Written Answers Nos. 17-26
17. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Transport the reason the National Transport Authority does not operate out of Nenagh train station and instead operate from Kickham Street, Nenagh which in turn contributes to traffic congestion in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55777/22]
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 National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally and for decisions regarding the routes 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 specific question in relation to public transport services operating out of Nenagh train station and not Kickham Street, Nenagh, to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
18. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Transport if the new proposed dual railway lines from Cork to Cobh and Cork to Midleton will have new carriages which will be fully compliant with the Disability Act; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55781/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware, the Government approved the inclusion of Phase 1 of the Cork Area Commuter Rail Programme in Ireland's National Recovery & Resilience Plan. Inclusion in the Plan means the projects referred to by the Deputy will largely be funded through the EU's Recovery & Resilience Facility and also means that all works contained within Phase 1 should be complete by the end of 2026.
Funding for the projects will be administered by the National Transport Authority (NTA) in its capacity as day-to-day Approving Authority. In view of NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's questions to it for more detailed response on the specific issues raised. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
19. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Transport if he has received correspondence from an organisation (details supplied) regarding changes to the Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021 and the national fleet database; when he intends to respond to the organisation; and if a copy of this response can be made available to all members of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport and Communications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55803/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that I have received this correspondence from the Irish Road Haulage Association, and that a reply is issuing this week. I would be happy to provide a copy to members of the Transport Committee.
By way of context, the project for a national database to contain information on motor insurance policies is well-advanced. Legislation underpinning it was partially commenced in 2019, since which time the bulk of the necessary data has been uploaded to the database.
However, legislation is necessary to complete certain aspects of the database and is included in the Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021. Fleet policies are a particular issue, as typically vehicles are added to and removed from fleets quite frequently. Drivers employed by fleets, and therefore covered by fleet insurance, can also change during the course of a year.
In order to maintain up to date details, it is quite reasonable to expect fleet owners to provide updates of data on their drivers and vehicles, so that the Garda can check via the database to see that given drivers and vehicles are in fact covered by insurance. A period of 14 days to allow for the simple process concerned is quite reasonable. In fact, we will not require uploading of data on vehicles which are held in a fleet for less than that time.
20. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport the current rate of “islander” car tax; the basis on which this is paid; if cars taxed for “island only” use are exempt from undergoing the NCT; the steps that he intends taking on ensuring that it is attractive for islanders to purchase plug in hybrids or electric vehicles for island use; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55806/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraA concessionary rate of motor tax for island vehicles was introduced in 2001. This applies to all vehicles, not just passenger cars, unless the vehicle in question has a lower annual rate of tax (e.g. motorcycles or vintage vehicles). The current annual rate for island vehicles has been set at €102 since 2013. It applies to motor vehicles which are kept and used exclusively on an offshore island to which there is no direct road or bridge access from the mainland.
In respect of vehicle testing, motor vehicles that are used exclusively on islands that are not connected to the mainland by road or bridge, and that have less than 5,000 inhabitants, are currently not subject to roadworthiness testing.
There are a number of incentives in place to encourage the purchase of low emitting vehicles including:
- Vehicle Registration Tax relief of up to €5,000 for battery electric vehicles (BEVs) for vehicles with an open market selling price of less than €50,000;
- a purchase grant scheme that provides up to €5,000 for the purchase of a private BEV and up to €3,800 for a small commercial BEV. In both cases, this applies to vehicles with a selling price of between €14,000 and €60,000; and
- a home charger grant of up to €600 towards the installation cost of a domestic charge point for new and second hand BEV or plug in hybrid vehicles.
21. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport when consideration was first given to the possibility of locating the west Connemara base for the Coast Guard at the airstrip in Cluain Leacht an Abba, Cleggan, County Galway; the progress made to date with this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55807/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraA new Coast Guard Station at Cleggan has been a priority on the IRCG Building Programme for a number of years.
The site at the air strip at Cleggan owned by Department of Regional and Community Development (DRCD) was one of the sites that were identified as possible viable options.
OPW originally registered expression of interest in acquiring a site on the air strip with DRCD on behalf of IRCG in 2012.
DRCD confirmed that there would be no issue with transfer of the site if deemed suitable.
OPW stated that any such transfer of land/ site would be dependent on planning approval.
OPW included this site in its investigations into suitable sites in the area and carried out an initial Feasibility Study during 2016.
Unfortunately, the IRCG were not in a position to fund progress of this project to the planning stage until increased funding was allocated to the IRCG Building Programme through the Project 2040 initiative in 2018.
There were then further delays to the Building Programme resulting from factors outside of IRCG control, including OPW resources issues and Pandemic restrictions.
During 2021, OPW progressed the feasibility study at the Air Strip further and completed a Draft Scheme. This project was approved by OPW Project Oversight Group in September 2022 and now awaits allocation of a full design and resource team to progress it to the planning phase. OPW are also in the process of arranging a meeting with DRCD to progress the site acquisition process.
IRCG will continue to push this project as one of its top priorities on the IRCG Building Programme.
22. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport the reason that a waiting time of eight to ten weeks exists for driving tests; the steps being taken to shorten these waiting lists; if certain categories of applicant who require full driving licences for essential work can get their applications expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55821/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraDue to the COVID pandemic, and the necessary ensuing precautions, a significant backlog of driver testing services developed. Since public health restrictions have eased, considerable progress has been made, and waiting times have reduced significantly.
Pre Covid, the target national average wait for a test was 10 weeks. On the eve of the pandemic, however, the actual waiting time was approximately six and a half weeks. This increased to 25 weeks during the pandemic. The pre-pandemic national average target wait of 10 weeks was once again achieved by the end of 2021. Projections made early last year had estimated it would be February 2022 before this point was reached.
There has been an increase in application volumes and learners becoming eligible to take their test since the start of the year as the economy once again reopened and many learners who availed of increased capacity in the Driver Theory Test are now becoming eligible.
The operation of the national driving test service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and in early 2022, the RSA conducted a review of the current and evolving needs of the driver tester service. This recommended that the number of permanent driver testers employed by the RSA should be raised from 100 to 130. Following due consideration, my Department gave approval for these additional personnel in June 2022. Recruitment is underway and the RSA hope to see new testers commence work before year end.
If an applicant is employed by the HSE, a private hospital or the emergency services and need to drive as part of their job (not including commuting to their place of work) then the RSA may prioritise their application. More information can be found on the RSA website at Driver testing FAQs from the Road Safety Authority (RSA).
23. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport the measures that his Department is taking to encourage the public to avoid purchasing vehicles that are larger than their needs; his views on whether there is a carbon reduction benefit that can be achieved in this area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55230/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware of recent reports that suggest an increasing global trend in the purchasing of larger and less fuel-efficient vehicles. I also note, however, that the existing approach to the taxation of motor vehicles through vehicle registration tax (VRT) in Ireland is already designed to encourage a shift to the purchasing of vehicles with improved emissions performance.
Budget 2021 introduced a revised charging structure for VRT emissions bands based on the new Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) emissions test to better reflect real-driving data, which supplements the NOx surcharge introduced in Budget 2020. My Department will continue to review and engage with the Department of Finance on how taxation policy may be used to support and encourage more sustainable transport and vehicle purchasing behaviour.
I also welcome the fact that agreement has been reached at European Union level to implement a ban on the sale of new ICE (petrol and diesel) cars and vans from 2035, and to impose upon vehicle manufacturers enhanced interim targets for the reduction of emissions, reflecting the heightened ambition of the Fit for 55 package in ensuring that EU policies are in line with Europe’s climate goals.
More widely, while recent European standards imposed on vehicle manufacturers have led to an overall reduction in tailpipe emissions in new vehicles, I note that an increasing trend toward the purchase of larger vehicle models can also bring significant environmental and air-quality risk in terms of increased shedding of toxic particulate matter through increased tyre wear.
Given these considerations, and also the increased risk to vulnerable and other road users involved in collisions with heavier vehicles, I believe we need to take a wider holistic approach and shift to more sustainable transport modes, while reducing our level of private car use more generally. Making these changes will improve overall well-being and make our urban centres more attractive places to live and work, but will require a systemic change in our systems and behaviour.
In this context, my Department has published its National Sustainable Mobility Policy (SMP) which sets out the vision and actions that we will be taking in this regard. I have also established a Leadership Group and Delivery team to oversee and drive implementation of the SMP Action Plan and delivery of a number of 'Pathfinder Programmes' over the next three years. These measures will be supported by additional actions to reduce our overall levels of car dependency that will be set out in the forthcoming Climate Action Plan 2023.
24. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Transport the steps that he is taking to ensure that the broader south Dublin area has sufficient access to public transport in light of increased building and population growth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55849/22]
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 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 above, I have forwarded the Deputy's question in relation to public transport services in the broader south Dublin area, to the NTA for directly reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
25. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport the steps that he intends taking to support the taxi industry in view of the unprecedented rise in overhead costs over the past two years, and the lack of taxis in many parts of the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55879/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware, both my Department and the National Transport Authority have taken a number of steps since the onset of Covid-19, to support taxi drivers nationally, these steps include -
- The Maximum Fares Order 2022 which took effect on 1 September last. Increases in fares are weighted in favour of those drives working at unsocial hours, such as nights and bank holidays. The increase has been designed so as to encourage more drivers to operate during these periods and also encourage drivers who may still not have come back since the pandemic, to re-activate their license.
- I allocated €15m to the eSPSV Grant Scheme this year which supports drivers in their transition to zero / low emission vehicles. The number of eSPSV grants administered has been encouraging, with 1,100 grants paid between the beginning of the scheme in 2018 to the end of October 2022, with associated funding of €19,775,500. In Budget 2023, I again secured €15m to be administered under the Scheme.
- The eSPSV business loan provided by Microfinance Ireland is in place to support those SPSV owners accessing the eSPSV Grant Scheme, but who are unable to secure finance from financial institutions.
- The NTA’s proposal to temporarily extend the maximum permissible age for taxis and hackneys with a current final operation date in 2023 and 2024, such that no current vehicle licence holder is forced out of the industry because a replacement vehicle cannot be purchased. The NTA ran a public consultation on this proposal from 19 September until 12 October 2022. If approved by the NTA Board, the new Regulations will be in place before the end of the year.
- Government’s reduction in fuel related duties, which is now extended until end of February 2023.
- The NTA’s launch of a driver recruitment campaign this summer to promote the sector as a place of employment for people. It is hoped that the expected increase in the number of drivers following this campaign, will impact the numbers available to work during the early hours of the morning, particularly at weekends.
My Department and the NTA are supporting, and will continue to support, the business costs of the SPSV sector, as needed.
26. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Transport when on-board catering services on Iarnród Éireann’s InterCity network will resume; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55895/22]
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 resumption of on-board catering services on Iarnród Éireann’s Intercity network 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.
