Written Answers Nos. 201-210
201. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport when Irish Rail will submit a planning application for the works at Farranfore train station (details supplied); to confirm that the station will also operate as a bus stop that would ensure the bus is no longer stopping in the middle of the N22 causing backlogs of traffic, which has become unsafe for users of the bus also; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4106/24]
View answerAs Minister of Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding of public transport. The operation, maintenance and renewal of the rail network and stations on the network, including the train station at Farranfore, Co Kerry, is a matter for Iarnród Éireann in the first instance.
In view of Iarnród Éireann's responsibility in this matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please contact my private office if a reply is not received within 10 working days.
202. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport to provide further details on collisions on our roads (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4132/24]
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 collision 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, detailed reply. I ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.
203. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport if there are plans to put a public electric vehicle charger in Ballybunion, County Kerry as it is a very busy holiday town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4160/24]
View answerThe 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 and workplace charging.
Public EV charge points are provided in Ireland by a number of charge point operators on a commercial basis and installation is generally demand led.
Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland (ZEVI) are currently engaging with Local Authorities to develop their EV Infrastructure Strategies. This will move EV charging roll out from a commercial based provision to a planned provision to meet residents' needs. These Strategies will identify areas without off street charging capabilities and identify solutions to be included in Implementation Plans which may include off street community chargers, Shared Charging facilities (Neighbour with off street charger shares charging through an app), and/or use of local Rapid Destination Chargers or Hubs. You may wish to contact Kerry County Council directly for any site specific information.
204. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport to provide a schedule of the number of civilian drivers and Garda drivers attached to him and the Ministers of State in his Department; to provide the official work pattern for each driver and the total annual hours worked by each driver; and to indicate the number of drivers assigned to each Minister and Minister of State. [4230/24]
View answerThe schedule for Garda drivers in my Department is outlined below.
|
Name of Division |
No. of Civilian Drivers |
No. of Garda Drivers |
Work Patterns |
No. of Hours worked by Civilian Drivers |
No. of Hours worked by Garda Drivers |
No. of Drivers assigned to Min /MoS |
|
Minister of State office |
0 |
2 |
Week on Week off Wednesday to Tuesdays |
N/A |
Approx 12 to 16 Daily (including breaks) |
2 |
205. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Transport if he could outline the punctuality of Iarnród Éireann services between Cork-Dublin, Midleton-Cork, Cobh-Cork, Cork-Mallow, Tralee-Dublin, Dublin-Belfast and Galway-Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4274/24]
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 the punctuality of Iarnród Éireann services is an operational matter for Irish Rail. Therefore, I have referred the Deputy's question to Irish Rail for direct response to the Deputy. Please advise my private office if you do not receive replies within ten working days.
206. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Transport to comment on the current iteration of the regional airports programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4313/24]
View answer207. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Transport when a review into the Regional Airports Programme will conclude; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4314/24]
View answer208. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Transport the total to the nearest euro in State aid received by each airport in Ireland over the past ten years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4315/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 206 to 208, inclusive, together.
The Regional Airports Programme for the period 2021 to 2025 was published by my Department on 4 February 2021. This Programme continues to support Ireland’s smallest airports i.e., those that provide scheduled passenger services and handle fewer than one million annual passengers (on average over the two preceding financial years). Eligible airports in 2024 are Donegal, Kerry and Ireland West. In addition to targeting funding at safety and security projects and activities, the Programme also supports projects with a sustainability focus, encouraging airports to reduce emissions and build climate resilience. Public Service Obligation (PSO) air services between Donegal and Dublin are also supported under this Programme, marking Government’s commitment to ensuring continued connectivity to the Donegal region.
National policy on regional airports is designed to optimise conditions for connectivity and regional development in line with Project Ireland 2040 as well as related Regional Economic and Spatial Strategies. Social and economic benefits can be derived from facilitating access to and from the associated regions. For this reason, the capacity of regional airports to facilitate international connectivity, either directly or via another national hub airport such as Dublin, is fundamental to this Programme.
As raised by the Deputy, the 2021-2025 Programme provides that a mid-term review be undertaken in 2023. My Department carried out a public consultation process last year to inform the review and officials have submitted their assessment to me which I am now considering. The review has considered the scope of the Programme, how it is currently delivering on its objectives, primarily in the context of how international connectivity and services to and from the regions can be maintained and enhanced, whilst also exploring how balanced regional development is being supported. I will be engaging with colleagues across Government in reaching a conclusion on the review and I would hope to reach a decision in the coming weeks.
In relation to the Deputy’s request for the level of aid provided to each airport in Ireland over the past 10 years, I can confirm that over the period 2014-2023, Exchequer supports totalling over €265m were provided to Irish airports by my Department. Over €149m in grant aid was provided to regional airports over this 10-year period, with an additional €116m provided in 2021 under a COVID Supplementary Support Scheme for Irish Airports.
For ease of reference, this funding has been broken down by funding scheme to each airport and is set out below under Table 1 – Supports to Regional Airports and Table 2 - COVID Supplementary Supports to Irish Airports.
|
TABLE 1: SUPPORTS TO REGIONAL AIRPORTS |
||||||||||||
|
AIRPORT |
SCHEME |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
Total |
|
Donegal |
CAPEX |
€431,759 |
|
€231,290 |
|
€238,982 |
€460,941 |
|
€149,374 |
€43,275 |
€361,226 |
€1,916,847 |
|
|
PPR-C |
|
€398,995 |
€220,022 |
|
|
€362,995 |
€245,488 |
€583,017 |
€608,146 |
€103,609 |
€2,522,272 |
|
|
PPR-O |
|
€226,059 |
€356,597 |
€667,874 |
€657,061 |
€688,922 |
€580,617 |
€460,871 |
€638,409 |
€721,607 |
€4,998,017 |
|
Donegal Total |
€431,759 |
€625,054 |
€807,909 |
€667,874 |
€896,043 |
€1,512,858 |
€826,105 |
€1,193,262 |
€1,289,830 |
€1,186,442 |
€9,437,136 |
|
|
Kerry |
CAPEX |
€133,156 |
|
€181,440 |
€345,333 |
€814,448 |
€630,365 |
€97,490 |
€719,522 |
€184,158 |
€294,240 |
€3,400,152 |
|
|
PPR-C |
|
€402,783 |
€129,262 |
€237,184 |
€372,399 |
€1,288,376 |
€1,058,452 |
€2,066,822 |
€893,084 |
€30,915 |
€6,479,277 |
|
|
PPR-O |
|
€311,260 |
€626,855 |
€1,075,474 |
€1,198,847 |
€1,277,546 |
€1,499,564 |
€1,298,034 |
€1,434,355 |
€1,422,775 |
€10,144,710 |
|
|
OPEX |
€507,224 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
€507,224 |
|
Kerry Total |
€640,380 |
€714,043 |
€937,557 |
€1,657,991 |
€2,385,694 |
€3,196,287 |
€2,655,506 |
€4,084,378 |
€2,511,597 |
€1,747,930 |
€20,531,363 |
|
|
Ireland West |
CAPEX |
€1,925,413 |
|
€1,201,045 |
€502,361 |
€1,476,839 |
€6,702,288 |
€553,295 |
€1,725,054 |
€1,242,016 |
€1,789,604 |
€17,117,914 |
|
|
PPR-C |
|
€564,622 |
€764,609 |
€828,555 |
€782,704 |
€1,044,099 |
€329,740 |
€448,510 |
€1,081,845 |
€2,796,312 |
€8,640,996 |
|
|
PPR-O |
|
€598,349 |
€967,765 |
€1,868,439 |
€1,916,563 |
€1,736,516 |
€1,353,859 |
€1,017,826 |
€1,787,797 |
€1,868,947 |
€13,116,061 |
|
|
OPEX |
€548,600 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
€548,600 |
|
Ireland West Total |
€2,474,013 |
€1,162,971 |
€2,933,419 |
€3,199,355 |
€4,176,106 |
€9,482,903 |
€2,236,894 |
€3,191,389 |
€4,111,658 |
€6,454,862 |
€39,423,571 |
|
|
Waterford |
Emergency Subvention |
|
|
|
|
€750,000 |
€375,000 |
€375,000 |
|
|
|
€1,500,000 |
|
|
CAPEX |
€533,210 |
€43,839 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
€577,049 |
|
|
PPR-C |
|
€732,286 |
€18,381 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
€750,667 |
|
|
PPR-O |
|
€382,205 |
€425,722 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
€807,927 |
|
|
OPEX |
€1,038,784 |
€756,825 |
€594,493 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
€2,390,102 |
|
Waterford Total |
€1,571,994 |
€1,915,155 |
€1,038,596 |
€0 |
€750,000 |
€375,000 |
€375,000 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€6,025,745 |
|
|
Cork |
CAPEX |
|
|
|
|
€10,000,000 |
€3,382,463 |
€1,369,591 |
€14,752,054 |
|||
|
|
PPR-C |
|
|
|
|
|
€675,000 |
|
€675,000 |
|||
|
|
PPR-O |
|
|
|
|
€6,689,769 |
€10,402,880 |
|
€17,092,649 |
|||
|
Cork Total |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€16,689,769 |
€14,460,343 |
€1,369,591 |
€32,519,703 |
|
|
Shannon |
Emergency Capital Supports |
|
|
|
|
|
|
€303,513 |
€5,349,560 |
€1,126,539.35 |
|
€6,779,612 |
|
|
CAPEX |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
€2,906,642 |
€2,930,739 |
€4,708,172 |
€10,545,552 |
|
|
PPR-C |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
€3,161,336 |
€743,800 |
€664,668 |
€4,569,804 |
|
|
PPR-O |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
€5,527,049 |
€6,836,610 |
€7,171,721 |
€19,535,380 |
|
Shannon Total |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€303,513 |
€16,944,587 |
€11,637,688 |
€12,544,561 |
€41,430,348 |
|
|
TOTAL |
€5,118,146 |
€4,417,223 |
€5,717,481 |
€5,525,220 |
€8,207,843 |
€14,567,048 |
€6,397,018 |
€42,103,385 |
€34,011,116 |
€23,303,386 |
€149,367,866 |
|
|
Funding |
Scheme |
Detail |
|
Regional Airports Programme & COVID-19 Regional State Airports Programme 2021 |
CAPEX |
Funding safety and security related capital expenditure of an economic nature |
|
|
PPR-C |
Scheme in place since 2015 - Funding capital expenditure for services that normally fall within a 'Public Policy Remit' and generate no economic return for an airport, for example Fire Service, Air Traffic Control and Security |
|
|
PPR-O |
Scheme in place since 2015 - Funding operational expenditure that normally fall within a 'Public Policy Remit' (as above) |
|
|
OPEX |
Scheme in place up until 2020 - Funding safety and security related operational expenditure of an economic nature - no airports eligible since 2016 Scheme |
|
Exceptional Supports |
Emergency Subvention |
Operational supports provided on an exceptional basis to Waterford Airport |
|
|
Emergency Capital Supports |
Funding of an Embankments projects and a Hold Baggage Screening (HBS) security project at Shannon Airport (approved by Government in 2020). |
Over €112m was provided under the Regional Airports Programme. A further €28m was provided under a one-year COVID-19 Regional State Airports Programme in 2021. At that time, by virtue of their size and passenger numbers, neither Shannon nor Cork airports had been eligible for funding under the Regional Airports Programme. However, in recognition of the impact COVID-19 had on regional State airports, Government provided capital and operational supports in 2021 to these airports. This one-year programme mirrored the focus and objectives of the Regional Airports Programme. Due to suppressed passenger numbers in 2020 and 2021, Shannon and Cork airports later become eligible for funding under the Regional Airports Programme in 2022.
On foot of a Government decision in 2020, additional capital supports totalling €6.78m were provided to Shannon Airport, to support vital Embankments works as well as the completion of a Hold Baggage Screening (HBS) project.
Although Waterford Airport had been eligible for funding under the Regional Airports Programme, in the absence of scheduled passenger services Waterford Airport has not been eligible for supports since 2016. However, in recognition of the financial challenges faced by the airport, emergency operational supports totalling €1.5m were made on an exceptional basis between 2018 and 2020, to allow time for airport management to consider future options for the airport.
TABLE 2: FUNDING UNDER THE COVID SUPPLEMENTARY SUPPORT SCHEME FOR IRISH AIRPORTS
|
AIRPORT |
2021 |
|
Donegal |
€258,421 |
|
Kerry |
€1,797,586 |
|
Ireland West |
€2,805,709 |
|
Shannon |
€5,494,000 |
|
Cork |
€8,379,000 |
|
Dublin |
€97,240,000 |
|
TOTAL |
€115,974,716 |
In addition, in recognition of the very difficult circumstances faced by Irish airports during COVID-19 and taking account of the recommendations of the Taskforce for Aviation Recovery, a further unprecedented €116m was allocated to Irish airports in 2021 under an EU State Aid approved COVID Supplementary Support Scheme for Irish Airports.
This funding compensated the smaller regional airports at Donegal, Kerry and Ireland West for the damage caused to them by COVID-19. The funding allocated to our State airports at Dublin, Shannon and Cork provided them with the flexibility to roll out route incentives and charge rebates, in consultation with airlines. This funding supported the strong rebound in passenger traffic witnessed across Irish airports following the lifting of COVID-19 related travel restrictions in March 2022.
209. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Transport if he will comment on the steps that need to be taken in order to bring Irish aviation policy into line with the objectives of Project Ireland 2040; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4316/24]
View answerAs an island nation, aviation plays a crucial role in our economy and society. The National Aviation Policy, published in 2015, established a policy framework for the further development of the sector.
The Policy's objectives were included in the development of Project Ireland 2040, in particular the strategic outcome of high-quality international connectivity. A number of capital projects to facilitate and enable such connectivity have already been completed, including the North Runway at Dublin airport, significant infrastructure investments at our regional airports under the Regional Airports Programme including safety and security upgrades at Shannon and Cork airports.
Looking to the future a number of projects are in development to further strengthen our connectivity, such as Dublin Airport’s infrastructure development programme, Shannon Group’s redevelopment and refurbishment of its properties at the Shannon Campus, and the continued funding of our regional airports under the Regional Airports Programme. Work is currently underway by my Department to update the National Aviation Policy. This work will take account of the changed aviation landscape and will include engagement and consultation with industry and stakeholders.
210. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance how the 10% stamp duty applicable with respect to the purchase of ten or more relevant residential units applies to forward funding agreements and forward purchase agreements, respectively. [3757/24]
View answerI assume the Deputy is referring to arrangements where:
an investor commits through a binding contract to purchase residential properties from a developer before they are completed (forward funding agreement), or
an investor commits through a binding contract to purchase residential properties from a developer upon completion (forward purchase agreement).
I am advised by Revenue that the standard rates of stamp duty applying on the acquisition of residential property are 1% on values up to €1 million and 2% on values exceeding €1 million.
Furthermore section 31E of the Stamp Duties Consolidation Act (SDCA) 1999 provides for a higher 10% rate of stamp duty to be charged on the acquisition of residential property situated in the State, excluding apartments, where a person acquires at least 10 such properties during any 12-month period.
Section 31E was drafted in broad terms to ensure that any acquisition of residential property in the State would come within its scope, regardless of how such acquisition was structured. The specified methods of acquisition are set out in section 31E(2).
These include the sale of land on which residential property is in the course of being built or is to be built. In accordance with section 29 SDCA 1999, where land is being sold and, in connection with that sale, a house or apartment has been, is being or is to be built on that land, the sale is to be treated for stamp duty purposes as if the land concerned were residential property.
Given the variety of methods of acquisition covered by section 31E, the acquisition of residential property using either a forward funding agreement or a forward purchase agreement should come within its scope. The precise stamp duty treatment of such an acquisition will depend on the specific facts and circumstances of the case.
However, it would generally be the case that in respect of forward funding agreements, the higher charge to stamp duty would be applied on the date that the investor purchases the land on which the residential properties are in the course of being built or to be built by way of a conveyance or transfer on sale. The higher charge would be applied on an amount equal to the aggregate of any consideration paid in respect of the sale of the land and any consideration paid (or to be paid) in respect of the building of the residential property on the land. Where it is not possible to determine the aggregate consideration at the time the contract is executed (e.g. where information regarding the cost of the building is not available) a multiple of 10 times the market value of the land is to be used as a basis for calculating the stamp duty liability.Forward purchasing agreementsIn respect of forward purchasing agreements, the higher charge to stamp duty would be applied on the date that the investor purchases the residential properties by way of a conveyance or transfer on sale.
Revenue has published detailed information on the higher 10% rate of stamp duty, including details on the specified methods of acquisition, which is available on the Revenue website at
www.revenue.ie/en/tax-professionals/tdm/stamp-duty/stamp-duty-manual/part-05-provisions-applicable-to-particular-instruments/section-31e-stamp-duty-on-certain-acquisitions-of-residential-property.pdf.
