Tuesday, 18 May 2021

Written Answers Nos. 258-278

Road Tolls

Ceisteanna (258)

Fergus O'Dowd

Ceist:

258. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider lifting the road tolls on the M1 Drogheda toll or at the very least for heavy goods vehicles to keep them out of the town centre and on the motorway and also to keep these vehicles off the N2 to avoid small villages such as Slane, County Meath, in view of Brexit and optimising North-South trade; the estimated cost of such a proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26042/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Transport

As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015, the operation and management of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. 

Matters relating to the day to day operations regarding national roads, including toll roads and the establishment of a system of tolls, are within the remit of TII. More specifically, the statutory power to levy tolls, to make toll bye-laws and to enter into contractual agreements with third parties are vested in TII under Part V of the Roads Act 1993 (as amended).

Noting the above position, I have referred the question to TII for a detailed reply.  Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.

A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 51

Driver Test

Ceisteanna (259)

Kathleen Funchion

Ceist:

259. Deputy Kathleen Funchion asked the Minister for Transport his plans for the resumption of driver theory tests in line with wider easing of restrictions. [26047/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Transport

The Driver Theory Test is considered a non-essential service and remains closed for now until an appropriate phase of the Government's plans. The Department understands the frustration at this decision, however, these restrictions imposed by the Government based on the advice of NPHET and their panel of scientific experts, are in place to minimize the impact of Covid-19 on this country and its people.

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.

Because the service was closed for long periods of time over the last year, a large backlog of customers has built up. To deal with the backlog, the RSA have plans to increase capacity when it is allowed to re-open. This additional capacity will see the number of tests increase from an average pre Covid19 output of 15,000 tests per month to 50,000 per month. This will help significantly to tackle the backlog.

The RSA is working to deliver an online driver theory test service. A pilot online driver theory test is underway for trucks and buses. This will be extended to car drivers when services resume, initially with 3,200 online tests being conducted per month. Online services will be made more widely available towards the end of 2021.

Bus Services

Ceisteanna (260)

Noel Grealish

Ceist:

260. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport the status of the direct award contract with Bus Éireann; if Bus Éireann is operating on a month-by-month contract basis at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26082/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Transport

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 securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally, and for the allocation of associated funding to the relevant transport operators.  

In view of the above I forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days. 

A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 51

Data Protection

Ceisteanna (261)

Peadar Tóibín

Ceist:

261. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport the number of data breaches suffered by his Department in each of the past five years and to date in 2021. [26109/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Transport

Data Breaches are taken very seriously within my Department and staff are provided with training on what to do in the event of a possible data breach. My Department has also developed a Data Breach Policy which all staff are made aware of; a log is kept of any breaches and actions taken as a result of these breaches.

I have outlined the number of Data Breaches within the timeframe requested by the Deputy in the following table.

Year	Number of Breaches
2017	No record of Any Data Breaches with the Department found
2018	3
2019	9
2020	5
2021 (to date)	2

Driver Test

Ceisteanna (262)

Patricia Ryan

Ceist:

262. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Transport if the theory test for B class licences will be made available online; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26300/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Transport

The RSA is working to deliver an online driver theory test service.

A pilot online driver theory test is underway for trucks and buses. This will be extended to car drivers on a limited basis by the end of this month, initially with 3,200 online tests being conducted per month.

Online services will be made more widely available towards the end of 2021.

Bus Services

Ceisteanna (263)

Patricia Ryan

Ceist:

263. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Transport the status of the LocalLink service in counties Laois and Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26302/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Transport

As 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.  

In light of the NTA's responsibilities in this matter, I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 51

Bus Services

Ceisteanna (264)

Patricia Ryan

Ceist:

264. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Transport the locations of bus stops planned in counties Kildare and Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26303/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Transport

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 provision of bus stops and shelters. 

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.

A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 51

Question No. 265 answered with Question No. 239.

Climate Change Policy

Ceisteanna (266)

Paul McAuliffe

Ceist:

266. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Transport if he has made inquiries regarding car tax versus fuel tax (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26388/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Transport

Fiscal policy generally, including the appropriate levels of taxation to be raised from various sources for the Exchequer and hence the funding of our vital public services such as health, are matters in the first instance for my colleague the Minister for Finance. 

I can advise that there are no plans to replace the current system of motor tax with taxation on motor fuel. Gross motor tax receipts in 2020 were in the order of €940m. Maintenance of the tax base would, therefore, require a significant compensatory increase in fuel excise rates, with direct negative impacts on the rate of inflation and economic competitiveness.   

Goods vehicles and other high usage and high mileage vehicles, such as public service vehicles and buses, would have higher costs under a pay-as-you-drive system. There would be other distributional effects, including on those with longer distances to commute.  

A significant increase in fuel duty could lead to an increase in cross-border fuel purchasing, further depressing the tax base and requiring a compensatory adjustment, either in further increases in fuel prices or elsewhere in the tax system, to make up the shortfall. The potential for an increase in fuel laundering is also clear.   

A mechanism would also have to be put in place to ensure that the National Vehicle and Driver File, the central vehicle register, could be kept up to date in the absence of the requirement to renew motor tax on, at least, an annual basis. 

Further, the Programme for Government 2020 contains a commitment to legislate to ban the registration of new fossil-fuelled cars and light vehicles from 2030 onwards, and to phase out diesel and petrol cars from Irish cities from 2030. There is also a commitment in the Climate Action Plan to accelerate the take up of electric vehicles to achieve a target of some 950,000 such vehicles on the road by 2030.   

The benefits of a fuel based tax would have to be weighed against all of these policy considerations and objectives before the change proposed could be contemplated.

Transport Infrastructure Ireland

Ceisteanna (267)

Paul Murphy

Ceist:

267. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Transport Infrastructure Ireland has an agreement with a company (details supplied) in respect of its development; his views on whether this agreement removes objectivity in the feasibility studies and indicates that the NTA and TII have already decided the outcome and will proceed with their preference of Charlemont-Beechwood; if he will instruct the NTA to promptly publish the feasibility studies and demonstrate that they were fully objective regarding the three possible options; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26408/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Transport

As the Deputy is aware, these particular construction works relate to a private development being constructed by a private company pursuant to a planning permission granted by An Bord Pleanála.

Details of that planning permission and conditions attached thereto are available to view on the website of An Bord Pleanála.

In relation to MetroLink, the Preferred Route for that scheme is the one consulted upon during 2019 and which is available to view on the dedicated project website, metrolink.ie. The Preliminary Business Case has been prepared on the basis of that route and my Department is currently reviewing that Preliminary Business Case in line with the Public Spending Code’s Decision Gate 1. Subject to Government approval and the completion of all necessary planning/environmental documentation, the scheme will then be submitted to An Bord Pleanála for planning approval, known as a Railway Order.

The progression of the MetroLink scheme is separate to the review of the Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area which is currently underway in line with the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008 (as amended). As part of that review, future possible metro options are under consideration and that consideration will take place as part of the overall review of the Strategy. I understand a second round of public consultation on  a draft Strategy will take place later in the year and a final Strategy will be ready for approval in 2022.

Strategic Infrastructure

Ceisteanna (268)

Gerald Nash

Ceist:

268. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the long-standing proposal to develop the northern port access route north of Drogheda town; if he plans to initiate a specific funding programme for infrastructure of this nature that, if built, would enable road access to planned lands for the development of in excess of 4,000 homes in north Drogheda; if his Department will work with Louth County Council to identify funding sources for the route; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26425/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Transport

The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from local authorities' own resources supplemented by State road grants.  The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the local authority. 

The extent of the cutbacks in grant funding during the post 2008 recession meant that grant funding for road improvement schemes had to be curtailed because expenditure on maintenance/renewal was falling well short of what was required to adequately maintain the regional and local road network.

The National Development Plan (NDP) does provide for the gradual build up in funding for the road network but funding is not yet at the level needed for the adequate maintenance and renewal of regional and local roads.  For this reason, the primary focus for capital investment under my Department's Regional and Local Road Grant Programme at present is the maintenance and renewal of the network and implementation of the 12 regional and local road projects identified for development, subject to necessary approvals, in the NDP. 

Any road improvement projects proposed by local authorities for consideration for funding are assessed by the Department on a case-by-case basis. All projects put forward by local authorities for consideration must comply with the requirements of the Public Spending Code (PSC) and my Department's Capital Appraisal Framework (CAF).

It is my understanding that Louth County Council have been focussed on seeking funding for the proposed Port Access Northern Cross Route (PANCR) under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) administered by the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government (DHPLG). There was some discussion between Louth County Council and my Department in early 2020 regarding the project appraisal process if the scheme were to be submitted to my Department for consideration. To date no application has been received by this Department from Louth County Council in relation to the proposed PANCR.

It should be noted that the scope for considering any new significant road improvement projects is dependent on the outcome of the NDP review.

Driver Test

Ceisteanna (269, 278)

Peter Fitzpatrick

Ceist:

269. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Transport when driver theory testing will resume for essential workers as in the case of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26430/21]

Paul Kehoe

Ceist:

278. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Transport when driver theory tests will resume; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26600/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Transport

I propose to take Questions Nos. 269 and 278 together.

The Driver Theory Test is considered a non-essential service and remains closed for now until an appropriate phase of the Government's re-opening plans. The Department understands the frustration at this decision, however, these restrictions imposed by the Government based on the advice of NPHET and their panel of scientific experts, are in place to minimize the impact of Covid-19 on this country and its people.

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.

Because the service was closed for long periods of time over the last year, a large backlog of customers has built up. To deal with the backlog, the RSA have plans to increase capacity when it is allowed to re-open. This additional capacity will see the number of tests increase from an average pre Covid19 output of 15,000 tests per month to 50,000 per month. This will help significantly to tackle the backlog. 

The RSA is working to deliver an online driver theory test service. A pilot online driver theory test is underway for trucks and buses. This will be extended to car drivers when services resume, initially with 3,200 online tests being conducted per month. Online services will be made more widely available towards the end of 2021.

Driver Licences

Ceisteanna (270)

James Lawless

Ceist:

270. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Transport if he will examine the driver licence application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26447/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Transport

There is a distinction between motorists with a foreign driving licence visiting Ireland and those living in Ireland. For non-residents, currently under the Convention on Road Traffic 1949 (Geneva Convention), drivers from Contracting States carrying a valid driver’s licence can drive on each other’s roads for up to a year when visiting. If a person is resident in Ireland, they must have an Irish/EU driving licence. 

As Ireland does not have a driving licence exchange agreement with Mexico, holders of a Mexican driving licence are required to go through the process of obtaining an Irish licence as set out in national and EU legislation. This is a matter of public safety.

People with a full but non-exchangeable licence go through the normal driver learning process but can avail of the shorter Essential Driver Training of 6 lessons instead of the usual 12, and they do not have to be a learner for the usual minimum of 6 months before taking a driving test.

The Driver Theory Test has not been deemed to be an essential service and remains closed. Updates around the resumption of tests will be published on www.theorytest.ie. The Road Safety Authority (RSA) recognise that it will take time to meet the demand of the backlog that has built up and restore waiting times to their pre-Covid level. The Authority is engaging with its service provider to examine ways of increasing the number of tests within the current health constraints for when services resume, such as:

- an increase in capacity within the service, which will see the number of tests increase from an average pre Covid19 output of 15,000 tests per month to 50,000 per month. This will help significantly to tackle the backlog of customers.

- delivery of an online driver theory test service. The rollout of online theory tests for cars is planned for June 2021. There will be a limit on the number of customers that can avail of the service during the initial rollout phase, but work is ongoing to make online services more widely available towards the end of 2021.

All enquires relating to 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. My Department does not have access to individual applications.

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.

A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 51

Bus Services

Ceisteanna (271)

Martin Kenny

Ceist:

271. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Transport the reason the NTA and LocalLink in counties Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim awarded recent tendered routes in County Leitrim to large bus companies that operate internationally while taking these routes away from local bus companies in County Leitrim which now face going out of business as result of losing these routes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26448/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Transport

As 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.  

In light of the NTA's responsibilities in this matter, I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days. 

A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 51

Bus Services

Ceisteanna (272)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

Ceist:

272. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Transport the status of a Carlow town bus service; if funding will be made available for this service in quarter 3 or quarter 4 of 2021; his plans to provide rural bus services between New Ross, County Wexford, and Saint Mullin's, Tinnahinch and Borris, County Carlow, and Arklow, County Wicklow, to Carlow town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26470/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Transport

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 securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally, and for the allocation of associated funding to the relevant transport operators.  

My primary focus at present is to ensure that the NTA receives sufficient public service obligation (PSO) funding to maintain the existing level of public transport services in 2021.  As I indicated in my response to the Deputy's previous question (number 88 of 24th March 2021), 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.

I understand that the NTA responded to the Deputy in relation to the expansion of the Local Link network in County Carlow and surrounding counties.

Question No. 273 answered with Question No. 239.

Question No. 274 answered with Question No. 239.

Road Traffic Accidents

Ceisteanna (275)

Holly Cairns

Ceist:

275. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport the number of road deaths and accidents recorded in each of the years 2014 to 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26570/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Transport

The number of fatalities on our roads, together with the number of collisions resulting in fatalities, for the years mentioned, are as follows:

2014 - 192 (138 collisions)

2015 - 166 (159 collisions)

2016 - 186 (174 collisions)

2017 - 158 (143 collisions)

2018 - 151 (144 collisions)

2019 - 140 (127 collisions)

2020 - 149 (138 collisions)

Ireland has made great progress over the last 10 years, cutting road deaths by more than 30% since 2010, and moving from seventh to second place in the rankings of EU safest countries.

In 2019, Ireland was named the winner of that year’s prestigious European Transport Safety Council Road Safety Performance Index (PIN) award. The annual award is presented to a European country that has demonstrated continued progress on road safety combined with a strategic approach to tackling the problem across government.

Regrettably, despite massive decreases in traffic volumes in 2020, there was an increase in the number of fatalities.  This serves as a reminder to us all that we must not relax our vigilance.

The Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030, which is due to be approved by Government in the next few months, will be making a number of recommendations to reverse this trend and work towards the EU's Vision Zero target for 2050.  The Strategy has been developed by the Department and the Road Safety Authority, in consultation with an Garda Siochana, the Department of Justice and Equality, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, the local authorities and other stakeholders.

Road Safety

Ceisteanna (276)

Holly Cairns

Ceist:

276. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport if speed camera vans are permitted to operate in areas which do not feature speed camera warning signs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26572/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Transport

Speed camera signs are information signs and are used as traffic calming measures in some areas.  They are optional and there is no legal requirement for a sign to be in place when there is a speed camera present.

The operation of the speed-camera system, including the location of speed cameras, is entirely a matter for the Garda Síochána, in conjunction with the contracted operator.

My Department has no role in this.

Social Media

Ceisteanna (277)

Holly Cairns

Ceist:

277. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport the percentage of posts made on each of his departmental social media accounts and platforms that were exclusively in Irish between 1 May 2020 and 30 April 2021, inclusive; the percentage of posts made on each of his departmental social media accounts and platforms that featured bilingual translations in Irish and English between 1 May 2020 and 30 April 2021, inclusive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26591/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Transport

My Department is currently active on one social media platform, Twitter. During the timeframe stipulated by the deputy, my Department posted a total of 6 posts in the Irish language, including three bilingual posts in both the English and Irish language.

My Department endeavours to fulfil its obligations towards the Irish language in the daily conduct of its business. The Department’s new Scéim Teanga 2021-2024 seeks to build on the progress achieved by the Department in the implementation of earlier Irish Language schemes. As part of this new scheme, an increasing number of posts will be posted bilingually on the Department’s social media accounts and all posts relating to Gaeltacht areas will be in Irish.

Question No. 278 answered with Question No. 269.