Written Answers Nos. 71-91
71. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Transport if the Government will ensure that the Western Rail Corridor is added to the TEN-T network following the publication of the All-Island Rail Review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43921/23]
View answerAs referred to in the National Development Plan, the 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 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 a draft report was published for the purposes of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) public consultation in July. The public consultation phase of the SEA process concluded on 29th September and submissions are now under review by the Project Team and officials from both jurisdictions. Following the completion of 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, 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.
As the Deputy is aware, negotiations are ongoing on the revision of the existing TEN-T Regulation. This will be the first full revision of the Regulation since its adoption in 2013, with further revisions likely in the future given the Regulation’s horizon to 2050. Negotiations are currently at the trilogue stage in Brussels, with a final agreement possible over the coming months. My Department will continue to liaise with the relevant European Union institutions on the finalisation of the Strategic Rail Review and its impact on Ireland’s position in relation to this current revision of the TEN-T Network.
72. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Transport the update on progressing measures and actions to reduce total car kilometres by 20% by 2030 in accordance with Climate Action Plan 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43957/23]
View answerClimate Action Plan 2023 (CAP23) was the first statutory climate plan to incorporate both the economy-wide targets and legally binding sectoral emission ceilings, set by Government in July 2022. For transport, we are now obligated to pursue a decarbonisation pathway capable of achieving a 50% reduction in transport emissions by 2030, in a manner that is consistent with a sectoral emissions ceiling of 54 Mt for the first carbon budget period (2021-2025), and a sectoral emissions ceiling of 37?Mt over the second carbon budget period (2026-2030).
The design of the decarbonisation pathway for transport set out in CAP23, which has been premised on an ‘Avoid-Shift-Improve’ hierarchy for greater transport sustainability, has been informed by detailed transport modelling undertaken with the National Transport Authority. The targeted 20% reduction in total vehicle kilometres travelled by 2030, relative to the levels of increased travel demand expected in the absence of intervention, represents just one of several metrics presented in the plan indicating the transformative scale of change required.
Our decarbonisation pathway is multi-faceted and will require a combination of measures in order to change long-established patterns and preferences in how and where we travel, and to address the multitude of potential influences on our transport decisions. This will take time and as such the modelled pathway comprises an integrated and interdependent basket of measures that seek to promote behavioural change, improve public transport availability and competitiveness, and disincentivise private vehicle usage, alongside widespread vehicle electrification and the use of renewable transport fuels.
Greater levels of emissions abatement are thus expected in the second carbon budget period (2026-2030), once significant enhancements in the provision of sustainable alternatives to private car usage are more widely available.
Some recent key items of progress that will support this change to note include the recent launch of the ‘Your Journey Counts’ national advertising campaign, the continued implementation of actions in our Sustainable Mobility Policy Action Plan and Pathfinder Programme, the progression of BusConnects, MetroLink and DART+ schemes through key decision gates, the publication of the Cycle Design Manual and public consultations to inform the development of an extensive cycling network across our National Cycle Network and CycleConnects infrastructure programmes, and the continued roll-out of the NTA’s Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Programme.
However, as the population continues to grow, demand management will also become increasingly important from an operational perspective. Managing transport demand by increasing the efficiency of the existing transportation system and reducing overall travel demand, where feasible, forms a key element of the decarbonisation pathway. In recognition of this, CAP23 committed my department to the development of a new National Demand Management Strategy.
Earlier this year, I established an inter-departmental and agency group to steer the development of this strategy, involving key delivery partners. The aim of the Strategy is to ensure that our transport system can operate efficiently into the future, with a strong emphasis on co-benefits such as health, air quality, road safety and placemaking. The Strategy will be high-level in nature and will define the type of measures that may be deployed nationally.
Subject to Government approval, I intend launching a phase of public consultation on the draft strategy in early 2024. My department is also undertaking targeted engagement with key stakeholders, building on a workshop on the issue at the department’s National Sustainable Mobility Stakeholder Forum, which took place on 20 April.
73. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Transport to provide an update and timeline on the roll-out of the proposed B and E spines as part of the BusConnects service improvements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44069/23]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. There have been significant developments in relation to bus transport 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.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure, including BusConnects. To date, the NTA has commenced 5 phases of network redesign and submitted 12 planning applications to ABP across the 16 Core Bus Corridors.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, and your specific query in relation to the B and E Core Bus Corridors, I have referred the Deputy's questions in relation to the areas raised to the NTA for a direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
74. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware that the Aircoach services have not resumed to a full service since Covid 19 restrictions were lifted, and that this is having a negative impact on service users; if he will request a report on the matter from the NTA to ensure they are operating to the terms of their service licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44070/23]
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 of those services in conjunction with the relevant transport operators.
Further, the bus services referred to by the Deputy, in this case Aircoach, are commercial bus services and as such responsibility for the operation of those services is a matter for the company.
As the NTA is also the licensing authority for the commercial bus sector, I have also forwarded the Deputy's question, to the Authority for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
75. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport the reason the NTA extension of vehicle age limits for taxis during the Covid pandemic applied only to vehicles up to 151 registrations but not 152 and subsequent years up until the pandemic itself; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44106/23]
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.
The NTA did extend vehicle age limits several times since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, thereby ensuring no operator exits the industry simply because of the need to replace a vehicle.
The Authority's extension of age limits was an emergency measure of a temporary nature, taken in recognition of the particular challenges posed by the pandemic and was specifically aimed at ensuring that no operator would be required to change their vehicle while passenger demand remained low due to the pandemic.
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. Therefore, the NTA proposed to further temporarily extend the maximum permissible age for taxis and hackneys so that no current vehicle licence holder would be forced out of the industry because a replacement vehicle could not be purchased.
The NTA introduced 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.
The NTA contacted SPSV licence holders to confirm the new final operation date of their current licensed vehicle. This amendment was made as an exceptional provision and contingency measure, as a result of vehicle supply issues. The NTA does not anticipate introducing any further maximum permissible age extensions.
78. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport if the recently published public road speed limit review was peer reviewed as per international standards and recommendations (details supplied).; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44123/23]
View answer79. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport if, following the publication of the speed limit review, it is proposed to remove the statutory reserved function of local authority members to set speed limits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44124/23]
View answer90. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Transport to detail the engagement he has had with local authorities regarding their involvement with the announced plan to lower speed limits in regard to alteration or replacement of currently installed speed limit signs. [44209/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 78, 79 and 90 together.
The Speed Limit Review is a key deliverable in Phase 1 of the Government's Road Safety Strategy 2021 - 2030. This action is now complete and the Review, which was published in September, looked at Irish experience to date, best practice internationally and is underpinned by extensive transport modelling.
The review was undertaken by a group of experts comprising officials from my Department, Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), An Garda Síochána, National Transport Authority, the Road Safety Authority and Local Authorities.
The aim of the review was to consider current policy priorities while continuing to address the fragmentation and inconsistency of speed limits on roads all over the country. Solutions recommended seek to address this while seeking to optimise the road network and increase road safety. Key proposals include:
• Default speed limit on national secondary roads to reduce from 100km/h to 80km/h,
• Default speed limit for the network of local and rural roads throughout the country to reduce from 80km/h to 60km/h,
• Default speed limit on urban roads, which include built-up areas as well as housing estates and town centres, to reduce to 30km/h
There are no proposed changes to the default speed limits on motorways, national primary roads or regional roads contained in the review. The framework allows for some appropriate, upward variations where a road is deemed to be safe and good quality on assessment by local authorities. Other recommendations include measures to strengthen support measures for local authority officials and elected members in exercising the reserved function to set speed limits.
The review is evidence-based and reflects best practice. In that regard, the modelling report was peer reviewed by Trinity College Dublin and the main report was peer reviewed by experts from Sweden.
80. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Transport his plans to increase the public bus service capacity, particularly at peak times, in an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44126/23]
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 to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
81. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Transport his plans to increase the public bus service capacity, particularly at peak times, in an area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44127/23]
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 to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
82. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Transport to provide an update on plans for the electrification of the rail service to Wicklow town; to outline plans for the development of battery charging facilities for the trains in Wicklow town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44130/23]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), including the DART+ Programme and its constituent projects.
As the Deputy may be aware, the Transport Strategy for the GDA 2022-2042 includes proposals to extend DART services beyond Greystones to Wicklow.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a more detailed reply on the specific issues raised. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
83. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Transport to provide an update on the public consultation process for the DART+ Coastal South project; if he will provide a timeframe for the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44131/23]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, as Minister for Transport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding of public transport in Ireland, including in relation to the rail network. The National Transport Authority, or NTA, has statutory responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area, including, in consultation with Iarnród Éireann, the DART+ programme.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in this matter and the specific issues raised by the Deputy, I have referred the Deputy's questions to the NTA for a more detailed reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
84. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Transport to provide details on the implementation of the recommendations from the east coast erosion study; if he will provide a timeframe for the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44132/23]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, as Minister for Transport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding of public transport in Ireland, including in relation to the rail network. The National Transport Authority, or NTA, has statutory responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area, including the East Coast Railway Infrastructure Protection Projects.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in this matter and the specific issues raised by the Deputy, I have referred the Deputy's questions to the NTA for a more detailed reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
85. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Transport to provide a copy of the document compiled by Transport Infrastructure Ireland, titled ‘Briefing Note to the Department of Transport on the Consequences of the Funding Scenarios for 2023’; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44142/23]
View answer86. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Transport to provide a comprehensive response on the document compiled by Transport Infrastructure Ireland, titled ‘Briefing Note to the Department of Transport on the Consequences of the Funding Scenarios for 2023’, detailing the actions he intends to take to prevent the anticipated loss of life, if investment in road projects do not take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44143/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 85 and 86 together.
The Deputy will be aware that road safety policy and delivery in Ireland is based around the Safe Systems approach, which identifies seven priority areas for investment and action:
Safe roads & roadsides
Safe speeds
Safe vehicles
Safe road use
Post-crash response
Safe and healthy modes of travel
Safe work-related road use
This Safe Systems approach is embedded across the Government’s Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030 and its nearly 200 actions, with targets a 50% reduction in road deaths and serious injuries by 2030.
Safe roads are one of the seven areas identified for action and this Government is investing significantly in our roads network – both national and regional & local – including the delivery of significant projects such as the N5 Westport to Turlough, the N22 Ballyvourney to Macroom and the recently approved N5 Ballaghaderreen to Scramoge.
The document the Deputy refers to was one produced by Transport Infrastructure Ireland in context of the national road network only. Our road network and its investment needs are much broader than just the national road network and I would note that statistics for this year show that almost two-thirds of all fatalities have occurred on non-national roads.
Funding for our roads network since 2020 has been in excess of €5.1bn and is delivering improvements across the country; however, the evidence shows that safety on our roads is a much broader issue than roads alone and that evidence is guiding our approach as developed under the Road Safety Strategy.
That approach means that, accompanying those increased levels of investment and with our road safety partners across Government, we are looking to:
Develop a safety rating indicator for national road infrastructure, which will help target investment on sections of national roads with the highest risk of fatal or serious injury
Following the publication of the Speed Limit Review, implement its recommendations, including though the preparation of legislation and updated guidelines
Promote and educate customers on new technologies in vehicles, such as automatic anti-lock braking systems, and identify potential enhancements to the National Car Test and Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness Testing
Increase the use of average speed cameras on the national road network and approving and testing alcohol interlock systems
Ensure specialist trauma care teams are in place in the two major trauma centres to receive road traffic collision trauma patients and pilot an Emergency First Response first person on scene training programme for fire/emergency crews
Develop a National Cycle Network plan and invest in new and improved active travel infrastructure
Engage with academia, business civil society, and the insurance industry to promote road safety, including encouraging these entities to sign up to the European Road Safety Charter and improving the accessibility of Driver Certificate of Professional Competence through an online platform to provide blended learning for some of the current curriculum
I look forward to working with the Deputy on making our roads safer.
87. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Transport the number of people in County Clare on a waiting list for a category B driving test; length of time each applicant has been waiting, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44150/23]
View answerUnder the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the National Driver Testing Service. This includes holding information on tests for each county. As such, I have referred the Deputy's question to the RSA for direct reply on the specific issue raised. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.
88. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Transport the full complement of buildings and lands owned by his Department, or by agencies under the aegis of his Department in County Clare; if they are currently in use, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44167/23]
View answerThe information sought by the Deputy is set out in the table below.
|
Building/Land Owned by the Department of Transport in Co. Clare |
Building/Land in Use? (Yes/No) |
|
Doolin Volunteer Coast Guard Station, Doolin, Co. Clare |
Yes |
|
Lands in the Shannon Free Zone, Co. Clare (leased to the Shannon Airport Group) |
Yes |
All other office and accommodation occupied by the Department of Transport is provided by the Office of Public Works (OPW) which is responsible for the procurement of office and other accommodation required by Government Departments.
Given that responsibilities relating to the operation of buildings and lands used by agencies under my Department are a matter for the agencies themselves, I have instructed them to reply to the Deputy directly. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
89. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Transport when he will meet with the A5/N2 Cross-Border Committee of councillors and council officials, as they have requested, to discuss the Irish government's plans to co-fund or fund these two road upgrade projects. [44184/23]
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.
I can confirm that my Department regularly engages with colleagues in the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland. These engagements consider a range of North/South transport proposals, including the A5. A meeting between officials from my Department and their counterparts from the Department for Infrastructure regarding the A5 will take place in the coming days.
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 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.
The N2 Ardee to South of Castleblayney bypass road scheme received an allocation of €600k in 2023. The N2 Clontibret to the Border scheme received an allocation of €2,500,000, which matches funding provided through the EU Connecting Europe Facility.
As with all national roads projects in the NDP, the delivery programme for the N2 projects 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 projects on the N2. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
91. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Transport the engagement his Department has had with Local Link Longford regarding the expansion of the service to facilitate students in Cavan IT. [44216/23]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) has 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 TFI Local Link services and the rollout of services under the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan.
In light of the NTA's responsibilities for the expansion of public transport services in counties Longford and Cavan, I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
