Written Answers Nos. 188-207
188. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport the total number of persons employed by the Road Safety Authority currently; the number of persons who have begun working for the RSA in each of the past ten years; and the number of persons who have ceased working for the RSA in each of the past ten years. [33988/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraGiven that this is a matter for the Road Safety Authority I have 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.
189. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport the current average waiting time for driving tests in each county in the State in tabular form. [33989/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe operation of the national driving test service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority and the information requested is held by them. I have therefore referred 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.
190. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the pass rate for driving tests across the country broken down by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34005/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe operation of the national driving test service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority and the information requested is held by them. I have therefore referred 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.
191. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the first-time pass rate for driving tests across the country broken down by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34006/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe operation of the national driving test service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority and the information requested is held by them. I have therefore referred 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.
192. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Transport the action that he is taking to provide wheelchair access at the railway stations in Carlow and Kilkenny by way of the use of the existing lifts to the platforms which are not operating currently or in any other manner; if the lifts are in the ownership of another party if he will negotiate a permanent solution for each site; if he is satisfied with the standard of the public facilities available to customers at Bagenalstown, Carlow, Thomastown and Kilkenny railway stations; the planned investment for the next three years for each of the four locations mentioned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34011/22]
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 issues raised by the Deputy regarding the public facilities at the railway stations in Carlow and Kilkenny, including wheelchair accessibility and the lifts, are in the first instance an operational matter for Iarnród Éireann, and I have therefore 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.
193. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport his views on shared e-bike rental schemes; their potential to significantly encourage modal shift in regional cities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34183/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra194. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport his views on the role of Government in supporting e-Bike rental schemes in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34184/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra195. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport his views that shared e-Bike rental schemes can complement existing station-based bikes schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34185/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra196. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport if his Department has engaged with local authorities regarding the roll-out of e-Bike rental schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34186/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 193 to 196, inclusive, together.
The use of e-bikes is proving to be an increasingly popular method of travel, whether for commuting or leisure purposes, and is encouraging more people to choose to cycle. Bearing this in mind, and referencing the commitment by the Government to increase funding to active travel, I can assure the Deputy that all potential incentives to potential purchasers of bikes and e-bikes will be taken into consideration as part of the budgetary process.
The Deputy will be interested to know that last year the NOW TV dublinbikes scheme was enhanced with the upgrade of 50% of the fleet of 1,600 to hybrid electric bikes, which commenced on March 30th when the first batch of e-dublinbikes were launched. The NOW TV dublinbikes scheme is funded through my department.
As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to cycling and public transport infrastructure. The management of the public bike schemes is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA), which works closely with the relevant local authorities.
Noting the NTA's role in the matter, I have referred your question to the NTA for a more detailed reply in relation to bike rental schemes and the use of existing station based bike schemes.
Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
197. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport the number of TFI bikes that are operational in Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford as of June 2022; the daily uptake in each city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34187/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra198. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to any operational difficulties involved with the TFI Bikes in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34188/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 197 and 198 together.
As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to cycling and public transport infrastructure. The management of the public bike schemes is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA), which works closely with the relevant local authorities.
Noting the NTA's role in the matter, I have referred your question to the NTA for a more detailed reply . Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
199. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Transport if he has plans to provide a Local Link route to service the village of Collooney, County Sligo; and if he will provide an update on the matter. [34201/22]
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 developing an accessible, integrated and sustainable public transport network. The NTA also has national responsibility for integrated local and rural transport, including management of the Rural Transport Programme which operates under the TFI Local Link brand.
In light of the NTA's responsibilities for TFI Local Link services, including in County Sligo, 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.
200. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide a breakdown of spending on security staff for each area of public transport, per year since 2018, in tabular form. [34203/22]
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 of the expenditure on security personnel by each public transport company is an operational matter for the companies themselves. I have therefore forwarded the Deputy's question to Iarnród Éireann, Bus Éireann, Dublin Bus, and LUAS for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
201. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Transport if a letter has been issued from his Department to Dublin Port Company advising it of the decision on the Company's request for a pension increase. [34238/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, in June 2021, Dublin Port Company, in line with the provisions of Dublin Port Superannuation Scheme 1996, sought Ministerial consent to a 2.5% increase in pensions in payment and deferred pensions that were impacted by the implementation of the pension levy.
The request for consent was reviewed within my Department in conjunction with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, with the assistance of NewERA.
Following consideration of that review, I have decided not to consent to the proposed 2.5% increase in benefits as the relevant CPI inflation calculation for the period in question - the year ending March 2021 - was actually 0% and the pension scheme’s policy is for inflation linked increases.
A letter has issued to the Company advising them of this decision. It is considered that any reversion of the reductions in pensions benefits on foot of the pension levy implementation and the method employed are matters for the trustees of the pension scheme to resolve. My Department will assist as appropriate in reviewing any proposals in this regard.
More broadly, it is acknowledged that there are increasing inflationary pressures generally as reflected in the Consumer Price Index over the last year and any future requests for consent will be considered as appropriate in light of these developments.
203. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport his plans to address a shortfall in taxi services; the number of taxi and SPSV licences issued in each of the past five years to date in 2022; and the number of those licences that have not been renewed over the same time period. [34273/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department and the National Transport Authority (NTA) are taking measures to address the issue of the shortage of taxi drivers.
Recently the NTA approved an average increase of 12% on taxi fares from 1st September 2022, as proposed in the recent National Maximum Fares Review, which will be the first increase on such fares since 2017. Increasing taxi fares, particularly the premium fare which is charged for journeys taken between 8pm and 8am or on Sundays / public holidays, is designed to encourage more taxi drivers to operate during that time, thus increasing availability to passengers nationally. Whilst the NTA has statutory responsibility for regulating (licensing and enforcement) the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, taxi drivers are self-employed individuals and, as such, decide on their own business strategies within the regulatory framework. Additionally, SPSV operators choose the times at which they operate.
My Department and the NTA introduced several supports during the Covid-19 pandemic to reduce the costs for licensed SPSVs to continue in the industry during the very difficult period. These included several extensions of the maximum vehicle age on an emergency basis. The NTA also introduced a regulatory measure during Covid to allow licence holders to be inactive for 24 months (previously 12 months) to allow them to remain attached to the industry with no associated costs during this very uncertain period. It is hoped that a significant proportion of these licences will return now that demand for services is increasing.
The SPSV motor tax refund scheme was introduced as an additional financial support to assist the industry in its recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. I provided funding of €2m to the Scheme which commenced on 1 September 2021 ensuring that SPSV licence holders could receive a reimbursement of €95 for their SPSV Motor Tax. The Scheme will end on 31 August 2022.
I also allocated €1.5m to the NTA to fund initial NCT fees for SPSV operators for a 12-month period. This Scheme also commenced on 1 September 2021 ensuring that SPSVs presenting for the NCT received, and continue to receive, this test for free until 31 August 2022.
In relation to the number of SPSV licences issued or renewed, this is a matter for the NTA. Accordingly, I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply to you in this regard. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within 10 working days.
204. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide an update and definite timeline for the launch of the new Local Link bus service Coolaney to Sligo Town via Ballisodare, Ransboro and Maugheraboy which includes the S3 route; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34278/22]
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. The NTA also has national responsibility for integrated local and rural transport, including management of the Rural Transport Programme which operates under the TFI Local Link brand.
In light of the NTA's responsibilities for TFI Local Link services, including in County Sligo, 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.
205. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Transport if his Department is engaging with the Dublin Airport Authority to increase the number of electric vehicle charging points in Dublin airports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34344/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is fully committed to supporting a significant expansion and modernisation of the electric vehicle (EV) charging network over the coming years. A draft national charging infrastructure strategy for the development of EV charging infrastructure, covering the crucial period out to 2025 was published for consultation in March. The draft strategy sets out the government’s ambition regarding the delivery of a public EV charging network to support up to 194,000 electric cars and vans by the middle of the decade. Responses and submissions received as part of the consultation are currently being considered in the development of the final Strategy for publication.
Preparations are underway to establish Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland (ZEVI). This Office will play an important role in our transition to zero emission vehicles. It will co-ordinate measures to support the uptake of EVs and the rollout of charge point infrastructure. It will also lead on engagement with both public and private sectors to facilitate an accelerated roll out of EV charging infrastructure.
There are a number of schemes under the draft EV Charging Infrastructure strategy which the DAA may wish to examine, in particular the Destination Charging Scheme detailed above. It should be noted that the strategy deals primarily with publicly accessible charge points and would not encompass private or restricted infrastructure that DAA may wish to install, such as chargers for exclusive use of taxis or chargers installed airside for the use of airport service vehicles.
