Written Answers Nos. 278-297
278. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport his views on putting in place a grant to assist blind and visually impaired people having difficulty accessing taxi services due to increasing costs. [43919/22]
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 regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including the administration of grants for the SPSV sector, is a matter for the independent transport regulator, the National Transport Authority (NTA), under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Acts 2013 and 2016. In addition to its statutory responsibilities, the NTA has various arrangements with the Department of Transport to discharge functions on its behalf. This includes the assignment to the NTA of the management of the Public Transport Accessibility Investment Programme.
In light of the NTA's responsibilities in this matter, I have 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.
279. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Transport if he will ensure that Castletownbere is classified as a larger town within the Connecting Ireland plan to ensure the Beara peninsula is assigned the necessary scale of routes. [43920/22]
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 the Rural Transport Programme management, which operates under the TFI Local Link brand.
The Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan is a major national public transport initiative developed by the NTA with the aim of increasing public transport connectivity, particularly for people living outside the major cities and towns.
In light of the NTA's responsibilities for the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan, 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.
280. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Transport if a driving test will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43991/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe operation of the national driving test service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority and 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.
281. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport the progress that has been made on extending bus services to the Upper Ballymoneen Road area of Knocknacarra, Galway; if the National Transport Authority will commit to funding a turning bay and other facilities necessary to establish the service in the area; the timescale for the provision of such a service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43992/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra282. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Transport the progress that has been made by the National Transport Authority in undertaking a review of the Galway bus network; what the review will entail; when the review will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43993/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 281 and 282 together.
As 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 and timetabling of these services in conjunction with the relevant transport operators.
In light of the Authority's responsibility in this area, I have forwarded the Deputy's questions in relation to the Galway bus network and bus services to the Upper Ballymoneen Road area of Knocknacarra, Galway, to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
283. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport if he will address a matter (details supplied) in relation to public transport issues. [43995/22]
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 national responsibility for integrated local and rural transport, including management of the Rural Transport Programme, which operates under the TFI Local Link brand. The School Transport Scheme is funded by and falls under the remit of the Department of Education. As such, queries in relation to School transport provision in Clondulane village should be directed to the Minister of Education.
In light of the NTA's responsibilities for TFI Local Link services, including funding of TFI Local Link services in Cork, 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.
284. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport if he has received any correspondence regarding a bridge project (details supplied); and if he will provide the details of those who contacted him in relation to same. [43996/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have been copied on two pieces of correspondence regarding the proposed bridge project, which were sent to the National Transport Authority (NTA) as part of the public consultation process for the twelve new Sustainable Transport Corridors (STCs) for Cork.
At this stage I am precluded by the General Data Protection Regulation from providing the Deputy with details of the correspondents.
285. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport the details of the issues being faced in relation to the provision of a bus stop shelter on Maryborough Hill in Douglas, County Cork. [43997/22]
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 responsibility for the planning and development of relevant public transport infrastructure, including the provision of bus stops and bus 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.
286. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport the amount that has been spent on the Cork Luas project to date, in tabular form. [43998/22]
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 responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure in our cities, including the Cork Light Rail project.
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.
287. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport the number of passengers on a route (details supplied). [43999/22]
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 Deputy's question in relation to the number of passengers on the Cork Mallow rail line is 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.
288. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Transport the status of plans for works to commence on the Northern Distributor Road, Cork city. [44002/22]
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 responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure, including BusConnects Cork.
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.
289. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 222 of 17 May 2022, the status of the proposed bypassing of Castlemartyr on the N25 national road in east Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44004/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport I have responsibility for overall policy and 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 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.
290. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Transport the current situation with respect to the removal of a shipwreck (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44005/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware, the relevant legislation that allows for the removal of abandoned vessels in Irish waters such as that referred to by the Deputy is the Merchant Shipping (Salvage and Wreck) Act 1993.
Section 40 of the Act provides that the Minister for Transport has the “general superintendence” of matters relating to wrecked or stranded vessels. The Act also sets out the responsibilities from an operational perspective for other bodies. Sections 51 and 52 are of note with regard to the duties of the owner and appropriate authorities.
Section 51 places the initial responsibility for removing a wreck on the owner of the vessel. However, if the appropriate authority, in this case Cork County Council, considers the wreck is or is likely to become an obstruction or danger to navigation or a threat of harm to the marine environment, or to related interests, which includes the health of the public, it shall proceed to raise and remove the wreck or otherwise render it harmless.
While the Act does allow for the removal of a wreck, it does not contain provisions in relation to the costs associated with the removal of a wreck where the sale of that wreck is not possible, and the owners of the vessel cannot be located. It is understood that no evidence of ownership or insurance has come to light yet in the case referred to by the Deputy.
My Department has recently commissioned a health and safety assessment of the wreck referred to by the Deputy and work on this assessment has been ongoing over the past number of months. This assessment is due to be received by my Department shortly.
Once the health and safety assessment is received, the findings will be considered by my Department and the report will be shared with the relevant appropriate authorities as outlined in the legislation in order to consider any appropriate actions.
291. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide an update on plans to increase capacity and frequency of the Luas service from Cherrywood, Bride’s Glen to Sandyford given the imminent increase in population resulting from the completion of hundreds of new homes this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44052/22]
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 operation of public transport services.
The issue raised in relation to plans to increase capacity and frequency of the Luas service from Cherrywood, Bride's Glen to Sandyford is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the Luas operator, Transdev, and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to TII for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
292. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Transport the total amount of funding that has been allocated for the maintenance of regional and local roads since the formation of the Government, on a local authority basis, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44093/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 Councils' 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.
As regards the funding that has been allocated to local authorities for the maintenance of regional and local roads since the formation of the Government, regional and local road grant allocations and payments booklets are available in the Oireachtas Library.
The 2020 payments booklet reflects the Active Travel and Climate Change Adaptation measures allocations made as part of the July Jobs Stimulus Plan following the formation of the Government. Allocations booklets for 2021 and 2022 together with a payments booklet for 2021 are available in the Oireachtas Library.
The tables included in the allocations and payments booklets outline expenditure by type of grant programme. For the Deputy's information an explanation of the purpose of the main Regional and Local Road Grant Programmes is set out below:
Restoration Maintenance (RM): The purpose of the RM grant is to protect the structural integrity of the road by way of surface dressing through the sealing of the road surface. The purpose of restoration maintenance is to maintain the asset before it requires improvement.
Restoration Improvement Grant (RI): The RI grant programme is the main road strengthening programme and caters for surface restoration, pavement overlay works, complete road rehabilitation works and for drainage works where required.
Discretionary Grant (DG): Councils have discretion in spending these grants for improvement and maintenance works subject to selecting from a list of eligible works. However Councils are requested to prioritise projects which involve strengthening works, remedying road defects, winter maintenance and drainage works.
Bridge Rehabilitation (BR): This programme allows local authorities to apply for monies to undertake bridge rehabilitation works.
Safety Improvement Works (BS): This programme allows local authorities to apply for monies to undertake safety improvement works.
Community Involvement Scheme (CIS): Facilitates community involvement in the repair and improvement of roads.
Drainage Programme (DR): The purpose of this grant is to promote network resilience.
Former National Roads (FN): The purpose of this grant is to provide assistance to local authorities specifically for the maintenance of former national roads.
Climate Change Adaptation and Resilience (CCAR): The purpose of this grant is to provide assistance to local authorities for road adaptation/resilience works which have become necessary due to the effects of climate change.
Specific Grant and Strategic Grants: The Department no longer seeks annual applications from local authorities in respect of road improvement projects under the Specific and Strategic grant programmes. Instead it considers projects on a case by case basis taking into account the availability of funding and the outcome of project appraisals.
293. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Transport the total amount of funding that has been allocated for the development of new walking and cycling infrastructure since the formation of the Government, on a local authority basis, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44094/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe total allocation by my department for Active Travel projects in 2020 and thus before the formation of the current Government was €107m, however the Government was in place in the middle of that year. 2021 saw a significant increase in funding, with an allocation of €281m to Active Travel projects, this included, for the first time, funding for all local authorities and not just the GDA and Regional Cities.
This year I have made €289m available to local authorities through the National Transport Authority (NTA) to progress the delivery of approximately 1,200 Active Travel projects throughout the country. This will contribute to the development of almost 1,000km of new and improved walking and cycling infrastructure across Ireland by 2025.
The Deputy should also be aware that local authorities can also access funding sources through other departments to support walking and cycling infrastructure development. The two most significant are the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF), which falls under the remit of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF), overseen by the Department of Rural and Community Development. The latter Department also supports leisure orientated walking and cycling through the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS).
Finally, the tables below set out the allocation of Active Travel funding by the NTA to local authorities for the years 2020- 2022. The Deputy will note from the tables for 2021 and 2022 that the total allocation exceeds the amount expected to be drawn down, this is in order to mitigate any potential for underspend based on experience of previous years where the full amount allocated was not drawn down.
|
Local Authority |
2020 Allocations |
|
Dublin City Council |
€28,895,000 |
|
South Dublin County Council |
€8,940,000 |
|
Fingal County Council |
€5,530,000 |
|
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council |
€9,920,000 |
|
Meath County Council |
€5,877,000 |
|
Kildare County Council |
€2,250,000 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
€2,690,000 |
|
Cork City Council |
€10,510,000 |
|
Cork County Council |
€2,040,000 |
|
Limerick City and County Council |
€6,125,000 |
|
Galway City Council |
€8,550,000 |
|
Waterford City and County Council |
€15,175,000 |
|
Campuses, Hospitals and Educational Institutions |
€875,000 |
|
Total |
€107,377,000 |
|
Local Authority |
2021 Allocations |
|
Dublin City Council |
€49,875,000 |
|
South Dublin County Council |
€20,705,000 |
|
Fingal County Council |
€14,870,000 |
|
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council |
€34,145,000 |
|
Meath County Council |
€12,885,000 |
|
Kildare County Council |
€7,730,000 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
€7,616,000 |
|
Cork City Council |
€29,606,000 |
|
Cork County Council |
€15,781,943 |
|
Limerick City and County Council |
€17,372,500 |
|
Galway City Council |
€11,865,000 |
|
Waterford City and County Council |
€13,886,500 |
|
Campuses, Hospital and Educational Institutions |
€3,720,000 |
|
Carlow County Council |
€2,426,000 |
|
Cavan County Council |
€2,310,000 |
|
Clare County Council |
€5,986,000 |
|
Donegal County Council |
€5,311,100 |
|
Galway County Council |
€6,193,000 |
|
Kerry County Council |
€5,644,500 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
€4,333,000 |
|
Laois County Council |
€3,283,000 |
|
Leitrim County Council |
€2,220,000 |
|
Longford County Council |
€2020,000 |
|
Louth County Council |
€4,649,670 |
|
Mayo County Council |
€3,349,500 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
€3,985,620 |
|
Offaly County Council |
€3,439,000 |
|
Roscommon County Council |
€2,397,000 |
|
Sligo County Council |
€2,595,000 |
|
Tipperary County Council |
€4,633,000 |
|
Wexford County Council |
€3,603,000 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
€4,500,000 |
|
Total |
€312,936,333 |
|
Local Authority |
2022 Allocations |
|
Dublin City Council |
€52,810,000 |
|
South Dublin County Council |
€18,158,485 |
|
Fingal County Council |
€25,535,000 |
|
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council |
€38,990,000 |
|
Meath County Council |
€13,910,000 |
|
Kildare County Council |
€13,670,000 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
€9,007,500 |
|
Cork City Council |
€46,291,010 |
|
Cork County Council |
€20,456,545 |
|
Limerick City and County Council |
€24,390,568 |
|
Galway City Council |
€15,185,000 |
|
Waterford City and County Council |
€24,010,000 |
|
Campuses, Hospital and Educational Institutions |
€6,960,000 |
|
Carlow County Council |
€2,515,000 |
|
Cavan County Council |
€3,371,445 |
|
Clare County Council |
€5,298,000 |
|
Donegal County Council |
€5,596,000 |
|
Galway County Council |
€7,875,000 |
|
Kerry County Council |
€4,130,293 |
|
Kilkenny County Council |
€3,000,000 |
|
Laois County Council |
€3,000,000 |
|
Leitrim County Council |
€2,086,731 |
|
Longford County Council |
€2,382,668 |
|
Louth County Council |
€6,533,361 |
|
Mayo County Council |
€5,027,724 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
€2,500,605 |
|
Offaly County Council |
€3,681,908 |
|
Roscommon County Council |
€3,264,792 |
|
Sligo County Council |
€3,020,000 |
|
Tipperary County Council |
€6,666,601 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
€4,000,000 |
|
Wexford County Council |
€4,440,000 |
|
Total |
€387,764,237 |
294. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Transport the total amount of funding that has been allocated for the development of greenway projects since the formation of the Government, on a local authority basis, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44095/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am pleased to inform the Deputy that investment in Greenways has increased massively since the formation of this Government in line with the commitment in the Programme for Government. For context, the following table gives an overview of Greenway funding from the Department in recent years and for 2022.
|
Year |
Total Allocation |
|
2019 |
€13.9M |
|
2020 |
€23.5M |
|
2021 |
€70M |
|
2022 |
€60.0M |
Note: The allocations for 2020 and 2021 above include carryovers from the previous year.
Since publication of the Greenways Strategy in 2018 there have been two significant rounds of funding allocations in 2019 and 2020 directed toward National and Regional greenways projects across the country.
The table below details allocations under the Carbon Tax Fund in 2020.
In 2020 €4.5m in funding under the Carbon Tax Fund was allocated to 26 projects to support various pre-construction elements including feasibility, planning and design.
Carbon Tax 2020 Funding
|
County |
Amount |
|
Carlow |
€150,000 |
|
Cavan |
€175,000 |
|
Clare |
€255,000 |
|
Cork - County |
€80,000 |
|
Donegal |
€340,000 |
|
Fingal |
€200,000 |
|
Galway County |
€315,000 |
|
Kildare |
€96,850 |
|
Leitrim |
€500,000 |
|
Limerick City & County |
€150,000 |
|
Longford |
€60,000 |
|
Louth County Council |
200,000 |
|
Mayo County Council |
95,000 |
|
Meath |
750,000 |
|
Monaghan |
€100,000 |
|
Offaly |
€155,000 |
|
Roscommon |
€100,000 |
|
Sligo |
€300,000 |
|
Tipperary County |
€200,000 |
|
Waterford City and County |
€80,000 |
|
Limerick and Clare (Waterways Irl) |
€140,000 |
|
Wexford County Council |
€58,000 |
Budget 2021
The Programme for Government identified a spend of €360m per annum for Active Travel and Greenways. The allocation for 2021 was €70m (which included €20m carryover from 2020).
The original allocations to projects funded in 2019 were based on 60% Exchequer contribution, given the impact the pandemic had on the income of local authorities this was changed to 100%.
|
Projects |
Original 2021 |
Additional Ask |
Total |
|
Cork, Midleton-Youghal |
€6,000,000 |
€4,000,000 |
€10,000,000 |
|
Galway, Clifden- Recess |
€1,600,000 |
€1,750,000 |
€3,350,000 |
|
Kildare, Grand Canal Aylmer Bridge to Sallins |
€975,000 |
€1,955,000 |
€2,930,000 |
|
Kerry, Tralee Fenit |
€1,060,000 |
€2,380,000 |
€3,440,000 |
|
Kerry, Listowel to Tralee |
€1,250,000 |
€3,290,000 |
€4,540,000 |
|
Mayo, Great Western Way expansion |
€1,400,000 |
€3,750,000 |
€5,150,000 |
|
Offaly, Grand Canal Daingean to Lough Boora |
€557,000 |
€1,103,000 |
€1,660,000 |
|
Wexford, Waterford- New Ross |
€2,600,000 |
€6,400,000 |
€9,000,000 |
|
Wicklow, Blessington Loop |
€3,500,000 |
€2,900,000 |
€6,400,000 |
|
2019 Projects Total* |
€18,942,000 |
€27,528,000 |
€46,470,000 |
|
TII, Galway- Athlone |
€4,000,000 |
€4,100,000 |
€8,100,000 |
|
South Kerry Greenway |
€1,400,000 |
|
€1,400,000 |
|
Galway Moycullen |
€1,800,000 |
|
€1,800,000 |
|
Offaly, Daingean to Edenderry |
€0 |
€3,100,000 |
€3,100,000 |
|
Limerick, refurbishment of Great Southern Greenway |
€0 |
€2,500,000 |
€2,500,000 |
|
Longford Canal Greenway |
€0 |
€172,000 |
€172,000 |
|
Totals for all projects for 2021 |
€26,142,000 |
€37,400,000 |
€63,542,000 |
2022 allocations
|
Project |
2022 allocations |
|
Carlow County Council |
€60,000 |
|
Cavan County Council |
€150,000 |
|
Clare County Council |
€970,000 |
|
Cork County Council |
€5,150,000 |
|
Donegal County Council |
€2,500,000 |
|
Fingal County Council |
€350,000 |
|
Galway County Council |
€3,120,000 |
|
Kerry County Council |
€7,500,000 |
|
Kildare County Council |
€1,595,000 |
|
Leitrim County Council |
€1,000,000 |
|
Limerick City and County Council |
€3,800,000 |
|
Longford County Council |
€750,000 |
|
Louth County Council |
€370,000 |
|
Mayo County Council |
€2,650,000 |
|
Meath County Council |
€614,000 |
|
Monaghan County Council |
€150,000 |
|
Offaly County Council |
€1,323,000 |
|
Roscommon County Council |
€1,695,000 |
|
Sligo County Council |
€50,000 |
|
South Dublin County Council |
€1,300,000 |
|
Tipperary County Council |
€640,000 |
|
Waterford City and County Council |
€400,000 |
|
Westmeath County Council |
€8,700,000 |
|
Wexford County Council |
€4,000,000 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
€5,350,000 |
|
Total |
€54,187,000 |
As of 20 September 2021, the planning, design, and construction of individual Greenways is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) and funding is now allocated to projects on an annual basis. Urban Greenways that serve a commuter focus are funded by the Department through the National Transport Authority and are not reflected in the figures provided in this reply.
The Deputy should also be aware that local authorities can also access funding sources through other departments to support walking and cycling infrastructure development. The two most significant are the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF), which falls under the remit of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF), overseen by the Department of Rural and Community Development. The latter Department also supports leisure orientated walking and cycling through the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS).
295. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide an update on the programme for Government commitment to commission an economic evaluation of higher-speed rail links between Ireland's main cities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44126/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware, in 2020 my Department prepared terms of reference for a high/higher-speed rail study in line with the Programme for Government commitment. However, noting the need for a wider, more comprehensive and strategic review of the entirety of the rail network, it was subsequently agreed with the Department for Infrastructure (Northern Ireland) that a strategic review of the railway network should be undertaken on an all-island basis, in line with the New Decade New Approach agreement. The All-Island Strategic Rail Review, which is being undertaken in co-operation the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland, commenced last September and will inform the development of inter-urban/inter-regional rail on the Island of Ireland over the coming decades.
The Review is considering the future of the rail network with regard to the following ambitions: improving sustainable connectivity between the major cities (including the potential for high-/higher speed), enhancing regional accessibility, supporting balanced regional development, and rail connectivity to our international gateways, with the latter also encompassing the role of rail freight.
This will be one of the most significant reviews of the rail network on the island in many years, providing a framework to develop a much-improved rail network for our future. I expect to receive the final report later this year.
296. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide an update on the programme for Government commitment to require that all new urban buses be electric hybrid or electric; if this plan has commenced; the percentage of new buses that are hybrid or electric since March 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44127/22]
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 the planning and development of public transport infrastructure, including the procurement of the national bus fleet.
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.
297. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport if there are any plans to increase grants or reliefs that are available to potential purchasers of electric vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44128/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government provides a wide range of supports to incentivise the purchase of EVs which include:
- A grant of up to €5000 for battery electric vehicles (BEVs);
- Home Charger grant scheme - up to €600;
- VRT relief of up to €5,000 for the purchase of BEVs;
- Benefit-in-Kind tax relief for battery electric vehicles;
- eSPSV grant scheme
- Low rate of annual motor tax; and
- Tolling reductions of 50% for battery electric vehicles and 25% for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.
On 21st July I launched a new dedicated Office, Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland, which will oversee and accelerate Ireland’s transition to zero emission vehicles. As part of this launch, further initiatives were announced to accelerate the uptake of EVs including:
- A commercial fleet scheme
- Apartment charging scheme
- Expansion of the home charger grant
- Expansion of the purchase grant to include large panel vans
- Shared Island sports club scheme
Further information on Zero Emission Vehicles Ireland and the various incentives is available at www.gov.ie/zevi.
At a policy level, ZEVI will continue to support the need to assist the transition to driving electric. The means to incentivise EV purchases are forming part of the Budget 2023 deliberations between this Department and the Minister for Finance.
