Parliamentary questions

Public Sector Pensions

Bríd Smith

143. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport the reason CIÉ retired workers have received no increase in their occupational pension since 2008; if the CIÉ board or management has discussed this or related pension issues with him or his Department officials; if increased funding of the CIÉ regular wages scheme by CIÉ has been considered to allow for a cost-of-living increase for these retired workers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24436/24]

Road Tolls

Peadar Tóibín

144. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport the body that operates profits from the toll bridges on the M50 motorway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24439/24]

Road Tolls

Peadar Tóibín

145. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport the total amount paid by drivers who drove through tolls on the M50 in each of the past ten years. [24440/24]

Road Tolls

Peadar Tóibín

146. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport the total amount paid by drivers who drove through tolls on Irish motorways, by toll types, in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024, in tabular form [24441/24]

Road Tolls

Peadar Tóibín

147. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport the scale or structure of the late payment penalties applied to persons who fail to pay their toll charge on the M50 before 8pm the following day; if the penalties increase as time passes; and if so, the rate of this increase. [24442/24]

Road Tolls

Peadar Tóibín

148. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport if he will list the top twenty largest penalties imposed on any individual driver or vehicle owner who failed or forgot to pay their M50 toll charges by the deadline prescribed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24443/24]

Rail Network

Peadar Tóibín

149. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport the number of tickets sold for the Limerick to Galway train line in the past ten years and to date in 2024; and the breakdown of tickets sold, between adult single, adult return, student single, student return, child single and child return, in tabular from. [24447/24]

Rail Network

Peadar Tóibín

150. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport the cost of operating the Limerick to Galway train line in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [24448/24]

Rail Network

Peadar Tóibín

151. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport the revenue collected from the Limerick to Galway train line in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024, in tabular form [24449/24]

Rail Network

Peadar Tóibín

152. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport his views on whether the current price of €175 for a student monthly train ticket from Limerick to Galway, the current cost of an adult monthly ticket from Limerick to Galway of €350 and the current cost of an adult single one-way ticket from Limerick to Galway of €18.40 are appropriate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24450/24]

Bus Services

Bríd Smith

153. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport his views on the removal of a bus service (details supplied) and the considerable difficulties this causes for older and disabled people; to clarify if there are any plans to resume a service in the area; if not, the alternative arrangements being made to address this gap; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24470/24]

Driver Licences

Paul Kehoe

154. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Transport if it is possible for a person (details supplied) to transfer their driving licence back to an Irish licence; the process for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24478/24]

Parking Provision

Pauline Tully

155. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Transport if there was a public call for submissions on the review of the disabled parking scheme; when this consultation closed to submissions; the number of submissions that were made; to detail the groups which were contacted and asked to make a submission; if disabled persons' organisations were contacted directly and asked to make a submission; and the stages that are left in this review process. [24484/24]

Greenways Provision

Seán Sherlock

156. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport if he will ensure that where greenways are installed, that proper and appropriate fencing in height, and sturdy character, is erected in order to protect the privacy of householders along the route; if in this context, such a tall and sturdy fence will be erected at a location (details supplied) in view of a recent incident experienced by the householders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24529/24]

Public Transport

Robert Troy

157. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport to provide an update on the pilot public transport proposal between Delvin and Mullingar. [24565/24]

Road Tolls

Martin Kenny

42. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the estimated cost of deferring an increase in toll costs for a further 12 months. [24177/24]

Public Transport

Martin Kenny

43. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the estimated cost of making the current 20% reduction on public transport fares permanent. [24178/24]

Public Transport

Martin Kenny

44. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the estimated cost of making the 50% reduction for Young Adult card fares permanent [24179/24]

Dublin Bus

Martin Kenny

45. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the estimated cost of increasing the Dublin bus fleet by 10%. [24180/24]

Bus Éireann

Martin Kenny

46. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the estimated cost of increasing the Bus Éireann bus fleet by 10%. [24181/24]

Rail Network

Martin Kenny

47. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the estimated cost of building and operating the national train control centre, including a breakdown of capital and current costs. [24182/24]

Rail Network

Seán Sherlock

48. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport if the toilet facilities in Athy and Newbridge train stations are open; if so, the opening times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24237/24]

Aviation Industry

Matt Shanahan

49. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Transport the key policy achievements realised and new initiatives taken by his Department to date and during 2024 in relation to regional aviation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24240/24]

Aviation Industry

Matt Shanahan

50. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide an outline of the spending in aviation in his Department to date and during 2024; to provide an account of any overspend or underspend noted by his Department in this Government programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24241/24]

Airport Policy

Matt Shanahan

51. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Transport the main sectors of analysis his Department is applying to the present Waterford airport runway extension review; the number of similar reviews using the same analysis template that have taken place in his Department over the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24242/24]

Airport Policy

Matt Shanahan

52. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Transport if he will outline, regarding the Waterford airport runway extension business review, the way in which the exposure of the Exchequer being capped at maximum €12 million liability is captured in the present review report; to detail any other projects reviewed by his Department requesting Government funding where a similar ‘costs cap guarantee’ was provided to Government; how this cost benefit is weighted in terms of the overall review report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24243/24]

Road Safety Authority

Duncan Smith

53. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the reason there are two vacancies on the Board of the Road Safety Authority that arose on 1 January 2024, given the alarming increase in road deaths; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24245/24]

Road Safety

Robert Troy

54. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport if he will urgently review the practice of switching off sections of motorway junction lights in the interest of public safety, given particular concerns have been raised regarding the lighting of junctions on the M6 at Kilbeggan and Moate. [24253/24]

Road Safety

David Stanton

132. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Transport if he has issued any guidelines to local authorities with respect to the dangers posed by dead trees adjacent to public roads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23714/24]

Public Transport

Willie O'Dea

133. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Transport his views on whether it is appropriate that many transport companies are insisting that a non-refundable deposit be made in order for individuals to avail of the free travel scheme; if he will put a stop to this practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23533/24]

Driver Test

Pádraig O'Sullivan

134. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport the current average waiting time for driving tests in Cork; the progress that has been made in reducing the waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23597/24]

Driver Test

Pádraig O'Sullivan

135. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport the current average waiting time for driving tests conducted through Irish in Cork; the progress that has been made in reducing the waiting time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23598/24]

Pension Provisions

Róisín Shortall

136. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport if he will respond to matters raised in correspondence (details supplied) regarding the CIÉ 1951 superannuation scheme; if his Department will take into account the court judgment mentioned; whether those employed under this scheme, who are currently entitled to a pension, will receive their pension increase in a timely manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23604/24]

Driver Licences

Matt Carthy

137. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Transport the US states with which Ireland operates driving licence exchange agreements; his plans to increase the number of states with which such arrangements are operated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23609/24]

Road Signage

Brendan Griffin

138. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport if additional traffic calming measures, including further raised pedestrian crossings will be installed on the N86 in the vicinity of a school (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23610/24]

Road Projects

Rose Conway-Walsh

139. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Transport to provide an update on the badly needed Newport-Derrada road scheme in Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23618/24]

Road Projects

Pearse Doherty

140. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport if plans are in place to widen Curreen Bridge, County Donegal on the Glenties side of Fintown on the R250; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23635/24]

Bus Services

Pauline Tully

141. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Transport the details of the Local Link services currently available in counties Cavan and Monaghan, respectively; and if there are plans for an additional route to connect Smithboro with Monaghan town. [23682/24]

Bus Services

Fergus O'Dowd

142. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport to seek an update on the plans to increase the number of wheelchair-accessible public buses within County Louth in the coming years to provide greater independence to wheelchair users; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23746/24]

Rail Network

Martin Kenny

143. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the timeline on the progression of the Navan rail line; and the most up-to-date estimated cost, including a breakdown of current and capital spend. [23753/24]

Rail Network

Martin Kenny

144. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the timeline on the progression of the western rail corridor; and the most up-to-date estimated cost, including a breakdown of current and capital spend. [23754/24]

Road Projects

Martin Kenny

145. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the timeline on the upgrade works for the N2/A5; and the most up-to-date estimated cost, including a breakdown of current and capital spend (details supplied). [23755/24]

Public Transport

Verona Murphy

146. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if research/scoping work has been carried out on plans for additional trains due to the increase in the population size of Portlaoise town and county; and how many trains are needed to service Portlaoise when a third level Institute is constructed. [23781/24]

Driver Test

Pádraig O'Sullivan

147. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport when a person (details supplied) will receive a date for a driving test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23923/24]

Road Projects

Maurice Quinlivan

148. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Transport to discuss what progress has been made in the construction of the Coonagh-Knockalisheen road; when he anticipates it being completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23934/24]

Air Safety

Richard Boyd Barrett

149. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of reports that planes associated with the flight school, charter flights and flight clubs at Weston Airport are operating outside of designated flight paths; if there are records monitoring the adherence of pilots to their designated flights; to supply any available records; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23940/24]

Road Safety Authority

Ivana Bacik

150. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Transport the reason for the continued vacancies of two positions on the board of the Road Safety Authority since 1 January 2024; when the vacancies will be filled; his views on the board's capacity to manage recent increases in road deaths with a barely quorate seven members, instead of the full complement of nine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23942/24]

Employment Rights

Bríd Smith

151. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport the number of drivers directly employed by CIÉ tours; the number of drivers contracted by CIÉ tours to operate their services; the steps the company can take to ensure all drivers either directly employed or contracted abide by current regulations related to maximum working time driving and breaks and so on; if the NTA has any role in the implementation and enforcement of such regulations as they apply to transport sector and to the tourism sector specifically; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23948/24]

Bus Services

Brendan Smith

152. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the up-to-date position regarding the provision of a service (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23969/24]

Medical Records

David Stanton

153. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Transport the length of time D501 medical reports administered by the Road Safety Authority remain valid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23970/24]