Written Answers Nos. 99-110
99. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Transport the number of each category of train tickets that were sold between Dublin Connolly and Longford in the years of 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [25897/24]
View answerAs 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 raised by the Deputy in relation to the number of train tickets sold by category from Dublin Connolly to Longford in 2023 and to date of 2024 is a matter for Irish Rail. Therefore, I have referred the Deputy's question to Irish Rail for direct response to the Deputy.
Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
100. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Transport if he will give consideration to initiating a national cross-referencing of registered vehicles versus taxed vehicles versus insured vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25908/24]
View answerMy Department holds the National Vehicle and Driver File (NVDF) Database containing details of all registered vehicle and driver details in Ireland. This database currently records the taxed/untaxed status of all vehicles. My Department has signed a data sharing agreement with the Motor Insurers' Bureau of Ireland (MIBI) who host the Irish Motor Insurance Database (IMID). IMID once fully populated will contain details of insurance policies for all vehicles in Ireland. At a later stage, when a technical solution has been put in place to receive the IMID data and link with NVDF data, my Department may consider cross-referencing of registered, taxed and insured vehicles.
101. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to concerns regarding the outbreak of a fire on the 4pm Dublin to Cork train on 3 June 2024; if he can confirm that there will be an investigation into the causes of the fire; how it was managed by Irish Rail; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25918/24]
View answerAs 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 railway sector in Ireland is subject to a considerable body of national and EU safety legislation. Primary responsibility for safe rail operations lies with the relevant rail operator, and is overseen by and subject to the regulatory framework of the Commission for Railway Regulation (CRR), which is the independent, statutory national railway safety regulatory authority for this country.
Therefore, I have referred the Deputy's question to CRR for direct response to the Deputy. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
102. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Transport if the NTA will confirm that talks or communications have taken place with Dublin Bus and the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to provide a solution to the problem of Dublin Bus servicing the Crooksling area (details supplied); what those solutions will be; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26006/24]
View answerAs 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 issue raised is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA), and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
103. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Transport if taxi drivers are required to accept electronic payments for fares, as distinct from seeking cash payment; and if so, if there is a legal basis for same. [26024/24]
View answerThe regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including arrangements for fares for SPSVs, is a matter for the independent transport regulator, the National Transport Authority (NTA), under the provisions of the Consolidated Taxi Regulation Acts 2013 and 2016. I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of the SPSV industry.
As the Deputy may be aware, in exercise of the powers conferred on it by section 20 and section 48 of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013, the NTA introduced the Small Public Service Vehicle (Cashless Payment Facility) Regulations 2022 making it compulsory for operators to provide a card payment option.
Since 1 September 2022, all taxi drivers in Ireland must be equipped with a physical device/terminal to accept cashless payments as well as cash. Cashless payments in other SPSVs (e.g. hackneys or limousines) are provided at the discretion of the vehicle's operator. The Regulations do not relate to invoiced accounts held with operators, or to payments within booking service apps subscribed to by passengers.
Cashless Payment includes any such method identified within Article 4 of Directive (EU) 2015/2366 - the revised Payment Services Directive (PSD2). A physical cashless payment device/terminal enables each driver to, in effect, provide their own in-person, in-taxi payment method for passengers to pay by card.
104. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Transport the amount paid by drivers who drove through tolls on the M50 in the years of 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [26087/24]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015, the operation and management of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
Therefore, matters relating to the day to day operations regarding national roads, including toll roads, are within the remit of TII. More specifically, the statutory power to levy tolls, to make toll bye-laws and to enter into agreements with private investors are vested in TII under Part V of the Roads Act 1993 (as amended).
Noting the above position, I have referred the question to TII for a direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
105. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Transport the number of permits issued by Dublin Airport Authority to commercial coach operators and public transport operators to allow them pick up and/or drop off passengers at Dublin Airport in the years of 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [26088/24]
View answerAs the deputy will be aware, DAA has the statutory responsibility for the management, development and operation of Dublin Airport including the responsibility for issuing permits to coach operators at the airport.
As this is an operational matter for DAA, I have forwarded your query to DAA for a direct reply. If you do not receive a response within 10 working days please contact my private office.
106. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider establishing a fund for communities to finance traffic calming measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26124/24]
View answer107. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Transport to outline the supports that are in place to assist local authorities with regards to traffic-calming measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26125/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 106 and 107 together.
As 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 operation and management 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 in respect of funding for traffic-calming measures on national roads.
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
The 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 a matter for the local authority.
My Department provides grant assistance to local authorities under the Regional and Local Road Grant Programme for a number of targeted programmes, including the Safety Improvement Programme. Applications are sought each year from local authorities under this programme for consideration for funding in the subsequent year. In this context funding can be sought for traffic calming measures. It is a matter for the relevant Local Authority to submit such an application for consideration of funding.
108. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Transport to provide a breakdown of the fines issued against his Department by the Court of Justice of the European Union for the period 2010 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26144/24]
View answerTo date, there have been no fines issued against the Department of Transport by the Court of Justice for the European Union.
109. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport if local authorities have been instructed to not proceed to tender on road projects, which have already been approved in the annual road grant notification, without prior approval of the TII; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26173/24]
View answerAs 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 operation and maintenance 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.
Under Section 17 of the Roads Act 1993, TII (the NRA at that time) was assigned overall responsibility for the planning and supervision of works for the construction or maintenance of national roads.
Approximately €411m in capital exchequer funding was allocated to local authorities through TII for the purposes of national roads in 2024. This includes funding for new roads projects, as well as for the protection and renewal of the existing network. The allocations announced by TII earlier this year are an indication of the progress that TII believes is possible on each national roads project during the year. However, if the progression of any national roads project, programme or operation is impeded or priorities change, the funding will be redistributed by TII, in accordance with its statutory remit, to other national roads or greenways projects, programmes, or operations. No funding has been withdrawn by my Department from TII this year.
110. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Transport the total cost of all financial arrangements which are being paid out from Transport Infrastructure Ireland public funds to property owners in relation to the development of Metrolink. [26238/24]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, MetroLink will be a fully segregated and mostly underground new railway line between Swords and Dublin City Centre, the first of its kind in Ireland. It is a key project under the National Development Plan 2021-30.
Further to the planning application for MetroLink, the Oral Hearing began on 19th February and ran until 28th March. This process allowed planning authorities, prescribed bodies, elected representatives and observers to share their views on the project.
Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) engaged constructively with all parties as part of the Oral Hearing. Where possible, following engagement, TII has provided An Bord Pleanála with conditions agreed by both parties aimed at addressing their specific concerns.
As 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, in conjunction with TII, MetroLink.
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.
