Written Answers Nos. 122-142
122. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update of the new windfall profit tax announced in November 2022 which is to be applied to the revenue of energy companies; the estimated amount he forecasts will be collected in 2023 from the measure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6834/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra123. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the introduction of the temporary solidarity contribution announced last year for 2022 and 2023 which will be levied on companies active in fossil fuel production or refining; the estimated amount of revenue he anticipates will be generated from the measure in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6835/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 122 and 123 together.
Council Regulation (EU) 2022/1854 on an emergency intervention to address high energy prices came into force in October 2022. This Council Regulation provides for a cap on market revenues of non-gas electricity generators and a temporary solidarity contribution on profits in the fossil fuel production and refining sectors.
On 22 November 2022, the Government decided to place a cap on all market revenues of non-gas electricity generators with a capacity of 1 MW or more. The applicable cap of €120 per MWh for wind and solar, at least €180 per MWh for oil-fired and coal-fired generation and €180 per MWh on other non-gas generation. This cap on market revenues will operate from December 2022 to June 2023 inclusive.
The Government also decided that the temporary solidarity contribution will apply for 2022 and 2023, taxable profits which are more than 20% above the baseline period from 2018 to 2021 will be subject to a rate of 75%, and losses from previous years will not be taken into account in the calculation of the taxable profits.
Legislation will be required to implement the the cap on market revenues and the temporary solidarity contribution. My Department is currently working on the development of this legislation.
The proceeds collected will be highly dependent on wholesale gas prices. The current estimated proceeds to be collected from the cap on market revenues and the temporary solidarity contribution is in the range from €280m to €600m. This is at the lower end of the range signalled in November 2022 due to the subsequent significant reduction in wholesale gas prices.
These proceeds are expected to be collected in the period 2023 to 2024. No decision has yet been made by Government in relation to how these proceeds will be allocated.
124. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if the network infrastructure map in relation to the published contract with broadband provider National Broadband Ireland (details supplied) is functioning in full; if it is currently accessible, as described, by service providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6914/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department advises that the network infrastructure map required to be provided by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) is functioning in full and is currently accessible, as described.
In addition, Service Providers have access to a fully interactive map, which contains all information required to enable them to prepare for and place orders for all products available from NBI.
125. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if current or proposed protections from disconnections to heating and lighting supplies are applied in relation to district heating system residents; if the CRU will have any regulatory control over district heating systems in the near future; the number of residents and homes presently covered and supplied by district heating systems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6994/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraDistrict heating schemes are large-scale systems that are supplied by one or several centralised or decentralised heat sources and serve multiple buildings and multiple customers. Group, or communal, heating schemes are smaller-scale systems that supply single buildings or complexes for an estimated 11,000 residential customers. End users in group or communal heating schemes are supplied with heat rather than fuel and the heat supplier in these schemes purchases the fuel at commercial rates, primarily natural gas. While I understand that these schemes have, historically, benefitted from lower prices, gas prices are affected by international developments, and recent events have resulted in significant increases to gas prices.
Protection from disconnections would not be extended to third party energy service providers, who are the customers in relation to gas purchases for group heating schemes. However, there are Government supports and protections targeted at the end user customers. Throughout 2022, the Government introduced a €2.4 billion package of supports to support households and businesses, and as part of Budget 2023, introduced a package of measures worth €2.5 billion. This included the €1.211 billion Electricity Cost Emergency Benefit Scheme, through which €600 (inclusive of VAT) is being credited to each domestic electricity account in three payments. The third €200 electricity credit is due to be applied in March/April. This was applied through the electricity system to ensure maximum reach to customers.
Furthermore, any individual that is in need of additional support to facilitate their continued energy supply, should apply for an Additional Needs Payment provided by the Department of Social Protection. I'm assured that every effort is being made to ensure that any individual that qualifies, receives an Additional Needs Payment on the same day or as soon as possible where it relates to electricity and heating expenses.
On 13 December, Government approved a new Energy Poverty Action Plan, which provides for the establishment of a €10 million fund to further support people in, or at risk of, energy poverty this winter and into 2023. The fund will ensure that people in most need can access financial supports quickly and directly provide a further safeguard in addition to the supports from supplier hardship funds and the Additional Needs Payment operated by the Department of Social Protection. The Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) is also available to provide budgeting advice and advocacy support.
My Department is working to develop an appropriate regulatory framework in order to ensure a sound basis for the expansion of district heating, to include smaller scale group and communal heating schemes. In that light, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU) has been appointed as Regulator for district heating networks and will be responsible for regulation of the sector going forward. The regulatory needs of the sector, to include group and communal heating schemes, require further, detailed examination and this is being undertaken by the CRU as a matter of priority.
126. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will consider a compensation package for the next of kin of draft fishing licenceholders if the licenceholder has passed away since the last time draft fishing was permitted; if not, if he will consider allowing next of kin to inherit the draft fishing licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7021/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra131. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if a compensation scheme will be offered to draft net fishing licenceholders based on region in circumstances where he does not foresee that region allowing draft net fishing within the next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7026/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 126 and 131 together.
Commercial salmon fishing licences are public licences which must be taken out annually under the provisions of the Fisheries Acts. Such licences are entirely permissive in nature, confer no rights on the licensee, are not the property of the holder nor can they be held on a permanent basis.
In that context the issue of compensation does not arise. In addition, given the nature of the public licences they are not inheritable or capable of transfer or sale.
In 2007, the Government established a €25m hardship scheme open to all holders of a commercial salmon licence. The majority of active fishers availed of payment under the measure and the scheme closed in 2008 with all funds expended.
There are no plans to introduce a similar scheme.
127. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if there are details or a survey regarding the placement of the River Boyne fish counter; and if a better location in a narrower part of the river could have been selected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7022/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra130. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he believes the Boyne fish counters at Blackcastle, Navan, County Meath gives an accurate count of fish (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7025/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 127 and 130 together.
The placement, operation and utilisation of fish counters as one of a number of indices used by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) in its annual assessment of salmon returns is a technical and operational matter for IFI in which neither I nor my Department have any function.
Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) has established a specific email address for queries from Oireachtas members so that queries can be addressed promptly, in line with IFI’s objective to deliver services to the highest standards. The email address is oireachtas@fisheriesireland.ie.
128. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications when his Department will contact draft net fishing licenceholders to allow draft net fishing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7023/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra129. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will consider allowing a shorter draft net fishing season if fish stocks are lower than quotas allow for the regular draft net fishing season; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7024/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 128 and 129 together.
I recently enacted the Wild Salmon and Sea Trout Tagging Regulations for 2023 which came into operation on 1 January last and set out, inter alia, the status of each of Ireland‘s more than 140 salmon rivers as open, open to catch and release or closed to harvest. These regulations are based on the annual management advice of Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) supported by independent annual scientific assessments by the Technical Expert Group on Salmon (TEGOS) on the basis that each river has a genetically unique stock.
The draft regulations are advertised nationally and subject to a 30 day public consultation in November each year and any person with an interest in the fishing industry is aware of this.
In respect of rivers open to harvest and on which a commercial fishery exists, the annual Control of Fishing for Salmon Order for 2023, to regulate commercial fishing, is currently being drafted in my Department, in advance of the commercial fishing season, in May. Opening and closing dates for individual fisheries are varied in the context of the surplus available.
In setting out the annual fisheries legislation, successive Minsters since 2006 have acted in line with the Government decision of that year that salmon management is to be aligned with scientific advice. In that regard, the primary determinant of facilitating fishing is the availability of a harvestable surplus above the individual rivers conservation limit which is the number of adult spawning fish required to maintain a viable population as scientifically established.
Allowing harvest of rivers below their conservation limit is not permitted as this would increase pressures on already vulnerable stocks and potentially severely damage their longer term viability and the biodiversity in their aquatic habitat. In that context such a decision to facilitate harvest in these circumstances would be irresponsible and run counter to the conservation imperative and the EU Habitats Directive. As already state scientific assessments are carried out annually when the status of each stock is reviewed.
132. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason he is giving preference to the lower standard of UNEP meta study rather than a more robust life cycle analysis in accordance with EU Waste Directive 2008/98 and International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) 14040 and 14044 standards in relation to the circular economy Act; if he will commit to using a life cycle analysis study to determine whether reusables have a greater environmental impact than single-use paper-based packaging; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7151/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI take it that the question refers to the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) 2021 study entitled, Single-use beverage cups and their alternatives - Recommendations from Life Cycle Assessments, which has previously been cited by my Department in relation to the enactment of the Circular Economy Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022 (‘the Act’).
This UNEP study is a meta-analysis of ten life cycle assessments (LCA’s) of the comparative environmental impacts of single-use beverage cups and their reusable alternatives. The various LCA’s included in the meta-analysis consider the impacts of single-use cups made from a variety of materials (including paper-based materials) and reusable alternatives composed of plastic, ceramic, glass, bamboo and stainless steel. In doing so, a range of assumptions regarding end-of-life disposal of single-use cups (e.g. recycling vs landfilling) are also included, as are considerations of various methods of washing reusable cups (e.g. dishwashing vs hand-washing in hot or cold water). The UNEP study therefore represents a comprehensive analysis of the range of factors determining the environmental impacts of different cup types.
The broad conclusions of the UNEP study can be summarised as being that reusable cups have a lower overall environmental impact than single-use cups, provided the reusable cup is used enough times and washed efficiently. The ‘breakeven’ number of uses required will vary depending on the material a reusable cup is made from, and the type of single-use cup it is compared to, but can be as low as between 10 to 25 uses.
All relevant data is considered when introducing environmental reforms; and this includes the levy on disposable cups for hot drinks. Last year following the signing of the Circular Economy Act, I published the draft regulations, together with a comprehensive Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) for public consultation.
The RIA includes a lifecycle assessment of cups which considers the methodologies and results from a number of LCA studies in determining the break-even point. The RIA suggests a breakeven point of 10 to 20 uses which aligns with the broad conclusions of the UNEP study.
133. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications in relation to the circular economy Act the reason, in considering levies, his Department only cites Irish business against litter information collected by volunteers instead of the more robust and scientifically conducted national litter pollution monitoring system data which was commissioned by his Department; if the contrasting results of the NLPMS data have ever been taken into consideration; if he will commit to taking this more robust data into account when making future decisions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7152/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAll relevant data is considered when introducing environmental reforms; and this includes the levy on disposable cups for hot drinks. Last year following the signing of the Circular Economy Act, I published the draft regulations, together with a comprehensive Regulatory Impact Assessment for public consultation.
In 1999, my Department established the National Litter Pollution Monitoring System (NLPMS) to provide a continuous and objective assessment of Ireland’s litter problems and enable local authorities manage litter pollution in a systematic, structured manner. The NLPMS publishes the results of its surveys online at www.litter.ie/.
Since 2002, an Taisce has been carrying out litter surveys of our main towns and cities on behalf of Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) and this programme has been hugely successful in transforming the cleanliness of those cities and towns. IBAL also publishes its results online at ibal.ie/anti-litter-league/.
In June 2022, IBAL reported that while there had been a sharp fall in the number of litter blackspots across the country, the prevalence of coffee cup litter remained high. NLPMS results, published in September 2022, show that cups accounted for 1.7% of total litter pollution in 2021, with lids accounting for a further 1.5%.
While the levy is very likely to reduce litter pollution, the more pressing objective is to reduce the waste caused by single-use cups. The EPA’s 2018 Waste Characterisation Survey indicates that coffee cups account for approximately 2% (14,000 tonnes) of non-household waste per year. This equates to around 730 million cups per year. This is an entirely avoidable waste and I want to encourage people to prevent it occurring by incentivising people to use reusable cups.
134. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will provide an update on the roll-out of fibre broadband to a business (details supplied). [7232/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Question refers to a premises located in the AMBER area on the National Broadband Plan (NBP) High Speed Broadband Map which is available on my Department's website www.broadband.gov.ie The AMBER area represents the area to be served by the network to be deployed under the NBP State led intervention.
I am advised by National Broadband Ireland (NBI) that, as of 27th January 2023, over 120,000 premises can order or pre-order a high-speed broadband connection across 26 counties, with over 109,500 premises passed across 26 counties and available for immediate connection. NBI has advised that 3,493 premises in County Westmeath are passed with a high-speed fibre broadband network and available for immediate connection.
The network rollout for the NBP is divided into 227 Deployment Areas (DAs) across the country. These are typically an area of approximately 25km in radius and in total they cover 96% of Ireland’s landmass. The architecture of the network design is specifically based on the design of the NBI network coming from the eir exchanges or the metropolitan area networks (MANs). It is based on an engineering design that allows NBI to reach every premises as quickly as possible working within the confines of how fibre networks are built. Villages, townlands and counties may be covered by a number of DAs which means there are differing timescales for the rollout across county areas.
NBI advise that this premises will become able to order on the NBI ordering system between now and end of June 2023.
Further details are available on specific areas within County Westmeath through the NBI website which provides a facility for any premises within the intervention area to register their interest in being provided with deployment updates through its website www.nbi.ie. Individuals who register with this facility will receive regular updates on progress by NBI on delivering the network and specific updates related to their own premises as works commence. NBI has a dedicated email address, reps@nbi.ie, which can be used by Oireachtas members for specific queries.
NBI have created a portal that will serve as a means for Oireachtas members to proactively search for information relevant to their county/local area. The portal provides an up-to-date picture of NBI’s deployment schedule across the 227 Deployment Areas (DAs) in all 26 counties. A particular county can be selected to view an update of the overall number of premises in the Intervention Area, the overall NBP investment in the county, the number of premises passed and connected to date and the status of each of the Deployment Areas with the anticipated date for connection over the lifetime of the project. The dedicated webpage can be accessed here: nbi.ie/reps.
Strategic Connection Points (SCPs) are a key element of the NBP providing high-speed broadband in every county in advance of the roll out of the fibre to the home network. As of 3 February 2023, 863 SCP sites (281 Broadband Connection Points, which are publicly accessible sites, and 582 schools) have been installed and the high-speed broadband service will be switched on in these locations through service provider contracts managed by the Department of Rural and Community Development for publicly accessible sites and the Department of Education for school BCPs. In County Westmeath all 7 BCP’s have been installed. Further details can be found at nbi.ie/bcp-map/
In County Westmeath 13 schools have been installed to date for educational access. My Department continues to work with the Department of Education to prioritise schools with no high-speed broadband, within the Intervention Area. Further details of schools in scope are available on the NBI website at nbi.ie/primary-schools-list/
135. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will outline available funding for retail food businesses to install energy saving measures and energy saving equipment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7327/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra136. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will outline available funding for businesses carrying out the installation of energy saving measures and energy saving equipment in retail food businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7328/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 135 and 136 together.
There are a wide range of supports funded by my Department and administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) that support businesses (not specific to any particular sector) to improve their energy efficiency and reduce their carbon emissions:
- The Support Scheme for Renewable Heat (SSRH) provides financial support in the adoption of renewable heating systems by commercial, industrial, agricultural, district heating and other non-domestic heat users.
- The EXEED Certified grant scheme supports organisations with the costs of embedding energy efficient design in their assets, to reduce lifecycle impact with lower energy use and carbon emissions.
- The Support Scheme for Energy Audits supports SMEs with a €2,000 voucher towards the costs of a professional energy audit.
- Energy Academy is an online learning platform for business to help them reduce their energy costs
- Accelerated Capital Allowance is a tax incentive encouraging investment in energy saving products.
For full details on these, and other supports available, please see www.seai.ie/business-and-public-sector/.
Further supports for business are available through the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
137. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications further to Parliamentary Question No. 98 of 8 September 2022, if he will provide an update on the enactment process in relation to the Circular Economy and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022 regarding the use of CCTV by local authorities; when he expects this process to be concluded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7378/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraSections 22 & 33 of the Circular Economy and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2022 require that the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA) prepare and submit to me in my role as Minister for approval, draft codes of practice for the purpose of setting standards for the operation of CCTV and other mobile recording devices in order to deter environmental pollution and to facilitate the prevention, detection, and prosecution of littering (Section 33) and illegal dumping (Section 22) offences.
In preparing these draft codes of practice the LGMA are first required to carry out Data Protection Impact Assessments (DPIAs) on potential data subjects prior to consulting with myself, in my role as Minister, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the Minister for Justice, the Data Protection Commission and any other person or body with an interest in the operation of CCTV and/or other mobile recording devices for enforcement purposes.
The LGMA are currently working through this process, DPIAs have been prepared, the necessary consultation efforts have been initiated and Codes of Practice are being drafted. There is no set time frame for the completion of this work, but the Codes of Practice will be submitted for approval as soon as practicable. Once approved, it will enable local authorities to put in place both litter and waste enforcement measures involving the GDPR-compliant use of technologies such as CCTV.
138. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the steps he is taking to address litter and illegal dumping. [7429/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile the primary responsibility for management and enforcement responses to litter pollution lies with local authorities my Department provide extensive policy, financial and legislative support.
For example, my Department provided €750,000under the Anti-Litter & Anti-Graffiti Awareness Grant Scheme for 2022, with a similar amount expected to be made available in 2023. Under this scheme local authorities are responsible for selecting suitable projects and locations for funding and grant allocations.
Funding is also provided annually in support of a number of important anti-litter initiatives such as the National Spring Clean, Picker Pals, the PURE Project and Irish Business against Litter.
The recently enacted Circular Economy and Miscellaneous Provisions Act also advances several legislative provisions which will further enhance efforts in this area, including providing for the GDPR-compliant use of a range of technologies, such as CCTV for litter enforcement purposes and an increase in the level of the on-the-spot fine for littering.
In addition, my Department provides significant support to the local authority sector in their efforts to tackle illegal dumping. Almost €15m, including €2.8m in 2022, has been provided to the sector under the Anti-Dumping Initiative (ADI) since it was first introduced in 2017 to encourage a collaborative approach between local authorities, community groups and other State Agencies to tackling the problem.
My Department also continues to invest heavily in the local authority waste enforcement network through the Local Authority Waste Enforcement Measures Grant Scheme, with the intention of maintaining a visible presence of waste enforcement personnel on the ground across the State. €7.7m was provided to local authorities under the scheme in 2022, while a further €1mn was provided to support the ongoing enhancement of the three Waste Enforcement Regional Lead Authorities (WERLAs).
139. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the programme for Government commitment to enhance suburban and commuter rail networks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6431/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government – Our Shared Future includes a priority to deliver the DART+ programme. The DART+ programme comprises of five projects for the development of rail in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), with DART+ Fleet and DART+ West being the most advanced. The Programme also includes DART+ South West, DART+ Coastal South and DART+ Coastal North projects. Collectively these projects will extend and enhance the current DART system and services west to Maynooth and Celbridge/Hazelhatch, south to Greystones and north to Drogheda.
In December 2021 the Government gave Decision Gate 1 approval under the Public Spending Code for the DART+ Programme and a fleet framework agreement. This decision also granted Decision Gate 1 approval under the Code to DART+ West which allowed the project to enter the statutory planning process. The Railway Order for DART+ West was submitted to An Bord Pleanála in July 2022.
As well as the expansion of fleet under the DART+ Programme, which will effectively double capacity on the rail network serving the GDA, 41 new intercity railcars will enter service in 2023. Delivery of these carriages commenced in September 2022 and all units will have arrived by the end of Q1 2023.
Another significant area of investment is the Cork Area Commuter Rail Programme, which represents the largest investment in the rail network in Cork undertaken by the State. The programme comprises a number of separate but interrelated projects. The frequency of a number of rail services in the Cork Metropolitan Area were doubled in July 2022 with a frequency of every 30 minutes to/from Cork-Cobh and Cork-Midleton and a frequency of every 15 minutes to/from Cork and Glounthaune.
Phase 1 of the Cork Area Commuter Rail Programme was included in Ireland’s National Recovery & Resilience Plan, as submitted to the European Commission in 2021. Works associated with Phase 1 are to be completed by end-2026 as required by the European Commission. This will see a €185 million investment (€164m of EU funds) in Cork’s rail infrastructure, which will facilitate the longer-term electrification of the network through construction of a new ‘through’ platform at Kent Station to create an integrated suburban network, re-signalling of the network, and double-tracking from Glounthaune to Midleton.
Funding has been announced for redevelopment of Ceannt Station and track and station improvements at Oranmore in Galway and both projects are scheduled to be completed by 2025. A feasibility study on the Athenry to Galway Corridor to consider the feasibility of incremental improvements in train capacity between Galway and Athenry is now complete. The study considers the nature of infrastructure interventions required to deliver increased increased service frequency on the line.
The NTA published the Limerick Shannon Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy (LSMATS) in December 2022. The strategy was prepared by the NTA in collaboration with Limerick City and County Council, Clare County Council, and Transport Infrastructure Ireland, with the cooperation of Iarnród Éireann, and provides a roadmap for sustainable transport in the region over the next 20 years.
Proposals for investment in rail under LSMATS include:
- Additional stations at Moyross and Ballysimon (including Park and Ride)
- More frequent train services on the Ennis line and on the Ballybrophy lline
- Dual tracking on the line from Limerick Junction to Colbert
- Upgrading of Colbert Station
LSMATS also proposes a detailed feasibility study to determine future investment in rail infrastructure and commuter services in the Limerick area. The proposed study will assess future development in the region, evaluate future demand based on projected increases in population and economic activity and outline medium to long term investment in rail. Options around investment in improving existing infrastructure and investment in new infrastructure will be examined in detail.
In November 2022, the Government approved the final business case for the Waterford North Quays project under Decision Gate 3 of the Public Spending Code. The Government also approved €170.6m funding for the project. This investment includes funding to relocate Plunkett Station to a new location on the North Quays, a move which is supported in the Waterford Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy published by the NTA in December 2022.
140. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Transport the number and details of compensation or redress schemes put in place by his Department since 1998, in tabular form; the number of claims made; the total cost of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6472/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraDeputy, regarding the request for the number and details of compensation or redress schemes put in place by this Department since 1998, the Department is in the process of requesting material which is potentially relevant from its stored archives. The Department will revert with a final response as quickly as possible when this material has been received and evaluated.
141. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Transport the average wait times for an NCT in each centre in County Mayo, in tabular form; the average across the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6486/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe operation of the National Car Testing Service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority. I have therefore referred the Deputy's query 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.
142. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport the number of learner drivers per year in each of the years 2019 to 2022 that failed to turn up for their scheduled driving test appointment; the number of driving tests lost per year through no-shows; his plans to introduce measures to ensure that learner permit holders sit a driving test before they can obtain a subsequent learner permit from the RSA; the number of learner permits renewed by the RSA each year to drivers who did not show up for their scheduled driving test appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6622/23]
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 questions 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.
