Written Answers Nos. 180-199
180. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Transport if he has concluded his consideration of Derry City Airport’s economic assessment and supporting materials for a Dublin to Derry air route submitted to his Department in December 2022; and the progress he has made in delivering on the air connectivity review commitment under the New Decade, New Approach agreement since taking up office in 2020. [4744/24]
View answerIn the context of supporting greater connectivity on the island of Ireland, the Irish Government agreed ‘to take forward a review of the potential for Government support to renewed viable air routes from Cork to Belfast and Dublin to Derry, working with the UK Government and Northern Ireland Executive to deliver improved connections as a priority’ as part of its commitments under New Decade New Approach.
As the Deputy is aware, my Department has progressed a desk-based review in this regard, which Minister Ryan and I are considering in consultation with Government colleagues. I would like to assure the Deputy that the supporting material provided by City of Derry Airport (CODA) has also been taken into consideration.
Engagement will also continue with the NI Executive and British Government as appropriate, and with stakeholders in the North West. Recent engagement has included my meeting with management of CODA in May last year. I also hope to meet with the airport owners, Derry City and Strabane District Council, in the coming weeks.
181. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Transport if he could advise on a driving licence (details supplied). [4745/24]
View answerA driving licence can be renewed up to 10 years after its expiry. After that time, a person is no longer considered a qualified driver and must complete the driving licence process (pass the theory test, complete 12 Essential Driver Training lessons, and pass a practical driving test) to obtain a new licence.
A valid in-date driving licence is required to drive legally in Ireland and must be carried when driving.
182. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport for a record of all applications from Kerry County Council to his Department for any works in respect of a bridge in Kerry (details supplied) since 2009; if a record of all funding granted in that period in respect of the bridge will be provided; if a record of all funding drawn down in respect of the bridge will be provided; if the most recent correspondence between his Department and the Council will be provided; if an explanation will be provided as to the precise stage the project is at; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4775/24]
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.
A preliminary appraisal has been received from Kerry County Council concerning a number of options for Listry Bridge. The Department requested additional survey investigation to be undertaken to inform the options and to ensure all appropriate measures are considered to achieve maximum value for money in accordance with the Infrastructure Guidelines (formerly the Public Spending Code). Funding has been provided to assist with these studies and a revised submission was received at the end of 2020.
Details of the grant funding allocated and drawn down by Kerry County Council for the Listry Bridge scheme are outlined in the regional and local road allocations and payments booklets which are available in the Oireachtas Library. The drawdown of funds for a project in any particular year is a matter for the local authority.
It is my understanding is that Kerry County Council are currently examining options for Listry Bridge, considering the needs and objectives, and deciding how best to progress to ensure value for money.
All applications received from local authorities for Specific Grant allocations are currently being assessed taking into account competing projects and the available budget. Specific 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.
183. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Transport his views on a submission (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4779/24]
View answerAs the deputy will be aware, daa has the statutory responsibility for the operation, management and development of Dublin Airport, and this includes seeking planning permission to ensure the airport has the necessary capacity to connect key existing and emerging global markets, in line with national aviation policy.
I note the submission the Deputy has asked me to comment on is one related to an active planning application. As I'm sure the Deputy will appreciate, it would not be appropriate for me to comment on the application in light of this. All planning matters, including planning applications, submissions, amendments to planning conditions, appeals or enforcement of decisions are matters for the statutorily independent bodies such as the relevant planning authority or An Comisiún Pleanála, as appropriate. I have no role in this process.
Ireland has always had a liberal aviation policy that provides flexibility to stakeholders and serves as an enabler of the development of the sector. Complementing our National Aviation Policy is the liberalised EU single aviation market which provides EU air carriers the freedom to choose where in the EU to operate and the frequency and capacity of those operations.
EU regulation governs the operation of intra-community air services and does contain a provision for Member States to regulate the distribution of traffic between airports within its territory. Before such a measure can be implemented, consultation with interested parties must be carried out and the approval of the European Commission must be sought before adoption.
Any such redistribution must be undertaken without discrimination on destinations or nationality of air carriers. While several Member States have adopted such rules, where they have cities or conurbations served by multiple airports, for example, Amsterdam, Milan, and Paris, the state owned airports at Dublin, Cork, and Shannon would not meet such a condition. As such, the operation of air services to, from, and between these airports remains a commercial decision for the air carriers and airports concerned.
184. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport to itemise the estimated cost of a six-month trial for a free bus service in Cork city and county on Fridays and Saturdays, by all cost factors. [4782/24]
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 responsibility for the regulation of fares charged to passengers in respect of public transport services provided under public service obligation (PSO) contracts.
In light of the NTA's responsibility in this area, I have 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.
185. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport the reason the regulations under the Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023, which governs the use of e-scooters, have not come into effect; when they will come into effect; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4800/24]
View answerE-scooter regulations prepared by my Department were expected to be in place before the end of 2023, following completion of the EU TRIS (Technical Regulation Information Service) consultation process. This process applies to all draft technical regulations and is to prevent trade barriers in the internal market.
The European Commission submitted comments on the draft regulations under TRIS. On foot of legal advice, amendments to the draft regulations are required to address these, as well as some technical matters. The e-scooter regulations are now expected to be in place in Q2 2024 . E-scooters will not be legal for use in public places until then.
186. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport to prioritise the delivery of the Bus Connects local routes services in Portrane and Donabate given the census figures from 2022 on bus travel are concerning (details supplied) in regard to our climate targets of reducing carbon emissions by 50% by 2030 by improving public transport travel and reducing car journeys; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4849/24]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. In both the policy and funding areas there have been significant developments since this Government came into office, with the publication of a Sustainable Mobility Policy and its five-year action plan providing strong policy support to the continued expansion and enhancement of bus services. I am also delighted to say that this strong policy support has been backed up by increased levels of Exchequer funding, which is supporting the roll-out of initiatives such as BusConnects Dublin.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure, including BusConnects Dublin. To date the NTA has submitted planning applications to An Bord Pleanala (ABP) in respect of all 12 of the Core Bus Corridor schemes. Two of these schemes have recently been approved by ABP, as required for Approval Gate 2 of the Infrastructure Guidelines.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, and your specific query relating to proposed services to Donabate and Portrane, I have referred the Deputy's questions to the NTA for a direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
187. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport the extent to which he remains satisfied regarding the adequacy of capital investment in the transport sector for the foreseeable future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4878/24]
View answerThe Department is fully funded for 2024. A share of the €2.25bn windfall capital fund is currently being negotiated for the period 2025 and 2026. Later in the year, the Department expects to engage with DPENDR in negotiating the capital ceilings for 2026 to 2030 inclusive, as part of the Summer Economic Statement process, relating to the remainder of the €35bn capital envelope agreed for the period 2021-2030. These allocations combined will see a significant uplift in the annual capital allocations between 2025-2030. Agreeing the capital allocations will assist the Department in planning into the medium term and prioritising and sequencing the full range of projects that will continue to emerge from the planning system in the coming years, as well as funding existing commitments, for example protection and renewal and active travel investment. Our priority as a Department remains as being the delivery of €35 billion investment envisaged in the National Development Plan.
188. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport the extent to which he expects commuter rail passenger numbers to increase when the lines are upgraded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4879/24]
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 the planning and development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area, including upgrades to the rail network.
Irish Rail passenger numbers for 2023 were circa 45/46 million. Noting the NTA's responsibility in this matter and the specific issues raised by the Deputy, I have referred the Deputies' questions to the NTA for a more detailed reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
189. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport his plans to increase the number of carriages serving the north Kildare rail commuter routes, or alternatively increasing the frequency of trains, thereby improving the service for commuters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4880/24]
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 matter raised by the Deputy would appear to be an operational matter and I have forwarded the Deputy's request to the NTA for direct reply.
Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
190. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport the progress to date in the electrification of the Maynooth rail line, with particular reference to the need to ensure that car parking facilities are supplied to the west of Kilcock thereby facilitating Enfield, Kilcock, and the wider hinterland [4881/24]
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 the planning and development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area, including the DART+ Programme and its constituent projects.
As part of the DART+ Programme, the DART+ West project will provide an electrified and more frequent rail service to passengers between Maynooth and M3 Parkway and Dublin city centre. A Railway Order application for the project was submitted to An Bord Pleanála in July 2022 and and an oral hearing held in the second half of last year. A planning decision from An Bord Pleanála is awaited.
The objectives of the DART+ West project is to increase capacity and electrify the line. Additional car parking facilities in Kilcock or elsewhere are not within the scope of the DART+ West project. However, Iarnród Éireann’s Network Enhancement Division and the NTA's Park & Ride Development Office are working on other projects to deliver enhanced parking at stations, for cars and bicycles, in parallel to the DART+ West project.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in this matter and the specific issues raised by the Deputy, I have referred the Deputy's questions to the NTA for a more detailed reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
191. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport whether he is satisfied regarding the adequacy of health and safety adherence for the north Kildare commuter rail passengers given the necessity to remain standing for some journeys; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4882/24]
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 capacity and health and safety 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 a response within ten working days.
192. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport the actions being taken to address the long waiting lists for driving tests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4884/24]
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.
Regarding driver testing delays more generally, the service has been under significant pressure to meet unprecedented demand. Following a request from the RSA for additional resources, last March 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 was 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.
193. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport his plans to encourage increased use of the commuter rail services in County Kildare with a view to alleviating road traffic congestion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4885/24]
View answerThe Government is strongly committed to providing all citizens with reliable and realistic sustainable mobility options, and public transport plays a key role in the delivery of this goal.
To support this objective, Government has provided increased levels of funding for public transport services in recent years. Under Budget 2024, a funding package of c. €613.463m has been secured for the provision of Public Service Obligation (PSO) and Local Link services. This package includes funding for the continuation of the 20% fare reduction on PSO services, the extension of the Young Adult Card on both PSO and commercial bus services to include 24-and-25-year-olds, and the continuation of the 90-minute fare until the end of 2024.
Further, the recently published Fares Determination will deliver more consistent and equitable fares for public transport users, and reduce the disparities which currently exist for some passengers, particularly in the outer commuter towns surrounding Dublin.
The Government is also backing up its commitment to improve the public transport network with significant infrastructure investments, including funding for initiatives such as the DART+ Programme, new DART+ Fleet, the proposed replacement of the current Enterprise fleet, and the introduction of an additional 41 InterCity Railcars, or “ICRs”. The planned roll-out of the 41 new intercity rail carriages later this year will help alleviate capacity issues on existing rail services.
194. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport the total number of vehicles currently using the M4 for commuting purposes on a daily basis; the future plans in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4886/24]
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 operation and management 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.
Noting the above position, I have referred your question to TII for a direct reply regarding traffic levels on the M4. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
195. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport to outline the progress to date in the enhancement and upgrading of commuter rail facilities from Sallins to Dublin, with particular reference to the need at peak times; the extent to which planning has advanced in this regard by way of increased frequency and capacity of commuter trains serving Newbridge, Sallins and Hazelhatch; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4887/24]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, as Minister for Transport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding of public transport in Ireland, including in relation to the rail network. The National Transport Authority, or NTA, has statutory responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area, including any upgrades to commuter lines in County Kildare.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in this matter and the specific issues raised by the Deputy, I have referred the Deputy's questions to the NTA for a more detailed reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
196. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport if any research has been done into the possibility of extending rail services throughout the commuter belt of north Kildare to towns currently not having access to services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4888/24]
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.
In light of the NTA's responsibility in this area, I have forwarded the Deputy's request to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
197. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport if he has considered requests from the Minister for Rural and Community Development and others for funding to be allocated from his budget towards the local improvement scheme programme; if he will state how much capital funding was carried over from his Department at the end of 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4889/24]
View answerThe Local Government Act 2001 provides the statutory basis for the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS), allowing funding to be provided to local authorities for the construction and improvement of non-public roads which meet certain criteria. It is important to highlight that the maintenance of non-public roads is the responsibility of the relevant landowners; local authorities only have statutory responsibility for the improvement and maintenance of public roads (in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993). Works on these public roads are funded from local authorities' own resources and are supplemented by State Road Grants.
My department has not provided dedicated funding towards the LIS programme since 2012. Between 2013 to 2017, local authorities were permitted discretion to use a proportion of their Discretionary Road Grant for the LIS programme if they chose to do so. In September 2017, the Minister for Rural and Community Development reintroduced a dedicated funding stream for the LIS. Considering the significant funding support being provided by the Department of Rural and Community Development and the need to direct limited resources into maintaining and renewing public roads, it was decided that Discretionary Grants would no longer support LIS programmes. This remains the position. Maintenance and improvement of public roads is essential to ensure a safe network with a high level of service and social/economic connectivity.
In relation to the Deputy’s query regarding capital funding carry over, my department carried over €140.92m from 2023. The carryover is published in the Revised Estimates.
198. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport if safer protections will be put in place at a bridge in County Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4890/24]
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 operation and management 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.
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.
199. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport the anticipated timeline in relation to proposed speed limit reviews; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4891/24]
View answerA key objective of the Speed Limit Review was to align speed limits with the 'Safe System' approach to managing safety on the road network. The Safe System approach is a means of managing and developing the road network so that it is forgiving of human error and mitigates serious collisions by design. The commitment in the review is to implement the recommendations over a 2-year period, and noting the nature and complexity of the recommendations, it will be necessary to do so on a phased basis across that time.
The Road Traffic Bill 2024 was published on 25 January. This Bill will address speed limits, penalty points, and testing of drivers for drugs. In the case of speed limits, it will implement the central recommendations of the Speed Limit Review in relation to safer default speed limits. The default limits on national secondary roads will be reduced from 100km/h to 80km/h, on local roads from 80km/h to 60km/h, and on roads in built-up areas from 50km/h to 30km/h. Reducing speed has been fundamentally proven to significantly reduce the risk of death or serious injury in road collisions. The World Health Organisation has estimated that a 5% reduction in average speed could result in a 30% reduction in fatal collisions. Furthermore, the evidence shows that 50% of pedestrians struck by a vehicle travelling at 60km/h will be killed, compared to 29% of pedestrians struck by a vehicle travelling at 50km/h and 5% of pedestrians struck by a vehicle travelling at 30km/h.
In addition to the Bill, my Department has commenced work on updating the Guidelines for Managing Speed Limits in Ireland. The update will seek to address matters relating to the default speed limits in support of the Bill.
Although transition arrangements will be required, any work currently underway in relation to ongoing local authority reviews should continue where possible and where such proposals are consistent with the recommendations of the review.
