Written Answers Nos. 192-211
192. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the delegated functions assigned to the Minister of State with responsibility for international and road transport and logistics; and the date those delegated functions come into effect. [15058/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, the Taoiseach has appointed Hildegarde Naughton, TD Minister of State attending cabinet with responsibility for International and Road Transport and Logistics. Officials are at present preparing the text of the necessary Government Order to formally delegate the agreed functions to Minister Naughton, and I expect this work to be completed shortly.
193. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount spent by each local authority on cycling and pedestrian infrastructure; and the details of each scheme by local authority in tabular form. [15067/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy is aware that details of expenditure by local authorities is not a matter for my Department and I am not therefore in a position to answer for specific expenditure details for all 31 local authorities.
In 2019 my Department allocated approximately €71million to support walking and cycling through a number of different programmes, such as the active travel programme, the greenways programme and the roads programme. The vast majority of this funding is on infrastructure although some funding is also provided to support behavioural change type programmes.
The largest infrastructure programme is the active travel programme administered by the National Transport Authority which in turn allocates funding to individual local authorities, while other funding is provided by my Department to local authorities under the regional and local roads programme and the greenways programme.
However, the Deputy is likely aware that local authorities can also avail of funding to support walking and cycling infrastructure improvements through other programmes across Government, such as the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund, the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund and the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme and therefore funding provided by my Department or provided through agencies of my Department does not represent the totality of expenditure in local authority areas or by local authorities on walking and cycling infrastructure.
In relation to grants made directly by my Department to local authorities for walking and cycling infrastructure the details regarding same for 2019 will be collated and supplied to the Deputy in line with Standing Orders.
In relation to grants made by the National Transport Authority to local authorities for walking and cycling infrastructure in 2019 I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply, please advise my Private Office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
194. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to hire additional driver testers to clear the driver test backlog nationally. [15068/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis is an operational matter for the Road Safety Authority. I have therefore referred the Question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.
195. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if employment incentives will be made available to the tourism sector for a new or developing small enterprise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15077/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government contains a commitment that the Government will publish a series of immediate actions to support the economy - the "July Stimulus". In this context the Government will, among other things, consider further additional measures that may be needed to support the tourism and hospitality sector.
My Department has liaised with other Government departments and industry representative bodies, to align the economy wide COVID-19 supports and initiatives with tourism and hospitality needs. The Government will continue to explore funding potential for all enterprises including tourism businesses as they work through the challenges facing them, including through any mechanisms allowable through the EU’s state aid framework.
Fáilte Ireland has put in place a number of supports for the tourism and hospitality sector. Details of these are available on Fáilte Ireland's website.
My predecessor also established the Tourism Recovery Taskforce on 20th May 2020 to prepare a Tourism Recovery Plan. This will include a set of recommendations on how best the Irish tourism sector can adapt and recover in the changed tourism environment as a result of the Covid-19 crisis. The Taskforce has submitted an initial report.
196. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funding the NTA has awarded to Kildare County Council in each of the years 2018, 2019 and 2020; the amount awarded to each individual scheme in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15080/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. However, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport, including the management of funds provided to the National Transport Authority (NTA) to carry out its functions.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in this matter, I have referred your question to the NTA for a more detailed reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
197. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on whether the public bike scheme in Cork should be expanded to county towns on rail links. [15083/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy will know that I am very much in favour of increasing the number of people who choose to make active travel part of their daily journeys. I am glad to say that the Programme for Government - Our Shared Future contains a number of important commitments in the area of active travel, and indeed sustainable mobility generally, that I look forward to implementing in the months and years ahead.
The public bike schemes have been a great success since their launch and subsequent expansion and I am happy to hear the views of others as regards their potential future expansion. A significant contribution toward that success is to ensure the appropriate location of bike stations to allow for good circulation of bikes and people and ensure that individual stations contribute rather than detract from the overall system.
The Deputy raises an interesting point about integrating the schemes with transport hubs and will acknowledge the work already done in that regard in terms of both Kent Station and the Parnell Place Bus Station in Cork city centre.
The Deputy will be aware that as Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to cycle and public transport infrastructure. However, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of the management of public bike schemes. Decisions regarding contracts, operation and expansion of existing and proposed bike schemes fall under the remit of the National Transport Authority (NTA).
Noting the NTA's responsibilities in the matter, I have referred your question to the NTA for a more detailed reply . Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
198. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will give consideration to the situation facing persons who have not been able to use their motor vehicles during the Covid-19 emergency period in view of the fact they cocooned on public health advice; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that many are now facing large bills from their local motor tax offices for arrears and that they were unable to avail of an off the road declaration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15089/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraUp to 2013, vehicles were declared off the road retrospectively.
The Non-Use of Motor Vehicles Act came into effect on 1 July 2013. The primary purpose of the Act was to replace the system whereby a vehicle was declared off the road retrospectively with a system under which the vehicle must be declared off the road in advance. The procedure where vehicles were declared off the road retrospectively was non-verifiable, and was at the time estimated to be costing some €110m annually (a significant proportion of which were not considered to be genuine).
Under the new provisions, a declaration must be made in the last month of an existing motor tax disc or renewed in the last month of a previously made declaration of non-use. The declaration can be made online or in a motor tax office using the following form:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/4df54e-declaration-of-non-use-of-a-vehicle/.
The declaration can be made for any number of calendar months between 3 and 12 months i.e. it cannot be made for a period of 1 or 2 months. If a vehicle is subsequently required to be put back on the road, the declaration can be broken at any time simply by taxing the vehicle.
Where a declaration is not made in advance, arrears of motor tax must be paid in full and motor tax paid for a minimum of 3 months before a declaration of non-use can then be made in the final month of the tax disc.
There are no plans to re-introduce retrospective declarations of non-use.
199. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there is legislation or policy to allow driving schools that had parked up vehicles for a number of months during lockdown to claim a refund on motor tax paid for that period of time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15096/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraMotor tax legislation provides for refunds in certain limited circumstances, where:
- a vehicle has been scrapped or destroyed;
- a vehicle has been permanently exported;
- a vehicle has been stolen and has not been recovered by the owner;
- a vehicle in respect of which a tax disc has been taken out has not been used in a public place at any time since the issue of the disc;
- the owner of a vehicle has ceased, because of illness, injury or other physical disability, to use the vehicle;
- the owner of a vehicle has ceased, because of absence from the state for business or educational purposes, to use the vehicle; or
- the owner of a vehicle has ceased, because of service overseas with the Defence Forces, to use the vehicle.
There are no plans currently to amend the legislation to extend the grounds for the granting of a refund.
However, as you are aware, the Government has introduced a range of supports for Covid-impacted businesses generally, including new schemes of wage subsidies, rates waivers, re-start grants, lending facilities, equity injection, and business advisory supports. You will also be aware that further stimulus measures will be announced later this month, to be followed by longer-term actions in the National Economic Plan, which will be published alongside Budget 2021.
200. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the development of the aviation recovery plan through the establishment of the task force for aviation recovery; when the plan will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15124/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am pleased to inform the Deputy that the Taskforce for Aviation Recovery has now completed its work and has produced its final report, which is available on the Department of Transport's web site. The report contains a number of recommendations aimed at ensuring that air travel can be reopened in a safe and sustainable manner and that can enable the re-establishment of Ireland’s global connectivity over the coming period. I would like to thank the Taskforce’s chairman, Chris Horn, and all the Taskforce members for their hard work in developing both an interim and final report to the challenging timeline that was set for them.
My Department will now evaluate the Report’s recommendations, which will feed into the Government’s plans to aid broader economic recovery – including in the aviation sector. A roadmap for the safe and sustainable recovery of aviation is essential because aviation is a critical enabler for the Irish economy, providing as it does essential connectivity along with many direct and indirect jobs.
I am very conscious of the severity of the current crisis for the sector, and of the importance of providing assurance to stakeholders.
202. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he plans to develop a comprehensive policy for commuter services on all existing lines into Waterford, Limerick and Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15130/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. However, the National Transport Authority (NTA) is responsible for the provision of public transport services in conjunction with the relevant transport operators.
The Deputy is likely aware that, commencing in 2016, transport investment in all the major cities is guided by the development of metropolitan area transport strategies. Since 2016 transport strategies have been published in respect of the Greater Dublin Area, Galway and the Cork Metropolitan Area, while development of a transport strategy for the Limerick-Shannon Metropolitan Area has commenced and work on the final strategy in respect of the Waterford Metropolitan Area is scheduled to commence this year.
This move toward evidence based, plan-led transport planning for our major cities is to be welcomed and allows for consideration of all relevant issues and the potential role all modes of transport can play in addressing those issues. I would also note that providing this type of long-term investment framework represents international best practice in the area of transport planning.
These transport strategies, once developed, provide the comprehensive strategic backdrop to transport investment in all our cities, including in relation to rail services and infrastructure, and I look forward to working with the National Transport Authority in relation to implementing the various strategies’ recommendations.
203. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of persons that are ordinarily resident here but driving on licences from another country; if he has considered the possibility of converting these licences into Irish licences as an emergency Covid-19 measure to help reduce the waiting list for driver tests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15143/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Driver and Vehicle Computer Services Division (DVCSD) of my Department manages the computer records of all vehicles and drivers in the State, referred to collectively as the National Vehicle and Driver File (NVDF). The NVDF does not hold information on licences issued by other countries. EU driving licences are recognised in Ireland for the duration of the validity of the licence. When the licence expiries, a person resident in Ireland will be issued with an Irish driving licence on application.
All EU driving licences are exchangeable when a person moves from one Member State to another. In the case of non-EU jurisdictions, we may make bilateral agreements on licence exchange when the relevant authorities in each jurisdiction have studied and compared the two licensing regimes, so that each side can be satisfied that they are compatible and that licences can be exchanged without an adverse impact on road safety on one or other country, due to differing standards. On the Irish side, this task is undertaken by the Road Safety Authority (RSA). As the Deputy will recognise, it is essential that a country with whom we agree to exchange licences have a robust system in place.
In the absence of a bilateral agreement - which means that there is no recognised standard of testing which people have met - we require people to go through the national driver learning process in order to obtain an Irish driving licence.
The Motor Insurance Bureau of Ireland may be able to provide the Deputy with information on the number of persons that are ordinarily resident here but driving on licences from another country, as it is usual to give details of a licence when applying for motor insurance.
204. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of a project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15148/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Climate, Energy and Communications and Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015, the planning, design and construction of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
Noting the above position, I have referred your question to TII for a direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
205. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of a project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15149/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Climate, Energy and Communications and Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015, the improvement and upgrading of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
Noting the above position, I have referred your question to TII for a direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
206. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of a project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15150/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Climate, Energy and Communications and Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015, the improvement and upgrading of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
Noting the above position, I have referred your question to TII for a direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
207. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of a project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15151/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra208. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of a project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15152/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 207 and 208 together.
As Minister for Climate, Energy, Communications and Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015, the planning, design and construction of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
Noting the above position, I have referred your question to TII for a direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
209. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of a project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15153/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Climate, Energy, Communications and Transport, Tourism and Sport , I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015, the planning, design and construction of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
Noting the above position, I have referred your question to TII for a direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
210. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will address a matter regarding road traffic accidents (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15161/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra211. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will address a matter regarding collisions and road traffic deaths involving alcohol (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15162/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 210 and 211 together.
The information the Deputy has requested is available on the Road Safety Authority website on the Statistics page under the Road Safety tab (link: www.rsa.ie/RSA/Road-Safety/RSA-Statistics/Collision-Statistics/Provisional-Reviews/. Details of the provisional review of fatal collisions for 2019 and contributory factors for fatal collisions 2008-2012 can be found here.
The road collision database in Ireland is created using a form called a C(T)68 forwarded to the Road Safety Authority (RSA) from An Garda Síochána. The information provided in this form is based on preliminary information collected at the scene of a collision and does not constitute the findings of the final investigation. The RSA issues reports regularly using the data contained in this database as the best available representation of fatal and injury collisions.
The report "Fatal Collisions 2008-2012: Alcohol" is based on an analysis of the completed Garda investigation file where the full circumstances of the collisions are available. Access was granted by An Garda Síochána to the completed Investigation File produced for each collision.
The Deputy will appreciate that detailed technical reviews of fatal deaths on the roads can only take place once any other investigation or inquest has concluded and hence there is necessarily a lag between the occurrence of an incident and the publication of detailed statistics.
