Written Answers Nos. 141-150
141. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the status of the Commission on the Future of the Defence Forces to establish an office of veterans' affairs; the funding that has been budgeted for this purpose for 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2214/24]
View answerThe establishment of an Office of Veterans Affairs, under new Defence Forces structures, was one of 130 recommendations included in the report of the Commission on the Defence Forces which was published on 9th of February 2022.
Following detailed consideration by the Department of Defence and the Defence Forces of the recommendations in the report, a High Level Action Plan and a Memorandum for Government were brought to Government and approved on 12th of July 2022. The High Level Action Plan set out the response of Government in relation to each of the 130 individual recommendations: Accept, Accept in Principle, Further Evaluation or Revert. The recommendation to establish an Office of Veterans Affairs was accepted in principle, meaning that further consideration is required on the optimal approach to meeting the intent of the Commission.
A detailed implementation Plan for the Report of the Commission on the Defence Forces was published on 21st of November 2023. The plan sets out how the implementation of this recommendation will be progressed and the proposed timeframe.
142. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the current number of officers, non-commissioned officers and privates in the First Line Reserve; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2215/24]
View answer143. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the number of applications to join the First Line Reserve received in 2023; the numbers within that have been enlisted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2216/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 142 and 143 together.
The First Line Reserve (FLR) is intended to provide a pool of trained personnel who are available at short notice to supplement Permanent Defence Force (PDF) units in times of emergency. There is currently no set establishment for the FLR.
The existing regulatory framework provides for former members of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) to join the Army Reserve or Naval Service Reserve. This is subject to their meeting certain criteria. Direct entry to the FLR is limited to personnel who are departing the PDF and have undertaken, either voluntarily or on foot of a contractual commitment, to complete a period of service in the FLR.
The Military Authorities have advised that as of 30 November 2023, the strength of the First Line Reserve (FLR) is 282, comprising of 5 Officers, 46 Non Commissioned Officers (NCOs) and 231 Privates.
I can confirm that the FLR is an area, which will be examined, in the context of work arising from the Commission on the Defence Forces (CoDF).
As an interim measure, the Department continues to receive business cases from the Military Authorities for applications for officers wishing to join the FLR. The applications are assessed by the Minister on a case by case basis having regard to the particular skills-sets of the officer. In 2023, a total of 2 applications were received and approved while 1 application from 2022 was also approved and a further 1 received at the end of 2023 is under consideration.
I would like to assure the Deputy that it is my intention, and that of the Chief of Staff, to ensure that the momentum behind the regeneration of the RDF will be maintained, thereby enabling us, going forward, to create a Reserve Defence Force that can seamlessly train, operate and deploy with the Permanent Defence Force, both nationally and internationally.
144. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Defence the current timeframe for the implementation of the Working Time Directive within the Defence Forces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2217/24]
View answerI wish to assure the Deputy that I remain fully committed to ensuring that the provisions of the Working Time Directive are applied, where appropriate, to members of the Defence Forces. Action 28, of the Strategic Framework, published on 26 September last, stipulated that the civil-military management policy position on the implementation of the Working Time Directive within the Defence Forces would be finalised by the end of December 2023.
That management position was submitted to me before the end of last year and I am currently examining the paper in full.
As the Deputy will appreciate, I do not intend, at this point, to share the details of the final management position. As Minister for Defence, I will ultimately be making a determination on that position in due course.
However, as the Deputy will also be aware, the responsibility for developing the legislative framework to remove the blanket exemption for the Defence Forces in the Organisation of Working Time Act, 1997, lies with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (DETE). Upon my determination on the matter, my officials will thereafter commence formal engagement with the Department.
It will be matter for the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment to identify the appropriate legislative mechanism and this will of course, influence the timelines. My officials will be liaising with that Department in that regard.
145. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Transport if student paramedics on a national HSE panel will be added to the list of workers prioritised for emergency driver test appointments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2102/24]
View answerUnder the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the National Driver Testing Service. This includes setting the eligibility criteria for urgent driving tests. As such, I have referred the question 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.
146. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Transport if, after a car has failed its inspection and a fee of €55 has been paid, a return fee of €28 to the NCT test centre can be reconsidered for smaller repairs such as a bulb replacement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2103/24]
View answerThe fees for roadworthiness tests (exclusive of VAT), including re-tests, are set out in Section 6 of the Road Traffic (National Car Test) Regulations (SI 415 of 2017), as amended. A re-test must be booked and carried out within 30 days of the test certificate first being refused or a full test will need to be repeated and charged accordingly.
Where a re-test does not require the use of test equipment and solely comprises a visual inspection, it is conducted free of charge. If items (excepting tyres) require testing, then the fee will apply. There are no current plans to amend this legislation to provide for free testing of other failed items.
147. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Transport given the level of fatalities on the public road network, with an especially high number in January 2024 already, if road safety enforcement is the responsibility of An Garda Síochána, the motor insurance industry or the Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2113/24]
View answerThe current framework for road safety is set out in the Government’s fifth Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030. Delivery of Phase 1 and subsequent phases of the strategy is only possible through the close collaboration of a range of road safety partners, including other the Department of Transport, the Department of Justice, An Garda Siochana, the Road Safety Authority, the Medical Bureau of Road Safety, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, the National Transport Authority and local authorities. Road safety experts are working together to deliver the Strategy which has the ambitious target of reducing road deaths and serious injuries by 50% by 2030, and to achieve Vision Zero on Irish roads by 2050.
Complementing the Strategy, the Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023 was signed into law in June and the Road Traffic Measures Bill 2023 was approved by Government in December. The Bill is a concise and focused piece of legislation which will address a number of key areas, including introducing safer default speed limits on national secondary roads, local/rural roads and in built up areas, introducing mandatory drug testing at the scene of serious traffic collisions, and reforming the penalty points system so motorists receive multiple sets of penalty points where multiple offences are committed.
Furthermore, and in response to the rising trend in fatalities through 2023, last October my Department conveyed sanction for the Road Safety Authority to spend €5.6m on increased public awareness campaigns in the latter part of 2023 and beginning 2024 and on commencing a review of the driver testing curriculum to ensure learners are appropriately equipped to deal with issues they might encounter on the roads.
As the Deputy is aware, road traffic legislation is enforced by An Garda Síochána and enforcement is therefore an operational matter for the Garda Commissioner, under the aegis of the Department of Justice.
148. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport the current average waiting time for driver tests across all test centres nationally, in tabular form; what progress has been made to date in reducing the five or six month waiting time for driving tests experienced by applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2114/24]
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 first part of the question to the Authority 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 current total number of sanctioned driver tester posts to 205, 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 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.
149. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport what action his Department is taking to address the increase in road deaths over the past five years, with the exception of 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2151/24]
View answer150. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport what action his Department is taking to address road safety challenges nationally and to reduce death and injuries of road users, pedestrians and cyclists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2152/24]
View answer151. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport what action his Department is taking to address road safety challenges in Cork, in view that Cork in most instances is in the top two counties for most road traffic fatalities in recent years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2153/24]
View answer152. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport what action his Department is taking to prioritise the safety of road users and if consideration would be given to increased road policing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2154/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 149 to 152, inclusive, together.
Under 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 part of the Deputy's question specific to Cork to the RSA for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response is not received within 10 days.
The current framework for road safety is set out in the Government’s fifth Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030. Road safety partners and experts are working closely to deliver the Strategy which has the ambitious target of reducing road deaths and serious injuries by 50% by 2030, and to achieve Vision Zero on Irish roads by 2050.
My Department, the Road Safety Authority, An Garda Siochana and other road safety partners are very concerned with the rising fatalities and serious injuries on our roads and consequently, certain actions in Phase 1 action plan were reprioritised for accelerated delivery. Key milestones include the signing into law of the Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023 in June, the publication of the National Cycling Manual and the Speed Limit Review, both in September.
The second annual review of the Road Safety Strategy will take place this month and will allow road safety partners to review progress in the context of reversing the trend in fatalities and delivering Phase 1 of the Strategy 2021-2024.
Complementing the Strategy, the Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023 was signed into law in June and the Road Traffic Bill 2023 was approved for publication by Government in December. The latter Bill is a concise and focused piece of legislation aimed at addressing road safety issues in a number of key areas, including introducing safer default speed limits on national secondary roads, rural roads and in built up areas, introducing mandatory drug testing at the scene of serious traffic collisions, and reforming the penalty points system so motorists receive multiple sets of penalty points where multiple offences are committed.
Furthermore, and in response to the rising trend in fatalities through 2023, last October my Department conveyed sanction for the Road Safety Authority to spend €5.6m on increased public awareness campaigns in the latter part of 2023 and beginning 2024 and on commencing a review of the driver testing curriculum to ensure learners are appropriately equipped to deal with issues they might encounter on the roads.
Road traffic legislation is enforced by An Garda Síochána and enforcement is therefore an operational matter for the Garda Commissioner, under the aegis of the Department of Justice.
