Written Answers Nos. 200-213
200. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Transport the supports in subsidies and VRT concessions which will be available to the purchaser of electric vehicles from the start of 2024, both hybrid and fully electric. [42424/23]
View answerThe Government has committed significant funding to support zero and low emitting vehicles through the National Development Plan, which currently includes an allocation of almost €500 million for the period 2021-2025 and additional support from the Climate Action Fund, the Shared Island Fund and the EU Just Transition Fund.
€110m has been allocated in 2023 to ensure the continued transition to electric vehicles which includes funding for EV grants and EV charging infrastructure. This underpins the Government’s commitment to making electric vehicles accessible to all.
Current financial supports from ZEVI, and where applicable with support from the Department of Finance, for the transition to electric vehicles and for the rollout of electric vehicle charging infrastructure include:
- A purchase grant for battery electric vehicles (BEVs);
- A Home Charger purchase grant scheme - up to €600;
- An apartment charger scheme;
- Benefit-in-Kind tax relief for battery electric vehicles;
- eSPSV grant scheme – a grant for taxi drivers to make the switch to an EV;
- AFHDV grant scheme – a grant for HDVs to bridge the gap between a low emission vehicle and a fossil fuel vehicle;
- Low rate of annual motor tax; and
- Tolling reductions of 50% for battery electric vehicles and 25% for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.
These and related infrastructure supports will continue to incentivise the switch to electric vehicles as well as enabling the expansion of a fast and rapid electric vehicle charging network to stay ahead of demand.
There is currently a €5,000 VRT relief for BEVs and electric vans only that is due to expire at the end of 2023. The relief begins to taper off at an Open Market Selling Price (OMSP) of €40,000, ending at €50,000; this allows for a fairer VRT system in-keeping with the polluter pays policy that also ensures that the relief is focused on the more affordable price end of the market. Revenue statistics from 2022 show that the majority of BEVs registered had an OMSP of less than €50,000, meaning 53 per cent were able to avail of the relief. There is not an equivalent relief for plug-in hybrid vehicles however as they are low emission vehicles, they pay a lower rate of VRT compared with higher emission vehicles.
Regarding any future decisions, as the Deputy will be aware, it is a practice of the Minister not to comment, in advance of the Budget, on any matters that might be the subject of Budget decisions.
201. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Transport the progress in the development of the residential neighbourhood charging scheme; when he expects the scheme to launch; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42458/23]
View answerThe Government is fully committed to supporting a significant expansion and modernisation of the electric vehicle (EV) charging network over the coming years. Having an effective and reliable charging network is an essential part of enabling drivers to make the switch to electric vehicles.
Home charging is the primary charging method for most Irish EV owners as it’s convenient and cheaper for the consumer as well as assisting in the overall management of the national grid. Over 80% of charging is expected to happen at home.
However, there is also a need for a seamless public charging network that will provide for situations or instances where home charging is not possible, such as on-street and residential charging, destination charging and workplace charging.
Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland (ZEVI), a dedicated Office which oversees and accelerates Ireland’s transition to zero emission vehicles, has significant funding available in 2023 for the installation of EV charging across Ireland.
In January, I launched the national Strategy for the development of EV charging infrastructure, covering the crucial period out to 2025, alongside an Implementation Plan. 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 range of new charging infrastructure schemes are being developed which will help provide another critical link in the overall network for public charging.
Destination Charging is a strong priority for ZEVI in 2023. In addition to a general scheme, a number of bespoke schemes are also in advanced stages of development and delivery, 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 60-80 chargers
These circa 300 sites, in addition to those under other destination schemes currently planned will be delivered in 2024 and 2025.
ZEVI has been engaging extensively with Local Authorities to develop their EV Infrastructure Strategies for Destination and Residential neighbourhood chargers. Local Authorities as part of their strategy development and implementation planning will identify locations and optimum sites where these types of chargers are required. ZEVI is currently engaging with Local Authorities and looking at potential direct multi annual funding options for Local Authorities to install both Destination and Local neighbourhood Charging Projects. We anticipate Phase 1 projects will commence roll out in 2024.
202. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport if he has received a request to meet with a group (details supplied); if he will accept its invitation to meet with it to discuss the future of the A5 upgrade project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42476/23]
View answerThe 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, and 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. Provision of £25 million sterling is being made by my Department in 2023 for funding the scheme, should this be required. The Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland estimates the total scheme cost for the A5 project is £1.6 billion with completion expected by 2032/2033 and the largest funding demands over the 2025 to 2028 period. The Department for Infrastructure expects to have the report of the Public Inquiry by year end and possibly sooner. The Department for Infrastructure has informed the Department of Transport that construction of the Main Works is currently planned to start in April or May of 2024 with the commencement of Section 1 from Newbuildings to Strabane. However, this is subject to a number of conditions being met, including a positive outcome from the report of the recently concluded Public Inquiry, completion of the Statutory Orders and agreement of a Target Cost with the contractor. If there is a further legal challenge the start dates will likely be revisited.
Neither I nor officials in my Department have met with stakeholders involved in the A5 Enough is Enough campaign, however, officials in my Department engage regularly with the Senior Officials Group on North/South Infrastructure and Investment. The purpose of the group is to facilitate discussion between the Irish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive on the implementation of relevant commitments. This aims to drive forward implementation of North/South infrastructure and investment commitments set out in the framework of New Decade, New Approach, including projects such as the A5.
203. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Transport to consider Blarney for a ‘safe routes to schools’ study. [42481/23]
View answer204. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Transport the process under which a road for which ownership is unclear but acts as a public access route to a school and needs road safety measures. [42482/23]
View answer205. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Transport whether he is aware of issues with road safety and school drop-off on a road in Blarney, known as Hedge Road, for which no clear ownership can be found. [42483/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 203, 204 and 205 together.
In March 2021, I launched the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Programme as a response to the need to improve safety at the ‘front of school’ environment and enhance access to school grounds. The programme aims to support walking, scooting and cycling to primary and post-primary schools and to create safer walking and cycling routes within communities. This will help alleviate congestion at school gates and increase the number of students who walk or cycle to school by providing the necessary infrastructure.
The Programme is funded by my Department through the National Transport Authority (NTA). An Taisce’s Green-Schools is coordinating the programme and funding will be made available to local authorities who will play a key part in delivering the infrastructure along access routes and at the school gate.
Over 900 schools applied for the Safe Routes to School Programme following its launch, with around 275 actively engaged as part of its first two Rounds. Due to the number of applications received, there are no plans to reopen the Programme for additional applications at this time. Local authorities should ensure that they engage with the NTA directly in relation to any potential active travel infrastructure projects outside the SRTS, including those adjacent to schools, to ensure that they are considered for inclusion in the annual Active Travel Programme allocations.
In terms of the Deputy's specific query in relation to Hedge Road, the maintenance and improvement of roads not taken in charge by local authorities is the responsibility of the relevant landowners.
For roads for which no clear ownership can be found, the Local Government Act 2001 provides the statutory basis for the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS). Under that scheme, funding can be provided to local authorities for the construction and improvement of non-public roads (that is roads not taken in charge by local authorities) which meet the criteria set out in the Act.
In September 2017, the Minister for Rural and Community development reintroduced dedicated funding for the LIS and is continuing to fund the scheme.
206. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Transport whether he is aware of issues with buses in Glanmire; and whether he will consider additional buses on the route to remedy this. [42488/23]
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.
In light of the Authority's responsibility in this area, I have forwarded the Deputy's question in relation to additional bus services on the Glanmire route, to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
207. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Transport when a person (details supplied) will be facilitated with a driving test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42539/23]
View answerUnder the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the National Driver Testing Service. Consequently, neither I nor my Department have the power to intervene in individual cases.The driver testing service has been under significant pressure to meet unprecedented demand, which has increased by 28% compared with 2021 figures. In response to these pressures, the Authority reviewed the capacity of the driver testing service and, following a request for additional resources, my Department gave approval for the recruitment of up to 75 additional driver testers. This brings the total number of sanctioned driver tester posts to just over 200. This recruitment is underway and being managed by the Authority. I have been advised that the first tranche of new recruits were deployed in September. The additional driver testers are being allocated across the driver testing service with a focus on the geographical areas with the longest waiting times and highest demand for tests.It is expected that once the full complement of additional driver testers are trained and deployed, the backlog for driver testing services will begin to decline by the end of October and the agreed service level of a 10-week wait time will resume by the middle of 2024.
208. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport the progress made to date with the review of the Galway Transport Strategy 2016 which he said in the Dáil was expected to be published by the end of the year; whether that deadline will still be achieved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42545/23]
View answerThe National Transport Authority (NTA), in conjunction with Galway City Council and Galway County Council, is currently in the process of developing the Galway Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy (GMATS). This strategy will replace the current Galway Transport Strategy.
Given the NTA's role in the review of the strategy, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for updated information in relation to when the NTA expects to publish a draft strategy for public consultation. Please contact my office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
209. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport if traffic calming and a pedestrian crossing will be installed at a location in County Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42574/23]
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.
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.
210. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport whether it would not be possible for Irish Rail to facilitate the 800 supporters who need to travel to Cork from Inchicore for a sporting fixture (details supplied) on Sunday, 8 October 2023, and for large sporting fixtures in general. [42622/23]
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 additional once-off train services or increased capacity 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.
211. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport the reason that the alternatively fuelled heavy duty purchasing scheme has been paused; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42636/23]
View answer212. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport the steps he is planning to reintroduce the alternatively fuelled heavy duty purchasing scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42637/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 211 and 212 together.
Ireland has committed to transitioning to a low carbon economy by 2050 and the transport sector has a significant role to play. To date, in Ireland, the transport sector is heavily dependent on imported oil. Reducing this reliance and switching to zero emission fuels and technologies will be essential to decarbonise the sector. Major changes to our conventional fuel choices will be needed to achieve this goal.
Decarbonisation of heavy-duty vehicles will be key to achieving this objective in the transport sector.
To promote the decarbonisation of the heavy-duty sector, my Department launched the Alternatively-Fueled Heavy-Duty Vehicle (AFHDV) Purchase Grant Scheme in March 2021. The Scheme, which is administered by TII, is intended to help bridge some of the difference in purchase price between conventional heavy-duty vehicles (HDVs) and those powered by alternatively-fueled power-trains.
EU state aid rules have now changed in regards to the General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER). The Green Deal Amendment was published in the EU’s Official Journal 30 June 2023 and is effective as of 1 July 2023. This has impacted the AFHDV Purchase Grant Scheme and amendments to original Scheme Terms and Conditions are now being undertaken. As a result of this, the original AFDHV scheme was no longer viable and needed to be paused to new applications.
It is planned that a new Heavy Duty Vehicles Scheme will be opened in early January 2024, with new T&C’s incorporating the changes to the EU state aid rules. The new scheme will focus on incentivising the purchase of zero emission heavy duty vehicles. Commitments have been made to existing applications to the original AFHDV Scheme and these commitments are being fulfilled through contract agreements.
213. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport when the S-Spine of BusConnects will be implemented. [42641/23]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. In both the policy and funding 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 expansion and enhancement of bus services. I am also delighted to say that this strong policy support has been backed up by increased levels of Exchequer funding, which is supporting the roll-out of initiatives such as BusConnects Dublin.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure, including BusConnects Dublin.
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.
