Written Answers Nos. 385-403
385. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport if he will outline any laws which forbid the use of national greenway infrastructure for equine or horse related activities; and his plans to review such legislation. [19616/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the funding agency and not the owner of Greenways, my Department has no legal remit regarding the use of national greenway infrastructure for equine activities. Our Strategy for the Future Development of National and Regional Greenways was silent on the matter.
Local Authorities, who are responsible for Greenways under a licence agreement, lease, or ownership, can introduce bye-laws governing the use of greenways including equine activities.
There are a number of issues that would need to be considered with regard to permitting horses on Greenways; these would include the impact on the surface, horse waste removal, the additional width required to accommodate horses to the side of the Greenway and perhaps most importantly, child safety as Greenways attract large numbers of family groups with often very small children who would not be expected to understand how to behave around horses and could put themselves in danger.
Greenways along canal tow paths come under the remit of Waterways Ireland which is a body under the remit of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Any questions regarding legislation that would govern equine use of such Greenways is a matter for that Department.
I understand that Sport Ireland is currently undergoing a review of the Horse Trails Criteria for Ireland. The updated criteria, which will include guidance on the classification and grading of horse trails, will assist in supporting quality infrastructure to enable accessible, safe, and enjoyable horse trail opportunities throughout Ireland.
I have no plans to review the current situation.
386. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport if an aircraft (details supplied) that landed at Shannon Airport on 5 April 2021 and stayed overnight at Shannon was approved to carry weapons or other military materials; if so, the number of weapons involved; the number of passengers and crew members accommodated overnight in hotels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19625/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra387. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport if an aircraft (details supplied) that took off from Shannon Airport on 6 April 2021 on its way to Lviv in Ukraine was approved to carry weapons or other military materials; if so, the number of weapons involved; if there was a transfer of US military personnel to this aircraft from another aircraft which was also at Shannon Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19626/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 386 and 387 together.
I can confirm that an exemption permitting the carriage of munitions of war was granted, pursuant to Article 5 of the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Orders, 1973 and 1989. The munitions of war authorised for carriage were the personal issued weapons of the military personnel on the flight.
With regard to the additional elements of your questions, I have forwarded them to Shannon Group plc. for direct reply.
If you do not receive a reply from the Company within ten working days, please advise my Private Office.
388. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Transport the timeline for the strategic rail review; when he expects the review to be finalised and published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19635/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware my Department, in consultation with the Department for Infrastructure (Northern Ireland) and other relevant stakeholders, is undertaking a strategic review of the heavy rail network on the island of Ireland. This review will consider all issues in relation to inter-urban and inter-regional rail connectivity, including the potential for high-/higher speed(s), rail freight and improved connectivity to the North West.
My Department launched the procurement process earlier this month and I expect work in the review itself will commence by the summer. While the ultimate duration of the review will be determined by the work programmes submitted by tenderers it is a requirement of the published request for tender that the work take no longer than 12 months in total. This will be one of the most significant reviews of the rail network on the island in many years and I look forward to its commencement and ultimate completion.
389. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Transport the number of persons in the current backlog of driver theory tests nationwide by county for each of the 16 licence category tests, that is, category AM through to category D1E in tabular form. [19642/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe details requested are held by the Road Safety Authority. I have therefore referred this 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.
390. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport if a transport safety audit has been carried on the N73 Mallow to Mitchelstown road County Cork. [19647/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra391. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport if further funding will be provided to Transport Infrastructure Ireland to ensure the upkeep and maintenance of the N73 Mallow to Mitchelstown road, County Cork and to further ensure that all modes of transport including cycling can safely use the road without fear of collision due to the absence of hard shoulders at critical points along the road. [19648/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 390 and 391 together.
As Minister for Transport I have responsibility for overall policy and securing exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 and in line with the National Development Plan (NDP), the operation, management and upgrading of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. This is also subject to the Public Spending Code Guidelines and the necessary statutory approvals. In this context, TII is best placed to advise you with respect to a safety audit on the N73.
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.
392. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Transport when he expects work to commence on the dual track railway line to Midleton; when he envisages this project to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19652/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra393. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Transport the proposed locations of new railway stations on the Mallow to Midleton rail line, County Cork; when each of these stations will be operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19658/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 392 and 393 together.
As the Deputy may be aware, the Cork Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy (CMTAS) sets out an ambitious programme of proposed investment in the Cork rail network which will greatly benefit the growth of the city region in the coming years and, I believe, allow it grow in a sustainable and compact manner.
CMATS is available to view online and sets out, at a high-level, the scope of the programme and indicates where new stations will be located along the Mallow to Midleton corridor, obviously exact locations will be subject to further analysis. The National Transport Authority (NTA) is working with Iarnród Éireann to develop an implementation strategy on the CMATS' proposals and - together with the forthcoming revision of the National Development Plan - this will be central to the way in which the public transport development envisaged by CMATS will be brought into effect over the coming years.
The Deputy may also be interested to note that my Department is currently engaging with colleagues across Government in relation to the preparation of Ireland's National Recovery and Resilience Plan, as I am eager to explore potential opportunities that may exist to access EU funding to assist with implementation of aspects of the CMATS' rail proposals.
394. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Transport if he plans to engage with private developers in putting in place new railway stations on the rail network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19659/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. In that regard I believe our policy must be to encourage transport-led development along high-capacity public transport corridors, including our commuter rail networks. This type of development can allow for the development of sustainable and well-connected communities where active travel becomes the preferred mode of travel for many localized journeys and good quality public transport is available to facilitate longer journeys into the major urban centres.
I very much welcome the recent development of metropolitan area transport strategies for the five cities and the role these strategies can play in signalling where public transport development will happen over the course of the next twenty years. This type of long-term strategic perspective can assist both public and private entities in formulating their development proposals and aligning with the delivery of an improved transport network.
I would certainly encourage all interested stakeholders to participate fully in the development and/or review of these transport strategies and to engage with the National Transport Authority in relation to any opportunities that might exist for co-operation.
395. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Transport if he has a role in relation to the proposed bypass of Castlemartyr, County Cork; the status of the proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19661/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport I have responsibility for overall policy and securing exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme. Once funding arrangements have been put in place with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 and in line with the National Development Plan (NDP), the planning, design and construction of individual national roads is a matter for TII, in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. This is also subject to the Public Spending Code Guidelines and the necessary statutory approvals.
The Programme for Government includes a commitment to bring forward the planned review of the NDP and use the review to set out an updated NDP for the period to 2030. The review of the NDP will be aligned with the National Planning Framework and Project Ireland 2040. Work is underway within my Department to contribute to this review.
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.
397. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 294 of 31 March 2021, the status of a NCT test (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19750/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe applicable dates for periodic testing for vehicles and small public service vehicles (SPSV) are provided for by national legislation. Under Regulation 3(4) and Regulation 3(5) of the Road Traffic (National Car Test) Regulations 2017 (S.I. No. 415/2017), the initial test due date for a SPSV is determined using the date of the application for a SPSV licence in respect of that vehicle and subsequent test due dates fall on anniversaries of that date.
While it is not possible for me to comment on individual circumstances, I would remind the Deputy that SPSV under the scope of S.I. No. 415 of 2017 are required to have a valid NCT Certificate in force against that vehicle on each subsequent anniversary of the date of application for a SPSV licence and "from the tenth anniversary of first registration of the vehicle, the date falling 6 months after such anniversary and each subsequent date falling 6 months after the previous test due date".
398. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport the status of the driver theory test resuming (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19752/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe extension of Covid19 level 5 restrictions by Government means that the Driver Theory Test continues to be suspended. While I fully appreciate the inconvenience this poses, I must emphasise, that this decision has been taken in line with official public health recommendations that everyone in Ireland work to limit the spread of the virus by staying at home in so far as is possible and minimising social contacts.
Officials both in this Department and in the Road Safety Authority are keeping the public health situation under constant review and are working extremely hard to ensure that Theory Tests can resume as soon as it is safe to do so.
In the meantime, the RSA is engaging with its service provider to examine ways of increasing the number of tests within the current health constraints for when services resume. In this regard, the aim is to double capacity at test centres over a three-month period.
Normal capacity before the pandemic was approximately 15,000 tests per month. When the service reopened in June 2020, this was increased to 25,000 to deal with the backlog which had developed by that point. Based on the capacity of 25,000 tests per month, the aim is to provide an additional 25,000 tests per month on top of this for the first 3 months of reopening, or a total of 75,000 extra test appointments over the three-month period. This would make substantial inroads into numbers waiting over that time period.
In addition to the increased capacity initiative, the RSA is working to deliver an online driver theory test service. The online service has been trialled on a pilot basis for those taking a theory test for trucks and buses and is now being evaluated with a view to extending the online service to all test types during 2021 However, scaling up operations to facilitate higher numbers will take time to achieve.
399. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Transport if it is necessary for a person to have a bank account in order to apply for a driver licence; if so, the reason; if other methods of payment are accepted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19754/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAll enquires relating to the administration of driver licensing are handled by the National Driver Licence Service (NDLS), the provision of which I have delegated to the Road Safety Authority (RSA) under the relevant legislation. I have forwarded the Deputy's query to the RSA for direct reply. If he has not heard from them in 10 working days I would ask that he contact my office directly.
400. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport the status of driver tests; the number of backlog applications waiting for a driver test in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19757/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails on the waiting times for driving tests in County Kerry are held by the Road Safety Authority. I have therefore referred this part of 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.
The driving test service is not currently operating as normal due to the impact of Covid-19. Tests are only available, under Level 5 Covid-19 restrictions, to essential workers.
I fully appreciate the difficulties that this poses for learners and I can assure the Deputy that driving tests for all candidates will resume as soon as it is safe to do so. I must emphasise, however, that this decision has been taken in line with official public health recommendations that everyone in Ireland work to limit the spread of the virus by staying at home in so far as is possible and minimising social contacts.
My Department is liaising with the RSA on an ongoing basis to help the service meet the growing demand for tests within the current public health situation. An additional 40 driver testers have been authorised by the Minister along with 36 approved for retention or rehire in 2020.
The provision of extra testers will not on its own suffice to address the problem. One of the difficulties is with the capacity of test centres themselves, given limits on throughput due to Covid restrictions. The RSA is therefore looking at creating additional temporary centres to help in addressing the backlog when normal service can resume.
The RSA are also looking at a number of other measures, including whether the number of tests a driver tester can perform each day can be increased. Any decision on this matter will be guided by health protocols.
Until Level 5 Covid-19 restrictions have been eased, no progress can be made on addressing the backlog; however, the Road Safety Authority has plans in place for when the service is allowed to resume for all learner permit holders to be tested at the earliest possible date, and a gradual return of driving test times to their pre-Covid levels.
401. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport the way a company (details supplied) advertises the change in its bus routes; the level of consultation that takes place with the public in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19769/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Minister for Transport, 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.
The bus service referred to by the Deputy is provided by Bus Éireann under contract to the National Transport Authority (NTA). The NTA has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally and for the scheduling of these services in conjunction with the relevant transport operator, in this case, Bus Éireann.
Communication of changes to specific bus routes is an operational matter for Bus Éireann and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
402. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Transport if the management of the Irish Coast Guard will eliminate the possibility of further suspensions reoccurring in view of the repeated difficulties his Department has experienced in maintaining the continuous public emergency service provision for its three rescue boats, blue light response and cliff rescue over the past 24 months; the timeline for the resumption of the currently suspended cliff rescue services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19800/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI reject any contention that my Department or the Irish Coast Guard, which is a division within the Department, has experienced difficulties in maintaining emergency service provision.
To be clear, the context for the actions referenced is a major reform programme which has been underway within the Irish Coast Guard in the wake of recent safety-related reports. There are no "short cuts" or "easy solutions" which will eliminate the potential for further suspensions occurring where the safety of our volunteers is at stake.
This reform programme includes the development of a Safety Management System and an associated Quality Assurance programme, which are premised on the principles of volunteer safety first and continuous improvement. The programme has resulted in several improvements to training, equipment and procedures which, in the recent past, have necessitated the temporary suspension of some operations - all of which are ultimately aimed at facilitating the necessary improvements to the safety of the volunteers. While introducing such improvements can be challenging, they are being managed in a way that minimises disruption.
As regard the most recent suspension of the cliff rescue services, the Coast Guard continues to work with all cliff rescue stakeholders, including the 17 cliff rescue units, and I am pleased to report that they are working towards an anticipated resumption of cliff operations commencing on April 22nd and over subsequent weeks.
The necessary improvements within the Irish Coast Guard, in this instance in the cliff rescue function, have been introduced to deliver effective oversight and management of the volunteer Coast Guard Units and to ensure that the Department meets its obligations in terms of securing and managing the health and safety of the volunteers while conducting Coast Guard activities. The Irish Coast Guard continues to take a pro-active approach to the safety of volunteers and will continue to mitigate risks to the volunteer Coast Guard units as they serve their local communities
403. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Transport the status of the legislation for e-scooter regulation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19806/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy intention is to legislate for e-scooters in accordance with the Programme for Government this year. This involves identifying and developing appropriate amendments to primary legislation across a range of complex areas. The work is being carried out in such a way so that it does not undermine the overall framework of Road Traffic law or road safety in general. Department officials are currently working on drafting the necessary changes to primary legislation which I intend to bring forward as committee stage amendments in the Road Traffic Bill.
The current approach taken by my Department to permit the safe use of e-scooters on public roads takes into consideration the rapid development of these vehicles used for personal transportation. In order to future-proof the legislation and account for the development of these new vehicles, the road traffic acts are being amended to introduce a new category of vehicle - the proposed title for this new category is "powered personal transporters". This will be the first time the categories of vehicles set out in the Road Traffic Act 1961 have been amended.
Once the new category has been defined, these vehicles are to be incorporated into the existing legislative framework (wherein a range of powers/offences already exist) and this will permit the Minister for Transport to regulate for the use/misuse and the standards for different types of powered personal transporters through the introduction of regulations.
Furthermore, the existing offences and powers of An Garda Síochána in road traffic legislation concerning careless/dangerous driving, driving under the influence of an intoxicant, driving an unroadworthy vehicle. etc. can also then be extended to users of powered personal transporters where required.
