Written Answers Nos. 282-301
282. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Transport the number of flights diverted to Shannon Airport for medical reasons, each year from 2020 and 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15172/25]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Shannon Airport Group has statutory responsibility to operate and manage Shannon Airport.
As the issue raised is an operational matter , I have forwarded your question to the Shannon Airport Group for direct reply. If the Deputy does not receive a reply within ten working days, please advise my Private Office.
283. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport if his Department is liaising with insurance industry representatives to ensure the timely commencement of insurance related provisions of the Road Traffic And Roads Act 2023 that will give insurers access to real time data on driver disqualifications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15175/25]
View answer284. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport if his Department is liaising with Gardaí to ensure the timely commencement of insurance-related provisions of the Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15176/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 283 and 284 together.
The Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023 was signed into law by the President on 23 June 2023. It is a wide-ranging Act and is being commenced in stages. The Act included several important insurance related provisions, including provisions relating to the Irish Motor Insurance Database which is operated by the Motor Insurers' Bureau of Ireland (MIBI).
My Department has liaised extensively with An Garda Síochána, insurance industry representatives and other relevant stakeholders to ensure the timely commencement of provisions relating to insurance. The provisions have been commenced in a number of tranches as it is necessary in the case of certain elements of the Act, for preparatory work to be done by the Department, various agencies or the insurance industry before the legislation can be implemented.
A commencement order for section 14(c) of the 2023 Act came into effect on 1 October 2024 under S.I. 497/2024 and amends section 5(1) of the Road Traffic Act 2014. Section 5 of the 2014 Act provides for vehicle insurers to be able to view endorsements (penalty points) on a person’s driving licence record when issuing or renewing policies, this includes driving disqualifications.
Additionally, members of An Garda Síochána have access to the MIBI app, which provides a vehicle's or driver's insurance information. This was introduced under section 5(o) of the 2023 Act which inserted a new section 78A into the Road Traffic Act 1961. This allows Gardaí to identify uninsured drivers and increases road safety for all road users.
My Department will continue to liaise with An Garda Síochána and representatives from the insurance industry on relevant legislative matters. A coordinated approach is necessary to ensure the timely and effective implementation of provisions.
285. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport the timeframe for the driver file record database to hold all the necessary details, including the unique driver number of all drivers disqualified, for Gardaí and motor insurers to access that data in real time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15177/25]
View answer289. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 285 of 19 March 2025, if the updated information that An Garda Siochana receive on a daily basis on named drivers includes the unique driver number of each driver named on a policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15202/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 285 and 289 together.
My Department holds the National Vehicle and Driver File (NVDF) which records driver licence data for all drivers in the state, including driver number and disqualification status.
An Garda Síochána receive a nightly file from my Department which, from March 2025, will include the disqualification status of every driving licence. These data are used by frontline Gardaí on mobility devices at the roadside.
The Motor Insurers’ Bureau of Ireland (MIBI) is responsible for the Irish Motor Insurance Database (IMID) which contains details of all vehicles and drivers who hold policies of motor insurance. From 31 March 2025 IMID will include driver numbers collected by those issuing motor insurance policies and verified against my Department’s NVDF database. The data (which include driver number) from IMID is transferred nightly to An Garda Síochána for their use on mobility devices.
Motor insurers will not have access to real-time data on driver disqualifications from the NVDF 31 March 2025 as this will require IT changes both in my Department and in the many insurer and broker IT platforms. This also means that the nightly data feed from IMID to An Garda Síochána will not contain disqualification information. However, as stated above An Garda Síochána have access to this information directly from my Department.
286. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport the number of court disqualifications each year from 2020 to 2024; the number of disqualifications that could not be matched to the appropriate record; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15178/25]
View answerDriving disqualification court order information is sent electronically from the Courts Service to my Department. This information is then endorsed on driver records on the Department's National Vehicle and Driver File (NVDF).
If a court order cannot be matched automatically against an Irish driver record, the National Driving Licence Service (NDLS), operated by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) undertake a manual search to attempt to match the record. In the event that a match cannot be found, a ‘shell’ record is created on the NVDF to track the court order.
It is important to note that some disqualifications are imposed on drivers who do not hold (or may never have held) an Irish licence or drivers who hold foreign licences. Therefore, due to cases like these, it will never be the case that all disqualifications orders will have an NVDF record to be matched to.
It is also the case that some disqualifications are imposed on Irish licence holders, but it is not possible to match these to the appropriate driver record. As the Garda Inspectorate Report explains, the primary cause for this is the failure of the individual to produce their driving licence in court. This matter is the responsibility of An Garda Siochana, the Department of Justice and the Courts Service, but my Department will be supportive of any measures address the issue as it will improve our subsequent ability to match court orders to driver records.
The number of distinct driver records, including shell records, that had driving disqualifications imposed based on court orders received from the Courts Service every year from 2020 to 2024 is as follows. As noted above, the shell records include foreign licenced drivers, unlicenced drivers and Irish-licenced drivers where a match has not been made. Please note that some driver records, including shell records, have had multiple disqualifications; the figures represent the number of drivers disqualified.
|
|
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
Irish |
5,421 |
6,373 |
5,972 |
6,873 |
5,908 |
|
"Shell" record |
1,712 |
2,130 |
1,862 |
2,121 |
1,907 |
|
Total |
7,133 |
8,503 |
7,834 |
8,994 |
7,815 |
287. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport the proposed timeframe for the National Vehicle and Driver File Bill 2024 to be passed into law; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15180/25]
View answerThe General Schemes of the National Vehicle and Driver File Bill 2024 and the Roads Bill 2024 were both approved by Government in July 2024. However, they did not progress during the autumn 2024 legislative term in advance of the General Election.
In line with the Programme for Government, the provisions of the two Bills have now been amalgamated into a revised National Vehicle and Driver File Bill 2025. A revised General Scheme will be presented to Government for approval to draft in the coming weeks. If approved by Government, the Bill will then be sent to the Office of Parliamentary Counsel for drafting.
Timelines thereafter will be subject to Oireachtas scheduling, but the Government has made clear its commitment to enact the Bill and progress the provisions therein as a priority.
288. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 284 of 19 March 2025, the number of motor insurers and brokers registered with the Central Bank of Ireland and an organisation (details supplied); the number that have successfully applied and signed the data sharing agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15201/25]
View answerTwenty six (26) motor insurers or intermediaries with sanction from motor insurers registered with the Central Bank of Ireland and/or the Motor Insurers' Bureau of Ireland have successfully applied for access to my Department's National Vehicle and Driver file for driver number verification and have signed the data sharing agreement. There are no motor insurers or intermediaries who have not signed that my Department is aware of.
290. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport if all necessary data-sharing agreements and the relevant contracts have been agreed and signed, to provide the motor insurance industry and Gardaí with real time data on driver disqualifications, under the Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15203/25]
View answerAll relevant data sharing agreements and contracts are in place with motor insurers, and intermediaries acting on their behalf for driver number verification and the sharing of endorsement and disqualification data between these insurance industry partners and my Department's National Vehicle and Driver File. Motor insurers will not have access to real-time data on driver disqualifications from 31 March 2025 as this will require IT changes both in my Department and in the many insurer and broker IT platforms.
However, the Courts Service informs my Department of disqualifications to be endorsed on driving licences via a weekly file. An Garda Síochána receive a nightly file from my Department which, from March 2025, will include the disqualification status of every driving licence. This can be used by frontline Gardaí on mobility devices at the roadside.
291. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport the timeframe for his Department to make the necessary changes to its ICT system to allow motor insurers access real time driver disqualification data, under the Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023; the reason for the delays to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15204/25]
View answerA timeline for these projects will have to be jointly agreed between my Department and the insurance industry. Currently my officials work with the relevant insurance partners through both an IMID project board and an operational liaison group. These groups will be the forum for agreeing these timelines.
It should be noted that the Courts Service informs my Department of disqualifications to be endorsed on driving licences via a weekly file. An Garda Síochána receive a nightly file from my Department which, from March 2025, will include the disqualification status of every driving licence. This can be used by frontline Gardaí on mobility devices at the roadside.
292. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport the timeframe for organisations (details supplied) to make the necessary changes to their ICT systems that are required for access to his Departments driver file database to real time data on driver disqualifications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15205/25]
View answerThe Motor Insurers' Bureau of Ireland (MIBI) are responsible for the Irish Motor Insurance Database (IMID). Insurers and intermediaries acting on their behalf will in the future access disqualification information from my Department's National Vehicle and Driver File, which can then be written by insurers and intermediaries to the IMID hosted by MIBI. Access to real-time data on driver disqualifications by insurers will require IT changes both in my Department and in the many insurer and broker IT platforms.
A timeline for these projects will have to be jointly agreed between my Department and the insurance industry. Currently my officials work with the relevant insurance partners through both an IMID project board and an operational liaison group. These groups will be the forum for agreeing these timelines.
It should be noted that the Courts Service informs my Department of disqualifications to be endorsed on driving licences via a weekly file. An Garda Síochána receive a nightly file from my Department which, from March 2025, will include the disqualification status of every driving licence. This can be used by frontline Gardaí on mobility devices at the roadside.
293. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Transport if he will extend the maximum permissible age of all taxis impacted by the Covid pandemic by two years, as was done for those registered in 2014 and beyond; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15209/25]
View answerThe regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including vehicle age limits 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 have no role in the day-to-day operations of the SPSV sector.
In line with the Programme for Government 2025 commitment to 'extend the ten-year vehicle limit for taxis registered in 2015, offering another year of service', the NTA held a public consultation on the matter which opened on 18 February 2025 and closed on 12 March 2025. The Board of the NTA approved the making of a new Regulation on 21 March 2025, giving effect to this Programme for Government commitment. This new Regulation will be operative from 1 April 2025.
Regulations which took effect on 18 November 2022 provided for maximum age extensions of 36 to 60 months, depending on the original final year of operation of the impacted vehicle. SPSVs registered in 2010 and 2011 have their final year of operation this year. One of the consequences of the 2022 regulations was that vehicles first registered in 2012, 2013 and 2014 could operate longer than vehicles first registered in 2015.
The introduction of the new Regulation will largely address that anomaly, allowing 2015 vehicles an additional year of operation, thus providing a 2026 final operating date for those vehicles. From Jan 1st, 2028, all the extensions provided for under the 2022 Regulations will have ended.
Given the NTA's responsibility for the day-to-day operation of the SPSV sector, including vehicle age limits, I have referred your question to the NTA for further information. Please advise my private office if you have not received a reply within 10 working days.
294. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Transport if additional funding will be provided to assist people upgrading roads through the CIS scheme in Carlow and Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15308/25]
View answerThe 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 these roads are funded from Councils’ own resources and supplemented by State Road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is a matter for the local authority.
On 14th February I announced an Exchequer investment of €713 million in our regional and local roads across the State which represents an overall increase of over 8% in funding this year. The main focus of the grants continues to be the protection and renewal of the regional and local road network.
In 2018, the Department introduced ring-fenced funding for Community Involvement Schemes (CIS). The purpose of the CIS is to facilitate local community participation in the repair of local roads. The focus of the programme is on the repair of more lightly trafficked public roads which might not be high on the list of a local authority's annual roadwork programme. Under the scheme a local community can contribute in money or in kind, for example by making labour or machinery available.
While community contributions in the range 15% to 30% had been required up to 2021, depending on the mix between works and monies, the contribution rate has now been reduced to a minimum of 10% for monetary contributions and 20% for works contribution. This is more in line with Local Improvement Scheme contribution rates.
In order to allow for sufficient planning and applications for this scheme, local authorities are invited to apply for funding for CIS projects for a two-year programme with the latest round of applications received in 2023 for the 2024/2025 period.
€537,900 has been allocated to Kilkenny County Council for Community Involvement Schemes this year and Carlow County Council have been allocated €220,550.
295. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Transport the proportion of the 72,000 applicants on the waiting list for a driving test which are waiting for tests in each testing centre, in tabular form; his plans to establish another NDLS centre in South Dublin; and his views on the adequacy of provision in South Dublin. [15351/25]
View answerUnder the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the National Driver Testing Service, including application and scheduling matters and provision of test centres and their locations.
As such, I have referred the Deputy's question 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.
I acknowledge that current waiting times are far in excess of what is acceptable and I would like to assure the Deputy that measures have been taken to address the issue.
To support the RSA in increasing testing capacity and improving service delivery, in September 2024 my Department sanctioned an additional 70 permanent positions for driver testers. This increases the total permanent sanction for testers to 200, which represents a doubling of permanent posts since June 2022.
As a condition of sanction, the RSA was required to put a plan in place to restore the 10-week waiting time target as soon as possible. I understand that the recruitment process is well underway, with the first tranche of new testers having commenced training this month. As additional testers enter the system, testing capacity will increase and I expect that we will begin to see progress on reducing waiting times in the months ahead.
The Deputy may wish to note that the RSA 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. This information is available at the following link: data.cso.ie/product/RSADTS.
296. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide a timeline for extending the ten-year vehicle limit for taxis registered in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15358/25]
View answerThe regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including vehicle age limits 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 have no role in the day-to-day operations of the SPSV sector.
In line with the Programme for Government 2025 commitment to 'extend the ten-year vehicle limit for taxis registered in 2015, offering another year of service', the NTA held a public consultation on the matter which opened on 18 February 2025 and closed on 12 March 2025. The Board of the NTA approved the making of a new Regulation on 21 March 2025, giving effect to this Programme for Government commitment. This new Regulation will be operative from 01 April 2025.
297. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Transport if the proposed interdepartmental committee has been established to source funding options for implementing noise mitigation action plans on major roads such as the M7 and M20 motorways where they are adjacent to residential areas in Limerick city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15369/25]
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.
With regard to National Roads, the amended European Communities (Environmental Noise Regulations) 2018 (S.I. No. 549) deal with the requirements to prepare noise actions plans to be developed for the purpose of managing environmental noise issues and their effects, including noise reduction, if necessary.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the national authority for overseeing the implementation of these Regulations. Local authorities, in their role as designated Action Planning Authorities, are responsible for making and approving noise actions plans.
The finalised action plan is the responsibility of the respective local authority. While TII have a role in the preparation of noise maps, they have no role in the implementation of such plans under the Regulations. Therefore, all Environmental Noise related issues are a matter for each respective local authority, and the matter of an interdepartmental committee regarding the funding of mitigation measures is for the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
298. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport if the ten-year vehicle limit for taxis registered in 2015 has been granted, following indications in Parliamentary Question No. 148 of 4 March 2025 that a decision would be made by 21 March 2025, following a consultation on 12 March; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15377/25]
View answerThe regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including vehicle age limits 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 have no role in the day-to-day operations of the SPSV sector.
Further to Parliamentary Question No. 148, and as the Deputy is aware, the NTA held a public consultation on the Programme for Government 2025 commitment to 'extend the ten-year vehicle limit for taxis registered in 2015, offering another year of service'. This consultation opened on 18 February 2025 and closed on 12 March 2025. The Board of the NTA approved the making of a new Regulation on 21 March 2025, giving effect to this Programme for Government commitment. This new Regulation will be operative from 01 April 2025.
299. Deputy Séamus McGrath asked the Minister for Transport when the contract for the new M28 motorway will be signed and awarded; the value of the contract; and the duration of the construction phase. [15421/25]
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 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.
As is required under the Infrastructure Guidelines, the Final Business Case for the M28 project has been submitted to my Department, ahead of a Government decision on whether to give final approval to the scheme. I can confirm that this will be brought to Cabinet in the very near future, after which it will be possible to provide more detail in regard to the timeline for the project.
300. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Transport if steps are being taken to establish a reciprocal drivers' licence exchange agreement with the United States of America, given the large number of people moving from the US to Ireland who are forced to re-sit their tests; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15430/25]
View answerIrish driver licensing operates within a framework of EU law – the driver licensing legislation with which all Member States must comply – and the standards for testing drivers are set at EU level. Driver licensing laws are intended to ensure drivers on our roads meet high safety standards.
Someone who is resident in Ireland must hold an Irish or EU/EEA driving licence to drive here. While a visitor to Ireland can use a non-EU/EEA licence for up to one year, provided it is current and valid, on taking up normal residence here they must exchange their licence or apply for an Irish licence.
A driving licence may be exchanged where Ireland has a reciprocal licence exchange agreement with the other jurisdiction. A person with a full but non-exchangeable licence must go through the normal driver learning process, but can avail of shorter Essential Driver Training of 6 lessons, instead of 12, and does not have to be a learner for the usual minimum of 6 months before taking a driving test.
Irish licences are, in general, granted for ten years. An Irish licence holder, if resident in Ireland, may renew their licence for up to ten years after expiry. A driver who does not renew their licence by this time must start the process from the beginning.
Ireland may make bilateral licence exchange agreements with non-EU jurisdictions. This is a technical, road safety-based process and reaching an exchange agreement is not a matter of political will. The technical assessment is an independent process that requires the agreement of the counter party jurisdiction and agreements are made only when both licencing authorities have compared the licencing regimes and are satisfied that they are compatible. For Ireland, this task is undertaken by the Road Safety Authority (RSA).
The core principle is the continued safety of Irish road users. In reaching an agreement, the most important element is ensuring that the other jurisdiction applies standards for testing drivers that are compatible with our own. Where these standards are not met, no agreement is possible, no matter how desirable an agreement with that jurisdiction may be. Ireland’s road toll has been rising in recent years and it is imperative, for the safety of all Irish road users, that people who are awarded Irish driving licences have been tested to the same standard as Irish drivers.
In considering licence exchange agreements, Ireland has to date given priority to countries that may be a source of professional drivers, in light of the sectoral shortages across the EU. However, the principle of ensuring the safety of Irish road users is still paramount in reaching such agreements.
The Programme for Government seeks licence exchange agreements with Canada, Australia and the USA. Ireland already has agreements with Australia and seven of the Canadian provinces and is examining an agreement with an eighth province.
Ireland does not have a licence exchange agreement with the USA. The RSA has previously explored such an agreement. However, US driver licensing operates at state rather than federal level, meaning there are 50 licensing systems with widely varying standards and road safety performance. Agreement with any one state would mean taking into account the licence exchange arrangements between that state and the other 49.
Any potential agreements with individual US states would need to be considered in the context of both inter-state exchange arrangements and the safety of Irish road users. Such agreements would also have to apply to eligible Irish residents and not solely to returning emigrants.
I have initiated efforts to consider driving licence agreements with US states. Initial discussions with some relevant stakeholders have taken place, and I am committed to actively advancing this examination.
301. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Transport the number of applicants that have not shown up for driving tests in each of the years 2020 to 2024 and to date in 2025. [15435/25]
View answerUnder the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the National Driver Testing Service and the information requested is held by them.
As such, I have referred the Deputy's question 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.
