Written Answers Nos. 239-258
239. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding the proposal submitted to his Department by the RSA seeking a further extension of initial basic training certificates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37628/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe validity period of Initial Basic Training (IBT) certificates is set out in legislation. Making a change to the validity of an existing certificate requires a change in law.
I can confirm that Regulations for a further extension to IBT certificates are currently being prepared within my Department. An update is expected shortly.
240. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport the reason a person (details supplied) is waiting so long for a driver theory test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37653/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe driving theory test is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority.
Individual cases are a matter for the Authority and the question in relation to this case is being referred to it for direct reply.
I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.
241. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport the number of persons waiting to take the driver theory test on 2 June 2021, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37700/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe driving theory test is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority.
The information requested is held by the Authority and this question is being referred to it for direct reply.
I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.
242. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport the specific actions he has taken to address the deficiencies in the provision of the driver theory test; if his Department has met the company involved in delivering the test to discuss the problems; the sanctions his Department plans to take for the poor delivery of the contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37701/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder legislation, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) is the body responsible for the operation and the funding of the Theory Test.
My Department is in constant contact with the RSA since the start of the pandemic regarding all of its services, the impact of Covid-19 on those services, and how they can best be maintained in the current circumstances.
Any issues in relation to the delivery of the contract are for the Road Safety Authority as the contracting authority and third parties cannot interpose themselves in such contractual relationships. I am therefore referring those elements of the Deputy's 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.
243. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Transport if an updated timeline will be provided for the M20 project. [37768/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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 planning, design and construction 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 on the status of this project.
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.
244. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Transport if assurance can be given that no existing bus route will be terminated due to Cork BusConnects. [37769/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra245. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Transport his plans to bring a bus service to Whitechurch, County Cork. [37770/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 244 and 245 together.
I welcome the National Transport Authority’s recent publication of the ‘Bus Network Redesign Choices Report’ and launch of public consultation in relation to BusConnects Cork.
I am committed to improving public transport services and infrastructure in Cork and the progress now seen on developing BusConnects Cork complements the approximately €185million to be invested in the suburban rail network between now and 2026.
The BusConnects programme will seek to transform for the better bus services and infrastructure in the Cork metropolitan area. I would encourage all public representatives to take part in this first phase of public consultation and raise issues such as those referred to by the Deputy as part of that consultation. In engaging with the process I would also encourage people to adopt an open mind as regards the scale and nature of the change required if we are to transform the bus network and deliver an improved bus system in Cork.
246. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Transport if a driver test can be offered to a person (details supplied) as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37793/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe driving test is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority.
Individual cases are a matter for the Authority and the question in relation to this case is being referred to it for direct reply.
I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.
247. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider taking into account vehicle width as an assessment point for car and or road tax (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37795/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraMotor tax is based on the construction and use of a vehicle. Motor tax has been charged on the basis of carbon dioxide emissions for private vehicles (which comprise 78% of the vehicle fleet) since 2008. There are no plans to move from that environmental rationale towards taxing vehicles on the basis of width.
Applying width as the basis of motor tax for other classes of vehicle could potentially increase motor tax rates for vehicles that are larger by virtue of their function, but which provide an essential public or economic service, such as buses and heavy goods vehicles.
248. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport the number of legal cases brought against his Department in each of the past five years and to date in 2021; and if he will provide details on the nature of these cases. [37820/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested is being collated by my officials and will be forwarded to the Deputy within 10 working days.
249. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Transport the reason for the discrepancy between the ticketing system for Dublin transport and transport systems in other cities such as Galway; the reason fare capping, Leap 90 discount and monthly or annual tickets are only available to commuters in Dublin or those whose employers who take part in the taxsaver scheme; the further reason weekly tickets are not accepted across all Galway city transport providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37847/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport but am not involved in its day-to-day operations. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for regulating fares charged by public transport operators.
I have, therefore, 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.
250. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the counties that operate demand responsive services on the LocalLink scheme; the counties that do not or have recently stopped providing demand responsive services on the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37853/21]
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.
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.
251. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Transport his plans to extend the EU Digital COVID Certificate to those who are living in or vaccinated in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37859/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra252. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Transport if the exact details of the way the domestic vaccination pass for travel from 19 July 2021 can be obtained by prospective travellers; when public notices will be issued in relation to same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37890/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra258. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Transport the situation in relation to EU Digital COVID Certificate for Irish citizens vaccinated in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38026/21]
Amharc ar fhreagra259. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Transport the proof of vaccination that will be required in terms of the EU Digital COVID Certificate for Irish citizens vaccinated in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38027/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 251, 252, 258 and 259 together.
Arrangements for the production and issue of the EU Digital Covid Certificates are being progressed by the Department of Health, the HSE and the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer. Questions on these matters should be addressed to the relevant Minister.
253. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport the amount spent on LocalLink services in each of the years since 2015, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37892/21]
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.
My Department provides aggregate funding for Local Link services to the NTA. 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. Total allocations (including the aforementioned PSO allocation) for the years 2019 - 2021 are as follows:
2015 - €10.6m
2016 - €12.2m
2017 - €14.4m
2018 - €19.5m
2019 - €21.0m
2020 - €23.4m
2021 - €28.2m
254. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Transport the number of persons on waiting lists for driver tests by test centre in Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37967/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe driving test is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority.
The information requested is held by the Authority and this question is being referred to it for direct reply.
I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.
255. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Transport the amount spent on the Luas to Finglas extension to date; the future funding expectations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37968/21]
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 the planning and development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area, including the Luas to Finglas proposal.
As the Deputy is probably aware, the current National Development Plan provides allocations toward the appraisal, planning and design of proposed extensions to the existing Luas network, including a proposed extension of the Luas from Broombridge toward Finglas.
Under the Public Spending Code there are four 'Decision Gates' in a project's lifecycle which commence with Decision Gate 0 - Strategic Assessment. Luas Finglas has received approval at Decision Gate 0 stage and its next Decision Gate will be Decision Gate 1 - Preliminary Business Case. Last summer I was delighted to be able launch a public consultation in relation to the emerging preferred route in relation to the proposed extension, which is an important, and very necessary step in developing a preferred route and ultimately the Preliminary Business Case.
Future funding of the project will be considered in the context of the revised allocations to be made available under the National Development Plan.
appraisal, planning and
design of LUAS network expansion to Bray
In relation to the specific query on expenditure to date on the project, 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.
256. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Transport the amount spent to date on BusConnects; the future budget projections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37969/21]
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 the planning and development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area, including BusConnects, and is developing BusConnects programmes in other cities on a non-statutory basis.
The NTA published details of costs incurred to date in relation to BusConnects Dublin earlier this year and that information is available to view through this link:
www.nationaltransport.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/BusConnects-Cost-Data-2018-2020.pdf.
In relation to future budget projections, the NTA has recently submitted the Preliminary Business Case to my Department for review in line with the requirements of the Public Spending Code. The Code stipulates that it must be reviewed by both my Department and the Department for Public Expenditure and Reform. Following completion of these necessary steps I will then bring the matter to Government for its decision. Obviously future funding of the programme, and other similar projects/programmes, will be considered in the context of the revised allocations to be provided by the new National Development Plan.
257. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Transport when the review into the performance of the Marine Casualty Investigation Board carried out by a person (details supplied) will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38025/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs you are aware, an international marine casualty investigation expert was appointed to conduct a review of the current organisational structures underpinning marine casualty investigation in Ireland in the context of national, EU and international obligations.
The purpose of this review is to assess the current organisational structures for marine casualty investigation in Ireland and set out in a report, to me, as Minister for Transport, any recommendations, including in relation to change, to achieve the most appropriate and effective marine casualty investigation structures for Ireland, taking into account Ireland’s national, EU and international obligations.
I am expecting to receive the report of this review in the coming weeks and will give the matter further consideration then.
