Wednesday, 16 Dec 2020

Written Answers Nos. 44-62

Waste Management

Ceisteanna (44, 45)

Robert Troy

Ceist:

44. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of EPA end-of-waste applications (details supplied). [43640/20]

Robert Troy

Ceist:

45. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will remedy extensive delays in the processing time of EPA end-of-waste applications; and if his attention has been drawn to the fact that some applications have been lodged with the EPA for in excess of two years and have still not received a decision. [43641/20]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications

I propose to take Questions Nos. 44 and 45 together.

Article 28 of the European Communities (Waste Directive) Regulations, S.I. No. 126 of 2011, sets out the grounds by which a material which is recovered or recycled from waste can be deemed to be no longer a waste. As the designated competent authority, decisions regarding applications for end-of-waste status are the responsibility of the EPA and accordingly, questions in relation to specific applications are more appropriately directed to the Agency. Further information on the end of waste process is available on the EPA’s website at www.epa.ie.

I am very conscious of the importance of the End of Waste in the transition to a more circular economy, in particular in relation to the construction sector. The Waste Action Plan for a Circular Economy which I launched in September this year, has a dedicated chapter on End of Waste, and commits to a number of measures including:

- Working with stakeholders to streamline the process;

- Examining whether certain end of waste decisions should be determined by local authorities rather than the EPA;

- Establishing a working group to develop national end of waste applications for identified priority waste streams, which would obviate the need for individual applications within those streams;

- Introducing a fee for end-of-waste applications to help fund the process and encourage high quality applications.

My officials have already had initial engagement with regulatory authorities and with private sector stakeholders in relation to these measures, and will be working to advance progress in these areas over the coming months.

Litter Pollution

Ceisteanna (46)

Brendan Griffin

Ceist:

46. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 120 of 8 December 2020, if he will provide a copy of the letter to Kerry County Council outlining the allocation of €744,739 under a scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43658/20]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications

As stated in reply to Question No. 120 of 8 December 2020,  funding of €744,739 was allocated for the Anti-Litter & Anti-Graffiti Awareness Grant Scheme (ALAGS) in August 2020. The scheme, however, has not formally progressed to date this year due to the levels of Covid restriction in the timeframe since August. Therefore, as indicated in my previous response, I am considering extending the closing date for the 2020 scheme. A  letter would then issue to the Local Authorities to confirm the funding envelope available and the applicable closing date. In the current circumstances, therefore, projects funded from the 2020 scheme would be fall to be progressed in 2021 and funding recouped next year.

National Broadband Plan

Ceisteanna (47)

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

47. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when the national broadband plan will be rolled out across County Donegal by townland and yearly quarter in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43707/20]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications

The National Broadband Plan (NBP) State led Intervention will be delivered by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) under a contract signed in November 2019 to roll out a high speed and future proofed broadband network within the Intervention Area which covers 1.1 million people living and working in the over 544,000 premises, including almost 100,000 businesses and farms along with 695 schools.

In County Donegal, there are 102,564 premises of which 32,373 are within the intervention area for the National Broadband Plan. The deployment plan forecasts premises passed in all counties within the first 2 years and over 90% of premises in the State having access to high speed broadband within the next four years.  I am advised by NBI that, as of 10 December 2020, over 145,000 premises across all counties have been surveyed which is ahead of the full year survey target of 120,000 that had been projected by the company.  Surveys have been completed in County Donegal in the areas of Milford, Letterkenny, Ramelton, Termon, Ballymacool, Kilmacrennan, Mullaghfin, and Tommyscroft. My Department understands that NBI have targeted the following indicative dates for further surveying in Donegal within the next 18 months;

Deployment Area	No. of premises	Timelines
Creeslough	3117	2021 Q3
Tamney	1904	2022 Q2
Rutland Island, Burtonport	7	2022 Q2
Inishfree Island, Burtonport	21	2022 Q2
Arranmore	470	2022 Q2
Bunbeg	2360	2022 Q2
Tory Island	113	2022 Q2

Surveying is the first step towards delivering the new fibre network and involves physically walking the routes and documenting images, notes and measurements of the poles, cables and underground ducts in each area. This informs design solutions for provision of the fibre network to each and every premises in the surveyed area and leads to detailed designs. The detailed designs are then used to initiate the ‘make ready’ project with Open eir for the area, where Open eir ensure any poles and ducts being reused are fit for purpose and the make ready of other required infrastructure. This step also informs decisions on equipment ordering. I am advised that Letterkenny DA, which includes Ballymacool, Milford, Mullaghfin, Ramelton, Termon and Tommyscroft, is now at the detailed design stage. Survey data is also needed to initiate pre-works which pave the way for the deploying of fibre. Pre-works involve construction of new duct routes, erection of poles, building chambers, and tree trimming. On completion of these pre-works, the main construction works can commence. This involves deploying fibre overhead on poles and in underground ducts, splicing of fibre, and unblocking of ducts. Once the main construction works are completed and the appropriate level of testing has been undertaken, the fibre network can be commissioned and end users can order their connection.

Further details are available on specific areas within Donegal through the NBI website which provides a facility for any premises within the intervention area to register their interest in being provided with deployment updates through its website www.nbi.ie. Individuals who register with this facility will receive regular updates on progress by NBI on delivering the network and specific updates related to their own premises when works are due to commence.  I am aware that concerns have been raised regarding the level of information available on the deployment of the NBI network and I am advised that NBI is working to provide more detail on its website, with a rolling update on network build plans. Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) are a key element of the NBP providing high speed broadband in every county in advance of the roll out of the fibre to the home network.  As of 3 December, 217  publicly accessible BCP sites have been installed by NBI and the high speed broadband service will be switched on in these locations through service provider contracts managed by the Department of Rural and Community Development. Ray Community Centre, Leghowney Community Centre, Dunree Military Museum, Cranford Coole Community Centre, the Gweedore Theatre and Meenreagh Hostel are BCPs which are now connected in Co. Donegal.  A further BCP at Tory Co-Op has had infrastructure installed by NBI and will be connected in the coming weeks. Further details can be found at https://nbi.ie/bcp-locations/.

My Department continues to work with the Department of Education to prioritise schools with no high speed broadband, within the intervention area for connection over the term of the NBP. In this regard, it has been announced that an acceleration of this aspect of the National Broadband Plan has been agreed which will see almost 680 primary schools connected to high speed broadband by 2022, including 42 schools across County Donegal, which is well ahead of the original target delivery timeframe of 2026.Further details are available on the NBI website at https://nbi.ie/primary-schools-list/.

Telecommunications Services

Ceisteanna (48)

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

48. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his attention has been drawn to the fact that companies (details supplied) are not maintaining a monitored email address as set out in his ministerial regulations for consumers to be able to send an email terminating an end-of-year contract to avoid customary escalation charges into the second year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43724/20]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications

Telecommunications service providers are regulated by the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg), which operates independently of my Department.  The telecommunications regulatory framework, which ComReg implements, requires each telecommunications services provider to establish and operate a code of practice, including requirements for complaint handling and means of contact.  Service providers must implement these measures, at a minimum, to assist consumers (including businesses) when they need to contact them with a complaint. A copy of the code of practice, which includes the three ways in which consumers can contact service providers, one of which is by electronic means of contact such as an email address or an online complaint form, can be accessed at https://www.comreg.ie/code-practice-handling-complaints/.

Any operator failing to comply with any of these requirements is a matter to be pursued by ComReg.

Bituminous Fuel Ban

Ceisteanna (49)

Róisín Shortall

Ceist:

49. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps being taken by his Department to ensure the proper enforcement of the smokeless coal ban; the enforcement bodies that have the power to enforce the ban under his regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43725/20]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications

Under regulation 10 of the Air Pollution Act (Marketing, Sale, Distribution and Burning of Specified Fuels) Regulations 2012, Local Authorities are responsible for the enforcement of the “smoky coal ban” within their functional areas. In order to fulfil their statutory functions in this regard, significant powers are available to Local Authorities including the authority to:

- undertake inspections of premises and vehicles being used for the sale and distribution of solid fuel;

- bring prosecutions under the Air Pollution Act for breaches of the Regulations; and

- issue Fixed Payment Notices ranging from €250 to €1,000 for alleged offences relating to the marketing, sale and distribution of prohibited fuels in Low Smoke Zones.

The Programme for Government contains a commitment to develop a regional approach to air quality enforcement. A coordinated approach is required given the links between burning of solid fuels and the health effects of air pollution, as well as the potential for market distortion for businesses properly adhering to the regulations. Increased multi-agency inspections and enforcement, including the increased use of fixed payment notices, are required and my Department is fully committed to supporting Local Authorities in this regard.  Building on the success of other regional environmental enforcement models, I expect this Programme for Government commitment to be significantly progressed in the coming months.

National Broadband Plan

Ceisteanna (50, 51, 52, 53)

Robert Troy

Ceist:

50. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the position on the availability of broadband services to a property (details supplied). [43754/20]

Robert Troy

Ceist:

51. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if fibre broadband will be provided to an area (details supplied). [43768/20]

Robert Troy

Ceist:

52. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a fibre broadband service will be provided to an area (details supplied) as part of the current roll-out. [43778/20]

Robert Troy

Ceist:

53. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the status of the provision of broadband supply to a property (details supplied). [43781/20]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications

I propose to take Questions Nos. 50 to 53, inclusive, together.

The Questions refer to premises which are located in the AMBER area on the National Broadband Plan (NBP) High Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website at www.broadband.gov.ie. The AMBER area represents the area to be served by the network to be deployed under the NBP State led intervention, the contract for which was signed in November 2019 with National Broadband Ireland (NBI).

  I appreciate people's frustration when they are living so close to a fibre network but cannot get a connection to that network, particularly given the heightened importance of connectivity during the Covid-19 pandemic. The NBP will ensure that in all such cases a future proofed high speed broadband network will be built to serve these premises and work to deliver on this is underway. It will offer users a high speed broadband service with a minimum download speed of 500Mbps from the outset. This represents an increase from the 150Mbps committed to under the Contract. The deployment plan forecasts premises passed in all counties within the first 2 years and over 90% of premises in the State having access to high speed broadband within the next four years. Further details are available on specific areas within Counties Westmeath and Longford through the NBI website which provides a facility for any premises within the intervention area to register their interest in being provided with deployment updates through its website www.nbi.ie. Individuals who register with this facility will receive regular updates on progress by NBI on delivering the network and specific updates related to their own premises as works commence. I am aware that concerns have been raised regarding the level of information available on the deployment of the NBI network and I am advised that NBI is working to provide more detail on its website, with a rolling update on network build plans. I am advised by NBI that, as of 10 December 2020, over 145,000 premises across all counties have been surveyed which is ahead of the full year survey target of 120,000 that had been projected by the company. Surveys have been completed in County Westmeath in the areas of Mullingar, Sonna, Stonehall, Taghmon, Jamestown, Hopestown and Athlone. Surveys have been completed in County Longford in the areas of  Drumlish, Ennybegs, Moat Farrell, Cullyfad, Longford Town, Newtownforbes, Cloondara, Stonepark, Ardagh, Moydow and Kilashee. The next step is for NBI to develop network designs to deliver the new fibre to the home network to these premises, followed by pre build and build works. I understand that surveys are due to commence in the locations referred to by the Deputy between Q4 2021 and Q4 2022 and NBI will publish target build dates on completion of survey work. Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) are a key element of the NBP providing high speed broadband in every county in advance of the roll out of the fibre to the home network. As of 4 December, 217 sites have been installed by NBI and the high speed broadband service will be switched on in these locations through service provider contracts managed by the Department of Rural and Community Affairs for publicly available sites and by the Department of Education for schools. 59 publicly accessible BCPs across the country are now live. BCPs locations installed in Westmeath include Streete Parish Park and Community Hall, Whitehall Community Centre, Milltown Emper Community Centre and Ballycomoyle GAA Club which are due to be connected  in the coming months. BCP locations installed in Longford include Ballymore Shamrocks GAA Club, Mullinalaghta Community Centre, Colmcille GAA Club, Corlea Heritage Centre and Aughine Community Centre which are due to be connected in the coming months. Further details can be found at https://nbi.ie/bcp-locations/.  Scoil Náisiúnta Bhride in Co Westmeath is connected for educational access as part of this initiative. In Co Longford, Fermoyle National School is connected and Naomh Guasachta National School (Bunlahy) is due to be connected in the coming months. My Department continues to work with the Department of Education to prioritise other schools with no high speed broadband, within the intervention area for connection over the term of the NBP. In this regard, an acceleration of this aspect of the National Broadband Plan has just  been announced which will see some 679 primary schools connected to high speed broadband by 2022, well ahead of the original target delivery timeframe of 2026.

Seirbhísí trí Ghaeilge

Ceisteanna (54)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

54. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Comhshaoil, Aeráide agus Cumarsáide cad iad na pleananna atá ag a Roinn chun seirbhísí faoina riar a chur ar fáil trí Ghaeilge, chun cur le líon na seirbhísí atá ar fáil trí Ghaeilge faoina riar, agus chun an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn, le linn 2021. [43864/20]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications (Deputy Eamon Ryan)

Cé gur Roinn pholasaí seachas seirbhíse go príomha í an Roinn Comhshaoil, Aeráide agus Cumarsáide, déanamaid tréaniarracht a chinntiu nach mbíonn cainteoirí Gaeilge faoi mhíbhuntáiste ag teacht ar eolas tábhachtach nó ag glacadh páirt i ndéanamh cinntí agus i gcomhairliúchán.

- Leagann ár scéim Ghaeilge 2018-2021 amach ár n-uaillmhian maidir le soláthar seirbhísí agus eolais i nGaeilge. Tógann sí ar phrionsabail ár gCairte um Sheirbhís Ardchaighdeán do Chustaiméirí, agus cinntíonn sí go bhfreastalaítear ar dhaoine ar mhian leo a ngnó a dhéanamh i nGaeilge.

- Le déanaí, tá Oifigeach Gaeilge nua ceaptha againn, agus beidh scéim Ghaeilge nua á forbairt againn i 2022.

- Tacaíonn an Roinn le forbairt inniúlacht sa Ghaeilge trí thraenáil do bhaill foirne tríd an Roinn ar fad, agus eagraíonn sí grúpaí comhrá rialta dóibh siúd ar mhian leo a scileanna a fheabhsú.

- Tá an Ghaeilge curtha chun cinn againn trí ócáidí idir- agus tras-rannacha, agus  leanfaimid leis seo i 2021 le hábhar agus gníomhaíochtaí, ina n-áirítear Seachtain na Gaeilge.

- Nuair a achtaítear Bille na dTeangacha Oifigiúla (Leasú), ullmhaítear Plean Náisiúnta chun soláthar seirbhís phoiblí trí Ghaeilge a mhéadu. Táthar ag siúl go mbeidh tionchar ag an gcur chuige nua seo ar ár ndualgais sainiúla I leith na Gaeilge sa todhchaí.

Foireann Roinne

Ceisteanna (55)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

55. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Comhshaoil, Aeráide agus Cumarsáide sonrú a dhéanamh ar gach post atá sainaitheanta mar phost a bhfuil riachtanas Gaeilge leis ina Roinn faoi láthair, líon na bhfostaithe ina Roinn a bhfuil cumas sa Ghaeilge acu, agus líon iomlán na bhfostaithe ina Roinn. [43865/20]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications

Tá mo Roinn tiomanta do sheirbhís a sholáthar i nGaeilge agus a ndualgais reachtúla faoi Act na dTeangacha Oifigúla 2003 a chomhlíonadh. Tá 415 ball foirne fostaithe i mo Roinn ina n-áirítear deichniúr a bhfuil cumas Gaeilge acu. Tá ról amháin aitheanta le riachtanas Gaeilge. Is é sin an tOifigeach Gaeilge atá lonnaithe sa Rannán Cumarsáide agus na Meán.

My Department is committed to providing a service in Irish and meeting its statutory obligations under the Official Languages Act 2003.

The total number of staff employed in my Department is 415 of which 10 have Irish language ability. There is one role identified as having an Irish language requirement, which is the Irish Language Officer assigned to the Communications & Media Relations Division.

Seirbhísí trí Ghaeilge

Ceisteanna (56)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

56. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Aire Comhshaoil, Aeráide agus Cumarsáide cad iad na fadhbanna is práinní i leith seirbhísí faoi riar a Roinne a sholáthar trí Ghaeilge sna ceantair Ghaeltachta, agus cad atá beartaithe aige chun iad a réiteach. [43866/20]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications (Deputy Eamon Ryan)

Leagann ár scéim Ghaeilge 2018-2021 amach ár n-uaillmhian maidir le soláthar seirbhísí agus eolais i nGaeilge. Tógann sí ar phrionsabail ár gCairte um Sheirbhís Ardchaighdeán do Chustaiméirí, agus cinntíonn sí go bhfreastalaítear ar dhaoine ar mhian leo a ngnó a dhéanamh i nGaeilge. De réir théarmaí tagartha na Roinne, ní sholáthraimid seirbhísí dílse i gceantair Ghaeltachta ach leagann ár scéim Ghaeilge amach ár dtiomantais i leith iad siúd ar mhian leo a ngnó a dhéanamh linn i nGaeilge, ina n-áirítear na ceantair Ghaeltachta.

Electric Vehicles

Ceisteanna (57)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Ceist:

57. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the estimated cost in a full year of providing 900 additional electric car charging points. [43905/20]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications

The Government is fully committed to supporting an expansion and modernisation of the electric vehicle charging network which stays ahead of demand over the coming years. My Department supports this commitment through relevant schemes such as those administered by the SEAI and an ESB project supported under the Climate Action Fund.

There are currently circa 650 standard public charge points and over 100 fast charge stations in Ireland (the majority of which are operated by the ESB). An interactive map showing ESB charger locations and their status can be found at www.esb.ie/ecars.

€10 million has been committed from the Climate Action Fund to promote the charging network and this has leveraged a further €10 million investment from ESB. This intervention alone will result in:

- 90 additional high power chargers (150kW), each capable of charging two vehicles

- 52 additional fast chargers (50kW), which may replace existing 22 kW standard chargers

- 264 replacement standard chargers (22kW) with more modern technology and with each consisting of two charge points

The SEAI Public Charge Point Scheme has been in place since September 2019 and will continue to be available during 2021 to provide local authorities with a grant of up to €5,000 to support the development of on-street public chargers. The primary focus of this scheme is to provide support for the installation of infrastructure which will facilitate owners of electric vehicles (EVs), who do not have access to a private parking space but rely on parking their vehicles in public places near their homes, to charge their EVs. In terms of cost to the Exchequer this scheme would potentially require in the region of €4.5 million to support the installation of 900 charge points. However, overall costs for installing any given charge point will also be influenced by type of charger, location and scope of civil and electrical works to be carried out which can very significantly from site to site. It should also be noted that several private entities are operating in this space however information relating to the costs associated with these sites would be commercially sensitive and therefore not publically available.

Combined with an effective public charging network, Ireland's home charging policy will be key in helping to sustain and  support the expected growth of electric vehicles on Irish roads. Charging while at home accounts for around 80% of electric vehicle charging in Ireland and it is best practice, internationally, to promote home charging as the most common and cost effective form of charging. To support home charging, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on behalf of my Department, administers an EV home charger grant of up to €600 towards the purchase and installation of an EV home charger unit. Again in terms of costs to Exchequer the cost of providing support to install 900 of these home chargers would be in the region of €540,000 but again the full costs of installation will depend on location, type of charger being installed and specific site characteristics.

Departmental Budgets

Ceisteanna (58)

Seán Sherlock

Ceist:

58. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the current budgets in his Department for social media advertising for 2021; and the campaigns behind each budget line in tabular form. [44020/20]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications

My Department is currently finalising programme budgets for 2021, which will include any budget requirements for specific communications campaigns, including social media requirements.

Expenditure on communications, press and public relations falls under the Department's various administrative and programme budgets and is not profiled as a single expenditure item.

Wind Energy Generation

Ceisteanna (59)

Pa Daly

Ceist:

59. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps he will take to explore the potential for offshore wind farms in north County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44078/20]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications

The Programme for Government commits to producing a plan setting out a path to achieve 5GW of offshore wind by 2030 as well as a long term plan setting out how we will take advantage of the significant potential of offshore energy on the Atlantic Coast, in particular taking advantage of a potential of at least 30GW of offshore floating wind power in the Atlantic. This plan will focus on utilising our existing energy and maritime infrastructure and will seek to create the right investment environment and support ocean energy research where necessary in the areas of floating wind, tidal, and wave power.

The 2014 Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (OREDP) sets out policy for the sustainable development of our abundant offshore renewable energy resources. The Strategic Environmental Assessment that underpinned the OREDP found that 4,500 MW of offshore wind and 1,500 MW of wave and tidal generation could be sustainably developed in Irish waters in the period to 2030.

As part of the full review of the OREDP a second Offshore Renewable Energy Development Plan (OREDP2) will be prepared and published by my Department, to fully update the policy in this area and take into account new information, environmental requirements and policy developments, including the Programme for Government.

As part of the development of the OREDP2, a number of environmental assessments will be carried out, including a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Appropriate Assessment (AA). These assessments will facilitate evaluation of potential impacts and will inform the direction of the OREDP 2. The OREDP2 will provide an evidence base for the assessment of zones or areas suitable for deployment of wind, wave, and tidal technologies in the Irish Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).  This will also be used to input into the National Marine Planning Framework.

Aviation Industry

Ceisteanna (60)

Seán Haughey

Ceist:

60. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Transport if he will intervene with an airline (details supplied) to ensure that it pays refunds to passengers who had their flights cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic in a timely manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43644/20]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Transport

As things stand in law, air passenger rights are protected by Regulation (EC) No. 261/2004, which covers the rights of passenger in instances of cancellations. Under that Regulation an airline has 7 days to make a cash refund to its customers when it cancels a flight.

The matter of customer refunds has been raised by my colleague the Minister of State Hildegarde Naughton, T.D., with both Aer Lingus and Ryanair, and it is understood that backlogs have been prioritised and that most refunds have now been processed. I am aware that the Commission for Aviation Regulation, which is responsible for enforcement in this area, has also been engaging with all airlines on this matter.

Anyone who continues to have difficulties securing a refund should contact the Commission for Aviation Regulation. Further advice is available on its dedicated passenger rights website www.flightrights.ie.

Taxi Regulations

Ceisteanna (61)

Cormac Devlin

Ceist:

61. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider extending the deadline for scrapping older hackney or taxi vehicles given Covid-19 restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43615/20]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Transport

Vehicle age limits for small public service vehicles (SPSVs) are a matter for the statutory regulator, the National Transport Authority (NTA).

The Deputy may be aware that, at the start of the pandemic, the NTA extended until the end of 2020 the age limits for vehicles that were due to reach them from March onward. Furthermore, the NTA has proposed a further extension of these age limits until 31 December 2021 and has recently concluded a public consultation on this proposal. More detailed information in relation to this proposal is available on the following link: https://www.nationaltransport.ie/consultations/public-consultation-maximum-permissible-age-october-2020/

Departmental Correspondence

Ceisteanna (62)

Niall Collins

Ceist:

62. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Transport if he will assist with a query (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43624/20]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Transport

The Deputy's query relates to a type-approval end-of-series derogation request pursuant to Article 44 of Regulation (EU) 168/2013.

Under article 3(b)(xi) of the Road Safety Authority Act 2006 (Conferral of Functions) Order 2006 (S.I. No. 477/2006) this is a matter for the Road Safety Authority (RSA).

I am, however, given to understand that the RSA has now completed its assessment and has made the determination in this case to grant an end-of-series derogation for the vehicles that do not comply with the Euro 5 standard, subject to meeting certain qualifying conditions.