Written Answers Nos. 155-174
155. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider halting future applications for taxi licences in order to allow holders adjust to the reduced economic activity in view of the Covid-19 crisis and the impact on the taxi industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18363/20]
Amharc ar fhreagra159. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to support taxi drivers as they recover from loss of income as a result of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18382/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 155 and 159 together.
I recognise that from the onset of the COVID-19 Emergency and the introduction of restrictions as part of the necessary public health response, passenger demand for taxis and other small public service vehicle (SPSV) services fell considerably and many operators stopped working.
In recognition of the challenges facing businesses, the Government put in place a range of measures to assist businesses during the current COVID-19 pandemic, including the COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme, the COVID-19 Restart Grant, and a waiver of commercial rates. Self-employed owner operators of SPSVs may also avail of the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment.
Over the past few months, the National Transport Authority (NTA), which is the body under the aegis of my Department with responsibility for regulating the SPSV sector, has undertaken a number of measures to assist operators in the industry including waivers, facilitating temporary licence suspensions, interaction with the Insurance industry, and providing guidance to operators on cleaning and other ways to reduce the risk of spreading Covid-19.
The focus now is on assisting those who have stopped working to get back to work as the economy reopens and passenger demand for SPSVs returns. My Department is in regular contact with the NTA to monitor the impact that the reopening of the economy in line with the Government's Roadmap to Reopening Society and Business is having on demand for SPSV services and to ensure that SPSV operators who have temporarily stopped working are well placed to return to work. Accordingly, there are no plans to halt accepting applicatons for taxi or other SPSV licences.
156. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will request that the Dublin Airport Authority desist from their policy of insisting that taxi drivers pay the annual fee for access to the airport (details suppled) in view of the reduction in traffic volumes and the uncertainty in future traffic volumes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18364/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe issue raise is an operational matter for daa which has statutory responsibility for the management and operation of Dublin Airport. I have therefore forwarded your question to the company for direct reply. If the Deputy does not receive a reply within ten working days, please advise my Private Office.
157. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a time frame has been issued for the return of car driver tests; and if a catch-up programme will be implemented to process the backlog. [18377/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn Monday 29 June, driving tests resumed on a gradual basis for trucks, buses and motorcycles.
Driving tests for cars, vans, and minibuses resumed from 16 July with essential workers and those who had appointments cancelled due to Covid 19 being prioritised, in the first instance. This approach for prioritising customers will be kept under review as the RSA moves through the service resumption.
The phased resumption plan being put in place is to protect both the public and staff and will also enable the RSA to review practices and adapt any mitigating measures.
As you can appreciate Covid 19 has had a profound effect on the delivery of services. The Driver Test service has seen its capacity reduced to comply with occupational and public health requirements. This will mean that customers will experience longer waiting times than was the case before the service was suspended and the public’s patience and understanding in this regard is requested.
The RSA have assured my Department they are working hard to deal with this backlog and are examining measures to maximise capacity within existing constraints.
The safety of the public is of paramount importance at this time.
158. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if applicants that wish to renew their driver licence will be allowed to do so online to avoid citizens living abroad having to return here in view of the public health advice to avoid all unnecessary travel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18378/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraA person must be resident in the State to apply for/renew an Irish driving licence. An Irish driving licence can be renewed up to 10 years after the expiry of the licence. Therefore, a person living abroad will be able to renew their licence if they return to live in Ireland within that period.
160. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the EU package travel directive covers purchases through a travel agent of a flight only; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18383/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraFlight only bookings made through travel agents are not covered by the EU Travel Directive 2302, but they are covered by EU Regulation 261 and they are protected against travel agency insolvency under Irish law, the Transport (Tour Operators and Travel Agents) Act 1982.
Under EU Regulation 261, if an airline cancels a flight then a full cash refund must be made to people booked on that flight, including to people who booked through a travel agent. Under the Transport (Tour Operators and Travel Agents) Act 1982, as amended by the Package Holidays and Travel Trade Act 1995, in the event that a travel agent goes out of business, a person who booked flights or ferry journeys to overseas destinations may make a claim to the Commission for Aviation Regulation to have the cost of their flight/ferry reimbursed. In practice, however, travel agents make immediate payments to airlines at the time of a customer booking and therefore the booking is normally secure with the airline and valid, even if the travel agent is no longer in business.
161. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to extend the requirement to wear face coverings to taxis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18385/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraGiven the size of most taxis and other small public service vehicles (SPSVs), public health advice indicates that people travelling in such vehicles should wear face coverings. Guidance on the safe use of face coverings is available on the gov.ie website. Under existing regulatory provisions for the SPSV sector, drivers already have the right to refuse carriage to a passenger who does not comply with a "reasonable request" which, in the present circumstances, would include a request to wear a face covering.
As the Deputy is aware, the wearing of face coverings on all mass transit forms of public transport has recently been made mandatory and my Department is now working with the Department of Health, in consultation with the National Transport Authority (NTA), about extending the mandatory approach to include the SPSV sector. The Deputy will also be aware that the Government recently decided to make mandatory provision for wearing face coverings in retail settings too.
In the meantime, compliance by passengers with the public health advice in relation to face coverings is being carefully monitored and, given the current situation and the public health advice, I would strongly encourage all drivers and passengers to wear a face covering while in an SPSV.
In addition to face covering, vehicle cleaning is also important, and guidance on this has been available to the SPSV industry and on the NTA website for the last number of months.
162. Deputy Chris Andrews asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if consideration will be given to allow applicants to conduct the driver theory test online in view of the fact that there are almost 300,000 persons on a waiting list to get a slot for same. [18403/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe operation of the Driver Theory Testing Service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority (RSA).
As you can appreciate Covid 19 has had a profound effect on the delivery of services. The Driver Theory Test service has seen its capacity reduced by 50% to comply with occupational and public health requirements
The RSA is currently engaging with the service provider to maximise capacity within existing constraints. I understand planning is underway to examine whether theory tests can be taken on line remotely. A pilot programme will be undertaken in the Autumn in this regard which , if successful, may enable a large number of theory tests to be taken remotely.
163. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to bring in a tax rebate style system for those that cycle to work similar to the Netherlands based on a person's commute to work. [18404/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am very much committed to encouraging a greater uptake in the numbers walking and cycling. The new Programme for Government – Our Shared Future sets out an ambitious and wide-ranging set of commitments in relation to walking and cycling, supported by an increased multi-annual budgetary allocation amounting to some €1.8 billion over the lifetime of the Government.
As the Deputy is aware, tax policy is a matter for the Minister for Finance in the first instance. In that regard I very much welcome his recent announcement of increased thresholds under the existing Cycle to Work Scheme as part of the July Stimulus. The increases are in line with the commitment made in the Programme for Government in relation to the Scheme.
In relation to the specific suggestion of the Deputy, and noting the Minister for Finance’s responsibilities in the area, I do not have any such current plans. However, I am keen to learn from international best practice, particularly from countries such as the Netherlands with a strong cycling culture. I believe the issue can be considered more fully in the context of my Department’s review of Sustainable Mobility policy which is currently ongoing. I intend that the new policy framework will provide a strategic backdrop to the increased investment planned by this Government across the sustainable mobility programme, including active travel.
164. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment for a driver test. [18409/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis is a matter for the Road Safety Authority. I have referred the question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response is not received within 10 days.
165. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will address a matter regarding the 2013 taxi regulations (details supplied). [18421/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAt present, the transfer of SPSV licences is prohibited under section 14(1) of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013. Section 15 of the same Act does provide for an SPSV licence to continue to be operated by a person who was nominated by the licence holder in advance of his or her death.
There are no plans to amend this legislation at this time. The rationale for the measure was that a licence should indicate a person’s suitability to carry out a function and should not have, by association, a monetary value or be tradeable on the open market. As quantitative restrictions have been removed from the taxi market and there are no barriers to entry to this industry - other than the obligation to use a wheelchair accessible vehicle (WAV) - it is not clear how the transferring of licences would deliver benefits to the industry or members of the public, especially those who require access to WAVs.
Under the current SPSV Regulations the holder of a taxi licence may rent or lease a licence to another person. Further information on rules for such arrangements can be obtained directly from the National Transport Authority, which is the statutory regulator for the sector.
166. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding a motorcycle driver license for a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18424/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis is a matter for the Road Safety Authority.
I have referred the question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response is not received within 10 days.
167. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of National Lottery funding provided to sports organisations in each of the years 2005, 2010 and 2015; the amount planned for 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18433/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails of how the funding generated by the National Lottery is used to fund different categories of worthy projects is available at www.lottery.ie/news/good-causes.
In relation to sport projects, two Departmental sub-heads are part funded from the proceeds of the National Lottery. These are the Sports Capital Programme (SCP) and Sport Ireland. The total amount allocated under the SCP in 2005 was approx. €66m. In 2010, while there was no general round of the Programme, allocations of €13.4m were made to the National Governing Bodies of Sport and local authorities. The total amount allocated in 2015 was €45.1m.
No decisions have yet been made in regard to a round of the programme in 2020. Details of allocations made under the Programme are published at the following website address:- www.gov.ie/en/service/d13385-sports-capital-programme.
Funding allocated by my Department to Sport Ireland is also part-funded by the proceeds of the National Lottery. Sport Ireland is the statutory body with responsibility for the development of sport, increasing participation at all levels and raising standards, including the allocation of funding across its various programmes. Current funding is provided to Sport Ireland to fund a wide range of programmes aimed at increasing participation and raising standards in Irish sport and to allocate funding to National Governing Bodies of Sport to enable them to develop their sport in a strategic manner. Capital funding is allocated to Sport Ireland for the development of the Sport Ireland National Sports Campus at Blanchardstown.
The total Exchequer allocation for Sport Ireland in 2020 is €68.5m (€65.6m current and €2.9m capital funding). Prior to Sport Ireland being established in 2015, the Irish Sports Council was part-funded by the proceeds of the National Lottery. The total Exchequer allocation for the Irish Sports Council in 2005 was €34.4m (current funding), in 2010 was €49.5m (current funding) and for the Irish Sports Council/Sport Ireland in 2015 was €42.5m (current funding).
168. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the estimated full-year cost if the budget for Medical Bureau of Road Safety increased by 5%. [18457/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 2020 grant allocation for the Medical Bureau of Road Safety is €5.263 million.
Therefore, as I am sure the Deputy is aware, the estimated cost with a 5% increase would amount to €5.526 million.
169. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the estimated cost in 2021 of providing 120 extra buses for the Dublin Bus fleet and 113 extra buses for the Bus Éireann fleet. [18458/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area, including the provision of the PSO bus fleet.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
170. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the decision by an organisation (details supplied) to close some of its sites at the end of August 2020; if his attention has been further drawn to the decision to keep certain sites under its remit closed until 2021; if he has spoken to the management of the organisation regarding the decision; and the supports he will put in place to allow the decision to be reversed. [17252/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe management at Shannon Group, the parent Company for Shannon Heritage have been in regular contact with my Department in relation to the opening arrangements of its various sites, arising from the impacts of Covid-19. However, as I have previously advised, the management of Shannon Heritage sites, including their opening arrangements, is an operational matter for Shannon Heritage and Shannon Group plc which is a commercial State Body.
I am of course aware of the devastating impact of Covid 19 on the tourism sector right across the country and Shannon Group, which operates in both the tourism and aviation sectors, has been particularly impacted. For this reason, my Department is working closely with the Company and is considering the requests made with regard to supports that may be necessary. Once I have considered the options available, I intend to revert to Government in this regard.
I have also had the opportunity to meet with Shannon Group CEO recently and am fully aware of the challenges faced by Shannon Airport and Shannon Heritage and can confirm that Minister of State Naughton also met with the CEO and Chairperson of the Group recently to hear first hand the challenges faced by the Group.
171. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if matters raised in correspondence (details supplied) in relation to driver lessons will be reviewed; if clarity will be provided to driver instructors on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18517/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe decision taken by Government, following the advice of the National Public Health Emergency Team, to allow for the reopening of certain businesses, including driving instruction, as part of the revised Phase 3 of the Roadmap for reopening the country, was based on assessments of the level of risk to public health of reopening these businesses. It is not an instruction to open such businesses but a recommendation that it can be safe do so, provided appropriate measures to protect the health of workers and customers are taken.
In terms of guidance to assist businesses, including driving instructors, a National Return to Work Safely Protocol has been produced under the aegis of the Labour Employer Economic Forum and is the result of a collaborative effort by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA), the Health Services Executive (HSE) and the Department of Health and the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation. The HSA has in turn produced COVID-19 checklists and templates, based on the Protocol, to help employers, business owners and managers to get their business up and running again and to inform workers about what they need to do to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace.
The RSA developed protocols in relation to the resumption of driver testing, based on the overall national protocol and the additional templates and checklists from the HSA. I understand that the National Office of Traffic Medicine was also available to the RSA to assist in its task.
The RSA shared these protocols with driving instructors via a series of Frequently Asked Questions when, in anticipation of the resumption of driver testing on 29 June, the Authority wrote to each Approved Driving Instructor(ADI) on 22 June, advising them of the planned phased return of driver testing. These protocols may assist driving instructors in taking the necessary measures resuming their businesses safely.
Neither the RSA nor the Department can instruct driving schools on how they should run their business. It is up to each driving instructor or driving school to protect themselves, their families and customers by adhering to the official Government guidelines on hygiene and social distancing.
When reviewing proposals from the RSA for resuming services in line with the Roadmap, the Department asked about engagement with the ADI sector in relation to the plan. The Department was advised that the RSA was engaging with the Stakeholder Forum for ADIs as well as communicating directly with each ADI to update them and to direct their attention to information on the RSA website including the Frequently Asked Questions. In dealing with ADIs on COVID and indeed on other matters, it is important to note they are not employees or contractors of the RSA but are individual/independent commercial operators and businesses.
172. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the NTA will approve the extension plan for the TaxSaver scheme for public transport; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18591/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport in Ireland. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the regulation of fares in relation to public passenger transport services.
I have, therefore, referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
173. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the RSA Sláinte agus Tiomáint guideline which states Group 2 licence holders are not permitted to drive with complete loss of vision in one eye applies to HGV licence holders that lost their vision completely in one eye prior to passing their driver test and are current licence holders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18593/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis is a matter for the Road Safety Authority.
I have referred the question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response is not received within 10 days.
174. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when driving tests will resume. [18596/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn Monday 29 June, driving tests resumed on a gradual basis for trucks, buses and motorcycles. Fourteen driving test centres reopened initially, with others being phased in over a period of time.
Driving tests for cars, vans, and minibuses resumed on a gradual basis from 16 July with essential workers and those who had appointments cancelled due to Covid 19 being prioritised in the first instance. The phased resumption plan being put in place is to protect both the public and staff and will also enable the RSA to review practices and adapt any mitigating measures.
The safety of the public is of paramount importance at this time and my Department will be guided by NPHET and national experts.
