Claire Kerrane
Question:190. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Transport the reason farmers (details supplied) are receiving less remuneration under an agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3557/24]
View answerRoad Projects
Questions (190)
Written answers
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 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.
I welcome the new agreement on the acquisition of land for national roads, which was concluded in December. It provides for a payment of €6,500 per acre for land on which Notice to Treat is served between January 1st 2022 and December 31st 2027. This builds on the previous agreement which was applicable from 2016 to 2021 and which provided for a payment of €3,000 per acre. The increase reflects greater prices for agricultural land along with increases to the Consumer Price Index. Previous such agreements between TII and the IFA have proven to be an effective method in providing for early engagement with landowners, and facilitating access to lands whilst statutory processes are ongoing.
Noting the above position, I have referred your question to TII for a direct reply to provide you with further details regarding the applicability of the new agreement. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
Air Safety
Questions (191)
Cathal Crowe
Question:191. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Transport if the Irish Aviation Authority and Airnav Ireland have any concerns in relation to large scale wind turbines, such as the potential they have to affect flight paths and the safety of aircraft in relation to terrain clearance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3489/24]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy is aware, the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) is the competent authority for aviation safety regulation in Ireland, as provided for under the Irish Aviation Authority Act 1993 and officials in my Department have engaged with it on this issue. The International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) defines an obstacle, outside the airspace defined by aerodrome obstacle limitation surfaces, as an object with a height greater than 100 metres above ground level. Based on an assessment, the IAA may require these obstacles to be marked and/or fitted with obstacle lighting. In general, all wind farm developments require certain wind turbines within the wind farm to be marked and/or fitted with obstacle lighting.
It is the relevant Planning Authority that issue the planning decision with prescribed conditions, which may include the requirement to engage with the IAA to agree an appropriate marking and /or marking scheme. The maintenance of such warning lighting is the responsibility of the operator/owner of the obstacle. The IAA may take enforcement action against the operator/owner of the obstacle if the agreed marking and/or lighting scheme is not implemented.
The IAA is the Competent Authority for the transposition of international standards and recommended practices produced by ICAO. Additionally, it has responsibility for the implementation of European aviation safety regulation which is generally authored by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). To date, no international regulation or guidelines have been developed in relation to aircraft detection lighting systems, which is a relatively new technology. The IAA will consider any regulation or international best practice that becomes established in this context.
Airport Landing Slots
Questions (192)
Paul Murphy
Question:192. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport his views on attempts by US business lobbyists to secure a quota for private jet flights at Dublin Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3394/24]
View answerWritten answers
daa has statutory responsibility for the management, operation, and development of Dublin Airport.
The current cap of 32m passengers per annum at Dublin Airport is a condition attached to planning permission granted for Terminal 2 at the airport. daa recently submitted a planning application to Fingal County Council seeking to increase the passenger cap to 40m and seeking planning permission for capacity enhancing projects including new aircraft piers and stands as part of the Airport’s Capital Investment Programme (CIP 2020+).
daa has advised that to ensure compliance with the 32m passenger cap it has engaged with its stakeholders, including the airlines and those involved in general aviation, regarding options for managing capacity at Dublin Airport.
The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) is the statutory independent regulator and is responsible for discharging Ireland's obligations in regard to European rules governing the allocation of slots at airports.
The Minister has no role in the setting of the slot capacity at Dublin Airport.
Electric Vehicles
Questions (193)
Brendan Howlin
Question:193. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Transport if he will set out the number and location of fast electric vehicle chargers currently available in the country; the number expected to be in place in each of the next three years; if it is his intention to have a common pricing system for chargers across the country in order to encourage greater E.V usage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3523/24]
View answerWritten answers
The Government is fully committed to supporting a significant expansion and modernisation of the electric vehicle (EV) charging network over the coming years. Having an effective and reliable charging network is an essential part of enabling drivers to make the switch to electric vehicles.
Home charging is the primary charging method for most Irish EV owners as it’s convenient and cheaper for the consumer as well as assisting in the overall management of the national grid. Over 80% of charging is expected to happen at home.
However, there is also a need for a seamless public charging network that will provide for situations or instances where home charging is not possible, such as on-street and residential charging, destination charging, en route charging for long journeys and workplace charging.
Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland (ZEVI), a dedicated Office which oversees and accelerates Ireland’s transition to zero emission vehicles, has significant funding available in 2024 for the installation of EV charging across Ireland.
ZEVI has been engaging extensively with Local Authorities to develop their EV Infrastructure Strategies for Destination and Residential neighbourhood chargers. Local Authorities as part of their strategy development and implementation planning will identify locations and optimum sites where these types of chargers are required. ZEVI is currently engaging with Local Authorities and looking at potential direct multi-annual funding options for Local Authorities to install both Destination and Local neighbourhood Charging Projects. It is anticipated that Phase 1 projects will commence roll out in 2024.
As of July 2023, there were approximately 2,100 charge points in Ireland of which 441 were fast or ultra-fast recharging points.
The Department of Transport does not at present maintain counts of available publicly accessible EV charging stations, which are owned and operated by commercial charge point operators, but ZEVI are developing a Data Strategy which, when implemented, will give the Department full visibility on this. The system will enable the collection of data from charge-points in near real time, and provide it on an Open Data basis. The obligation on charge-point operators and owners to share this data is legislated for in the EU Alternative Fuel Infrastructure Regulation. This data system is expected to be in place by April 2025.
Price setting by electricity suppliers is a commercial and operational matter for the companies concerned. Each such company has its own different approach to pricing decisions over time, in accordance with factors such as their overall company strategic direction and developments in their cost base.
As such, any changes to the cost of charging are subject to the customers home energy costs in the event that they have a home EV charger, or the pricing models implemented by charge point operators in the case of public EV charging.
International Agreements
Questions (194)
Mick Barry
Question:194. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Transport if, as previously indicated, Ireland remains on course in 2024 to ratify ILO C188 Work in Fishing Convention 2007, and what if any part of relevant EU Directives that arose from this convention remains to be transposed into Irish law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3536/24]
View answerWritten answers
The International Labour Organization's (ILO's) Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 was adopted at the 96th session of the International Labour Conference on 14 June 2007. The Convention sets out minimum requirements with regard to conditions of service, accommodation and food, occupational safety and health protection, medical care and social security. In effect, the Convention aims to create a single, coherent instrument to ensure international standards for decent living and working conditions in the fishing sector.
The European Union supports the Work in Fishing Convention and the European Council authorised EU member states to ratify the Convention by way of Council Decision 2010/321/EU. The European Commission further endorsed the objectives of the Work in Fishing Convention though Council Directive (EU) 2017/159. The Directive contains a Social Partners’ Agreement, concluded in 2012, which aims to implement the Convention. This Directive has been transposed in Ireland in full.
The Directive reflects most of the requirements of the Convention. However, there are elements of the Convention that were not included in the Directive such as the application of the Convention, timing of payments to fishers, recruitment services, certain social protection matters, surveys and issuing of certificates of compliance with the Convention.
In order to ratify the Convention, primary legislation is required. Officials in my Department are currently drawing up a general scheme for a planned Merchant Shipping (International Conventions) Bill, which will provide the required legislative framework for Ireland to become a party to several international maritime conventions, including the Work in Fishing Convention. It is my intention that Government approval be sought in 2024 to proceed with drafting the Bill.
Road Projects
Questions (195)
Seán Canney
Question:195. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Transport what progress is being made to build a by-pass of Claregalway village, County Galway to ease traffic congestion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3568/24]
View answerWritten answers
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 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 this context, TII is best placed to advise you on the status of this project.
Noting the above position, I have referred your question to TII for a direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
Greenways Provision
Questions (196)
Pauline Tully
Question:196. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Transport if there is a ring-fenced multi-annual budget within Transport Infrastructure Ireland for the development of greenways; and if so, the amount contained in this budget. [3573/24]
View answerWritten answers
As set out in the National Development Plan 2021 – 2030 and the Programme for Government, there is a commitment to providing funding of €360m per annum for walking and cycling projects. Multi-annual funding for greenways is allocated from within this committed funding.
In 2024 a total of €72million has been allocated to Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) in relation to the development of greenways.
Official Travel
Questions (197)
Pauline Tully
Question:197. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Transport if he plans to visit the US in the first half of 2024. [3574/24]
View answerWritten answers
As Minister for Transport I have no plans to visit the US in the first half of 2024.