the campaign.
264. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if he will set out the mandatory accessibility requirements and or the provisions set in statute in respect of accessibility standards for public transport and public infrastructure projects, to include the planning, design and construction of cycle lanes, bus islands, pedestrian cross walks, pedestrian footpaths and pedestrian shared spaces. [16451/23]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding for public transport and active travel. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for developing an accessible, integrated and sustainable transport network.
In light of the NTA's responsibilities for progressively making public transport and active travel infrastructure accessible, including in relation to cycle lanes, bus islands, pedestrian cross walks, pedestrian footpaths, and pedestrian shared spaces, I have forwarded your question to the NTA for direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
265. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Transport if he will set out the current system for surveying and registering of Irish charter vessels and the conditions that they can operate under once receiving the necessary accreditation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16707/23]
View answerThe operation of charter yachts is a commercial activity. The regulation of commercial vessels is regulated internationally by the International Maritime Organization by means of a number of Conventions addressing vessel safety, environmental performance and the training of seafarers. The International Conventions are mainly addressed to large internationally trading vessels. If a charter yacht is large and falls within the size parameters of these Conventions then they must comply with their requirements. It should be noted that the International Conventions only apply to vessels on international voyages and do not apply to domestic voyages. In such cases the relevant host state, port state and local authority of the state where the vessel is operating will set out the relevant requirements. Smaller charter yachts which are outside the size parameters for these Conventions are regulated by the relevant authority of the State in which they operate. There is no international or EU harmonisation of the standards for such vessels and each host state and port sets their own requirements. This means that a small commercial charter yacht operating domestically within the waters of an EU member state must comply with the requirements of the authority of that state which will issue the relevant authorisations. A flag state may not set the safety standards in the waters of a port or host state.
Registration of vessels in Ireland is regulated under the Mercantile Marine Act, 1955. Nationality requirements apply to prospective registered owners and this currently includes Irish, EU and UK citizens and body corporate. Applicants must contact a Registrar of Shipping at their chosen port of registry in relation to satisfying the registration requirements and the application process also requires a tonnage measurement survey, which is carried out by the Marine Survey Office.
In Ireland commercial charter yachts are required to comply with the applicable Irish merchant shipping and sea pollution Acts and relevant EU legislation. However, Ireland does not authorise the operation of commercial charter yachts outside the state and any yacht seeking to operate in the internal waters of another State must comply with the laws of that State. Consequently, it is not possible to provide for a system which would allow Irish registered commercial charter yachts to operate in the waters of another EU state.
266. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Transport if he will review the current Irish vessel charter system and give consideration following Brexit to allowing third country and, especially, previously British registered sea charter vessels registered in Ireland, for use in European countries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16708/23]
View answerThe operation of charter yachts is a commercial activity. The regulation of commercial vessels is regulated internationally by the International Maritime Organization by means of a number of Conventions addressing the safety, environmental performance and training of seafarers. The International Conventions are mainly addressed to large internationally trading vessels. If a charter yacht is large and falls within the size parameters of these Conventions then they must comply with their requirements. It should be noted that the International Conventions only apply to vessels on international voyages and do not apply to domestic voyages. In such cases the relevant port state and local authority of the state where the vessel is operating will set out the relevant requirements. Smaller charter yachts which are outside the size parameters for these Conventions are regulated by the relevant authority of the State in which they operate. There is no international or EU harmonisation of the standards for such vessels and each host state sets their own requirements. This means that a small commercial charter yacht operating domestically within the waters of an EU member state must comply with the requirements of the authority of that state which will issue the relevant authorisations. A flag state may not set the safety standards in the waters of a port or host state.
Registration of vessels in Ireland is regulated under the Mercantile Marine Act, 1955. Nationality requirements apply to prospective registered owners and this currently includes Irish, EU and UK citizens and body corporate. Applicants must contact a Registrar of Shipping at their chosen port of registry in relation to satisfying the registration requirements and the application process also requires a tonnage measurement survey, which is carried out by the Marine Survey Office.
In Ireland commercial charter yachts are required to comply with the applicable Irish merchant shipping and sea pollution Acts and relevant EU legislation. However, Ireland does not authorise the operation of commercial charter yachts outside the state and any yacht seeking to operate in the internal waters of another State must comply with the laws of that State. Consequently, it is not possible to provide for a system which would allow Irish registered commercial charter yachts to operate in the waters of another EU state.
267. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport if, given the NCT waiting lists can be up to five months, he will consider extending all of this year’s NCT tests to include a full year’s coverage (details supplied). [16776/23]
View answerUnder European Directive 2014/45/EU on periodic roadworthiness testing, Ireland, like all Member States, must comply with the minimum specified intervals for carrying out such inspections. This is given effect in Irish law by the Road Traffic (National Car Test) Regulations 2017 (SI 415/2017), as amended.
Regulation 3(2) of the 2017 Regulations provides that the initial test due date for a vehicle is determined by its registration date and subsequent test due dates fall on anniversaries of the registration date. Any certificate issued for that vehicle will be valid up to the test due date after the certificate is issued, not 12 months, or 24 months as relevant, from the date of testing.
Member States cannot unilaterally postpone test due dates without a derogation from the EU Commission. The only time a derogation has been granted to EU States was under Regulation (EU) 2020/698, in direct response to the Covid crisis in 2020, when test centres were closed to prevent the spread of the virus.
Permitting NCT certificates to be extended without inspections would place the State in breach of our obligations under EU law and may affect road safety, should the vehicle in question be unsafe to drive.
I am advised 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 majority of cases, vehicle owners on the priority waiting list are provided with an appointment within 30 days.
268. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport the options available to individuals who have been incorrectly charged for the use of public electric vehicle charging points; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16832/23]
View answerThe Government is fully committed to supporting a significant expansion and modernisation of the electric vehicle charging network over the coming years. A draft national charging infrastructure strategy for the development of EV charging infrastructure, covering the period out to 2025 was published for consultation in March.
The draft strategy sets out the government’s ambition regarding the delivery of a public EV charging network to support up to 195,000 electric cars and vans by the middle of the decade. Responses and submissions received as part of the consultation are currently being considered in the development of the final Strategy for publication this week.
The Government’s EV target is a critical solution to reducing our transport emissions and is a key part of the strategy which also includes measures to reduce car journeys, through improved public and active transport networks.
Having an effective and reliable recharging network is essential to enabling drivers to choose electric. Home charging is the primary charging method for most Irish EV owners as it’s convenient and cheaper for the consumer as well assists in the overall management of the national grid. Over 80% of charging is expected to happen at home.
Queries relating to public charge point payments is a commercial and operational matter for the companies concerned. Each such company has its own customer service channels and they should be contacted directly on pricing queries.
269. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 233 of 7 March 2023, whether self-employed taxi drivers can specify “card not accepted” or “cash payment only”, and if this will ensure the customer cannot subsequently claim a legal right to pay by card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16848/23]
View answerThe regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including arrangements for fares for SPSVs, is a matter for the independent transport regulator, the National Transport Authority (NTA), under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Acts 2013 and 2016. I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of the SPSV industry.
As the Deputy may be aware, the NTA introduced Regulations last year, in exercise of the powers conferred on it by section 20 and section 48 of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013, making it compulsory for taxi operators to provide a card payment option. All taxi drivers in Ireland must be equipped with a physical device/terminal to accept cashless payments as well as cash. Specifying "card not accepted" or "cash payment only" would not be consistent with the requirement for taxi operators to provide a card payment option. Cashless payments in hackneys and limousines are provided at the discretion of the vehicle's operator. The Regulations do not relate to invoiced accounts held with operators, or to payments within booking service apps subscribed to by passengers.
Cashless Payment includes any such method identified within Article 4 of Directive (EU) 2015/2366 - the revised Payment Services Directive (PSD2). A physical cashless payment device/terminal enables each driver to, in effect, provide their own in-person, in-taxi payment method for passengers to pay by card. In general, since the Covid-19 pandemic, the preferred payment by consumers at a point of sale, is by card.
270. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of a concern of the Irish biofuels sector at the implications for the industry of new regulations due to be brought into force by him; if he has had discussions with representatives of the biofuels sector, the farming sector and Irish meat processing sector in relation to these regulations; if these regulations mirror those being put in place in other EU member states; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16858/23]
View answerIn response to various concerns raised during the statutory consultation process, included those referred to by the Deputy, I modified the draft regulations to expand incentives to other renewable transport fuel, targeting production and supply by small indigenous biofuel companies and the agricultural waste feedstock supply chains supporting these businesses. As demand grows globally for biofuels and their feedstocks, this Renewable Fuels for Transport policy recognises the need to ensure sustainable Irish production is not put at a competitive disadvantage and that we do not become overly reliant on imported biofuels over time. I signed the regulations on 31 March 2023 and they came into operation from 01 April 2023 (aligned to the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation's administrative reporting requirements). These Regulations will be kept under review within the context of the ongoing development and implementation of the Renewable Transport Fuel Policy.
274. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if Iarnród Éireann has plans to deploy undercover security personnel on both its platforms and on board its trains. [16932/23]
View answerAs the 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 issue of the deployment of private security personnel on trains and platforms is an operational matter for Iarnród Éireann and I have therefore forwarded the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply.
Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
275. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if he has plans to visit the United States of America during the remainder of 2023. [16933/23]
View answerI wish to thank the deputy for her question. At this time, I do not have any plans to visit the United States of America during the remainder of 2023.
276. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Transport when a person (details supplied) who has secured an apprenticeship in Listowel post-leaving certificate, for which a driving licence is a requirement can sit their test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16984/23]
View answerThe Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for all aspects of the National Driving Test service. This includes test applications and scheduling matters. Neither I nor my Department have access, nor the power, to intervene in individual cases.
I have referred this 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.
277. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport the number of cancellations in driving tests that occurred in counties Cavan and Monaghan over the following years 2021, 2022 and the first quarter of 2023; how many of the cancellations were offered to those on the waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16998/23]
View answerThe operation of the national driving test service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority and the information requested is held by them. I have therefore referred this 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.
278. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport the steps he is taking to restore the Cork to Leeds air route; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17000/23]
View answerThe operation of any scheduled air service is a commercial decision for airlines, in consultation with airports and other market actors, based on the commercial viability of the route in question and other operational factors. I do not have a role in such decisions.
