Written Answers Nos. 221-234
221. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport if he will report on Ireland's biofuel supply and Ireland's capacity to meet EU sustainability requirements; Ireland's current biofuel supply; the increase that will be required to meet EU sustainability requirements; the measures to increase supply that are in place; when is it estimated that supply will increase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34947/23]
View answer222. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport if he will report on the engagement between his Department and the European Commission on biofuel, including verification and increasing Ireland's supply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34948/23]
View answer223. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport if he will report on Ireland's biofuel supply and capacity to meet 2030 targets; what is Ireland's current biofuel supply; what increase will be required to meet our 2030 targets; what measures to increase supply are in place; when is it estimated that supply will increase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34949/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 221, 222 and 223 together.
Renewable transport fuels such as biofuels are a core transitional technology relied upon for the medium-term reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the road transport sector, accounting for 1.08 MT CO2eq of the transport sector decarbonisation target to be achieved by 2030 under the Climate Action Plan. This represents 13.7% of of the total transport sector decarbonisation planned by 2030. In 2022, approximately 307m litres (9.6 PJ) of biofuel was placed on the market.
Supporting the supply of renewable energy in transport, the Renewable Transport Fuel Policy sets out the pathway to the achievement of both Climate Action Plan targets ) biofuel targets of at least B20 (biodiesel equivalent) in diesel and E10 (Ethanol) in petrol by 2030 (with an interim B12/E10 by 2025 target) and European obligations under the Renewable Energy Directive and Fuel Quality Directive concerning sustainability and GHG reduction criteria.
The policy since 2010 has been to increase renewable energy in transport by pursuing progressive increases in the renewable transport fuel supply obligation (RTFO) on fuel suppliers, as provided for under Part 5A of the National Oil Reserves Agency Act 2007. All biofuel supplied in Ireland that is encompassed within the renewable transport fuel obligation, i.e. is awarded renewable transport fuel obligation certificates, is on the basis of independent verification of compliance with EU sustainability and GHG reduction criteria.
I published the updated Renewable Transport Fuel Policy Statement 2023-2025 on 28 June. The Policy Statement sets out indicative obligation rate increase for renewable transport fuels and advanced biofuels to 2030 and outlines the steps that have to be taken over the next two years to achieve these proposed rates, in line with European requirements and national Climate Action Plan (CAP) objectives.
I made regulations on the 31 March 2023 to authorise the National Oil Reserves Agency (NORA) to issue additional Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) certificates for specified renewable transport fuels, where those fuels are used for specific purposes or means of transport, to incentivise their supply. The regulations became operational from 1 April, aligned to the administrative requirements of the RTFO. This included additional certificates for FAME biodiesel, hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), biomethane and renewable fuel of non-biological origin such as green hydrogen.
Concerning availability of biofuel supply to meet projected consumption, 72-78m litres of bioethanol and between 570-730m litres of biodiesel/HVO could be required to meet the Climate Action Plan transport targets by 2030. Potential for indigenous production scale-up to between 435m and 735m litres of biodiesel/HVO in 2030 is also estimated, with recoverable feedstock supplies of potentially 70m litres of biodiesel from indigenous feedstock, indicating a continued reliance on biofuels from imported feedstocks.
Concerning sustainability of future supply, the supply of biofuel feedstocks such as used cooking oil is limited and additional demand for it will impact on its cost and may heighten the risk of fuel fraud in global supply chains. To combat this the EU is introducing more rigorous verification requirements including an EU database for all biofuel supply, and supervision by Member States authorities of certification bodies responsible for ensuring economic operators compliance with EU sustainability rules.
At an official level the Department engages with the European Commission on an ongoing basis through the working group on sustainability established under the Renewable Energy Directive.
224. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport what engagement he has had with his Cabinet colleagues regarding a project (details supplied); to detail those discussions; and the results of same. [34788/23]
View answerUnder the National Development Plan 2021-2030, the Government has committed to supporting the design and development of Cork Light Rail.
I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. In both of those areas there have been significant developments since this Government came into office, with last year's publication of a new Sustainable Mobility Policy and its five-year action plan providing strong policy support to the continued design and development of light rail projects in the Greater Dublin Area and Cork.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) has agreed responsibility for the development of public transport in our cities, including oversight of the Cork Light Rail project. Transport Infrastructure Ireland has specific responsibilities in relation to the development of light rail and is leading the development of the project on a day-to-day basis.
Cabinet meetings are subject to Cabinet confidentiality. I may inform the Deputy that I met with officials from the NTA on Friday 30 June, and at this meeting was informed about a delay to the public consultation of the emerging preferred route to allow for further consideration of route options.
225. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Transport the number of persons waiting for a driving test; and the number of persons waiting for a theory test in County Cork, by test centre, in tabular form. [34796/23]
View answer226. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Transport the average waiting time for a driving test in Ballincollig and Sarsfield Road test centres in Cork; and the number of persons waiting for less than 3, 3-6, 6-9, 9-12, 12-18, 18-24 and for over 24 months, in tabular form. [34797/23]
View answer227. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Transport the average waiting time for a theory test in test centres in Cork; and the number of persons waiting for less than 3, 3-6, 6-9, 9-12, 12-18, 18-24 and for over 24 months, in tabular form. [34798/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 225, 226 and 227 together.
The operation of the national driving test service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority, and as such the information requested in relation to driving and theory test waiting times in Cork is held by the RSA. I have therefore referred the Questions 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.
228. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport if he will attend a meeting with regard to the proposed N22 route Killarney to Farranfore (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34813/23]
View answerMy officials will review this meeting request and contact the deputy next week. Meeting requests can be emailed to Ministerdiary@transport.gov.ie.
229. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Transport the timeline for the completion of works on the Coonagh to Knockalisheen Road, Limerick; when he expects it to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34857/23]
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 Councils' own resources supplemented by State road grants.
Limerick County Council is the contracting authority for the Coonagh to Knockalisheen Distributor Road project. The Council has advised my officials that works on the Ballygrennan Bridge which is over the Galway-Ennis railway line are now substantially complete.
Separately, contract documents are also being prepared to retender for the construction of the remainder of the project.
230. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Transport to provide a breakdown of those resigning from Bus Éireann per year between 2017-2023, in tabular form. [34859/23]
View answer231. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Transport to provide a breakdown of staffing levels within Bus Éireann per year between 2017-2023, in tabular form. [34860/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 230 and 231 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 query raised by the deputy in relation to a breakdown of those resigning from Bus Éireann per year between 2017-2023, and a breakdown of staffing levels within Bus Éireann per year between 2017-2023, in tabular form, is an operational matter for Bus Éireann.
I have, therefore, referred the Deputy's questions to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
232. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Transport to provide a breakdown of those resigning from Irish Rail-Iarnród Éireann per year between 2017-2023, in tabular form. [34861/23]
View answer233. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Transport to provide a breakdown of staffing levels within Irish Rail-Iarnród Éireann per year between 2017-2023, in tabular form. [34862/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 232 and 233 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 query raised by the deputy in relation to a breakdown of those resigning from Iarnród Éireann per year between 2017-2023, and a breakdown of staffing levels within Iarnród Éireann per year between 2017-2023, in tabular form, is an operational matter for Iarnród Éireann.
I have, therefore, referred the Deputy's questions to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
234. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Transport if his Department has made funding available for the N17 upgrade works as outlined in the national development plan; if he will provide an outline of works set to be undertaken with a timeline for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34863/23]
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 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.
I can confirm that €600,000 has been allocated for the N17 Knock to Collooney scheme in 2023. As with all national roads projects in the NDP, the delivery programme for this project will be kept under review for 2024 and considered in terms of the overall funding envelope available to TII.
Noting the above position, I have referred your question to TII for a direct update as to the status of this project. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
