Written Answers Nos. 112-121
112. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport the number of persons now awaiting a driver test in each test centre in County Cork; the expected waiting time before a test can be guaranteed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2811/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraSpecific details on the number of persons awaiting a driver test in each test centre are held by the Road Safety Authority.
I am therefore passing the Deputy's question to the Road Safety Authority for direct reply. If a reply has not been received within 10 working days, the Deputy should contact my office.
113. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Transport the traffic management plan in place for Rosslare and adjacent villages, for example, Kilrane, due to extensive increased traffic due to Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2833/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised that Rosslare Europort commenced engagement with the State Agencies operating at the Port and An Garda Síochána in 2019 in relation to traffic flows and traffic management and that engagement continued throughout 2020.
The purpose of this engagement was to agree traffic management arrangements at the port and its immediate environs.
In contrast to Dublin Port, Rosslare Europort is not in the immediate vicinity of critical traffic infrastructure such as the Dublin Tunnel and as such my Department has not had a role in the traffic management arrangements mentioned above.
114. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Transport the rationale for requiring a public services card to renew a driver licence online; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2838/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraA Public Service Card (PSC) is issued by the Department of Social Protection as part of its legal functions for the authentication of identity. A PSC can be used, under legislation, by a number of public bodies including the Road Safety Authority (who provides the National Driver Licence Service). The Department of Social Protection subsequently developed the online identity verification portal known as MyGovID, to enable people who have authenticated their identity and have been issued with a PSC, to verify their identity securely online. This is the tool that the State has provided to allow individuals to verify their identity in order to services online in a secure and safe manner.
To renew your driving licence you are required to present photographic ID, evidence of PPSN, evidence of address and evidence of residency entitlement. An applicant must present in person at a National Driver Licence Service (NDLS) office where the required documentation can be examined and a face to face verification can be made.
When applying online, the same information is required and the challenge of verifying a person’s identity is more difficult than when someone presents in person at an NDLS office. A verified MyGovID account, which requires a Public Service Card (PSC), satisfies this requirement.
The PSC is a way to streamline the identification process across all public services, making application for all services easier for everyone, and taking away unnecessary burdens from the citizen and the State. The intention is that people will need to go through the cumbersome process of providing documents to prove their identity only once - for the PSC - and then be able to use that card as an ID for a wide range of public services. More particularly, if people are to have confidence in using public services online, they need to have an verified and authenticated online identity and MyGovID, building on the Public Services Card, gives people that confidence and the means to access services online.
115. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Transport the provisions in place for persons under 70 years of age who do not have public services cards seeking to renew their driver licences online; if he will consider putting in place a postal service option owing to the public health restrictions in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2837/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is not my intention to offer a postal service for driving licence renewals to applicants under the age of 70 years.
Due to the resurgence of Covid-19 in Europe as well as Ireland, the possible extension of driving licences is currently under consideration at EU level. A decision on this issue is expected by the end of January.
116. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport when approval will be provided for National Transport Authority funding and approval (details supplied) for Fingal County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2856/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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.
I recognise that in the area of active travel a key constraint in recent years has been the lack of sufficient resources to oversee and deliver the design and roll-out of new infrastructure, particularly within local authorities, and this constraint must be addressed if the significantly enhanced funding levels announced are to deliver the desired outcomes. Indeed the Programme for Government – Our Shared Future commits toward an expansion and enhancement of dedicated expertise on active travel across our local authority system, and indeed within the National Transport Authority (NTA) and the Regional Design Offices.
The NTA has been working with local authorities in considering the resources required to deliver upon Government’s ambition in the area of active travel. I am committed to working with local authorities in relation to securing those resources and have recently written to the County and City Management Association (CCMA) indicting my support for the proposals developed thus far, committing to funding those proposals and requesting the CCMA consider the proposals as appropriate to ensure the issue is progressed.
I look forward to working with the CCMA and local authorities in this regard as we look to fundamentally change the nature of transport in Ireland and roll out high-quality, safe and segregated active travel infrastructure in urban and rural Ireland.
117. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport if he plans to suspend temporarily the requirement to have a medical certificate for the renewal of a C or E licence or, alternatively, if he plans to extend the duration of these licences in view of the pressure on general practitioners at present due to the Covid-19 crisis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2858/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraDue to the resurgence of Covid-19 in Europe as well as Ireland, the possible extension of driving licences is currently under consideration at EU level. A decision on this issue is expected by the end of January.
118. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport the position on the extension of learner permits (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2881/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraDue to the resurgence of Covid-19 my first priority is to look to extending driver licences. This falls under European legislation and is currently under consideration at a European level. When driver licences are extended, the position will be examined as to whether it is necessary to extend learner permits.
119. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport the breakdown of waiting list numbers for theory tests by test centre in tabular form. [2933/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe operation of the driver theory tests is handled by the Road Safety Authority, under contract, and therefore details on the number of persons awaiting a theory test in each test centre are held by the RSA.
I am therefore passing the Deputy's question to the Road Safety Authority for direct reply. If a reply has not been received within 10 working days, the Deputy should contact my office.
120. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Transport if the NDLS will contact a person (details supplied) in order to resolve outstanding issues; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2942/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis is a operational 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.
121. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to issues in a residential area (details supplied); and if he will raise the matter with the RSA and request it to remove any designation of this quiet residential area as an official and unofficial testing zone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2943/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAny public road can be used to either conduct driving lessons, driving tests or practise driving, once the learner driver is operating within the rules of the road and is accompanied by a suitably qualified driver at all times.
I have no power to issue instructions to the RSA regarding routes of driving tests. Driving instructors are private individuals and I have no power to issue instructions to them on where they conduct their business.
