Written Answers Nos. 183-198
185. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide assurances that the N80 Mountmellick bypass will be prioritised for funding in any review and included in the next phase of the national development plan. [21309/23]
View answer186. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Transport if he will raise with his senior officials and Transport Infrastructure Ireland the critical situation with the Mountmellick road N80 in Portlaoise town, which needs cycles lanes, three roundabouts and road safety measures, as identified by an expert group and Laois County Council. [21310/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 185 and 186 together.
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 the Mountmellick bypass and possible upgrades to the N80 in Portlaoise, which may include active travel measures.
In relation to the Active Travel part of your question, as Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to Active Travel. Funding is administered through the National Transport Authority (NTA), who, in partnership with local authorities, have responsibility for the selection and development of specific projects in each local authority area.
Noting the above position, I have referred your question to TII for a direct reply. If you do not receive a reply within 10 working days, please contact my private office. Regarding the potential role of the NTA in the matter, I have also referred your question to the NTA for their further consideration.
187. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport if he will ensure the NRA only mows embankments or cuts roadside hedging where necessary for safety to help protect these sites as nectaring habitats; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21350/23]
View answerAs 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 operation and maintenance 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.
188. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport if he will engage with a trade union (details supplied) concerning the vesting day on the separation of the Irish Aviation Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21351/23]
View answerWith effect from 1 May 2023 the air navigation functions of the Irish Aviation Authority have transferred to a newly established, separate commercial semi-state company, AirNav Ireland.
As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for the development of policy in relation to airspace and air navigation matters. Engagement with any trade union is an internal IR matter, for AirNav Ireland, the employees and the trade unions concerned. I have, therefore, forwarded the Deputy's question to AirNav Ireland in the first instance for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
189. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport the steps he is taking to improve the frequency of train services stopping at all stations to help improve connectivity, especially at weekends and evenings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21352/23]
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 planning and timetabling of trains to improve connectivity, including which stations are served by which trains, is an operational matter for Iarnród Éireann in conjunction with the National Transport Authority, and I have therefore forwarded the Deputy's question to Iarnród Éireann for direct reply.
Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
190. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Transport if Transport Infrastructure Ireland has a complaint handing system through which citizens can raise a complaint relating to national roads; the process involved in making and assessing complaints; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21399/23]
View answerAs 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 operation and management 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 their handling of complaints.
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.
191. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Transport if he has plans to allow school groups, accompanied by a teacher, to use public transport without fares for expeditions; if he will consider the matter as a policy position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21494/23]
View answer192. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Transport his plans to support school groups, accompanied by a teacher, to use public transport for expeditions; if he is aware of current operational difficulties in organising the payment of fares and-or collection of tickets for school groups using public transport in this way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21495/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 191 and 192 together.
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 the regulation of fares charged to passengers in respect of public transport services provided under public service obligation (PSO) contracts.
A number of fare initiatives were introduced in 2022, such as the 20% average fare reduction on PSO services and the Young Adult Card, and funding has been provided in 2023 for the continuation of these initiatives. Further, child fares are available across the PSO network.
The PSO programme represents a significant expenditure of taxpayers' money, and funding has increased in recent years to cater for additional services and growing capacity. Any assessment of a proposed change to public transport fare structures would be a matter for the NTA to consider in the first instance.
Therefore, in light of the NTA's responsibility in this area, I have forwarded the Deputy's question in relation to maintaining reduced public transport fees further and the introduction of reduced fares on other modes of transport and routes across the public transport network, to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
193. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 336 of 18 April 2023, his Department's plans to provide additional PSO funding for the provision of additional PSO services to increase morning rail services, particularly to ensure the provision of an earlier service from Dublin to Cork, following the demand for such a service as determined by the NTA public consultation held in September 2022, and the lack of relevant resources allocated in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21578/23]
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.
This Government is firmly committed to enhancing and expanding our public transport services provision across the country. To support this objective, in Budget 2023, I secured a €563million funding package to support the PSO services.
Since 2010, the award of Public Service Obligation (PSO) funding falls under the independent statutory remit of the National Transport Authority (NTA). The allocations to the transport operators for the provision of public transport services are decided by the NTA in exercise of its statutory mandate and in accordance with the various contract arrangements that it has in place with PSO service providers.
The funding allocation for PSO public transport services for 2024 will be subject to the annual Budgetary process and therefore the allocations for 2024 are yet to be determined in the context of future Estimates processes.
194. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Transport if his Department has engaged in ensuring standards are being met in design for active travel in Cork city, particularly in respect of the routing of cycle lanes onto footpaths. [21582/23]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to Active Travel infrastructure. The National Transport Authority (NTA) along with the relevant local authorities are responsible for the development and delivery of individual projects.
In addition to the above, a National Guidelines and Standards Group has been established within my Department to oversee and coordinate all guidelines and standards (including cycling and other Active Travel projects) which have been developed by TII, the NTA and Department of Transport. This group comprises of members from each of these bodies as well as the City and County Management Association (CCMA). It also covers the areas of quality control, training and implementation monitoring. Progress to date includes:
- Circulars setting out a framework for guidelines and standards, as well as improved quality control measures;
- Updates to DMURS Guidelines and supporting training on these guidelines, including online workshops and graduate programmes.
In support of the quality of infrastructure, there is much work underway in terms of core standards to support this. Both the NTA and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) are updating relevant documents on cycling and Greenways and urban cycle lanes. Any new Active Travel infrastructure funded by my Department must be designed in compliance with the guidance and standards set out in the National Cycle Manual, which is currently being revised and updated. This work has been underway for over a year and is geared to reflect best practice including improving design standards. In support of this, the Department of Transport is also working on updates supporting the Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets (DMURS).
As the National Transport Authority (NTA) has oversight of Cork City Council in relation to active travel infrastructure, it has responsibility for ensuring implementation of projects in accordance with the aforementioned requirements. Noting the role of the NTA in the matter, i have forwarded your query to that agency for a more detailed response. If you do not receive a reply within 10 working days, please contact my private office.
195. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Transport if he will examine a matter relating to a driver test (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21584/23]
View answerThe Road Safety Authority has statutory responsibility for all aspects of the National Driving Test service, including test applications and scheduling matters. Neither I nor my Department have the power to intervene in individual cases. I have therefore referred the Deputy's 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.
196. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide an update on plans to extend the short hop zone to Newbridge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21602/23]
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 the regulation of fares charged to passengers in respect of public transport services provided under public service obligation (PSO) contracts.
On the 27th of April, the NTA published the National Fares Strategy which aims to encourage existing passengers and new users to use public transport more, by implementing a fairer and easier to understand structure. Any assessment of a proposed change to public transport fare structures would be a matter for the NTA to consider in the first instance.
In light of the NTA's responsibility in this area, I have forwarded the Deputy's question in relation to plans to extend the Short Hop Zone to Newbridge, to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
197. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Transport the reason two applications for a school crossing made by Cork City Council for Bellevue, Grange and Colmcille Road were not approved. [21606/23]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to Active Travel infrastructure. The National Transport Authority (NTA) along with the relevant local authorities are responsible for the development and delivery of individual walking and cycling infrastructure projects.
Noting the role of the NTA in the matter, I have forwarded your query to that agency for a more detailed response. If you do not receive a reply within 10 working days, please contact my private office.
198. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport if he will confirm that his Department will engage with Cork City Council with a view to developing a park-and-ride facility on land the council owns at Monard, Cork, taking into account that these lands also adjoin the Cork-to-Mallow rail line, where it is proposed to build a railway station in the long term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21617/23]
View answerAs 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 the provision of Park and Ride facilities.
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.
