Written Answers Nos. 132-151
132. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Transport the reason the Road Safety Authority operates a queue to access the online booking system for driving tests; the numbers accessing the booking system necessitating such a queue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36242/24]
View answer133. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Transport the average waiting time for a driving test; the average waiting time in County Monaghan; if a person is required to wait a period prior to re-testing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36243/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 132 and 133 together.
Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the operation of the National Driver Testing Service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and the information requested is held by that organisation. I have therefore referred those specific questions to the RSA for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.
134. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Transport the status of a tender for the Clones east pavement scheme; the timeframe in which it is intended to issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36244/24]
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 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 Infrastructure Guidelines and the necessary statutory approvals. In this context, TII is best placed to advise you on the status of this project.
I can confirm that €1,000,000 has been allocated for the N54 Clones East Pavement Scheme. The delivery programme for this project will be kept under review for 2024 and considered in terms of the overall funding envelope available to TII.
Noting the above position, I have referred your question to TII for a direct reply. Please advise my private office if a reply is not received within 10 working days.
135. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Transport the reason that Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) has reportedly advised local authorities to withhold planned road improvement tenders unless approval is received from TII; if this decision was the result of, or in line with, Government policy; the timeframe in which pavement improvement works announced in February will be tendered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36245/24]
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 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 Infrastructure Guidelines and the necessary statutory approvals. In this context, TII is best placed to advise you regarding planned road improvement tenders.
There has been no reduction to the overall capital funding available for national roads in 2024, which was announced at the start of the year. A number of new road projects are facing funding pressures in 2024 due to reasons including an increased pace of delivery and land acquisition costs, as well as inflation and increased cost of materials which are higher than when the original estimates were calculated. This means the allocation will be spread on fewer projects than originally anticipated. This has resulted in the need to postpone some asset renewal works to ensure that the delivery of major new roads projects can continue. This is particularly the case where existing contracts are in place. It is important to note that any postponement is temporary in nature.
In order to ensure the continued delivery of these important projects, earlier this year TII proposed to postpone some asset renewal works on the existing network, including work to renew pavement, until 2025 or as soon as possible thereafter. In addition, some Greenways funding will be used to advance active travel infrastructure on the national road network, which would otherwise be funded from the roads budget. This will allow funding to be directed to new roads projects. It is important to point out that Safety Improvement Schemes will not be effected by these measures.
Noting the above position, I have referred your question to TII for a direct reply. Please advise my private office if a reply is not received within 10 working days.
136. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Transport is his Department is aware of the advertising of possible fast-track Irish licence applications (details supplied); if his Department is aware of the website and any of the claims that it makes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36297/24]
View answerFraudulent obtaining of a driving licence is a serious offence. As the Road Safety Authority has responsibility for operation of the driver licensing system, I have referred this matter to the authority.
137. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Transport the number of driver testers employed in each of the testing categories across the National Driver Licence Service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36305/24]
View answer138. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Transport the current average waiting times for driving test appointments in each of the licence categories; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36306/24]
View answer139. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Transport the current longest waiting times for driving test appointments in each of the licence categories; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36307/24]
View answer140. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Transport the number of driver testers' contracts due to expire at the end of 2024 and in January 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36308/24]
View answer141. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Transport the number of driver testers the National Driver Licence Service plans to recruit by the end of 2025 in each of the licence categories; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36309/24]
View answer142. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if driver testers whose contracts are due to expire at the end of 2024 or at the beginning of 2025 will be offered new contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36310/24]
View answer143. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Transport the criteria used to decide whether to renew a driver tester's contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36311/24]
View answer144. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Transport the estimated cost of recruiting and training a newly recruited driving tester; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36312/24]
View answer145. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Transport the length of time the recruitment process takes for driver testers in the National Driver Licence Service; the length of time the training process takes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36313/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 137 to 145, inclusive, together.
Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the operation of the National Driver Testing Service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and the information requested is held by that organisation. I have therefore referred the specific questions to the RSA for direct, detailed reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.
To address issues of rising demand and wait times for a driving test, in March 2023 the Department of Transport conveyed sanction for the RSA to recruit up to an additional 75 driver testers on a temporary basis.
More recently, in line with the conditions set out in the 2023 sanction, the RSA submitted a business case to the Department in June 2024 regarding long-term, permanent staffing needs for the service to cater to current and future demand. The Department conveyed sanction the beginning of September for 70 additional driver testing posts on a permanent basis, bringing the permanent sanction to 200. This is more than double the sanctioned headcount in June 2022, which was 100 testers. As a condition of sanction for these additional resources, my officials have requested that a plan is put in place to restore waiting times to the service level agreement of 10 weeks as soon as possible.The Deputy may wish to note that the RSA has started to publish detailed monthly information on the driver testing service on the CSO website, including the breakdown of waiting times and distribution of testing capacity by test centre as well as details on the number of testers. This information is available at the following link: data.cso.ie/product/RSADTS.
146. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Transport the amount spent by Bus Éireann on private coach direct award contractors to deliver urban services in Cork city since 1 March 2024, by week, in tabular form. [36348/24]
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 query raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for Bus Éireann in conjunction with the National Transport Authority. I have, therefore, referred the Deputy's question to Bus Éireann for direct reply. Please advise my private office if a reply is not received within ten working days.
147. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Transport his views on increasing the regulation of the sale of Irish vehicle number plates in order that the purchaser must present evidence of their vehicle registration certificate or vehicle licensing certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36366/24]
View answerIt is a requirement under the Finance Acts that mechanically propelled vehicles (MPVs) should be registered and that vehicle registration tax should be paid. A registration number is issued by the Revenue Commissioners at that time. The registration number is then displayed on a registration plate.
The Finance Act 1992 specifies offences in relation to registration plates. It is an offence to display a false plate, to display a plate issued to another vehicle, or to display a plate which does not correspond to the standard format for registration plates as set out in regulations made by the Minister for Finance.
Clearly we do not want situations where people do any of these things. However it is not within the remit of my Department to make regulations regarding the sale of registration plates. I would note that such regulations would be unlikely to eliminate the making and use of forged plates. We also have to bear in mind that in some cases items which look like registration plates are sold for souvenir or decorative purposes. It is only when they affixed to MPVs used in public places that an offence is involved.
148. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the amount collected in parking charges at each carpark at Irish Rail stations, to date in 2024. [36495/24]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy, overall funding in relation to public transport, and corporate governance of transport operators including Irish Rail.
The issue raised by the Deputy in relation to parking charges is an operational 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 a reply is not received within ten working days.
149. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Transport if he will extend the time to renew a taxi licence beyond the current 24 months, in cases in which the licenceholder has been through a long period of serious illness within the specified 24 months. [36533/24]
View answer165. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Transport if he will review the current renewal timeframe of 24 months where a taxi licence has lapsed, in cases where the licenceholder may have been hospitalised due to Covid, and incapacitated due to other serious illnesses during the two-year renewal period, and has since been endeavouring to renew the licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37022/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 149 and 165 together.
The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including SPSV licensing, is a matter for the independent transport regulator, the National Transport Authority (NTA), under the provisions of the Consolidated Taxi Regulation Act 2013 and 2016. I have no role in the day-to-day operations of the SPSV industry.
In July 2021, under The Small Public Service Vehicle (Emergency Measure COVID-19) (Expired Licence) Regulations 2021, the NTA increased the 12-month period that a taxi, hackney or limousine licence may remain in inactive status after its expiry, to 24 months. This was a permanent amendment to the Regulations.
I have referred your question to the NTA for attention and direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if a response is not received within 10 working days.
150. Deputy Seán Haughey asked the Minister for Transport if Irish Rail’s DART+ Coastal North Project will be revised, given that Clongriffin DART station could be utilised instead to provide for additional trains going north, on the grounds that it has three lines of tracks available and is a smaller and more secure station for changeovers than the station at Howth Junction; if research has been carried out in respect of this option; if using a smaller station would reduce costs for this project while allowing for the continuation of a direct service from the city centre to Howth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36534/24]
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 the planning and development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area, including the DART+ Programme and its constituent projects, which includes DART+ Coastal North.
This project aims to extend the overhead electric wires on the DART system by circa 37km, from Malahide to Drogheda. It will allow for high-frequency and fully electrified DART trains to operate between Dublin city and Drogheda, upgrading the rail service to growing communities along the route.
The DART+ Coastal North was submitted to Government in May 2024 and received consent for approval under Approval Gate 1 of the Infrastructure Guidelines. A Railway Order for DART+ Coastal North was lodged in July 2024. The public have been invited to make submissions as part of the Railway Order consultation which is currently open until October 23rd 2024, which will be duly considered by An Bord Pleanála as part of the board’s decision-making process.
The infrastructural changes proposed by DART+ Coastal North will permit both direct and shuttle services to operate from Howth. To achieve maximum operational capacity, for every service that is operated direct to Howth, there would be one less service operating north of Howth Junction. This would result in a doubling of frequencies on the Howth branch compared to existing service levels which is typically three trains per hour per direction.
The implementation of a shuttle service is an operational matter, which will have to be decided on in the future following the delivery of the infrastructure. A separate consultation process would have to be conducted prior to the introduction of a shuttle service, as part of the regular timetable review.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a more detailed reply on the specific issue raised. Please contact my private office if a reply is not received within 10 days.
151. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Transport , further to Parliamentary Question No. 294 of 9 September 2024, if he will specifically address the possibility of providing multi-annual funding to Transport Infrastructure Ireland for the development of national projects, such as the N72 Mallow relief road, which is of particular relevance given that the project was not granted enough funding at the beginning of 2024, therefore recently requiring the provision of a supplementary allocation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36535/24]
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 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 Infrastructure Guidelines and the necessary statutory approvals. In this context, TII is best placed to advise you on the status of the N72 Mallow Relief Road.
As stated in response to Parliamentary Question No. 294 of 9 September 2024, funding is put in place as part of the annual budget process, Exchequer funding is drawn down by TII through the submission of invoices to the Department of Transport on a regular basis. Robust procedures are in place to ensure that expenditure can be attributed to individual projects and there are regular meetings between the Department and TII in relation to the roads programme throughout the year.
There are currently no plans to provide multi-annual funding to Transport Infrastructure Ireland for the development of national road projects.
Noting the above position, I have referred your question to TII for a direct reply. Please advise my private office if a reply is not received within 10 working days.
