Written Answers Nos. 256-275
256. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport the number of bus users on each individual bus route in Cork city and county in each of the years 2019 to 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [1263/24]
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.
The query raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for the NTA in conjunction with the relevant bus operators. Therefore, I have forwarded the Deputy's questions to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
257. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport the number of bus users on each individual bus route in Waterford city and county in each of the years 2019 to 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [1264/24]
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.
The query raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for the NTA in conjunction with the relevant bus operators. Therefore, I have forwarded the Deputy's questions to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
258. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport the number of bus users on each individual bus route in Galway city and county in each of the years 2019 to 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [1265/24]
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.
The query raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for the NTA in conjunction with the relevant bus operators. Therefore, I have forwarded the Deputy's questions to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
259. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport the number of bus users on each individual bus route in Limerick city and county in each of the years 2019 to 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [1266/24]
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.
The query raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for the NTA in conjunction with the relevant bus operators. Therefore, I have forwarded the Deputy's questions to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
260. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport the number of bus users on each individual bus route in Dublin city and county in each of the years 2019 to 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [1267/24]
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.
The query raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for the NTA in conjunction with the relevant bus operators. Therefore, I have forwarded the Deputy's questions to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
261. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport the status of applications for additional park and ride locations in cork city; the amount spent to date on such applications and proposed dates for constructions. [1270/24]
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 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's Park and Ride Development Office for a direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
262. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport when the route for the Northern Distributor Road in Cork city will be chosen; and when work will commence. [1271/24]
View answerThe Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy (CMATS) 2040 has been developed by the National Transport Authority (NTA) in collaboration with Transport Infrastructure Ireland, Cork City Council and Cork County Council. A key principle for CMATS is to reduce dependency on the private car within the Cork metropolitan area, while increasing the appeal of sustainable transport options, such as the proposed Cork Northern Distributor Multi-Modal Route which will cater for bus movements as well as segregated cycle and pedestrian infrastructure.
In line with the Public Spending Code (PSC) at the time, Cork City Council prepared a Strategic Assessment Report for the Cork Northern Distributor Multi-Modal Route and submitted this report during 2022 for formal review, as was required by the PSC. The NTA undertook a review of the Strategic Assessment Report and provided feedback in December 2022 to Cork City Council on aspects of the proposal that needed to be further addressed before approval to proceed to the next phase of the project could be granted.
As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. Noting the NTA's responsibility in this matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to NTA for a more detailed response on the specific issue raised. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
263. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport the date of publication of TII funding for 2024 for national roads and by-passes. [1272/24]
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 relation to your question, the National Roads allocations for 2024 are currently being finalised and will be published by TII in the coming weeks.
264. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport the reason an applicant (details supplied) for a CPC card has to re-sit the theory test to be approved for the CPC card when they already passed the theory test in 2012 when they applied for a learner permit. [1278/24]
View answerAll enquires relating to CPC cards and testing are handled by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) under the relevant legislation. My Department does not have access to individual applications.
I have referred the question to the Authority for direct reply.
265. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Transport the reason travel centres have been closed in all bus stations. [1282/24]
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 issue raised by the deputy in relation to Travel Centres in bus stations is an operational matter for Bus Éireann. I have, therefore, referred the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
266. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Transport the details of the planned rollout of hybrid or electric buses in Cork after the initial tranche of 35 are in operation. [1283/24]
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, and for the scheduling and timetabling of these services in conjunction with the relevant transport operators. The NTA also has responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure, including the procurement of the PSO bus fleet.
In light of the NTA's responsibilities for the rollout of new services, including in Cork, 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.
267. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Transport to provide a comprehensive breakdown of road traffic collisions, by county for the most recent year available, detailing the number of incidents, fatalities and serious injuries in each county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1284/24]
View answerThe Road Safety Authority (RSA) has a statutory remit to report on fatal, serious and minor injury collisions on public roads. The RSA receives collisions data from An Garda Síochána for this purpose and produces official statistics to help develop evidence-based road safety interventions.
Given the RSA's responsibility in this matter, I have referred the Deputy's questions to the RSA for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.
268. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Transport the estimated cost of purchasing 100 extra hybrid and 18 extra hydrogen buses for the Dublin Bus fleet. [1297/24]
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 public transport infrastructure including the procurement of the national Public Service Obligation bus fleet.
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.
269. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport the number of cross-Border driving bans that the RSA has sought to enforce through the courts since 1 January 2020 to date in 2024; the number of such bans that have actually been enforced; the status of each case to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1299/24]
View answerUnder section 40 of the Road Traffic Act 2016, when the Road Safety Authority (RSA) is notified of a driving disqualification of an Irish licence holder for an offence committed in the United Kingdom, it must apply to an Irish court to give effect to the UK disqualification in Ireland. I have referred the Deputy's enquiry to the RSA for direct reply in regards the statistical aspect as this information is held by the Authority.
270. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport the actions being taken by his Department to reduce waiting times for driving tests in the Dublin area; the current waiting times, by test centre in Dublin; his Department’s target wait time for each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1338/24]
View answerUnder the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the National Driver Testing Service and the information requested is held by that agency. I have therefore referred the questions to the RSA for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response is not received within 10 days.
Regarding driver testing delays, the service has been under significant pressure to meet unprecedented demand. Anticipating ongoing demand pressures and following a request for additional resources last year, 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 205 in 2023, which is more than double the 100 sanctioned testing posts in June 2022.
The first tranche of new recruits were deployed last September and the national average waiting time for invitation to test has been decreasing since then. By the end of 2023 there was an increase of 41 driver testers allocated across the driver testing service with a focus on geographical areas with the longest waiting times and highest demand for tests.
Sanction remains in place for the Authority to increase the number of testers on temporary contracts to further alleviate current pressures on the service. My Department is working closely with the Authority to monitor demand and capacity requirements of the driver testing service to ensure it meets the agreed service level of average wait times of 10 weeks, which the Authority expects to achieve by mid-2024.
271. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Transport if he plans to run an information campaign for motorists who may be able to use hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) in their vehicles, given that it is now available at some petrol stations; if the Government will encourage and incentivise the roll-out of HVO across the country in view of its ability to reduce fossil fuels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1342/24]
View answerTo achieve a 50% reduction in Carbon emissions by 2030 the Climate Action Plan biofuel target is to raise the blend proportion of biofuels in road transport to an equivalent of E10 (10% Ethanol in petrol) and B20 (20% biodiesel or HVO in diesel) by 2030, supporting carbon abatement of 1.08 MtCO2eq or 13.7% of overall transport sector carbon reduction under the Plan.
Achievement of the Climate Action Plan biofuel target is delivered through an annual increase in the rate of renewable transport fuel obligation (RTFO) on suppliers of road transport fuels to ensure that a proportion of the fuels they place on the market in Ireland are produced from renewable sources.
Suppliers have a have a variety of methods to meet the obligation, incentivising a competitive market action, e.g., Bioethanol in petrol, Biodiesel (FAME) or Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (HVO) in diesel. However, HVO is expected to meet a large proportion of the increase in biofuel supply envisaged under the climate action plan transport biofuel target.
HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil) is a drop-in bioliquid which can replace fossil diesel up to 100%, with GHG reduction benefits. When used in transport the HVO is referred to as biofuel. HVO bioliquid is also used as renewable energy for heating and power generators.
Supporting the supply of renewable energy in transport, the Renewable Transport Fuel Policy 2023-2025 sets out the pathway to the achievement of both Climate Action Plan targets and European obligations concerning sustainability and GHG reduction criteria.
The RTFO rate is currently set at 21% (by energy) of renewable transport fuel as a proportion of total road transport fossil fuel supply. Renewable transport fuel (incl. HVO) must fulfil EU criteria for sustainability and GHG reduction to qualify under the obligation. The obligation is administered by the National Oil Reserves Agency.
The European Fuel Quality Directive does not establish a maximum limit for the supply of HVO biofuel in road transport fuel. The relevant European standard EN 15940 sets out the requirements for paraffinic diesel fuel from synthesis or hydrotreatment.
Outside of the legal requirement on fuel suppliers under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation, it remains an optional fuel choice for the public and commercial users to avail of the 100% HVO offer. However, it is understood that there are only a small number of publicly accessible HVO only pumps across the country.
I have no plan to run a public information campaign concerning HVO biofuel.
272. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport when the NTA will receive its 2024 funding allocation; and the reason for the delay to date.; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1346/24]
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 in conjunction with the relevant transport operators.
The NTA were advised of the 2024 funding allocations following the publication of the Revised Estimates Volume (REV) for Public Services 2024 in December 2023, as is the case each year. The funding allocations will be drawn down from the Department throughout the year by the NTA in line with normal practice and accounting procedures.
273. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the reason the Transport For Ireland Live app does not process the Nightlink bus information; if there is a plan to process this information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1350/24]
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 issues raised in relation to the TFI Live App is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA). Therefore, I have referred the Deputy's question to the Authority for direct response to the Deputy. Please advise my private office if you do not receive replies within ten working days.
274. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport if the eSPSV grant is due to reopen for applications in 2024; and if so, if the eligibility requirements will remain the same as in the 2023 round of the scheme. [1361/24]
View answerThe Electric Small Public Service Vehicle (eSPSV) Grant Scheme is in place to support the greening of the SPSV, or taxi, sector. It is aimed at improving air quality in urban areas, reducing the CO2 emissions of a sector which typically has very high mileage, and also can positively influence the uptake of zero emission passenger cars by improving general perception and awareness of the benefits of electric vehicles.
The SPSV industry is regarded as a champion in the normalisation of electric vehicle use. The Scheme is funded by the Department of Transport and administered by NTA acting as agents of the Department with delegated authority and as the licensing authority for SPSVs.
The 2024 Scheme is expected to open for applications in the coming weeks on a similar operating basis as the 2023 Scheme. The Scheme, as with all ZEVI schemes, is kept under continuous review to ensure alignment with policy.
275. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport his plans to make the wearing of high-visibility clothing a legal requirement for pedestrians and cyclists due to the high level of pedestrian fatalities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1396/24]
View answerUnder the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has responsibility for the promotion of public awareness campaigns and for the advancement of education specific to the safe use of roads. I have therefore referred the Deputy's question to the RSA for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response is not received within 10 days.
My Department is of the view that encouraging the use of protective gear such as helmets and high visibility clothing is better achieved by way of educational rather than punitive means. The RSA promotes the use of high visibility clothing for road users and in recent years has distributed several million high-vis vests, armbands and rucksack covers to pedestrians and cyclists.
