Written Answers Nos. 203-221
203. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the estimated cost to the State of reducing fares on public transport by 10%, 25% and 50%, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21208/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra204. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the estimated cost of abolishing public transport fares here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21209/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 203 and 204 together.
As Minister for Transport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) has the statutory responsibility for the regulation of fares in relation to public passenger transport services and also has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public transport services by way of public transport services contracts in respect of services that are socially necessary but commercially unviable. The funding of those services comprises both the fares paid by passengers and the subvention payments from the Exchequer. The main purpose of the subvention payment is to meet the gap between income from fares and the cost of operating services.
The Government is spending considerable additional Exchequer funds on the public transport sector in order to support the continued operation of necessary services, despite the reduced demand and the restricted capacity owing to the Covid-19 situation. Government support for all public transport services in 2020 amounted to over €620m. By comparison, the level of PSO and Local Link funding provided in 2019 was in the region of €300m.
In addition, last summer the Government approved temporary funding support for the non-PSO (licensed, commercial) bus sector in respect of its continuation of necessary bus services, and the duration of this support was recently extended. My primary focus is on maintaining the existing level of public transport services and I secured over €670m in PSO funding for 2021 to ensure that public transport continues to operate in a safe manner, albeit at a higher cost.
Any assessment of a proposed change to public transport fare structures would be a matter for the NTA to consider in the first instance. 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.
205. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the amount invested in expanding the Dublin Bus fleet in each of the years 2018 to 2020; the amount that will be invested in 2021; the additional extra passenger capacity each investment delivered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21210/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra206. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the amount invested in expanding the Bus Éireann fleet in each of the years 2018 to 2020; the amount that will be invested in 2021; the additional extra passenger capacity each investment delivered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21211/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra207. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the amount invested in expanding the Iarnród Éireann fleet in each of the years 2018 to 2020; the amount that will be invested in 2021; the additional extra passenger capacity each investment delivered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21212/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra208. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the amount invested in expanding the Luas fleet in each of the years 2018 to 2020; the amount that will be invested in 2021; the additional extra passenger capacity each investment delivered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21213/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra209. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the amount invested in expanding the LocalLink bus fleet in each of the years 2018 to 2020; the amount that will be invested in 2021; the additional extra passenger capacity each investment delivered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21214/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra211. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the amount invested in park and ride facilities in each of the years 2018 to 2020; the amount that will be invested in 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21216/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 205, 206, 207, 208, 209 and 211 together.
As Minister for Transport, 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, including the matters referred to in the Deputy's questions.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the question to the NTA for their consideration and direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
210. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the budget allocation to the LocalLink bus service in each of the years 2018 to 2020; the amount allocated for 2021, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21215/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. It is the National Transport Authority (NTA) which has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally. The NTA also has national responsibility for integrated local and rural transport, including management of the Rural Transport Programme which operates under the Local Link brand.
As I advised the Deputy in my answers to his Questions (Ref 18190/20) of 28 July 2020, and (Ref 42961/20) of 15 December 2020, my Department provides aggregate funding for Local Link services to the NTA.
In both of those replies, I also advised the Deputy that since 2018 the total annual allocation for Local Link services has included funding for rural regular services from the Public Service Obligation (PSO) budget provision. I also provided the Deputy with the total allocations for the years 2016 - 2020 including the aforementioned PSO allocation for the years since 2018.
For the convenience of the Deputy these total allocation amounts are repeated below, together with the total allocation for 2021.
2016 - €12.2m
2017 - €14.4m
2018 - €19.5m
2019 - €21.0m
2020 - €23.4m
2021 - €28.2m
212. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the estimated cost of replacing State vehicles which are owned by his Department or agencies under his remit with hybrid or electric models; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21217/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraProviding a sustainable, low-carbon transport system is a key priority of my Department. The Programme for Government commits to 7% average annual emissions reduction to 2030; ultimately, the goal is for a zero-emission mobility system by 2050. The transport sector, which accounts for about 20% of Ireland’s overall carbon emissions, must play a central role in the national decarbonisation effort. The national car and van (LGV) fleet accounts for almost 60% of all land transport emissions, and so a transition to low emissions vehicles, including EVs, is a necessary step-change to effect a substantial reduction in transport emissions.
Electric vehicles (EVs) are the most prominent transport mitigation measure in the 2019 Climate Action Plan, and Ireland has set an ambitious target of 936,000 EVs on our roads by 2030. This target is challenging but indicates the scale of the transformation that is needed across all sectors if Ireland is to achieve its climate targets in the coming years. The Government, supported by the work of the Low Emission Vehicle Taskforce, has worked to ensure that conditions and policies are in place to support citizens in making greener vehicle choices. A comprehensive suite of measures is available to EV drivers, including purchase grants for private car owners and taxi drivers, VRT relief, reduced tolls, home charger grants, favourable motor and BIK tax rates, as well as a comprehensive charging network. These measures have collectively contributed to increased take up of EVs in Ireland in recent years, albeit from a low base.
There are 11 commercial and 8 non-commercial agencies under the remit of my Department. I have forwarded the Deputies question to each agency for direct response. Please contact my Office if no reply is received within 10 working days.
In addition, there are 27 vehicles registered to my Department, all of which are run on diesel or petrol. It should be noted that this data was extracted from the National Vehicle and Driver File database and as such is not an asset list.
Many of these are vehicles which have specific requirements owing to the nature of the work they are deployed to assist, such as heavy equipment transportation or emergency response, which may make replacing them with an electrically fuelled alternative impossible or significantly more expensive. When vehicles fall to be replaced, my department will replace them with electrically powered alternatives, where the cost and suitability of the vehicles for the purpose required allows.
The work of Phase 1 of the LEV Taskforce, established by my two Departments to consider a full suite of potential measures available to Government, concentrated on EVs and, as part of this work, the important leadership role that Public Bodies and Government Departments can play in encouraging LEV uptake was considered. The Taskforce recommended the introduction of a new public procurement framework for EVs by 2020 and this recommendation was echoed in the Climate Action Plan where Action 149 was to "enable the deployment of electric vehicles in public sector fleets".
The Office of Government Procurement has drawn up fixed price procurement frameworks for the supply of long and medium range battery electric passenger cars and vans to public sector bodies. Full details on how to use the framework as well as pricing and supplier contact details can be found on the www.ogp.gov.ie website. These Frameworks will greatly assist Government departments and bodies to purchase electric cars and vans. As battery and recharging technologies develop and a greater range of vehicles become commercially available I expect an increasing number of public bodies to transition to EVs.
213. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the amount invested in port infrastructure in each of the years 2018 to 2020; the amount that will be invested in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21218/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe commercial State ports receive no Exchequer funding and fund all their activities through their own resources, financing, or if successful, through EU programmes. The non-Exchequer capital expenditure at the ports is set out below:-
State Ports Non Exchequer Capital Expenditure:
|
- |
Port of Cork |
Dublin Port |
Shannon Foynes Port |
Port of Waterford |
Rosslare Europort |
|
2018 |
€12,403,302 |
€87,380,000 |
€853,365 |
€784,044 |
€1,410,000 |
|
2019 |
€15,360,235 |
€78,125,000 |
€1,256,079 |
€1,596,598 |
€1,420,000 |
|
2020 |
€31,000,000 |
€59,039,000 |
€1,526,000 |
€347,000 |
€1,150,000 |
|
2021 Projected |
€17,920,000 |
€83,700,000 |
€11,900,000 |
€2,400,000 |
€3,740,000 |
In line with National Ports Policy and Project 2040, the three Tier 1 ports (Dublin, Cork and Shannon Foynes) have ambitious development masterplans outlining their infrastructure development over the next 30 to 40 years which will play a major role in safeguarding and enhancing Ireland’s international connectivity in years to come. They will provide for future increases in trade and national port capacity requirements by facilitating more vessels, larger vessels and increased tonnage and throughput.
While the Port of Waterford currently has no major infrastructure development underway, it completed a Master Planning process in 2019 to position itself for growth in the future.
Rosslare Europort is operated on a commercial basis as a division of Iarnród Éireann with all investments funded from port revenues. Iarnród Éireann and Rosslare Europort’s strategic development plans for the port includes investment plans for €35 million over the next five years, in customer facilities, port infrastructure, freight facilities, port assets, new technology and linking the new entrance of the port with the proposed new port access road; work on this commenced in late 2020.
214. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the amount invested in cross-Border transport infrastructure projects in each of the years 2018 to 2020; the amount that will be invested in 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21219/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Irish Government’s commitments under the New Decade, New Approach (NDNA) agreement include working through the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) to help deliver infrastructure projects that will benefit people across the island, to achieve greater connectivity, North and South, and investing in the North West region and in Border Communities.
These commitments are reflected in the Shared Island chapter of our Programme for Government, ensuring their delivery is at the heart of the work of this Government. Specifically, the Government has recommitted to the funding of £75 million over the next three years for the A5 project. Work on a strategic review of the rail network on the island of Ireland and the review to explore the potential for re-establishing viable air routes is advancing, and the Narrow Water bridge and cross-border Greenways continue to be key priorities. In Budget 2021, the Government announced the Shared Island Fund, with €500 million to be made available out to 2025, ring-fenced for Shared Island projects.
Table 1 below sets out the investment in cross-border roads projects in the period 2018 – 2020, and planned investment for 2021.
Table 1: Investment in cross-border roads projects
|
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021* |
|
€24,395,177 |
€20,820,369 |
€15,392,358 |
€14,375,000 |
*This includes €260,000 for active travel/cycleways
In addition, the Carlingford Lough Greenway, Ulster Canal Greenway (Phase 2), North West Greenways Network and North West Region - Multimodal Transport Hub have received funding from the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) under the INTERREG VA Programme 2014-2020. The division and allocation of this funding is the responsibility of the SEUPB. Details of investment made by my Department in the years 2018-2020, and anticipated investment for 2021, for these INTERREG projects are set out in table 2 below.
Table 2: Investment in cross-border INTERREG VA projects
|
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
|
€1,357,390 |
€2,535,904 |
€1,897,265 |
€1,600,000 |
In addition, a number of Greenways in the border region, set out in table 3 below, have been progressing with support from my Department under the Carbon Tax Fund since July 2020. This funding provides support for feasibility, planning and design stages of these projects.
Table 3: Greenways in the border region funded under the Carbon Tax Fund 2020
|
Name of Project |
Amount awarded |
Managing/ Lead Managing Local Authority |
Brief Description |
|
Cavan Railway Greenway |
€175,000 |
Cavan County Council |
Options selection for the 26.km section from Ulster Canal Greenway north of Castle Saunderson and with a link to the Cavan - Leitrim Greenway at Belturbet. |
|
Inishowen Greenway |
€45,000 |
Donegal County Council |
Route Options selection on an 8km section from Muff to Quigley’s Point |
|
Inishowen Greenway |
€180,000 |
Donegal County Council |
Route options selection on a 32 km section from Buncrana to Cardonagh |
|
Foyle Valley Greenway |
€115, 000 |
Donegal County Council |
Route options for a 28.5 km section of the Foyle Valley Greenway from Carrigans to Castlefinn. |
|
Sligo Leitrim Northern Counties Railway (SLNCR) Greenway |
€500,000 |
Leitrim County Council |
To bring a 75 km section from Sligo Town to Blacklion in Cavan through Statutory Process. |
|
Carlingford Greenway |
€200,000 |
Louth County Council |
Preliminary Design and Environmental Evaluation for a 12.31 km section from the Tourist Office in Carlingford to Templetown Beach. |
|
Ulster Canal Greenway |
€100,000 |
Monaghan County Council |
Preliminary Design and Environmental Evaluation for a 14 km section from Smithborough to Clones. |
|
Sligo Greenway |
€300,000 |
Sligo County Council |
Preliminary Design and Environmental Evaluation for a 35.5 km from Cooloney Sligo to Bellaghy Cavan. |
|
Total |
€1,615,000 |
|
|
With regard to cross-border rail, while specific funding has been provided under the INTERREG VA programme in relation to cross-border rail infrastructure and services in recent years, none was provided in the specific years referred to in the Deputy’s question. However, cross-border rail benefits from the much-increased investment in our rail infrastructure generally, as part of the new €1 billion programme of investment in protection and renewal over the period 2020 to 2024.
Looking to the future, the new PEACE PLUS Programme 2021-2027, which will build upon previous PEACE and INTERREG Programmes, will provide opportunities under the EU policy objective of “a more connected Europe”, contributing to the cross-border economic and territorial development of the region. In this regard, there has been significant bilateral engagement between my Department and the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland, in consultation with the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) and the Department for Public Expenditure and Reform, to examine potential cross-border rail infrastructure projects that fit the PEACE PLUS criteria.
215. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Transport when fast electric chargers at taxi ranks will be rolled out at the taxi rank in Parnell Street Car Park, Ennis County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21268/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAccording to the most recent information from the EPA and SEAI, passenger cars account for approximately half of all land transport emissions in Ireland. In addition to supporting, where feasible, switching trips to sustainable mobility options, a transition to low and zero emission cars is one of the changes necessary if Ireland is to substantially reduce its transport emissions.
Government has put in place several key policies and provided generous incentives to encourage the transition from conventional, fossil fuel vehicles towards lower-emitting fuels and technologies including electric vehicles (EVs). EVs are a prominent mitigation measure in the Climate Action Plan and Ireland has set an ambitious target of 936,000 EVs on our roads by 2030. This target is very challenging but indicative of the scale of the transformation that is needed across all sectors if Ireland is to reduce national emissions and reach its legally binding emission ceilings in future years.
The transition of the taxi and hackney fleet (technically called Small Public Service Vehicles - SPSVs) towards zero/low-emission vehicles has an important role to play in effecting a substantial reduction in transport CO2 and of air pollutant emissions, particularly in Irish towns and cities due to the high mileage travelled by these vehicles, the stop/start and idling nature of their work, as well as the predominance of fossil fuels within the sector. Increasing the uptake of electric vehicles in the SPSV sector also has a strong leadership and demonstration effect on the public, introducing more people to low/zero emission mobility options. As such, I was delighted to announce the continuation and extension of the Electric Small Public Service Vehicle (eSPSV) Grant Scheme in 2021. The Scheme which is administered by the NTA provides enhanced supports for eligible taxi and hackney drivers switching to EVs.
In addition, at Budget time, I announced a 2021 allocation of €15 million which will support up to 750 taxi and hackney drivers in scrapping their older vehicles and replacing them with zero-emission capable electric alternatives. The scrappage scheme is open for taxis and hackneys reaching their maximum permissible age limit in 2020/21. Up to €20,000 is available for eligible drivers switching to a new all-electric vehicle and up to €32,500 for those moving to a wheelchair accessible full electric vehicle.
As a further measure to support the SPSV sector's transition to low emissions, dedicated charging infrastructure for EV taxis is currently being developed across the country. Last year, my Department funded installation of SPSV-dedicated EV charging infrastructure at Dublin and Cork airports, as well as at Heuston, Kent and Colbert train stations. My Department will support further installations for SPSV charging at key transport hubs in 2021.
Home charging is considered the primary method of charging for the majority of EVs in Ireland and is a convenient, cost effective and environmentally-friendly means of charging, especially when using night-rate electricity. It accounts for circa 80% of EV charging sessions and will continue to be the primary method of charging in the future. The EV Home Charger Grant Scheme has been in operation since January 2018 to support the installation of home chargers for purchasers of new and second-hand BEVs and PHEVs. The grant provides generous support towards the full cost of installation of a home charger, up to a maximum of €600.
Currently, work is being progressed to expand the EV Home Charger Grant to include shared parking (e.g. in apartment blocks). There are a number of complex planning issues to address to expand the grant in this way and the Department and the SEAI are working to address the issues involved.
My Department is working closely with key stakeholders, including local government, to ensure electric vehicle charging infrastructure stays ahead of demand. This includes helping to develop appropriate guidance for local authorities to facilitate the expansion of the national public charging network using the supports available.
Finally, the Deputy will be aware that the Programme for Government published in June last year, commits to publishing an electric vehicle infrastructure strategy. Once completed, the strategy will provide a key framework for ensuring sufficient infrastructure to keep ahead of demand. I expect the strategy to be completed and published later this year.
216. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Transport if he has considered restoring bus and rail services to their full weekday schedules as demand increases to facilitate social distancing amid growing concerns of overcrowding on public transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21376/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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 National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally and for the scheduling of these services. Therefore, the issue raised is a matter for the NTA in conjunction with the relevant transport operators, and I have forwarded the Deputy's questions to the NTA for direct reply.
Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
218. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Transport if he has reconsidered the reopening of the driver theory test centres with the easing of restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21404/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile Covid19 level 5 restrictions remain in place, 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.
Any decision regarding the reopening of the service will be determined in consultation with the relevant health authorities.
Officials both in my Department and in the Road Safety Authority are keeping the public health situation under constant review and are working extremely hard to ensure that services can resume as soon as it is safe to do so. The safety of the public is of paramount importance at this time, and in this as in all aspects of the Covid-19 crisis, my Department will be guided by NPHET and national experts.
219. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport the amount Irish Rail spent on installing separate bins in and around stations in order to provide passengers an option to dispose of rubbish for recycling or general waste in 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [21437/21]
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 issue raised is an operational matter for Iarnród 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.
220. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the number of travellers to arrive in Ireland via airports since the beginning of 2021, by airport and numbers arriving per week; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21452/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAviation statistics on the number of passengers leaving and arriving into Ireland through State Airports by country of departure or destination country are published on gov.ie at:
https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/b61012-aviation-statistics/#weekly-stats-by-country-for-the-three-state-airports-for-2021.
Statistics are compiled on the basis of the flight origin or destination, rather than origin or possible final destination of the passenger. All the statistics are provisional figures provided by the airports and are subject to change.
221. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Transport if the NTA has been provided with the funding and green light to provide Carlow town centre with a bus service; and the status of the promised service. [21453/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally, and for the allocation of associated funding to the relevant transport operators.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Programme for Government does commit to the introduction of new services, including new town services, in order to improve public transport connectivity. I intend to pursue additional funding for such services in the context of the Programme for Government during 2021. My primary focus at present is ensuring that the existing level of PSO and Local Link public transport services continue to operate in a safe manner during the Covid-19 pandemic, and I secured over €670m in Budget 2021 for that purpose. By comparison, the level of PSO and Local Link funding provided in 2019 was in the region of €300m.
