Written Answers Nos. 79-97
79. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport the reason for the closure of the Charlestown driving test centre; if the Road Safety Authority consulted with his Department prior to the decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55649/25]
View answer80. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport if a lease remains in place for the Charlestown Driving Test Centre; the term of the lease and the annual cost of the lease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55650/25]
View answer81. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport if the Finglas driving test centre has sufficient capacity to absorb the testers and candidates previously assigned to Charlestown; the assessment which has been carried out to ensure service levels are maintained; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55651/25]
View answer82. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport the impacts which have been observed in Finglas since the closure of the Charlestown driving test centre, including changes in waiting times, pass rates, or operational pressures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55652/25]
View answer83. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport the communication protocols which exist between the Road Safety Authority and local authorities regarding infrastructure changes near driving test centres; the reason there was a breakdown in communication in the case of Charlestown; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55653/25]
View answer84. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport the lessons which have been learned from the closure of the Charlestown driving test centre; the way in which these will inform future site selection, stakeholder engagement, and contingency planning; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55654/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 79, 80, 81, 82, 83 and 84 together.
Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the National Driver Testing Service including the operation of driver test centres. This includes decisions on opening and closing test centres. In that regard my Department has no role in such decisions.
My Department was informed by the RSA of its intention not to renew the lease for the Charlestown driving test centre, which was originally opened as a temporary overflow facility during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Department was informed that this decision was taken by the RSA for health and safety reasons and that contingency plans would be put in place to ensure that people awaiting a driving test would not be negatively impacted by this decision.
Accordingly, the detailed information requested relating to Charlestown Driving Test Centre is held by the RSA. Given the RSA's responsibility in this matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the RSA for direct, detailed response. Please contact my office if a reply is not received within ten days.
85. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Transport if his Department is using agentic AI in the delivery of its services or operations; if it is considering the use of agentic AI, and in what contexts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55707/25]
View answerMy Department has established an AI steering group to ensure the safe and well-governed introduction of AI, aiming to assess potential efficiency gains within the Department. Chaired at the Assistant Secretary General level, this cross-cutting group involves the HR, IT, Data Analytics, Data Protection and Communications divisions. Additionally, the Department collaborates with its agencies through a CIO forum, beginning to take on a stewardship role in the broader application of AI across the transport sector.
Through the AI steering group, the Department is piloting a number of AI applications and use cases. However the Department are not using agentic AI in the piloting of AI applications or have any plans to do so in the immediate future at this time.
The current pilots are presently all internal only (they are not used for any public facing services) and all are compliant with the guidelines for the responsible use of AI in the public service.
86. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport to outline the steps being taken to ensure that bus routes (details supplied) are better serviced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55751/25]
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 National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally and for the scheduling and timetabling of these services in conjunction with the relevant transport operators.
In light of the NTA’s responsibility in this area, I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
87. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Transport the monthly passenger figures for major public transport services from January to September 2025, by month, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55800/25]
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 National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally and for the scheduling and timetabling of these services in conjunction with the relevant transport operators.
In light of the NTA’s responsibility in this area, I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days
88. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Transport the funding by category (details supplied) that was allocated to the EV grant scheme in 2020 to 2025; in tabular form. [55864/25]
View answerFleet electrification is expected to continue to provide the greatest share of emissions abatement in the short-to-medium term for the transport sector. Over €100m has been allocated in 2025 to support the continued transition to electric vehicles through funding for EV grants and EV charging infrastructure. This underpins the Government’s commitment to making electric vehicles accessible to all.
The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (now Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment) held responsibility for electric vehicle and charging grants in 2020. Therefore, the requested details are set out below for the years 2021 to 2025:
|
Year |
Budget Allocated |
Number of Grants Offered |
Number Grants Drawn Down |
Grants paid to vehicles €10-15K |
Grants paid to vehicles €15-20K |
Grants paid to vehicles €20-25K |
Grants paid to vehicles €25-30K |
Grants paid to vehicles €30-35K |
Grants paid to vehicles €35-40K |
Grants paid to vehicles €40-45K |
Grants paid to vehicles €45-50K |
Grants paid to vehicles €50-55K |
Grants paid to vehicles over €55k |
|
2021 |
€63,000,000 |
16,184 |
13,409 |
- |
- |
2 |
14 |
444 |
1,953 |
1,980 |
2,006 |
1,161 |
2,834 |
|
2022 |
€60,000,000 |
11,560 |
10,891 |
- |
- |
2 |
16 |
114 |
1,256 |
1,931 |
1,534 |
1,344 |
3,783 |
|
2023 |
€68,000,000 |
18,219 |
15,843 |
- |
- |
1 |
2 |
251 |
818 |
1,598 |
2,863 |
3,217 |
5,589 |
|
2024 |
€59,950,000 |
13,777 |
12,304 |
- |
- |
6 |
53 |
452 |
901 |
1,027 |
2,757 |
2,172 |
2,363 |
|
2025 to October |
€67,500,000 |
17,887 |
15,662 |
- |
24 |
137 |
875 |
556 |
909 |
1898 |
3538 |
3144 |
2217 |
The electric vehicle purchase grant operates on a demand-led basis. Due to elevated demand this year, supplementary funding was made available within the overall allocation to meet programme commitments and maintain support for the transition to electric vehicles, bringing the total budget to €67.5 million. This funding was facilitated through a virement of existing resources and does not constitute an increase in the Vote Allocation.
*The total number of Grants offer and drawn down include all grant types of Commercial, Demo and Private.
*The breakdown of figures per price bracket is for Private grants only.
The Private grants available during this time were as follows:
|
2021 |
|
|
PHEV Grant up to June |
€5,000 |
|
PHEV Grant from June |
€2,500 |
|
BEV Grant |
€5,000 |
|
|
|
|
2022 |
|
|
BEV Grant |
€5,000 |
|
|
|
|
2023 |
|
|
BEV Grant up to June |
€5,000 |
|
BEV Grant from June |
€3,500 |
|
|
|
|
2024/2025 |
|
|
BEV Grant |
€3,500 |
90. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Transport if he has considered targeted supports for EV uptake in rural Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55866/25]
View answerRural motorists are often in an advantageous position to make the switch to an electric vehicle, due to the large number of dwellings in rural Ireland which are suitable for home EV charging.
Home charging means lower running costs and many EVs are now capable of doing over 400km on a single charge, which will meet most people’s daily driving needs.
TII are leading on the delivery of charging infrastructure along our motorways and national primary and secondary routes and we have launched grant aid programmes for the delivery of significant high powered charging infrastructure on these roads, to ensure that EV drivers have reliable access to charging points across the country.
Also of significant relevance to rural motorists is the Regional and Local EV Charging Network Plan. This plan describes how Local Authorities will facilitate the provision of local charging networks.
Officials from my Department have been engaging actively with Local Authorities to develop their own regional charging plans to meet the various needs of users at the local level, whether urban or rural.
Work has commenced on a new EV Infrastructure Strategy, covering the period 2026-2028. A key consideration in that will be addressing the specific EV challenges for rural communities.
There is a suite of incentives in place from ZEVI, and where applicable with support from taxation incentives through the Department of Finance, to support the continued transition to EVs, including a purchase grant for battery electric vehicles; a home charger purchase grant; VRT relief of up to €5,000; and a low rate of annual motor tax.
91. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Transport the measures he is taking to increase EV uptake amongst lower incomes households; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55867/25]
View answerThe Government is fully committed to supporting the transition to zero-emission transport and the ambitious target to have 30% of private car fleet switched to electric by 2030.
Over €100m has been allocated in 2025 to support the continued transition to electric vehicles which includes funding for EV grants and EV charging infrastructure. It is also important to note that EV purchase costs have reduced in the last year due to the coming on stream of new EV brands and models from manufacturers.
Current incentives in place from Zero Emission Vehicle Ireland, and where applicable with support from taxation incentives through the Department of Finance, to support the continued transition to EVs and for the rollout of EV charging infrastructure, include:
• A purchase grant for battery electric vehicles (BEVs);
• A Home Charger purchase grant scheme;
• An apartment charger scheme;
• Benefit-in-Kind tax relief for battery electric vehicles;
• Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT) relief of up to €5000 for BEVs;
• eSPSV grant scheme – a grant for taxi drivers to make the switch to an EV; and
• Low rate of annual motor tax.
92. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Transport to outline the plans to progress active travel both in urban and rural Ireland; the plans for Kerry in particular; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55868/25]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to Active Travel infrastructure. The National Transport Authority (NTA) along with the relevant local authorities are responsible for the development and delivery of individual projects.
The Government is committed to promoting and enabling walking and cycling across the country with around €360 million provided for Active Travel and Greenways this year alone, supporting projects in every Local Authority. The vast majority of this funding is allocated to the National Transport Authority (NTA) through the Department of Transport for its Active Travel Infrastructure Programme. I was delighted to secure the same amount of funding for Active Travel and Greenways in Budget 2026, meaning that we can continue to progress walking and cycling projects around the country into next year.
Of the 2025 funding, Kerry County Council have received €2.75 million. As part of the allocations determination, the NTA liaises with each local authority to fully understand the projects being proposed by the local authority and its considerations in terms of priorities.
In general, the main focus of active travel investment will be to support high quality walking and cycling infrastructure, for everyday trips, in villages, towns and cities, particularly in designated growth settlements, with a view to promoting the greatest potential modal shift to active travel.
Given the ramping up of activities over the last few years in the Active Travel area, the number of projects being progressed now exceeds the level of funding made available to the NTA. Accordingly, the NTA is unable to fully fund all proposed Active Travel projects and has to prioritise certain projects over others in order to remain within its allocated budget. While a project may not be selected by the NTA for funding in a particular year, it may be funded in subsequent years.
93. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Transport for an update on discussions he has had with Irish Rail and the NTA about opening up catering services on additional routes; the progress being made in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55869/25]
View answerAs Minister of State, I have responsibility for International and Road Transport, Logistics, Rail and Ports; 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 Irish Rail. I have, therefore, referred the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
94. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Transport the allocation that was ringfenced to expand light rail in the State as part of Budget 2026; under which subhead this allocation appears; the allocations in which these expansions will take place; when they are expected to be completed; what light rail capacity will be when completed, including the number of kilometres per project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55889/25]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. Funding for the development of light rail infrastructure is included within subhead B4 Public Transport Investment within Vote 31 Transport as part of Budget 26.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure, in the Greater Dublin Area and the regional cities of Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford. This includes the development of a number of light rail proposals that have been identified in the metropolitan area transport strategies for Ireland’s cities.
Noting the NTA's responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure in Ireland’s cities, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a more detailed reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
95. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Transport if he will rule out fare increases on public transport in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55897/25]
View answerI wish to reassure the Deputy that improving the accessibility, reliability, and affordability of public transport, while ensuring the system remains well-funded and responsive to passenger needs, is a core priority under the Programme for Government. The National Transport Authority (NTA), which regulates fares for services provided under Public Service Obligation (PSO) contracts, plays a central role in achieving this.
As the Minister for Transport, my Department sets the overall policy direction and funding framework for the delivery of public transport services nationwide. The 2026 PSO funding allocation of €940m, provides a significant 43% uplift in the PSO allocation from 2025 to further support subsidised bus and rail services across Ireland, as well as maintaining targeted fares initiatives such as the recently introduced free travel for all children up to the age of 9 and the Young Adult Card for those aged 19-25, as part of the NTA's National Fares Strategy.
The National Fares Strategy, published in 2023, provides the framework for a fairer and more consistent fare system, aligning fares with distance travelled. As part of this, new fare zones were introduced in January 2024 – the Dublin City Zone (within 25km of the city centre) and the Dublin Commuter Zone (within 50km). These zones were informed by future transport plans such as DART+ and detailed ticketing data. The two-phase implementation concluded in June 2025 and aims to reduce fare disparities, particularly for passengers in commuter areas. This structured approach ensures the fare system remains transparent and equitable over time and supports future service improvements.
96. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Transport the reason Irish students attending university in Northern Ireland are no longer able to obtain TFI student Leap cards online; if this is intentional or an error; if this will be addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55983/25]
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 National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the regulation of fares charged to passengers in respect of public transport services provided under public service obligation (PSO) contracts.
In light of the NTA's responsibility in this area, I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
97. Deputy Eoin Hayes asked the Minister for Transport the reasons or justification for the collection of birth certificates or passports of minors and their guardians as part of the application process for the Child (5-8) TFI Leap card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56017/25]
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 National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the regulation of fares charged to passengers in respect of public transport services provided under public service obligation (PSO) contracts.
In light of the NTA's responsibility in this area, I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
