Written Answers Nos. 61-80
61. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Transport to provide an update on the rationale for the policy shift that resulted in the closure of existing roadside lay-bys on the motorway network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5057/24]
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.
Following a public consultation on service areas, a new Service Area Policy for the motorway and dual-carriageway network was published by TII in December 2023,. The Policy sets out a number of changes in connection with lay-bys. 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.
62. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Transport to detail, in tabular form, by local authority, for the years 2021 to 2024, the budget allocated by his Department to the NTA to fund maintenance of active travel schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5060/24]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I am responsible for the overall policy and funding of Active Travel infrastructure. The allocation of this funding to the various local authorities falls to the National Transport Authority (NTA) who are responsible for overseeing the delivery of both new projects and upgrading of existing infrastructure.
Investment in Active Travel infrastructure has increased significantly in recent years, with around €290 million allocated to the NTA for such projects in 2023 and 2024 allocations due to be announced today. While restoration and repair can be carried out as part of the overall Active Travel budget, there is no dedicated funding for day-to-day maintenance.
My Department will continue to liaise with the Departments of Finance and Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform as part of the annual budgetary process in relation to this issue.
63. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Transport to detail, in tabular form, by local authority, for the years 2021 to 2024, the number of accidents related to cycle lane delineators; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5061/24]
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 would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.
64. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 187 of 5 December 2023, when a detailed reply will issue; the protocol agreed with CIÉ in relation to replies to Parliamentary Questions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5072/24]
View answerPlease accept my apologies for the delay in issuance of a response to Parliamentary Question No. 187 of 5 December 2023. I am informed that the delay was due to an administrative error within CIÉ and a response was issued on 31 January 2024.
The arrangement my Department has with all of the agencies under my remit, including CIÉ, is that responses should be issued within 10 days. If that deadline is not met then I ask any Deputy to please contact my Office and we will engage with the agency in question as was done in this instance.
65. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Transport when funding will be provided to Donegal County Council from the Climate Adaption Fund 2024 for works to a road (details supplied) in order to prevent further flooding to properties in Donegal; when the funding will be released; the amount of funding that will be made available for the proposed works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5096/24]
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. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is a matter for the local authority.The Department sought applications in October 2023 for consideration for funding of climate change adaptation and resilience works on regional and local roads to be carried out by local authorities in 2024. The schemes for inclusion in the application are decided by the local authorities.According to my Department's records, Donegal County Council's application for climate change adaptation and resilience works in 2024 does not include a scheme in Drumfergus, Killygordan, Lifford, Co. Donegal.
66. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide an update on the EU Just Transition Fund community facilities EV charging point scheme; when an announcement will be made on this scheme and can he ensure an application (details supplied) is approved for funding. [5099/24]
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.
The Just Transition Fund Community Facility EV Charging Scheme is currently at the application assessment phase and is expected to move towards site inspection phase shortly. This will entail ZEVI arranging visits to each applicant’s proposed site to confirm that it is suitable for the installation and operation of a charger should it prove successful in the scheme. This assessment, along with a data-driven analysis of the site in the wider charging infrastructure context, will be used to make the final decision on successful sites which will be offered an EV charger.
ZEVI cannot comment on an individual application as to do so may impact on the integrity of the decision making process, which must establish the sites suitability as a charging location and which should not be influenced by factors outside of the scheme’s objectives as set out in the terms and conditions of the competitive application process.
67. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport if permanent speed cameras and driver feedback signs can be erected on the main N84 in Cloonboo village, County Galway to try to reduce speeding in the 50kmp/h zone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5131/24]
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.
68. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport if he will direct the Road Safety Authority to release road safety collision data for the Crumlin Road area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5134/24]
View answer69. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport to clarify whether the Road Safety Authority is able to release local area-specific collision data, as it has previously been stated that the RSA cannot provide this data due to GDPR concerns, but an alternative view has also been expressed (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5135/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 68 and 69 together.
As I indicated in the House on 23 January last, the matter of the sharing of collision data is being addressed by a specialist group chaired by the Road Safety Authority, which reports to the Road Safety Transformation Partnership Board, the senior officials' group established to ensure delivery of the Action Plan under our Road Safety Strategy.
This work is progressing and it is currently expected that an agreement on sharing of collision data can be concluded later in 2024.
I cannot comment on the alternative opinion cited by the Deputy. What I can say is that RSA and other stakeholders are in ongoing discussions with the Data Protection Commission about the issue.
In regard to the specific data relating to Crumlin, this is part of the wider issue being worked through and cannot be treated separately at this stage.
70. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport the number of people on the waiting list in each NCT test centre in the state; if he will provide additional details on waiting times in those centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5141/24]
View answerThe operation of the National Car Testing Service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority. I have referred the Deputy's queries regarding waiting times information 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.
71. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport what measures are in place to protect motorists from a legal perspective who cannot access NCT tests due to the backlog; if consideration has been given to motorists who could be subjected to non-payment of claims by insurance companies in the event of expired NCT tests; if consideration has been given to suspending inspections on newer cars until the backlog is cleared; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5166/24]
View answerThe National Car Test (NCT) is an essential public road safety measure, and an important part of the Government’s approach to improving road safety in Ireland. Since its introduction, through the detection of issues such as faulty components and substandard vehicle performance, it has helped to make our national fleet safer and to reduce fatalities and serious injuries on our roads.
Under European Directive 2014/45/EU on periodic roadworthiness tests, Ireland, like other Member States, must adhere to the minimum specified intervals for such inspections. This is given effect in Irish law by the Road Traffic (National Car Test) Regulations 2017 (SI 415 of 2017), as amended.
The minimum intervals set down for cars in the Directive are from four years after the date of registration and then every two years, increasing to annual checks after ten years. Delaying testing requirements for cars at four years would place Ireland in breach of EU law.
Considerable progress has been made in the past year to address the long-term staffing issues which caused the testing backlog and to increase capacity at test centres. This includes extensive domestic and international recruitment of vehicle inspectors, which currently number 660.
The RSA advises that the current national average waiting period for an appointment is 17 days. Q1 is the period of highest demand for the NCTS as many people purchase vehicles in the first months of the year and the test due date is the anniversary of registration. The service level agreement maximum of 12 days is expected to be achieved again shortly.
In the interim, customers seeking test appointments in a shorter period may contact the NCTS directly, by calling 01-4135992 or through the priority waiting list function on the NCT website, www.ncts.ie.
I understand that Insurance Ireland has confirmed that its members will be pragmatic and understanding in their approach to the current delays and cover will continue to be provided where customers, through no fault of their own, are unable to obtain their NCT due to backlogs at test centres.
Similarly, my Department has been advised that members of An Garda Síochána will take evidence of a booked appointment into account when dealing with these matters and that motorists should keep evidence of their booking with their vehicle.
72. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware that the 220 and 220X bus service in Ballincollig, Cork is experiencing significant delays, with buses only turning up every 90 minutes regularly on what is supposed to be a 15 minute interval service at peak times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5175/24]
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.
As the issue raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for Bus Éireann, I have forwarded it to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
73. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport the number of permanent staff employed by the Road Safety Authority as driver testers by testing centre; to provide an updated account of the waiting times for driving test applicants by testing centre; to provide a breakdown of the number of contract staff employed as driver testers; the retention rate of both permanent and contract staff employed as driver testers in the RSA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5180/24]
View answerUnder the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the National Driver Testing Service and the specific information requested is held by that agency. I have therefore referred the questions to the RSA for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response is not received within 10 days.
74. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Transport if there are any financial supports available to a driver who currently has a D1 licence and is looking to undertake training to obtain a D licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5198/24]
View answerThere are no financial supports available from my Department for drivers who wish to obtain an additional category on their driving licence.
75. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport how a person can acquire a driver number if they have lost their driving licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5208/24]
View answerInformation on how to find a driver number is available from the National Driver Licencing Service, at 0818 700 800 or online through the contact form available at www.ndls.ie .
Further details are at at www.ndls.ie/licensed-driver/replace-my-lost-stolen-driving-licence.html.
76. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport the number of times he embarked on visits to foreign countries on behalf of the State since the formation of the Government; the geographical location of each visit; the number of days he spent abroad on such trips; the dates upon which each trip took place; and the associated travel and accommodation costs which were incurred by his Department in relation to each trip, in tabular form. [5252/24]
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. My officials in The Department of Environment, Climate & Communications will reply to you in the near future with this information.
77. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Transport when the rollout of QR code train tickets on all rail routes in Ireland will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5310/24]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure, including ticketing and technology projects.
Iarnród Éireann has provided a PDF barcode/QR ticketing solution that is now available across all online rail ticket options, except Belfast services. Options to add the ticket to your digital / device wallet are also being explored for development.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
78. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Transport the infrastructure upgrades that will be required at Ennis train station to allow for the use of QR code/digital tickets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5311/24]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure, including ticketing and technology projects.
Iarnród Éireann has provided a PDF barcode/QR ticketing solution that is now available across all online rail ticket options, except Belfast services. Options to add the ticket to your digital / device wallet are also being explored for development.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
79. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport the status of the N52 Tullamore to Kilbeggan link road; when funding will be allocated to progress matters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5319/24]
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 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.
The Government has earmarked €5.1bn for capital spending on new national roads projects from 2021 to 2030 as part of the NDP, with the greater portion of this funding becoming available in the second half of the decade. It was not possible to provide an allocation to this project in 2023. The allocations for 2024 are expected to be announced in the near future.
Noting the above position, I have referred your question to TII for a direct reply updating you as to the status of this project. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
80. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport the amount spent on traditional and online advertising by his Department in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [5359/24]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is being collated by my officials and a response will be issued within the coming weeks.
