Written Answers Nos. 169-188
169. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Transport the number of buses in the Bus Eireann PSO fleet as of 31 December 2021, 31 December 2022 and 31 December 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2358/24]
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 raised by the Deputy regarding the number of busses in Bus Éireann's PSO fleet is an operational matter for Bus 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 reply within ten working days.
170. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Transport the number of buses, coaches and HGVs that were inspected by Road Safety Authority in 2023; the number of those vehicles that were inspected that were found with major or dangerous defects in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2359/24]
View answerThe Road Safety Authority is the body with statutory responsibility for the enforcement of commercial vehicle roadworthiness legislation. I have therefore referred the Deputy’s question 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.
171. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport what action his Department is taking to reduce the lengthy waiting times for driving test appointments at a test centre (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2421/24]
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 on specific centres is held by the agency. I have therefore referred the 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.
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.
172. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of increased motor tax cost for some individuals (details supplied); if this has been examined, given the effect it has; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2451/24]
View answerThe Finance (Excise Duties) (Vehicles) Act 1952 as amended, provides that the rates of motor tax for goods vehicles apply to vehicles which are '...constructed or adapted for use and used for the conveyance of goods, or burden of any other description, in the course of trade or business...'
In order to verify that a vehicle meets these criteria, the first taxing of a goods vehicle by a vehicle owner must be done at the owner's local motor tax office. Article 3 of the Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing) (Amendment) Regulations 1992 provides that a motor tax office shall only issue a licence if it is satisfied that the licence applied for is the appropriate for the vehicle specified.
For this purpose, motor tax offices should, in addition to the Goods Only Declaration Form RF111A, seek supporting documentation from the vehicle owner.
If a goods vehicle is not being used in the course of business or trade it, falls to be taxed as a private vehicle at the rates provided for in Finance (Excise Duties) (Vehicles) Act 1952, Schedule Part 1, paragraph 6. These rates are based on the engine capacity of the vehicle.
173. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide a 2023 end-of-year report on the Connecting Ireland Plan for County Tipperary; the funding that was allocated and spent; the services that have been delivered; the funding that will be allocated for 2024; and the services that are expected to be delivered in 2024 in County Tipperary. [2481/24]
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. 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 Connecting Ireland services in County Tipperary, 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.
174. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Transport the reason it is not possible to exchange a driving licence issued by the Canadian Province of Nova Scotia and be issued with an Irish driving licence; if there are any plans to allow such exchanges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2580/24]
View answerIreland has entered into driving licence exchange agreements with seven Canadian provinces to date. These agreements recognise the relevant Canadian licences for exchange with Irish licences. The most recent agreement reached is with New Brunswick.
Nova Scotia is the next Canadian province in line to be examined for a possible licence exchange agreement. Such agreements take time, as the relevant authorities on each side must study and compare the licensing regimes and be satisfied that they are compatible. The Road Safety Authority (RSA), as the licensing authority for Ireland, performs this process.
I have requested the RSA to prioritise the examination of agreements with countries that may be a source of qualified truck and bus drivers to help with the current shortage in those areas. However, it is also my intention to see an agreement in place with Nova Scotia but it is not possible to give a timeframe for when such an agreement may be completed.
175. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Transport if he will advise why the once a week Bus Éireann service, Route 460 Sligo to Castlerea which served local communities (details supplied) has been discontinued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2598/24]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I am responsible for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in day-to-day operational matters. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally and for the scheduling of these services in conjunction with the relevant transport operators, in this case Bus Éireann.I have, therefore, 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.
176. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide an update on the Southern Relief Road in Carlow and the relief road for Tullow (details supplied). [2617/24]
View answerIn relation to the portion of the Deputy’s question on Carlow Southern Relief Road, and in line with my response delivered to the Deputy’s previous Oral PQ (53212/23) on the progress of the scheme, the Strategic Assessment Report (SAR) has been approved and Carlow County Council was given clearance to proceed to prepare a Preliminary Business Case. Carlow County Council is currently in the process of progressing this Business Case. In 2023, the Council also sought to appoint a dedicated resource to manage the scheme/Preliminary Business Case and the Department understands that this resource was recently appointed and is now in place.
With regards to the relief road for Tullow, it is important to highlight that the 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 local authorities' own resources supplemented by State road grants. Of these grants, the vast majority (approximately 90%) are targeted at the maintenance and renewal of the network with c. 10% of the remaining funding invested in new roads/bridges or for road realignments.
Any new road projects that seek funding are assessed by the Department on a case-by-case basis. All projects proposed by local authorities for consideration must comply with the requirements of the Infrastructure Guidelines (formerly the Public Spending Code) and my Department's Transport Appraisal Framework. Given the limited funding available for regional and local road improvement works it is important for local authorities to prioritise projects within their overall area of responsibility with these requirements in mind.
My Department has received a preliminary appraisal application from the Council in relation to the R418-R725 Junction in Tullow. All applications received from local authorities are currently being assessed taking into account competing projects and the available budget. Grant allocations for 2024 will be notified to local authorities in the coming weeks.
177. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide a schedule of official flights and costs of same taken by him in 2023; if a schedule will be provided of all hotels he stayed in in 2023, including hotel name and cost per night while on official State business; and if the same information will be provided in respect of all accompanying staff and advisors. [2654/24]
View answerGiven my dual role as both the Minister for Transport and the Minister for Environment, Climate & Communications, my expenses undergo processing through the Department of Environment, Climate & Communications.
178. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Transport the progress made in respect of the safe routes to school scheme, the completed and in-progress projects by end-2023; the associated costs of the programme, per county; the anticipated timeframe for the completion of projects at all schools under Round 1 and 2; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2702/24]
View answerIn 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.
All schools were notified of the programme and were invited to apply. 931 applications were received from primary and secondary schools across every county in Ireland, making up around a quarter of all the schools in the country. 167 schools form Round 1 of the Programme with a further 108 schools having been selected for inclusion in Round 2. It should be noted that all schools that applied to the original call for applications were accepted into the programme, and if not selected in the first two rounds will be selected at a later stage without the need to reapply.
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. The improvements to the school commute could range from an upgraded footpath or new cycle lane to a complete reworking of a school’s entrance. The required investment at each school will be dependent on the changes required in each particular case.
Noting the role of the NTA in the programme, I have referred your question to that agency for a more detailed answer. If you do not receive a reply within 10 working days, please contact my private office.
179. Deputy Seán Crowe asked the Minister for Transport if the specialist data subgroup presented a set of recommendations and clear action plan to the Road Safety Partnership Board at their meeting of 14 November 2023; what this action plan specifically entails regarding data sharing between An Garda Síochána and the Road Safety Authority; when the Road Safety Authority will resume its statutory duty of issuing reports on road traffic collisions; and if there is a need for a legislative change to resume this important function for the benefit of road safety stakeholders and the wider public. [2708/24]
View answerThe Ministerial Committee on Road Safety has oversight of delivery of the Government's Road Safety Strategy 2021 - 2030. The senior official group supporting the Committee is the Road Safety Transformation Partnership Board (RSTPB), comprising officials from the Departments of Transport and Justice and bodies including the Road Safety Authority (RSA), An Garda Síochána, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, National Transport Authority and the Courts Service.
In 2023, three subgroups were established by the RSTPB to consider matters relating to road safety legislation, funding and data. The Data Enabler Group is chaired by the Road Safety Authority and is currently tasked with working through the issue of data sharing between road safety partners.
The chair of the Data Enabler Group provided a comprehensive update at the November RSTPB meeting on the good progress made to date on the issue of collision data sharing. The RSTPB was informed that data stakeholders are meeting monthly to maintain progress on concluding an agreement, which must be GDPR compliant. It is currently expected that an agreement on sharing of collision data can be concluded later in 2024.
180. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Iompair an meán, atá ar thástáil tiomána i láthair na huaire; cad iad na céimeanna atá á nglacadh aige chun an mhoill sin a laghdú; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [2722/24]
View answerDe réir an Achta fán Údarás um Shábháilteacht ar Bhóithre, 2006, is ar an Údarás um Shábháilteacht ar Bhóithre (an RSA) atá an fhreagracht reachtúil as gach gné den tSeirbhís Náisiúnta Tástála Tiomána. Tá mé tar éis ceist an Teachta a chur faoi bhráid an RSA dá bhrí sin le go bhféadfaidh siadsan freagra díreach a thabhairt dó. D’iarrfainn ar an Teachta teagmháil a dhéanamh le m’oifig mura mbeidh freagra faighte aige laistigh de 10 lá.
Maidir leis an moill atá ar thástálacha tiomána faoi láthair, tá brú suntasach ar an tseirbhís le gairid freastal ar éileamh gan fasach. Toisc gur measadh go leanfaí den bhrú sin agus tar éis iarraidh ar acmhainní breise a fháil anuraidh, thug mo Roinn cead le suas le 75 tástálaí tiomána breise a earcú. Fágann sé sin go bhfuil 205 post mar thástálaí tiomána ceadaithe in 2023, líon atá a dhá oiread níos mó ná an 100 post a bhí ceadaithe siar i mí an Mheithimh 2022.Thosaigh an chéad ghrúpa de na hearcaigh nua ag obair mí Mheán Fómhair seo caite agus tá an mheántréimhse feithimh náisiúnta ag dul i laghad ó shin. Ag deireadh 2023 bhí 41 tástálaí tiomána sa bhreis ag obair ar fud na seirbhíse tástála tiomána, agus iad dírithe go príomha ar na limistéir gheografacha a raibh na tréimhsí feithimh ab fhaide agus an t-éileamh ab airde ar thástálacha iontu. Tá cead fós ag an Údarás cur le líon na dtástálaithe ar chonarthaí sealadacha leis an mbrú atá ar an tseirbhís faoi láthair a mhaolú tuille.
Tá mo Roinn ag obair as lámha a chéile leis an Údarás le monatóireacht a dhéanamh ar an éileamh atá ar an tseirbhís agus ar na riachtanais acmhainne atá aici lena chinntiú go mbeidh sí in ann an leibhéal comhaontaithe seirbhíse a chomhlíonadh arís, i.e. tréimhse feithimh 10 seachtaine ar an meán, rud atá súil ag an Údarás a bhaint amach faoi lár 2024.
181. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport to outline the steps he proposes to take to reduce the unacceptable and inordinate delays for driving tests, currently standing at in excess of six months, at the driving test centre in Portlaoise. [2753/24]
View answerUnder the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the National Driver Testing Service. I have therefore referred the Deputy's question to the RSA for detailed reply in relation to the Portlaoise test centre. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response is not received within 10 days.
Regarding driver testing delays more generally, 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 across the driver testing service, with additional testing capacity deployed to the 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.
182. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport to provide a full update from the Road Safety Authority on the need to progress a new temporary or permanent driving test centre for Drogheda, County Louth, the largest town in Ireland; if, considering the unacceptable driving test wait times in the Louth and east Meath area, he will seek full clarification on the list of sites which have been assessed since the decision was taken to close the temporary site in March 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2783/24]
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 question to the Authority for direct, detailed response. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response is not received within 10 days.
Pending this more detailed response, I am informed that the RSA are continuing to work with the Office of Public Works on finding a suitable test centre site for Drogheda but have been unsuccessful to date.
183. Deputy Ciarán Cannon asked the Minister for Transport to explain the significant delay in completing the Athenry Ring Road; to give an accurate timeline for completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2785/24]
View answerIn accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993, each local authority has statutory responsibility for the improvement and maintenance of their regional and local roads. Works on those roads are funded from local authorities' own resources and are supplemented by State Road grants. Of these grants, the vast majority (approximately 90%) are targeted at the maintenance and renewal of the network with c. 10% of the remaining funding invested in new roads/bridges or for road realignments. Any road projects that seek State funding are assessed by the Department on a case-by-case basis. All projects proposed by local authorities for consideration must comply with the requirements of the Infrastructure Guidelines (formerly the Public Spending Code) and the Department's Transport Appraisal Framework. Given the limited funding available for regional and local road improvement works it is important for local authorities to prioritise projects within their overall area of responsibility with these requirements in mind. In this regard, it is my understanding that Galway County Council are currently proceeding through detailed design phase and the CPO statutory process in relation to the Athenry Ring Road scheme. All applications received from local authorities for Strategic Grant allocations are currently being assessed taking into account competing projects and the available budget. Strategic Grant allocations for 2024 will be notified to local authorities as part of the general grant allocation process which will be issued in the coming weeks.
184. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport if a bus service (details supplied) will be reinstated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2827/24]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I am responsible for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in day-to-day operational matters. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally and for the scheduling of these services in conjunction with the relevant transport operators, in this case Bus Éireann. I have, therefore, forwarded the Deputy's question in relation to the curtailment of the 279 bus from Cahersiveen to Killarney to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
185. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Transport to review correspondence (details supplied); if he will address the issues outlined; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2843/24]
View answerA person can drive in Ireland on a Ukrainian driving licence if they are here under the EU Temporary Protection Directive and section 60 of the International Protection Act 2015. Their licence is recognised for the period of temporary protection.
However, a person who is resident in Ireland other than under temporary protection legislation (for example, with permanent residency, on a work visa or under international protection) cannot drive here on their Ukrainian licence and must have an Irish or EU licence. They can apply for an Irish licence in the normal way (sitting the theory test, applying for a learner permit, taking the mandatory 12 essential driver training lessons and passing a driving test).
A person who has held a full Ukrainian driving licence for more than two years can avail of a shorter process to a full licence, involving a theory test, 6 lessons instead of 12 and not having to wait the minimum of 6 months from the theory test before taking a driving test.
It is also open to Ukrainians resident in Ireland under temporary protection to apply for an Irish licence as above, if they wish to do so.
Insuring a Ukrainian licence holder as a named driver on an Irish insurance policy is a commercial matter for the individual insurers and is not within the remit of my Department.
186. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport the authority responsible for private aircraft flying throughout the State, is there a record of those flights, the flightpaths they took, the altitude they flew at, how a person can check should a record; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2848/24]
View answerIt is not clear exactly what type of aircraft operation the Deputy is referring to. The nature of ownership does not arise as a specific categorisation in aviation and therefore data is not collected specifically in relation to ‘private aircraft.’
Data in relation to flight types are categorised based on the EUROCONTROL Market Segment Rules 2022 which classifies flights into the following categories: Military, Business Aviation, All Cargo, Low-Cost, Regional, Mainline, Charter, and other. This classification is based on a set of rules that use a mixture of operator, aircraft type and route information to determine the corresponding category.
AirNav Ireland is the semi state company responsible for providing air traffic management and related services within airspace controlled by Ireland. AirNav Ireland retains information in relation to flight plans submitted by operators under the Business Aviation category, however not all such flights would be considered as 'private' aircraft.
Aircraft operated on a non-commercial basis are not regulated in entirely the same manner as commercial aviation. The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) has a role in relation to the oversight of certain non-commercial air operations with complex motor-powered aircraft, whose operations are Declared to the IAA in Ireland, in accordance with the rules of the European Union Aviation Safety Agency.
Regarding the operations of smaller non-complex aircraft and regulatory oversight, the competent authority is the authority designated by the Member State where the aircraft is registered. If the aircraft is registered in a third country i.e. outside EU, the competent authority is the authority designated by the Member State where the operator has its principal place of business, is established or is residing.
If the Deputy wishes to provide further information to my Department, further enquiries can be made with AirNav Ireland and with IAA to determine what, if any, information they may have on the flights or operators that the Deputy is referring to.
187. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Transport to comment on his awareness of the provisional of additional NCT centres in County Clare (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2855/24]
View answerThe operation of the National Car Testing Service, including the provision of new test centres, is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority. I have therefore referred the Deputy's query to the Authority for direct reply.
I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response with the information requested has not been received within ten days.
188. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider extending the ten-year rule for taxis not covered by the existing extension, starting with 151-registered vehicles, given the fact that they will be due for renewal in 2025 when, paradoxically, older vehicles will not; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2888/24]
View answerThe 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.
Regulations made by the NTA in 2010 first established a maximum permissible age of 10 years for new standard taxis and hackneys. The ten-year rule was adopted in recognition of the need to strike a balance between achieving standards that offer the customer confidence, comfort, and safety, and allowing industry members to operate successfully.
The NTA's extension of age limits during Covid-19 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.
A series of global circumstances in 2022 had, in the NTA’s view, considerably worsened the capability of taxi and hackney licence holders to secure new vehicles. Therefore, the NTA further temporarily extended 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. They did this by introducing Regulations on 18 November 2022, the purpose of which is to amend Regulation 31 (Maximum Permissible Age Requirements) of the Taxi Regulation (Small Public Service Vehicle) Regulations 2015.
The 2022 Regulations provide for a graduated return to the ten-year age limit, with vehicles whose 10-year limit was originally in 2020 or 2021 now extended to 2025, those whose original limit is in 2022 or 2023 now extended to 2026 and those whose original limit will be reached in 2024 extended to 2027.
The NTA has 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.
