Written Answers Nos. 148-162
148. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Transport to provide the names and contact information of all special advisers to Ministers and Ministers of State within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33593/23]
View answerMy special advisor in my capacity as The Minister of Transport is John McDonald. He may be contacted at John.McDonald@transport.gov.ie.
Minister of State Jack Chamber's special advisor is Shane Smyth. He may be contacted at Shane.Smyth@transport.gov.ie.
149. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Transport if there are any plans in place to reopen a railway track from Tralee to Dingle (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33610/23]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The operation, maintenance and renewal of the rail network is a matter for Iarnród Éireann in the first instance.
Separately, the All-Island 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 is considering the potential scope for improved rail services along various existing and potential future corridors of the network, and that includes the potential afforded by disused and closed lines such as the closed Tralee to Dingle light railway line.
Work on the Review is now at an advanced stage and it is expected that a draft will be published for the purposes of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) public consultation in later this month. Following the SEA process and finalisation of the report, it is expected that it will be submitted for the approval of the Minister for Transport and Government in the autumn, as well as to the Minister for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland. Should there continue to be an absence of Ministers in the NI Executive, approval will be considered taking into account the decision-making framework set out in the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc.) Act 2022 or relevant legislation in place at the time.
It is expected that the final Review will be published in the autumn of 2023.
150. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Transport why a person (details supplied) lost time on a driving licence shelf life because of applying earlier than the expiry date on foot of a letter from a licensing authority; if there are plans to streamline the licensing process to ensure no person loses out on time before expiration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33685/23]
View answerA driving licence can be renewed up to 3 months before its expiry date. Licences are issued for 10, 3 or 1 year periods. The option to renew before expiry is to facilitate drivers, particularly professional drivers, who may be travelling abroad when their licence is due to expire. The option to renew early is not mandatory.
151. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Transport in relation to the ten-year age limit for taxi vehicles, if he intends to extend the exemption to those with 141 vehicles; if he has engaged with taxi industry stakeholders or the NTA in relation to this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33702/23]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, the regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including vehicle age limits 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 have no role in the day-to-day operations of the SPSV industry.Since August last year, a series of global circumstances has, in the NTA’s view, considerably worsened the capability of taxi and hackney licence holders to secure new vehicles, with lead times of one year not uncommon already. Therefore, the NTA proposed to temporarily extend the maximum permissible age for taxis and hackneys so that no current vehicle licence holder is forced out of the industry because a replacement vehicle cannot be purchased.The NTA introduced new Regulations on 18 November 2022, permitting an extension to the final operation date of vehicles due to reach their final date of operation/maximum permissible age between 13 March 2020 and 31 December 2024. The purpose of these Regulations is to amend Regulation 31 (Maximum Permissible Age Requirements) of the Taxi Regulation (Small Public Service Vehicle) Regulations 2015. This amendment is made as an exceptional provision and contingency measure, as a result of current vehicle supply issues. The NTA has contacted SPSV licence holders to confirm the new final operation date of their current licensed vehicle.
152. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport the number of learner drivers in 2023 to date, per week, that failed to turn up for their scheduled driving test appointment; the number of driving tests lost through these no-shows; if he has his plans to introduce measures to ensure that learner permit holders sit a driving test before they can obtain a subsequent learner permit from the RSA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33774/23]
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 the first part of the question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.
As part of plans to reduce the number of people on a third or subsequent consecutive learner permit, the Department and the RSA are considering a range of measures to ensure that learner permit holders sit a driving test before they can obtain a subsequent permit. Reducing the number of multiple learner permit holders requires addressing, as well as the permit application process, driver testing capacity and reviewing the driver training curriculum. All three aspects are being considered with the RSA.
153. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport the 2022 audited financial statements and 2022 annual reports he has received to date from State agencies under the remit of his Department, in tabular form. [33775/23]
View answerThere are currently 18 agencies under the aegis of the Department of Transport which will provide the department with Annual Reports and Financial Statements for 2022, 11 commercial and 7 non-commercial. Information as requested by the Deputy is summarised in tabular form below.
|
Commercial Bodies |
Date received by department |
|
|
Name |
Annual Report |
Financial Statement |
|
CIÉ Group |
8 June 2023 |
8 June 2023 |
|
Bus Átha Cliath |
7 July 2023 |
7 July 2023 |
|
Bus Éireann |
20 June 2023 |
20 June 2023 |
|
Iarnród Éireann |
22 June 2023 |
22 June 2023 |
|
Irish Aviation Authority |
17 April 2023 |
6 April 2023 |
|
AerNav Ireland[1] |
N/A |
N/A |
|
DAA plc |
24 March 2023 |
24 March 2023 |
|
The Shannon Airport Group |
30 March 2023 |
30 March 2023 |
|
Dublin Port Company |
4 April 2023 |
4 April 2023 |
|
Port of Cork Company |
24 April 2023 |
24 April 2023 |
|
Port of Waterford Company |
17 April 2023 |
17 April 2023 |
|
Shannon Foynes Port Company |
28 April 2023 |
28 April 2023 |
|
Non-Commercial Bodies |
Date received by department |
|
|
Name |
Annual Report |
Financial Statement |
|
National Transport Authority |
30 June 2023 |
26 May 2023 |
|
Transport Infrastructure Ireland |
3 July 2023 |
3 July 2023 |
|
Road Safety Authority |
30 June 2023 |
30 June 2023 |
|
Medical Bureau of Road Safety |
5 July 2023 |
7 July 2023 |
|
Marine Casualty Investigations Board |
21 June 2023 |
21 June 2023 |
|
Commission for Railway Regulation [2} |
29 March 2023 |
28 February 2023 (Unaudited Accounts) |
|
Commission for Aviation Regulation[3] |
6 June 2023 |
26 April 2023 |
|
Commissioner for Irish Lights[4] |
N/A |
N/A |
[1] AerNav Ireland was established on 1 May 2023
[2] Commission for Railway Regulation - 2022 accounts with C&AG for sign off
[3] The Commission for Aviation Regulation merged with the Irish Aviation Authority on 30 April 2023
[4] The Commissioner of Irish Lights report on the UK financial year
154. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Transport to confirm current waiting times for all learner drivers waiting for their driving tests for all driving test centres across Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33789/23]
View answer160. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Transport the number of people waiting on driving tests in each licence category, in each of Ballincollig, Killarney, Mallow, Cork, Skibbereen and Newcastlewest test centres, in tabular form; the plans to increase test capacity at these centres; if plans to clear backlogs are on target; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33928/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 154 and 160 together.
The 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 the Questions to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputies 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
155. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport if the wheelchair-accessible vehicle scheme has been paused; if so, the reason for this; his plans for the scheme in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33807/23]
View answerThe regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including SPSV licensing and wheelchair accessible vehicle grants, 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 and accordingly, I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within 10 working days.
156. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport the reason an application for a taxi airport permit (details supplied) has not been granted, given that this person has been advised that they meet all criteria required; if he will instruct the DAA to reconsider this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33845/23]
View answerAs the deputy will be aware, DAA has the statutory responsibility to operate, manage and develop Dublin Airport including the issuing of taxi permits.
Accordingly, as the issue raised by the deputy is an operational one, I have forwarded your request to DAA for a direct response. If a response is not received within 10 days, please contact my private office.
157. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the spraying of weed-killer along the tracks of the Galway to Dublin rail line; if he will outline the amount spent by Irish Rail on weedkiller in each of the past ten years and to date in 2023; the amount, in gallons or litres, sprayed along the nation's rail lines in that period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33921/23]
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 operation and maintenance of the public transport network.
The issue of the cost and the volume of weed-killer sprayed along rail tracks is a matter for Iarnród Éireann as the Infrastructure Manager, 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.
158. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport when catering services will be restored on the Galway to Dublin train service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33922/23]
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 raised by the Deputy regarding the status of catering services on board Iarnród Éireann Galway to Dublin rail services is an operational matter for Iarnród Éireann, and I have therefore forwarded the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply.
Additionally, I understand that many of the stations on the Intercity network have existing retail / catering facilities available for customers, and Iarnród Éireann have advised that they will work with CIÉ Property in the interim period to further enhance, where possible, station-based retail and catering options for customers while also working towards the resumption of on-board catering as soon as possible.
Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response from the company within ten working days.
159. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport the progress being made towards the extension/reopening of the Western Rail Corridor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33923/23]
View answerThe Western Rail Corridor is being considered as part of the All-Island Strategic Rail Review which I announced in 2021 in partnership with the Minister for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland. The need for Ireland to develop a more strategic framework for investment in our rail network was previously noted by JASPERS, an agency of the European Investment Bank. This Review is the first such Departmental-led Review in two decades and the first ever to be conducted on an all-island basis.
The Review will inform the development of rail on the Island of Ireland in the coming decades to 2050, in line with net zero targets in both jurisdictions. The Review is considering the potential scope for improved rail services along various existing and potential future corridors of the network, and that scope includes the potential afforded by disused and closed lines such as the Western Rail Corridor.
Work on the Review is now at an advanced stage and it is expected that a draft will be published for the purposes of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) public consultation later this month. Following the SEA process and finalisation of the report, it is expected that it will be submitted for the approval of the Minister for Transport and Government in the autumn, as well as to the Minister for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland. Should there continue to be an absence of Ministers in the NI Executive, approval will be considered taking into account the decision-making framework set out in the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc.) Act 2022 or relevant legislation in place at the time.
It is expected that the final Review will be published in the autumn of 2023.
161. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Transport the number of vehicles due an NCT in each of the next six months; the number of tests conducted in each of the past six months; the average wait time for motorists currently waiting; if he will provide these details in tabular form; the measures in place in order to reduce wait times; what penalties, if any, have been imposed on the NCT service for delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33929/23]
View answer162. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Transport if he is satisfied with the number of mechanics recruited for NCTs currently nationwide; if he will provide an update on this number; if there are any plans to increase this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33930/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 161 and 162 together.
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the operation of the National Car Testing Service (NCTS), including scheduling of tests and waiting periods. The payment of service credits (penalties for failure of the contractor to meet required service levels) is a matter between the RSA and Applus, as the legal parties to the NCT contract. I have referred the relevant parts of the Deputy's queries to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response with the information requested has not been received within ten days.
I am aware of the challenges that the RSA and the NCTS are currently facing to meet high demand for tests and the delays which vehicle owners are encountering. My officials continue to meet weekly with the Authority, to monitor progress in reducing test delays and to ensure all possible actions are taken to bring the waiting list to an acceptable level in 2023, as well as supporting all appropriate requests from the RSA for assistance.
There has been considerable progress in addressing the long-term staffing issues which have caused this backlog and in increasing capacity at test centres, through measures including increased staff overtime and recruitment of new vehicle inspectors. On 30 June, my colleague Minister Richmond extended the quota of General Employment Permits for roadworthiness testers, allowing for the recruitment of a further 100 testers from outside the EEA. There are currently 631 testers operating or in training and testers are being assigned to test centres with the most significant delays.
The RSA is supporting the service provider to improve customer booking and to return the service to service level agreement standards. In the interim, I am advised that customers seeking test appointments may contact the NCTS directly on 01-4135992 or avail of the priority waiting list function on the NCT website, www.ncts.ie . In the majority of cases, vehicle owners are provided with an appointment within 30 days.
