Niamh Smyth
Question:279. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport if a driving test for a person (details supplied) will be brought forward; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17002/23]
View answerDriver Test
Questions (279)
Written answers
The 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 has access, nor the power, to intervene in individual cases.
Therefore 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.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 51
Public Sector Pensions
Questions (280)
Niall Collins
Question:280. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Transport for an update on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17003/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Deputy has asked for an update on matters in relation to a pension for a person (details supplied). As I advised previously, similar cases have been the subject of a number of reviews by my predecessors and senior civil servants in my Department over the years in which legal advice was sought on the matter.
The position, as I understand it, is that the person concerned and some other former employees of the Department of Transport and Power voluntarily resigned from the civil service upon accepting posts with Aer Rianta.
On transfer to Aer Rianta, with their agreement, those employees also transferred from the Civil Service Pension Scheme to the Irish Aviation Superannuation Scheme (IASS). Their pension entitlements were transferred at the same time and the IASS received a contribution from the Department in full recognition of the benefit accrued.
It is the Department’s view that daa (formerly Aer Rianta) has complied with its obligations to the individual concerned and other former civil servants with regard to their pension entitlement in accordance with the terms agreed at the time they accepted a contract of employment with Aer Rianta. This position has previously been conveyed to the individual concerned.
Taxi Licences
Questions (281)
Colm Burke
Question:281. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport if he will confirm the number of applications in total that have been received for the local hackney pilot programme since the closing date of 28 February 2023; if applications received include applications for each of the 21 areas in the pilot scheme; if consideration will be given to extending the programme to other rural areas going forward; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17014/23]
View answerWritten answers
The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including the Local Area Hackney Scheme, 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.
Accordingly, I have referred your questions to the NTA for direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within 10 working days.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 51
Fuel Oil Specifications
Questions (282)
Seán Haughey
Question:282. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider the concerns of the owners of older and classic vehicles regarding proposals to remove E5 petrol; if he will address these concerns when drafting new regulations under Part 5A of the National Oil Reserves Agency Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17040/23]
View answerWritten answers
I published The Renewable Fuels for Transport Policy Statement 2021-2023 in November 2021. The Policy Statement sets out a roadmap for the supply and use of renewable fuels in transport in meeting targets set out in the Climate Action Plan and European obligations for renewable energy supply and use in transport. The Policy Statement signalled the move to E10 as the standard grade of petrol in Ireland in 2023.
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 through increasing biofuel blending to E10 (10% Ethanol) and B20 (20% Biodiesel equivalent) 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.
Following consideration of the outcome of a 28 day statutory consultation period on the draft Regulations, and with the consent of the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, I signed the regulations on 31 March 2023, to provide for the implementation of E10 from 01 April 2023. The regulations will be fully implemented by 01 July 2023.
The regulations specify the minimum volume of renewable transport fuel (ethanol) to be blended with petrol laced on the market by sale or otherwise in the State by renewable transport fuel obligation account holders. The regulations specify a minimum volume of 5.5% ethanol in petrol. This is in line with the switch to E10 in the UK (in 2021) and NI (in 2022).
The regulations will be kept under review within the context of the development and implementation of the Renewable Transport Fuel Policy.
Moving to E10 will bring an immediate climate-change mitigation measure using 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. Some older vehicles pre-2011 (predominantly pre-2003/pre EURO V standard), were not manufactured with certification for E10 use, but it does not mean they cannot use E10. In countries where E10 and higher ethanol blends are used widely there is no evidence of issues. All vehicle owners and operators are required to maintain their vehicles to operating and roadworthy standards.
Maintaining an E5 petrol grade is not in line with the policy objective under the Climate Action Plan for E10 by 2025. Furthermore, consultation with industry concerning the policy to move to E10, indicated that the vast majority of suppliers do not have the storage or distribution systems to supply both an E5 and an E10 petrol grade in Ireland. The annually declining number of petrol cars along with the increased uptake of zero-emission vehicles (e.g., EVs) is likely to reduce this number over the coming decade and would not support investment in dual-system infrastructure.
At this point in time, Ireland’s vehicle fleet is predominantly diesel (c.63% at end 2022) and of the c.1million petrol vehicles, there is a very low level of older vehicles (c.2.4% inc. vintage and less than 1% vintage/classic) that are pre-2011 (predominantly pre-2003/pre EURO V standard). After 1 July, when the draft regulations are to be fully operational, specialist supply of E5 would still be possible in the market if the demand emerges, but such supply will just not be eligible for certificates under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation.
To ensure public awareness of the change my Department is continuing to run an E10 public information campaign, through advertising at forecourts, print, radio, digital and social platforms. 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). The gov.ie/E10 information website is the main point of reference for further information on the move to E10 and will continue to be over the course of the public awareness campaign which will continue to run in advance of the move to E10.
Transport Policy
Questions (283, 284, 285, 297)
Darren O'Rourke
Question:283. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport if disabled persons' organisations have been consulted in the roll-out of the Active Travel and BusConnects rollout; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17043/23]
View answerDarren O'Rourke
Question:284. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport if disabled persons' organisations representing the visually impaired have been consulted in the roll-out of the Active Travel and BusConnects rollout; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17044/23]
View answerDarren O'Rourke
Question:285. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of the concerns posed to visually impaired persons at the new BusConnects bus stop in Dundrum; what actions, if any, are being taken to mitigate them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17045/23]
View answer
Seán Sherlock
Question:297. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport the budget line and parameters to secure a second bus depot in Cork city, in tabular form. [17255/23]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 283 to 285, inclusive, and 297 together.
As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport and active travel. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the planning and development of public transport and active travel infrastructure, including the Active Travel and BusConnects programmes.
Noting the NTA's 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.
Question No. 284 answered with Question No. 283.
Question No. 285 answered with Question No. 283.
Departmental Schemes
Questions (286)
Dessie Ellis
Question:286. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport the number of people whose application for grant funding on the wheelchair accessible vehicles scheme has been successful and are awaiting payment of the grant; additionally, the average time it takes for the grant to be paid out to those whose application for grant funding has been successful; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17046/23]
View answerWritten answers
As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding for public transport.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for developing an accessible, integrated and sustainable public transport network.
In light of the NTA's responsibilities for progressively making public transport accessible, including providing grants for wheelchair accessible taxi and hackney vehicles, 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.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 51
Bus Services
Questions (287)
Seán Sherlock
Question:287. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport the breakdown of costs incurred to date for the BusConnects Cork public consultations, by vendor and staff costs, in tabular form. [17091/23]
View answerWritten answers
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 BusConnects Cork.
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.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 51
Rail Network
Questions (288)
Seán Sherlock
Question:288. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport if a business case has been presented on the light rail proposal for Cork; and the cost of that project to date, in tabular form. [17093/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Public Spending Code sets out the requirements for the evaluation, planning and management of public investment projects in Ireland. It includes the series of steps and activities which are necessary to take a proposal from concept to completion and evaluation, over the project lifecycle.
Prior to the publication of Circular 06/2023 by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform on 29 March 2023, the first phase in the project lifecycle was the development of a Strategic Assessment Report at Decision Gate 0. A Strategic Assessment Report for this project was first submitted to the Department by the National Transport Authority in June 2021. To date, my Department has not received a preliminary business case for this project at Decision Gate 1 of the Public Spending Code.
As the NTA has responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure in our cities, including Cork Light Rail Transit, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a direct reply on the development of the project preliminary business case and in relation to the spend on the project to date. 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
Driver Licences
Questions (289)
James Lawless
Question:289. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Transport if an Australian driving licence is valid for use in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17098/23]
View answerWritten answers
Under the Convention on Road Traffic 1949 (Geneva Convention), visitors from contracting states with a valid driving licence may drive on each other’s roads for up to a year as a visitor. Australia is a contracting state of the Convention.
Only visitors may avail of the Geneva Convention provisions. A person who is resident in Ireland must have an Irish or EU driving licence to drive here. Ireland has licence exchange agreements with a number of non-EU countries and, in general, people resident in Ireland with licences from those countries may exchange them for an Irish licence.
An Australian driving licence is recognised for exchange in Ireland. A holder of an Australian driving licence can apply to the National Driver Licence Service to exchange their licence for an Irish one. Details can be found on www.ndls.ie/licensed-driver/exchange-my-foreign-driving-licence.html.
Road Projects
Questions (290)
Catherine Murphy
Question:290. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide an update in respect of the A5 road upgrade. [17125/23]
View answerWritten answers
The planning and implementation of the A5 upgrade project is the responsibility of the authorities in Northern Ireland.
The funding arrangements in relation to the A5 have been governed by the 2014 Stormont House Agreement and Implementation Plan - A Fresh Start. Under this Agreement the Government is committed to provide funding of £75 million towards the cost of the A5 upgrade scheme once the statutory planning process in Northern Ireland is concluded. The Government is committed to deliver on its funding commitment to the A5 project, which is also included in the "New Decade, New Approach" document of 2020.
As is the case for all such capital projects, the A5 upgrade scheme is subject to the planning assessment and approval process in Northern Ireland and since 2012 there have been a number of legal challenges. This has led to unavoidable delays to the implementation of the proposed scheme.
In 2017 the Department for Infrastructure decided to proceed with the A5 scheme. However, this was challenged, and the decision to proceed was quashed by the High Court in November 2018 when the Department announced it would no longer defend the case.
Following the conclusion of that legal action, the Department for Infrastructure updated environmental assessments for the project and undertook further public consultations.
The Planning Appeals Commission has advised that the public inquiry will re-open at 10.30am on Monday, 15th May 2023 in the Strule Arts Centre, Townhall Square, Omagh, and will continue there until Friday,19th May. After a week’s break, the inquiry will convene in Omagh Enterprise Centre, Gortrush Industrial Estate from Tuesday, 30th May to Friday, 2nd June 2023,
Allowing for the time required for the conclusion of the public inquiry and for all new decisions to be implemented, together with the possibility of a further legal challenge, the timeframe for delivery of the A5 project is still uncertain. However, provision of £25 million sterling has been made by my Department in 2023 for funding the scheme, should this be required.
Electric Vehicles
Questions (291)
Seán Sherlock
Question:291. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport the number of EV chargers currently operating. [17128/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Government is fully committed to supporting a significant expansion and modernisation of the electric vehicle charging network over the coming years. A national charging infrastructure strategy for the development of EV charging infrastructure, covering the period out to 2025 will be published on 19th January.
The 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. A draft strategy was published for consultation in March 2021. Responses and submissions received as part of the consultation were considered in the development of the final Strategy .
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.
In July 2022 I launched a new dedicated Office, Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland, which will oversee and accelerate Ireland’s transition to zero emission vehicles. Further information on Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland is available at www.gov.ie/zevi.
ZEVI is developing a number of infrastructure schemes to support the rollout of publicly accessible electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The Department of Transport does not yet hold exact numbers of public EV charging points in Ireland, as these are owned and operated by private charge point operators. The charging strategy outlined that there were approximately 1700 charge points in Ireland as of September 2022.
Destination Charging will be a strong priority for ZEVI in 2023, to facilitate charging at locations such as hospitals, leisure facilities such as municipal swimming pools, cultural centres, hotels, cinemas, and shopping centres.
In addition to a general scheme, a number of bespoke schemes are also in advanced stages of development, including
• A shared Island funded Sports Club scheme, which will install up to 200 fast chargers
• An EU Just transition Fund supported scheme, which is planned to install 90-100 chargers
These 300+ sites, in addition to those under other destination schemes currently planned will be delivered in 2024 and 2025.
A new Residential Neighbourhood Charging Scheme will also be launched by ZEVI to provide EV charging for residents without access off street parking. This EV charging will be designed to mimic home charging and will incentivise off-peak charging in a location convenient to the resident’s home. In addition to this we will be working with local authorities to support them creating local charging plans to be rolled out in the coming years.
In addition to schemes directly launched by ZEVI, there is a strong growth in the provision of private sector charging projects which aim to facilitate charging at all levels, from Destination and residential to ultra-rapid and high-powered charging, such as is required along major routes and for heavy duty vehicles.
With an investment of €10 from the Climate Action Fund and a matching €10M from ESB, ESB ecars are rolling out fast charging hubs and fast charge points across the country. Their program is as follows:
• 50 charging “hubs” throughout Ireland which can charge between 3-8 vehicles simultaneously, 23 of which have been delivered
• Replacing 50 existing standard chargers with fast chargers, 40 of which have been delivered
• Replacement of over 200 other standard to increase reliability of service.
Driver Test
Questions (292)
Seán Sherlock
Question:292. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport the additional resources which will be given to each test centre to alleviate waiting list times; and the waiting time and number of applicants by age in each test centre, in tabular form. [17129/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the National Driving Test service. I have therefore referred the specific part of the Deputy's Question related to waiting lists in each test centre 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.
On the broader issue of driver testing delays, the service has been under significant pressure to meet unprecedented demand, which is up 28% on 2021 figures. This increase in demand for driving tests and the time to invitation for learner drivers has a number of contributing factors which include an increase in learner permits in circulation, increased capacity in the Driver Theory Test and an increase in Advanced Driving Instructors capacity to deliver lessons to learner drivers.
The Authority has reviewed the demand and capacity of the driver testing service and, following a request for additional resources in March 2023, my Department has now given approval for the recruitment of up to 75 driver testers. This is in addition to the 30 testers who were previously sanctioned in July 2022 and have been fully deployed since end of March 2023. This brings the total number of sanctioned driver tester posts to just over 200.
It is expected that once these additional 75 driver testers are recruited, trained and deployed, the backlog for driver testing services will be actively managed such that it will start to reduce from October 2023 and agreed service levels should resume by early-mid 2024.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 51
Electric Vehicles
Questions (293)
Peter Burke
Question:293. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide an update on the regulation of e-scooters in the community. [17161/23]
View answerWritten answers
Under current road traffic legislation, e-scooters are classed as mechanically propelled vehicles, the use of which requires tax, insurance and a driving licence. Since they do not fit into any existing licence category, it is not possible to tax or insure them and they may not be used on public roads or in public places. They may be used on private land with the landowner's permission.
The Programme for Government is committed to legislating for e-scooters. The Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021, which is before the Oireachtas, defines a new category of vehicle in the Road Traffic Act 1961, powered personal transporters or PPTs, which will include e-scooters. Establishing this new vehicle category will enable technical and other regulations to be put in place for the safe and legal use of e-scooters.
It is anticipated that the Bill will be enacted in quarter two of this year. In advance of the relevant sections being commenced, work has already begun on drafting regulations to set out technical standards and rules for the safe use of e-scooters. In addition, officials in my department have recently established a working group, which is meeting regularly to ensure all key agencies are working together in preparation for the coming into effect of these regulations.
The introduction of new technical regulations is subject to mandatory examination by the European Commission, for a minimum of 12 weeks under the Single Market Transparency Directive (EU) 2015/1535. It is anticipated that draft e-scooter regulations will be submitted to this process on enactment of the Bill and that they will be introduced on completion of that scrutiny.
Bus Services
Questions (294, 295)
Steven Matthews
Question:294. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to requests from community groups in Arklow, County Wicklow regarding the demand for a looped bus service for the town; the position regarding this type of service under Connecting Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17188/23]
View answerSteven Matthews
Question:295. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to requests from community groups in Wicklow town regarding the demand for a looped bus service for the town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17190/23]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 294 and 295 together.
As 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 and new Town Services.
In light of the NTA's responsibilities for the rollout of new services, including in county Wicklow, I have referred your questions to the NTA for direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 51
Question No. 295 answered with Question No. 294.
Road Projects
Questions (296)
Noel Grealish
Question:296. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport the current status of the Claregalway Inner Relief Road; if funding will be provided from his Department for a new Claregalway Inner Relief Road; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17239/23]
View answerWritten answers
As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme. 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 Transport Infrastructure Ireland (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 you on the status of 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.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 51