Parliamentary questions

Road Safety

Martin Kenny

194. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Transport what planning he has carried out to ensure there will not be an increase in road fatalities and injuries as a result of the forthcoming proposed changes to alcohol licensing hours; if he will publish the evidence on which any such plans are based; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14007/24]

Cycling Policy

Patrick Costello

195. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport if his Department will liaise with Dublin City Council on funding options for the expansion of the highly successful now Dublin bikes scheme. [14049/24]

Airport Policy

Paul Murphy

196. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport whether weapons bound for Israel are transiting through Shannon Airport; if he will immediately stop the use of Shannon as a transit hub for an active enabler of the genocidal violence happening; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14052/24]

Public Transport

Róisín Shortall

197. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport the number of agreements that have been reached between Transport Infrastructure Ireland and organisations that previously expressed concerns about the MetroLink project since the beginning of the railway order application oral hearing (details supplied); the details of these agreements; if any are non-disclosure agreements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14063/24]

Rail Network

Robert Troy

198. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport when the additional capacity will be in service on the Sligo to Dublin rail line. [14065/24]

Parking Provision

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

199. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Transport the supports his Department is giving to Irish Rail to provide ample car parking in Carlow town at the Carlow train station; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14105/24]

Road Safety

Sorca Clarke

200. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Transport the capital and current funding allocated to the safe routes to school programmes in each of the years 2022, 2023 and 2024. [14120/24]

Road Safety

Sorca Clarke

201. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Transport the proportion of the funding allocated to the safe routes to school programme that has been expended for the purposes of years 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024. [14121/24]

Transport Policy

Steven Matthews

202. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding the proposed Connecting Ireland route (details supplied); the actions he will take to ensure this is prioritised for funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14161/24]

Departmental Advertising

Jackie Cahill

203. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Transport if his Department uses community radio for advertising and public awareness campaigns; if not, the reason, given the vital role community radio often plays in the dissemination of information to local communities; if his Department will consider using community radio for public awareness campaigns in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14175/24]

Public Transport

Steven Matthews

204. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding the proposal to extend the DART to Wicklow town; the work that has been done to date by his Department to support this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14178/24]

Public Sector Pensions

Cathal Crowe

205. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Transport if he will request the board of an organisation (details supplied) to comply with the spirit of the Mulvey Report 2023 and provide a pension increase for 2024 to pensioners of the IAA, in line with the pension increase recommendations within the Mulvey Report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14181/24]

Public Sector Pensions

Cathal Crowe

206. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Transport if will he instruct the board of an organisation (details supplied), in light of the huge increase, since the Covid pandemic ended, in the demand for commercial and leisure air travel and in light of the significant rise in consumer inflation for pensioners, to provide an amount within the Eurocontrol User Charge Unit Rate to ensure that current pensions in payment to pensioners of the IAA receive occasional pension increases concurrently with the occasional pay increases received by their colleagues still working within the State air navigation services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14182/24]

Airport Policy

Michael Healy-Rae

207. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport if he will address a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14221/24]

Road Safety

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

208. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Transport the steps he is taking to encourage An Garda Síochána to tackle the dangers of users of e-scooters, motorised bicycles and bicycles not wearing high-vis clothing, having no visible back or front lights, and complying with rules of the road, and generally not being aware of their own safety or other road users while driving/cycling (details supplied). [14261/24]

Rail Network

Brian Leddin

209. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Transport the steps he and Irish Rail are taking to improve onboard WiFi and mobile phone connectivity on its intercity lines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14307/24]

Taxi Regulations

Richard Boyd Barrett

210. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport to provide all available information on the recipients of the wheelchair-accessible grant for taxis; for a breakdown of these recipients, by category (individually owned or rental taxis); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14316/24]

Taxi Regulations

Richard Boyd Barrett

211. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of safety concerns of taxi drivers at night; for an update on his latest engagements with taxi driver groups on this topic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14317/24]

Taxi Regulations

Richard Boyd Barrett

212. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of reports that the cost of renting vehicles from taxi rental companies may be contributing to the national taxi shortage; if he is aware of reports that the ban on individual sale of taxi plates may be contributing to the issue; if he is aware of reports that rental companies are charging high fees to rent out plates in contravention of NTA rules; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14318/24]

Taxi Regulations

Richard Boyd Barrett

213. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport the latest updates on addressing taxi shortages at peak times; if this includes extending the operating hours of public transport services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14319/24]

Greenways Provision

Robert Troy

214. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport if he will ensure that an updated lease on the old rail trail greenway is brought forward and put in place. [14330/24]

Bus Services

Steven Matthews

215. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to delays in the issuing of new bus route licences by the National Transport Authority (details supplied); the actions he will take to ensure that there are no further delays in this process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14358/24]

Road Traffic Offences

Michael Healy-Rae

216. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport if a matter in relation to a car sale can be addressed (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14361/24]

Public Transport

John Lahart

217. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Transport whether the NTA has engaged even in exploratory discussions with State landowners along the t-route of a possible Metro South extension from either Stephen's Green or Charlemont that would travel via Cathal Brugha Barracks, for example; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14527/24]

Park-and-Ride Facilities

John Lahart

218. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Transport to outline in detail what plans and action have been taken by the NTA to date, or are planned for the future, in terms of providing park-and-ride facilities for Dublin commuters - particularly on the southside of the city, to take advantage of any proposed BusConnects projects which are due to be implemented subject to An Bord Pleanála decisions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14528/24]

Park-and-Ride Facilities

John Lahart

219. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Transport to outline what steps have been taken to provide park-and-ride facilities at major motorway interchanges, as is the case in Derry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14529/24]

Road Network

Michael Healy-Rae

220. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport when funding will be given for the N70 Kenmare to Sneem road to ensure all work is carried out as soon as possible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14559/24]

Driver Test

Niamh Smyth

221. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport if a driving test will be expedited for a person (details supplied) in order that they can commence employment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14576/24]

Electric Vehicles

Duncan Smith

222. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport when he expects a report on the EV Commercial Fleet Trial to be published; the measures his Department is taking to incentivise and support small-to-medium businesses in electrifying their commercial fleet; whether his Department plans to introduce new measures following the final report on the trial; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14654/24]

Road Projects

Pádraig O'Sullivan

223. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport if he will give consideration to establishing a fund specifically aimed at noise mitigation/sound barriers to mitigate the impact of major motorway construction projects on local residents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14669/24]

Driver Test

Martin Kenny

224. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Transport to provide a breakdown, in tabular form, of the current number of applicants awaiting a driving test, by county and the length of time. [14677/24]

Driver Test

Martin Kenny

225. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the cost of hiring an additional ten driving testers. [14678/24]

National Car Test

Martin Kenny

226. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the cost of hiring an additional ten NCT testers. [14679/24]

Airport Policy

Martin Kenny

227. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Transport if his Department has any plans to introduce a levy on private jets using Irish airspace or landing at Irish airports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14680/24]

Road Tolls

Martin Kenny

228. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of any plans to increase toll costs again this year; the estimated cost of deferring such a move; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14682/24]

Rail Network

Martin Kenny

229. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Transport to provide an update on the status of the Dublin-Navan rail line upgrade, including the cost of work completed to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14683/24]

Road Network

Thomas Pringle

230. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Transport if changes can be made to the current LIS rules in order that roads in west Donegal will qualify for the scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14689/24]

Road Network

Michael McNamara

231. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Transport what sections of the M7 have been shut and for how many days during the month of March to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14713/24]

Road Network

Michael McNamara

232. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Transport what efforts were made by TII to inform the road-using public that sections of the M7 were closed during March 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14714/24]

Road Network

Michael McNamara

233. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Transport what consideration TII give to the requirements of the road-using public in determining to fully shut a section of the M7 and in their efforts to inform the public of the closure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14715/24]

Driver Test

Pádraig O'Sullivan

234. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport when a person (details supplied) will be issued with a date for a driving test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14734/24]

Taxi Regulations

Niamh Smyth

235. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport his plans to support the roll-out the UBER service in rural counties like Cavan and Monaghan due to the taxi shortage and the impact this is having on the rural pub/restaurant trade; if he will outline what his Department are actively doing to address this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14754/24]

Rail Network

Paul Donnelly

236. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the delivery of additional carriages for Dublin-Rosslare Europort rail line. [14788/24]

Public Transport

Paul Donnelly

237. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Transport the estimated cost in 2024 if the security personnel budget onboard the LUAS increased by 33%. [14789/24]

Bus Services

Bernard Durkan

238. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport the extent to which it might be possible for the 139 bus service to service Clonaugh, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14806/24]

Bus Services

Martin Kenny

239. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Transport if he can provide an update of the current stages of the Connecting Ireland rural bus scheme, including how many routes have been rolled out and which are yet to be rolled out, by county, in tabular form. [14836/24]

Road Projects

Martin Kenny

240. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the current status of the N2 upgrade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14837/24]

Public Transport

Michael Healy-Rae

241. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport to improve public transport access for wheelchair users (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14894/24]

Electric Vehicles

Michael Ring

242. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Transport how the roll-out of charging infrastructure can be accelerated, along with the upgrading of the ESB grid to accommodate them, particularly in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14952/24]

Electric Vehicles

Michael Ring

243. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Transport what assistance is available from his Department to progress the roll-out of high speed EV chargers at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14953/24]