Vol. 1051 No. 4
67. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of the cancellation of a service (details supplied) from Galway to Dublin Airport; if he is considering steps to address this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13234/24]
I raise the cancellation of the Aircoach from Galway to Dublin Airport. This has caused huge concern across Galway. Will the Minister outline the steps he is taking to address this matter?
I would like to reassure the Deputy that both my Department and the National Transport Authority, NTA, are aware of Aircoach’s decision to withdraw its 706 Galway to Dublin Airport service from 8 April. While the majority of public transport in Ireland is Exchequer-funded through the PSO programme, a critical part of the national public transport system is comprised of bus services run on a commercial basis throughout the country. The Galway to Dublin Airport service provided by Aircoach falls into the latter category. As a result, any decision taken on the cessation of that specific route is a commercial decision solely for the operator, in which neither my Department or the NTA has a role.
That said, in circumstances where a commercial operator ceases running a specific route, the NTA undertakes an examination to determine whether, with the discontinuation of the commercial service, it is necessary for a replacement PSO route to be introduced to ensure no loss of connectivity to the public. This process includes an assessment of the level of demand for public transport services in the affected area, an evaluation of whether existing PSO services can be reconfigured to meet any shortfall, and whether it is necessary to competitively tender for the provision of services.
Regarding the connectivity consequences of Aircoach’s decision, I reassure the Deputy that my officials and I are engaging with the NTA on this matter to ensure there are no gaps along particular segments in the network, and to assess if there is a need to provide any additional services. Once the NTA has carried out its assessment, its decision will be made public.
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. The context to all of this is that in September 2020, Bus Éireann announced that the 20X20 route between Galway and Dublin was to be discontinued as and from July 2021. At that time, the NTA granted a licence for the Aircoach 706 706X commercial service, which has then being running since July 2021 with ten departures each way, seven days a week. At that time, I raised this with the Minister and the NTA and was told that private operators would fill the gap left by the 20X20. However, this has proven to be a failure as well. Public transport is a public service that cannot simply be left to private operators. We need to make sure we have a public transport system that is working. I frequently hear from people in Loughrea in particular, that the bus that was meant to replace the 20X20 passes them by without stopping due to it being full. I hear what the Minister is saying. How long will this process take? When is he going to make sure there is some type of service available to people so that they can get that access to Dublin Airport?
The reality is that there are significant services from Galway to Dublin Airport, such as the Citylink services of which the Deputy will be aware.
But not through County Galway.
They are very significant in number and, therefore, we are not going to see that connectivity completely disappear. The Deputy is right. The Aircoach service was there replacing that Bus Éireann services and in both instances the demand was not there. It is a commercial decision. If Aircoach was seeing large passenger numbers, it would obviously not be stopping the route. I expect the NTA to have that response to the Deputy's question within a short number of months. Typically, the analysis will be done, the patterns of travel on the route and the other available services assessed. It is only after this that we will assess it again. It is not that there is a complete absence of connectivity from Galway to Dublin Airport. There are very significant numbers of services and that may be one of the reasons it has proven difficult for commercial operators to make a viable project on the same route.
There is no harm in that but we need to be looking at rural Ireland as well and its connectivity. I live in Galway city and can jump on a Citylink or a GoBus any day of the week, almost any hour, but we also need to look at services for rural areas. We cannot have a situation where this Government is once again forgetting about rural Ireland and public transport links for rural Ireland. It is extremely important and the Minister should really understand that. I understand what he is saying regarding issue of demand. Again, when relying on private commercial operators to deliver a service that really and truthfully the Government should be delivering, then of course it will be about an issue of demand instead of an issue of service and guaranteeing services for these areas. The Minister mentioned that the NTA would come back to me and that it would be a matter of a short number of months. A short number of months is not good enough. That is why I am bringing it directly to the Minister.
First, with regard to rural public transport services, there has never, in the history of the State, been a Government that has been so committed to expanding rural bus and rural public transport services. In the past two years, every week we have introduced a new or enhanced rural public transport service and we have seen-----
This is cancelled.
-----a spectacular increase in demand for rural public transport services. I will happily compare our record in that regard with any other country or any other time in Irish history where there has been such an expansion of rural public transport services.
But this is cancelled.
Regarding the airport service, we will, as I said, carry out an assessment, as the Deputy said, with GoBus and Citylink. It will be very extensive. We are investing to improve Irish Rail services connectivity between Galway and Dublin-----
Not to Dublin Airport.
-----so that there is a major enhancement and expansion of public transport services. We have to look to see even in that instance where the services are best deployed. If there is a need for a PSO intervention, a gap in the market where there is not an existing service, or where commercial services have not delivered, we will look at that-----
I thank the Minister. We are over time.
-----but depicting it as no service or a lack of new rural public transport services is not accurate.
There was a service and it was cancelled.
68. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport about the progress that will be made on the Mallow relief road in the coming months given recent allocations from his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11867/24]
I ask the Minister for an update on the progress that will be made on the Mallow relief road in the coming months given the recent allocation he announced.
I thank the Deputy for his question on this project, which I know is of real interest to him. Approximately €411 million of Exchequer capital funds have been provided for national roads through Transport Infrastructure Ireland to local authorities this year. Of this, approximately €57 million was included for both Cork city and county to advance the roads projects in the region. I am pleased to advise that an allocation of €300,000 has been made available for the Mallow relief road. This scheme consists of a bypass of Mallow with the objective of removing east-west traffic from the town centre. This will provide increased scope for development and public realm improvements in Mallow town centre, greatly benefiting residents. As such, the project is in line with the Government’s commitment to promoting compact growth in our cities and towns, which is also a national strategic outcome. The preferred route option for the scheme was identified last year and following this a public consultation took place. The project is currently in the design and environmental evaluation phase. The funding of €300,000 provided as part of the 2024 allocations will now allow the project to be progressed through the planning and design process. Cork County Council has mobilised the technical advisers for the project and is reviewing the status of environmental surveys and other preparatory works previously carried out to support a planning application. This review will establish if information collated to date is still valid and if further work may be required to support the planning application. While the review has not yet been completed, it is hoped it will be possible to complete a preliminary business case in 2025, as is required under the infrastructure guidelines, along with an application for planning permission next year. I look forward to seeing this project advance over the next number of years.
I acknowledge that Deputies Stanton and James O'Connor advocated for this project long before I did. I also acknowledge the allocation of €300,000 the Department of Transport has contributed towards its progression. Cork County Council initially sought more than €1 million. I think it estimated it would cost €1.2 million to progress the project. While I acknowledge that €300,000 will get the ball rolling, there is a shortfall between that allocation and Cork County Council's estimated cost for the works. What will that shortfall mean? This issue has been politicised in the town of Mallow. While I acknowledge the positive announcement as regards the allocation, some people are suggesting that the shortfall will cause the project to be delayed in some way. Will the Minister clarify what the shortfall will actually mean?
There is no intention to delay the project. I do not have any evidence that insufficient funding was provided for any reason. TII has to make the decision on the necessary allocations. There may sometimes be differences between what a council and TII consider should be the next allocation expenditure. TII has the real expertise and responsibility in this area. The allocation was made to be able to do the necessary work to advance the project. There is nothing else intended in that regard. I do not have details as to why the council had a different figure but I do not think anything should be read into that. The intention is to proceed along the lines set out in my response and I am sure the council will work with TII in that regard. Sometimes these things can be used for disinformation purposes and there will be all sorts of rumours but the facts as set out show that the work has to be done and we will fund the progress of that work.
To be honest, the intention of my question was to get this on the record. As the Minister alluded to, there is a lot of disinformation that the project is somewhat stalled again. It is good to get that information on the public record. What will be the process for getting additional funding to kick the project on further if, in six or seven months' time, the €300,000 allocation is exhausted? Will the Minister clarify that?
Deputy Stanton would like to contribute before the Minister responds.
I support my colleague with respect to funding for this road. Is the Minister aware of the congestion in Mallow town where large vehicles are clogging up the main street and causing major pollution? Is it the Green Party's policy now to ensure we have pollution in towns such as Mallow? Why did the Minister give €7 million back to the Exchequer last year when he could have given €1.2 million to Cork County Council to advance this scheme to the planning stage? Does he agree that the delay in the project last year has put it back even further? We have lost a year and €300,000 is only a pittance compared to what is really required. It is very frustrating.
Some €7 million was returned last year to the Exchequer but €2.7 billion was spent.
The Minister gave back €7 million.
Yes, out of €2.7 billion.
It was needed in Mallow.
With regard to the ordering of projects, the reality is we have approximately €35 billion within the NDP for a whole variety of projects, from public transport and active travel to roads.
The figure is €100 billion.
We have €100 billion worth of projects. The timing of any one project and the necessity to expand or spend further funding on any project are matters for agencies such as TII, which often have a whole range of different projects to advance. In truth, some projects get stuck in the planning system. The biggest delays in projects are caused by judicial reviews or where further information is required or due to other conditions of the planning system. In that regard, if additional funding or finance is needed, to answer Deputy O'Sullivan, TII manage its portfolio projects in a way that delivers them in the most effective manner. We should be careful about making false promises to people that we can build every single project and deliver €100 billion worth of infrastructure within a timeframe for which €35 billion has been allocated. The portfolio approach is the right way to do it.
69. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Transport his plans and timelines to upgrade bus services across mid-Cork, including Macroom to Cork, Macroom to Bandon and other local services based around Macroom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13251/24]
Connecting Ireland has a comprehensive plan for upgrading public transport right across the country, including in mid-Cork. A timetable is key for passengers who are waiting for a bus and it is also essential to allow people to know when to expect services will become available. Will the Minister set out a timetable for the delivery of that Connecting Ireland plan, in particular with regard to mid-Cork communities between Cork city and Macroom and westward?
The Government is strongly committed to providing all citizens with reliable and realistic sustainable mobility options and the enhancement of public transport offerings is key to that goal. As Minister for Transport, my responsibility is to direct policy and overall funding related to public transport. With respect to services in County Cork, it is the NTA that has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally, including the roll-out of TFI Local Link services and those under the new Connecting Ireland rural mobility plan. To that end, I have been advised that the NTA is in the process of planning the reconfiguration of route 233 between Macroom and Cork with a view to improving the existing levels of service. A target date for implementation of revised services on this corridor is not yet available as the work is ongoing and a public consultation exercise is planned to inform the development of proposals. As I am sure the Deputy is aware, Connecting Ireland has been hugely successful since implementation began in 2022, with passenger numbers on the TFI Local Link regular bus services increasing by 78% year on year to 3.2 million passengers last year.
Specifically, on the Macroom to Bandon route proposed under the Connecting Ireland plan, I advise the Deputy that the NTA is in the process of finalising the new and enhanced services being prioritised this year, as set out in the budget 2024 allocations.
I am not yet in a position to confirm whether or when this service will be implemented this year as any decisions made will be contingent on decisions around the prioritisation of routes, which is done by the NTA.
A key corridor west of the city serves the Lee Valley towards Macroom, serving communities such as Ovens, Aherla, Cloughduv, Crookstown, Kilmurray, Coachford and Macroom, where the route 233 service is based. That same bus serves the Inchigeelagh and Ballingeary area as well. When we look at the timetable, it looks very extensive but because it is spread so thin, this means that people living in these communities cannot realistically expect to depend on getting a bus in and out of town to go to college or work. An upgrade is needed. They were not part of the original Connecting Ireland plan but they made submissions to the public consultation phase to ensure they were included. To suggest there would be a further consultation phase pushes it down the line further. Communities have already, as part of Connecting Ireland, made it clear that they want to be part of it. Is there some way of ensuring this can be advanced sooner rather than later?
We have already significantly enhanced some of the services to Macroom. West of there, route 257, which was part of the first phase of Connecting Ireland and goes all the way to Millstreet, was introduced in December 2022 and the patronage in the following year increased by 112%. I agree with the Deputy about the demand that is there. With regard to the section east of Macroom and extending to Cork and beyond, I agree there is a demand for a service on that route. Our job in the Department is very much to provide the funding and support, and we are doing that.
As to whether there is too much consultation, that is a difficult question. People sometimes think there is not enough and it is hard to argue against that, in particular if the NTA is carrying that out to perhaps assess what is the best final route or what level of service enhancements are to be made. I am very supportive of additional investment in a new route in this area and I hope it can be delivered quickly.
The Minister referred to the Millstreet service. Many of the routes in Cork come towards the city. There is clearly a need for a radial service which would give people an opportunity, for example, to go to Millstreet, Macroom and Bandon, and on towards Kinsale if they wish, instead of having to go to the city. As the Minister said, part of that route was upgraded but it stopped short in Macroom. Continuing that, as proposed in the original Connecting Ireland plan, would also offer services to people in Crookstown and Newcestown. It would remove the need for everybody to come into Cork to go on to the next branch if there was a radial route. Advancing that radial route between Macroom, Millstreet and Bandon would be very positive and needs to be prioritised.
The plan included a significant increase to the route 40 express bus service but it still has not been extended by an extra half an hour. It is vital that this is also advanced for the 40 bus route.
Before the Minister replies, I will allow Deputy Gould to come in.
There are huge issues with all of the bus services in Cork. Last week, Sinn Féin in Cork brought out a policy outlining that a minimum of 30 extra drivers need to be hired by Bus Éireann to fill the gaps that are now showing. Due to traffic congestion, we are seeing more people using the buses, which is what we all want, but the problem is that buses are being delayed and are not turning up – they are ghost buses. People cannot depend on the bus service. The most disappointing aspect is that the app is not accurate. I met with the NTA, which told me it would be a year to 18 months before it can guarantee its accuracy. In this day and age, when we want people to use public transport, if we do not have an accurate bus app, we are at nothing.
I agree with both Deputies on the points made. I argue that there are two key constraints to what we all want, which is a major expansion of public transport services in Cork county and city, as well as in the rest of the country. The first is a budget constraint. Even with the significant resources provided, the truth is that we are going to have to make difficult decisions because everywhere is now looking for further and enhanced services, correctly so. That is why it is very important that we prioritise public transport but it is controversial because many people say we should be prioritising roads and so on. However, if we do not give prioritisation to public transport, which historically has been forgotten about and not supported, then we cannot deliver the orbital routes, such as the route to Macroom, Bandon and Millstreet. That is exactly the sort of service that we need and Connecting Ireland is designed to deliver that sort of option. Route 257 is coming into Macroom from Millstreet and if it is heading on to Bandon, someone could switch over to route 233 or route 40 to get into Cork, so we would design Bus Connects that way.
Thank you, Minister.
The second issue is resources, as Deputy Gould said. There is a real problem in Cork, not just with drivers but also mechanics. We have a real challenge and it is a question of how we address that. Obviously, we will try to get the people but the other way to address it is by providing the bus priority.
We are way over time.
Bus Connects in Cork would get the priority out to Ballincollig, which could get the service improvements to Macroom, as well as addressing the problems in the city. It is our job to give prioritisation to public transport on the road to help to solve that problem. I am sorry if I am over the time.
It is not your fault. There was a supplementary question on top of the question. I am going to limit the questions so the Members who are in attendance will have their questions answered.
70. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Transport whether he is aware of an uneven allocation in funding for active travel in 2024 in Cork city. [13240/24]
Will the Minister update the House as to whether he is aware of the uneven allocation of funding for active travel in 2024 in Cork city? For the fourth year on the trot, active travel funding is skewed between the northside and the southside and, once again, the northside of Cork city loses out.
I had thought the question referred to an uneven allocation from year to year and I did not realise it was specifically about the northside versus the southside of Cork. I will come to the details of that in my supplementary reply and I will first give the original written response.
I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to active travel, which is administered through the National Transport Authority. In partnership with local authorities, the NTA has responsibility for the selection and development of specific projects in each local authority area. Walking and cycling projects are funded across the Cork City Council area through allocations from the NTA's active travel infrastructure programme. As with all local authorities, funding allocation is based on demand, user need and project phase. Typically, projects at an early stage in development, such as concept development, will have a lower allocation need than projects which are at or approaching construction phase.
The active travel programme has seen a significant increase in investment in recent years, in line with the programme for Government commitment to spend €360 million per annum on walking and cycling over its lifetime. The years 2022 and 2023 saw full allocation spend by local authorities, with €310 million and €340 million invested in active travel, respectively. This was only made possible through the increase in the capacity of local authorities through the provision of funding for dedicated active travel staffing by my Department.
A consequence of the success of the programme is that there is a huge pipeline of projects to be funded, including a significant number reaching the aforementioned high-cost construction stage. The programme is moving into a project prioritisation stage, whereby funding will be allocated to projects which should see the greatest impact in terms of modal shift away from private car use. The process of identifying such projects is undertaken by the NTA in collaboration with the relevant local authority.
Cork City Council has received funding allocation of over €140 million since 2021, including just over €29 million this year. I look forward to the completion of more projects around the city, following on from recently completed projects such as, on the northside, MacCurtain Street, as well as the Vernon Mount Bridge and the Grange to Tramore Valley Park active travel scheme.
I might come back to the Deputy on the specific north-south issue.
This is the fourth year that I have raised with the Minister the uneven allocation of funding between the northside and southside. People may think it is still funding being spent in Cork but if people come from the constituency that I represent, they can see the disparity in the funding.
This is a serious issue that goes to the heart of the neglect of the northside by this Government. All we are looking for is an even distribution of funding. I will give an example. For this year, €16 million has been provided for projects on the southside at an average cost of €500,000 while €8 million - 50% of the southside's allocation - has been provided for projects on the northside at an average cost of €370,000. We are getting fewer projects, less money and less active travel from this Government. I am asking the Minister for fairness.
I will give the Deputy a chance to contribute again. I am keeping Members to time so that we can get to more questions.
I assure the Deputy that there is no intention whatsoever to disadvantage the northside of Cork city versus the southside. If there are particular projects on the southside or elsewhere that are being advanced faster, that is a matter for Cork City Council in conjunction with the NTA. There is no Government strategy to try to disadvantage one versus the other.
I will make a general point. This is an issue for Cork City Council. Decisions around which projects are advanced and, therefore, which will get money are matters for the lowest political level, that is, the local council. We cannot manage the active travel programme or street decisions from central government. We need to empower local government. If there is a case for a stronger allocation for the northside of Cork city, it is for the councillors in those council wards to push the council and ensure they get political support for the actions we need to take. That is where the decisions that will accelerate the provision of projects on the northside will be made.
I thank the Minister. I call Deputy Gould.
I would love nothing more than to see the northside of Cork get a larger, fairer share, but it comes down to the council.
We are over time, Minister.
Does the Minister not accept that receiving half the same funding for four years on the trot is not fair on the constituents I represent? I have spoken directly with the NTA where I have raised this issue repeatedly. I have also raised it with Cork City Council, and I understand it is the council’s job to bring these projects forward, but the people I represent do not see any fairness and do not believe they are being treated as equals. On John F. Connolly Road and Kilmore Road in Churchfield and Knocknaheeny, respectively, there are bollards that someone would not see in a war-torn area. They have been left there for over 25 years. I was told last year that they would be dealt with under the active travel programme, and I have been told the same this year. We need those bollards removed and footpaths to be reinstated with lights. The children who go to the Golden Gloves Boxing Club, Castleview soccer club, Temple United and St. Vincent’s have-----
I thank the Deputy. The Minister to respond.
-----to walk on roads that trucks drive on. That is not good enough.
I am going to ask Members for their co-operation.
I agree with the Deputy. We need greater investment in Cork – southside as well as northside – in terms of improved footpaths and an improved environment to make it safe for our children to walk or cycle to their local football clubs, boxing clubs or whatever it may be. Historically, there has been an underinvestment, although that has not been the case under this Government. Something like €140 million over the past four years is not an insignificant amount. Last year, we spent €35 million in Cork city. Nothing like that has ever been done before, but there is a legacy of underinvestment, so we need to scale that allocation up on the northside as well as on the southside. Many of the projects that have been in the design concept stage will now come for decision on their construction phases.
I will give Cork a message. The problem with Cork is that it tends to gold-plate things a certain amount and can have expensive projects. We need to build things fast and at a lower cost than is currently the case so that we can get a greater number of areas covered.
I thank the Minister.
I hear from officials that Cork tends to be a bit slower and more expensive. We need to spend the money wisely, widely and well.
We will try to use the time wisely and stay within the limits.
71. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Transport the amount of extra funding support his Department has provided to Cork County Council for the repair of roads damaged by flooding in the wake of Storm Babet; his plans to provide further allocations in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13047/24]
Five months ago, we experienced the consequences of climate change in a devastating way in east Cork with Storm Babet, which led to businesses, homes, roads and so on being devastated. I have two questions. First, how much extra funding has the Department provided to Cork County Council to date for the repair of roads damaged by the flooding? Second, what plans has the Minister to provide further moneys this year and next?
The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Work on these roads is funded from councils’ own resources and supplemented by State road grants. The Department emphasises to local authorities each year the importance of setting aside a contingency fund to manage events such as severe flooding.
Following Storm Babet, the prompt restoration of the road network was essential from a safety perspective as well as for maintaining key social and economic connections. Last year, my Department provided an additional €350,000 to Cork County Council to begin some emergency rehabilitation works to facilitate the opening of some key roads for access to schools and communities. Cork County Council sought additional financial support to assist in carrying out its duty as the road authority. Last November, my Department received an initial estimate of remedial road costs. Earlier this month, though, Cork County Council revised its costs downwards for works to be carried out on the impacted infrastructure in 2024. My Department has committed a further €13 million to the council this year. This amount aligns with the council’s current and substantiated funding request for works. As of now, the Department has not received a full cost of all works to be conducted in 2024. It takes time to fully assess damage and the associated remedial costs.
We are committed to assisting Cork County Council – from within resources, where possible – in managing essential repair works, especially the opening of key roads and bridges, as well as investing in future-proofing our road networks to help reduce the probability of such damage recurring. In addition, I understand that Cork County Council has been in contact with TII regarding the impact of Storm Babet on the national road network and that TII is reviewing the matter.
I thank the Minister for his response. Will he provide some figures for how much additional funding has been indicated to his Department? He spoke about a downward revision. How much is that? Did he say that the council had already received €13 million or €30 million? I am not clear on that, as I could not hear him properly.
The Taoiseach told me in the Dáil recently that a special allocation had been made from the Exchequer to address the damage done in Donegal. Does the Minister intend to ask for a special allocation from the Department of public expenditure and reform to cover the damage to roads in Cork? I understand that the current estimate is between €50 million and €55 million. Has the Minister that amount of money at his disposal in his Department or will he have to go to the Department of public expenditure and reform for it?
I went to Midleton the day after the storm. The floods were just receding. It was remarkable to see the work of the local authorities and various other State agencies managing the crippling impact on the town and surrounding areas, including Glanmire. We committed then, and I recommit here today, that whatever was needed to restore the roads and provide connectivity, safety and so on would be provided. Typically, though, it takes time to assess the damage and scale up the response. The initial response was a €350,000 allocation, mainly to assess the nature and design of the works.
The Deputy is right, in that Cork County Council initially estimated a cost of in or around €51 million, but there was no proper estimate involved in that. It was just a first assessment. The council has subsequently lowered that amount. We have committed €13 million this year, but it is likely that there will be further funding. Some of this takes time and may run into the following year, with us having to spend the money then. There will not be a need to go to the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform. We can cover it from within the existing budget allocation.
I thank the Minister. He will have a chance to contribute again.
We will work closely with the council to ensure that we solve the problems.
I acknowledge that the Minister and the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers, visited Midleton. Many of the rural roads in question remain virtually impassable. I have driven on them myself and they are in an awful condition. They will require additional funding. Has the €13 million been handed over to Cork County Council? Does the Minister not agree that there is a significant gap between €13 million and €50 million?
The council does not have the funding to do it. This was an exceptional event. What plans does the Minister have to ensure the roads that are so badly damaged, especially the very many rural roads that citizens need and use all of the time, are repaired? I have driven them myself and they are absolutely appalling. They are totally cut away. Some of them have very deep trenches torn out of them for their full length, especially in higher rural areas where the volume, speed and power of the water was devastating. Will the Minister commit to finding the funding and making it available as soon as possible? Has the funding been transferred already and what will happen for the rest of this year?
Just before the Minister responds, I want to point out that this is a question on Cork. I am enforcing the rules here.
Can I come in?
Is your question on Cork?
It relates to funding and flooding.
You will have to come in on a different question. I am enforcing the rules here.
It is a long way from Dundalk to Midleton.
We are committed to providing the funding. We do not have a substantiated funding request as yet but as soon as we do, we will be able to fund Cork County Council. We do not fund in advance of the cost estimates and claims coming in but we will provide the funding that is necessary. It takes time but there are precedents here. The Deputy mentioned Donegal and there was a similar example in Wexford two years ago, with very significant losses of bridges and damage to local and regional roads. We have experience in terms of how we can help out councils. This is climate change happening before our eyes and it is increasing. We are scaling up our ability to respond to what is effectively a climate change act and we will make sure the county is provided with whatever funding is necessary.
72. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Transport if he can provide an update on the proposed changes to category W licences; if he has engaged with the RSA to discuss the changes prior to the announcement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13232/24]
I want to ask about category W licences, about which there was some controversy in the past month or so. These are licences for work vehicles including tractors, agricultural vehicles and vehicles used in forestry. The licensing authority stated recently that these licences could no longer be used on building sites or other environments where they are widely used. This issue must be dealt with immediately. The Government has said it will be another six months before it is dealt with but we need to get clarity in respect of it now.
The Road Safety Authority, RSA, and my Department have no plans to change the rules in relation to driver licensing for tractors. The current licence category, W, will continue to be the licence category that covers work vehicles and land tractors.
Agricultural vehicles are any power-driven vehicles running on wheels or tracks, having at least two axles, the principal function of which lies in their tractive power, which are specially designed to pull, push, carry or operate certain tools, machines or trailers used in connection with agricultural or forestry operations, and the use of which for carrying persons or goods by road, or drawing on the road, vehicles used for the carriage of persons or goods is only a secondary function.
The definition of work vehicle is a vehicle, other than a land tractor, which has a maximum design speed not exceeding 40 km/h and which is constructed primarily for any work other than the conveyance by road of goods or burdens of any other description. Road traffic laws and the certificate of professional competence, or CPC, requirements apply only when vehicles are used on public roads, not on construction sites.
My Department and the RSA are aware that the European Union’s proposed fourth driving licence directive, which may be adopted by the end of 2024, could provide a revised definition of tractors. Once the new driving licence directive has been published, my Department and the RSA will consult with stakeholders in advance of the introduction of any required changes to relevant national legislation. However, until the new driving licence directive is approved and enacted, the existing approach to tractor licensing will continue to be applied. The RSA website has been updated to reflect this.
I appreciate that is the case now but the premature change announced on the website caused a lot of difficulties for many people, particularly those for employers whose employees use W category licences for the work they carry out. The driver licence directive which we expect to come into operation in September will mean that changes will have to be made. What I want to know is whether the Government has considered what those changes will be and what impact they will have. The tractors that many of us grew up with include the 35 and the 165 models used on farms but the tractors being used today are much larger and much more powerful and are often used to pull very heavy loads. The licensing of 16 year olds to carry out work on them is probably something that needs to be examined from a safety perspective because there have been a lot of accidents involving some of these very heavy, powerful vehicles. We must get our domestic regulations right and the Government must consider that in advance of the publication of the EU directive.
I agree with the Deputy's latter comments on safety. To return to what we were discussing earlier, safety should be our first consideration in all of these issues. To clarify, part of the problem here was that the RSA made an adjustment to the text regarding W licences on its website last year which garnered attention in recent days. It was an attempt to clarify an interpretation around this licence category but it may have caused unintentional confusion. The RSA has removed the amended wording from its website. That may have been the source of some of the confusion here. Hopefully a lot of this will be helped by the passing of the new licence directive by the EU, expected later this year. That will provide us with the best opportunity to realign or modernise the W licence category in whatever way we want.
I welcome that response but I reiterate the point that we need to work out this in advance. When the EU directive is published it may contain changes which will be expected to be rolled out in every country in Europe. If those changes are going to have an impact on some of the people who drive vehicles of the aforementioned nature, they need to know in advance because it can take quite a long time to get tests and to put things in place to ensure they have the appropriate licence. Perhaps there will be no changes but we need to have clarity around that because there is still some confusion. I accept that the change was made on the RSA website and I welcome that but there is still some confusion about this issue, including about what impact the directive will have and what that will mean for people working on building sites and other areas where they drive large vehicles of that nature.
In a broader context, it is quite unusual for the licensing authority to be so quick to put something up on its website when the directive will not be published for months yet. At the same time, we have hundreds of people with provisional licences driving on the roads on an ongoing basis, which is quite dangerous, and that has not been dealt with by the authority.
We will not know the final details of the directive until a new European Parliament is elected. My understanding from talking to officials in the Department is that we do not expect it within this mandate of the Commission; it will be the next one. It would be slightly premature for us to try to second guess what a new Parliament and a new trilogue process will deliver in the directive. In the interim, it is very important that we are clear that the existing arrangements stay the same. The current licence requirements are set out with real clarity by the RSA and we need to make sure everyone adheres to the existing guidelines, which are not changing.
73. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Transport his plans to address anti-social behaviour and abuse directed at workers on the public transport network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13225/24]
I ask the Minister to provide an update on plans to address antisocial behaviour and the abuse of drivers and workers on public transport.
Like Deputy Hourigan, I take the safety and security of transport workers and passengers very seriously. It is an unfortunate truth that public transport is not immune to instances of antisocial behaviour and those who work within our public transport network are among those most directly impacted.
To address this, the NTA, An Garda Síochána and the operators work closely to promote order and safety on public transport services and to this end, each of the operators has introduced a number of measures in recent years to help combat the issue. Irish Rail, for example, has increased spending on security by more than 70%, from €3.7 million in 2016 to €6.3 million last year. On the bus network, the entire Dublin Bus fleet is fully fitted with CCTV cameras and radios for immediate contact with a central control centre. More broadly, An Garda Síochána established a new transport hub in the national train control centre at Heuston station and is conducting more patrols in affected areas, while the NTA has published a public transport passenger security report. Despite these efforts, it remains an ongoing issue for the sector. In 2023, a total of 2,791 incidents of anti-social behaviour were recorded and while these occurred in the context of more than 308 million passenger journeys last year, this remains an unacceptable number. SIPTU, in its Respect Transport Workers campaign, highlighted some of the issues faced by public transport workers on a day-to-day basis, including issues of vandalism and verbal abuse.
I look forward to meeting representatives of SIPTU to discuss these issues and the findings of their recent survey of members. To conclude, my Department and the NTA will continue to engage regularly with operators on this issue to ensure the safety and security of staff on public transport.
I welcome that information, particularly that the Minister will be meeting with SIPTU on this issue. I was lucky enough to go to the bus depot in Summerhill to look at the electric buses recently, which are fantastic to see. One of the issues we discussed was the need to attract more women into the service. One of the big barriers to that is the need to communicate to the public or those who might be seeking employment in the service that it is a safe job for women, and indeed that it is safe for women in general to use public transport with their children. The perception that public transport might not always be safe is a barrier in terms of gender and diversity and in terms of those with different abilities. It might, in fact, be a barrier to organisations like Bus Éireann attracting female drivers and a barrier to their project of getting more mná into the service.
Like the Deputy, I visited Summerhill bus station recently and I agree on the progress being made in the provision of services. Similarly, I got the message that a shortage of mechanics, as well as drivers, is a real issue. We do have to resolve that, and we can and will.
To go into the detail of some of the figures, so people have an understanding of this antisocial behaviour, I referred to 2,791 incidents. Dublin Bus transported 145 million passengers last year and there was something like 621 incidents of antisocial behaviour. Bus Éireann transported some 44 million passengers and the figure was 372. Go-Ahead buses transported about 16 million passengers and the figure was 320. On the Luas, which transported 48.2 million passengers, there were 748 incidents. On Irish Rail, which transported 45.5 million passengers, there were some 704 incidents of antisocial behaviour. We have to look at each category of public transport. Also, as the Deputy will agree, we have to look at the experience of the passenger when they are waiting at the bus stop or railway station. The safety issue does not just relate to when people are on the vehicle. Particularly for women, it is very important that we get a safe environment around the service.
To reiterate, part of that is a perception of safety. I would not endeavour to speak for SIPTU but one thing that might be useful would be to have a transport stakeholder forum where unions can work with the Department to ensure that across the board, across all of our public transport, there is a perception that you are safe when you use a bus, a Luas or a Local Link, that you are protected and have nothing to fear, and that you can also take up a job in those industries and be safe and protected.
We have a security contingent in Dublin Airport that works well. It is not the same as the Garda but its members can detain anybody who is guilty of posing a threat to others. We need a joined-up process and strategy as people move more towards public transport into the future.
I agree. To give background, the NTA did establish a working group on antisocial behaviour, which meets monthly. It works with the operators and looks at the trends among public transport operators to share best practice. I mentioned those various operators. My Department and key public transport stakeholders also presented to the Department of Justice's antisocial behaviour forum that took place in June last year. I agree with the Deputy. The SIPTU campaign which was launched, I think, on 20 February, their involvement and engagement is critical, as is that of An Garda Síochána. A lot of people have been arguing for institutional change in terms of separate traffic police and so on, or indeed others than the Garda taking on that role. I do not think that is the right approach. I do think it is a matter for An Garda Síochána working with the operators. The fact that they are now located in the main national train centre down at Heuston Station will increase that level of responsiveness. It does merit ongoing collaboration between the various users and stakeholders.
75. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he will ensure that additional funding will be provided to Cavan County Council and Monaghan County Council for much-needed improvement works to the non-national road network in 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13262/24]
As the Minister is aware, there is a commitment in the programme for Government to maintain the existing road network to a high standard and fund safety improvements. I am thinking particularly of the non-national road network in Cavan and Monaghan where we have heavy volumes of traffic. We depend entirely on the road network to move goods and people, and for day-to-day commerce and business. The weather has played havoc with road conditions over the past 12 months in particular. Additional funding needs to be allocated to our local authorities for this year's road works programme.
The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority in accordance with the provisions of section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from councils' own resources, which are supplemented by State grants for regional and local roads.
As outlined in the 2024 regional and local roads programme, which I released on 13 February this year, the Government is strongly committed to protecting the existing regional and local road network. This network is fundamental in connecting people and places across the country. Ireland's regional and local road network spans over 96,000 km. The network requires significant funding to ensure it remains fit for purpose, safe and resilient. As such, €658 million was allocated to regional and local road grants in 2024, with approximately 90% of this funding being directed towards maintenance and renewal works. This represents an overall grant funding allocation increase of 5%.
Under the 2024 grant allocations, Monaghan County Council was allocated over €17 million for the maintenance and improvement of its regional and local roads. This represents an increase of nearly €850,000 compared to its 2023 allocation. Cavan County Council was allocated over €18 million, an increase of nearly €630,000 compared to its 2023 allocation. This funding will support each local authority in carrying out an extensive 2024 programme of maintenance and restoration works. In addition, the funding is earmarked to support various climate adaptation projects, bridge rehabilitation schemes and vital safety improvement works.
Under the national development plan, the Government prioritises carrying out targeted improvements to sections of the regional and local road network, with €677 million earmarked over the ten years until 2030. Road improvement projects can be proposed by local authorities for consideration for funding. All projects put forward must comply with the requirements of the infrastructure guidelines and the transport appraisal framework.
The Minister listened to my Fianna Fáil councillors in Cavan County Council outline their particular concerns about the non-national road network in our county. I say again that Cavan and Monaghan are totally dependent on the road network. County Cavan has a very small proportion of national road network. I think 95% of the road network in County Cavan is classified as non-national; it is regional and local. Even when you travel the best motorways in the country now, the damage the heavy rainfall has done is evident. If the heavy rainfall that has been consistent for so many months in recent times is damaging exceptionally well constructed roads, you can just imagine the damage it is doing to our local roads, laneways and regional roads. I welcome the increases that this Government has given since 2020 for the non-national road network but I have to say it is not enough. There has unfortunately been a massive increase in road construction costs, which has whittled away the financial increase that the Minister has allocated to each local authority.
I agree with Deputy Smith on both contentions. I mentioned in an earlier response that climate change is hitting home now. We see the rain levels and the intensity of rainfall. It is not just the amount of rain but the bursts and we see the impact on the road network where we have flooding events and so on. That is an issue. Similarly, there has been an issue with very high cost inflation, particularly in the road maintenance and repair area. That is why we gave additional funding last year. I believe that what we are doing this year in Cavan and Monaghan as well as elsewhere, with something like a 5% increase in the allocated budget, will help. I was talking to the Minister for Finance yesterday. Our forecasts for inflation are dropping quite significantly, certainly way below that figure. That should give us some capability to recover some of the gap. We are absolutely targeting repair and maintenance as the first priority. Once you let a road go, it is much more expensive to try to recover it and get it back.
That is the key area where councils and our Department will not skimp or save.
I thank the Minister. I cannot emphasise enough that the increases the Minister has given us are welcome but do not match the increase in costs allied to the damage done by rainfall over the past 12 to 18 months. We are not sufficiently protecting the investment that has been made over recent years because councils are not able to carry out adequate programmes. I appeal to the Minister to provide an additional allocation to local authorities this year in order that they can do more than they originally planned under the February allocation.
This is about protecting the investment of taxpayers and ensuring that people, regardless of where they live, have a road of a proper standard to their homes, farms or places of business. The Minister is well aware that in Cavan and Monaghan most of our industry, businesses and commerce is situated along the non-national road network. Thankfully, in the past two years there has been an increase in business and employment and we want to ensure that we facilitate more employment and people living in rural communities.
Going into some details, additional projects have been progressed in Cavan and Monaghan this year. Eight schemes have been provided for under the climate change adaptation and resilient works programme. There have been 21 bridges dealt with under the bridge rehabilitation programme. There are 16 schemes under the safety improvement works programme. We provided an allocation in February. We will have to wait and see. Changing things in March would not be a good ordering of our affairs.
If there are any incidents, in particular with regard to flooding which we discussed earlier in respect of a road in Midleton, but the same applies across the country, we draw up special contingencies in the event of any specific flood or other climate-related damages. We will support counties because we do not want the road network to go below a certain level of repair. As the Deputy said, that is much more expensive.
76. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Transport if there are plans to increase the capacity of public buses along the C spine route from Lucan; what measures are being taken to address overcrowded buses at peak times along this route; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12767/24]
A number of residents from Lucan and Palmerstown have contacted me regarding problems they have experienced along the C spine route. Are there any plans to increase capacity or public buses along the C spine route from Lucan? What measures are being taken to address the overcrowding on buses at peak times along this route? As someone who lives on the route, I can empathise with people who are trying to get in and out of work because sometimes these buses cannot be relied on.
I thank Deputy Ward. I am aware that capacity pinch points are being experienced on certain bus routes across the public transport network, including on the C spine route from Lucan. I fully acknowledge that these issues can be incredibly frustrating for public transport users, in particular if they are left waiting at bus stops for prolonged periods due to full buses operating on the route. I assure the Deputy that this Government is firmly committed to improving public transport across the country, including through improvements in the frequency and reliability of service provision. That commitment is demonstrated across the significant service and infrastructure investments in recent years, as well as the various fare initiatives that have been introduced.
As Deputies know, BusConnects is a transformative plan to improve and expand bus services in all of our major cities. The programme is initially being rolled out in Dublin, followed by Cork and Galway and then Limerick and Waterford. Phase 2 of the BusConnects network redesign was originally launched on 28 November 2021 in west Dublin and east Kildare and included the introduction of the C spine.
I understand that additional capacity was added to routes C3 and C4 in late 2023 and that the National Transport Authority, NTA, is currently engaging with Dublin Bus on a review of the service requirements on C1 and C2. I further understand that the NTA hopes to introduce additional capacity on the C spine later this year, which should help to alleviate the issues currently being experienced on the service. While these capacity challenges are issues we must address, it also reflects the strong demand for high-quality frequent public transport that exists among the community. Projects such as BusConnects are vital if we are to meet that demand and I look forward to the Deputy’s support in its continued implementation in the coming years.
I thank the Minister. I will touch on the increased capacity in a moment. I received a number of emails on behalf of constituents in Clondalkin, Lucan and Palmerstown. One person said they wrote as a concerned resident of Lucan regarding the state of our local bus routes, specifically the C1 and C2 services. The person said that, as I may be aware, the recent increase in population due to new housing developments has significantly impacted the efficiency and reliability of these routes. They went on to say that the growing number of residents in Lucan has led to overcrowded buses, frequent delays and inadequate services during peak hours. They also said the situation not only inconveniences current residents but also discourages the use of public transport transportation, exacerbating traffic congestion and environmental concerns.
The person kindly requested my attention to address these issues by exploring potential solutions, such as increasing bus frequency, adjusting schedules to accommodate peak times and considering route extensions to better serve the expanding population. The person stated my efforts in advocating for improved public transport in Lucan would greatly benefit the community and contribute to a more sustainable and accessible transportation system. What plans are there to increase capacity along the C spine route? The Minister mentioned plans for C1 and C2.
As I said, we are looking at plans for it this year in response to what has been a phenomenal increase in demand. That is good news. It would be very frustrating if buses passed by people because they were full. We will respond to that.
As the Deputy is aware, there are two elements to BusConnects. The first is the introduction of new routes and spines and the second is new corridors. We are now at the start of that phase. There are four projects, which include BusConnects corridors that have come out of the planning system. One may be subject to a judicial review which would delay it, but the others have gone through planning and, it is to be hoped, will go to construction. We want to go to construction this year and get all of the BusConnects corridors built. That will be transformative. Not only are we introducing new services and spines; times will increase and improve.
We are short of drivers and mechanics across cities and the country. Getting them operating more quickly will be a win-win and there will be a virtuous circle. We are at the cusp of a turning point whereby we build corridors as well as spines to speed everything up.
If I get onto the C spine route at my bus stop, the route is very good and it takes about 25 minutes to reach the city centre. There are bus lanes all the way. The problem is that by the time the bus gets to my stop, it is full and passes me by. I would love to be able to use public transport to get in and out of work but I simply cannot rely on the service. I am not alone. There are residents in Hermitage, Ballyowen, Abbeywood, Abbeydale, Foxborough, Arthur Griffith and as far as Palmerstown who feel the same. The buses pass them by.
When there are events on in town in the weekends, such as a Dublin match or concert, buses pass people by. The NTA needs to start forward planning for when there are events in the city centre in order that residents can access them, as well as travelling in and out of work. I received a response from the NTA which stated that increasing capacity is subject to funding. I ask that the Minister release all necessary funding so that the people of Lucan and Palmerstown can rely on public transport.
Funding is one of the constraints. Another is the fact that we need to expand the number of drivers and mechanics, as I said earlier. We have to make the public transport alternative work and that is why the Government is prioritising spending on public transport. It is not just about spending; it is also about political decisions.
I was very glad that the city council is now proceeding with taking some 60% of the through traffic out of the city centre this summer. The Deputy is correct that on his bus corridor there are good bus lanes to the city centre but when a bus gets to the city centre it is stuck in a jam because so much traffic uses the city centre as a through route rather than an access route. The decision to take measures this August to favour pedestrians, cyclists and public transport is another key measure. It is not always about financial resources; it is about a political commitment to making public transport work. In the end, that is better for everyone. People who have to drive do not want to be stuck in traffic. People who want a public transport alternative want it to be reliable. It is a win-win for everyone if we get that prioritisation right.
