Tom Brabazon
Question:281. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Transport the up-to-date position regarding a new coastguard building at Howth Harbour; and when this project will move to the next stage. [71803/25]
View answerCoast Guard Service
Questions (281)
Written answers
Howth Coast Guard Unit operates from a fully equipped station building in the Howth Fishery Harbour Centre that was built by the Office of Public Works in 2001.
There is currently no requirement for a new station for the Howth Unit.
Works to install a vehicle and equipment storage area on a site adjacent to the current Coast Guard Building in Howth were completed in October 2025.
Rail Network
Questions (282)
Tom Brabazon
Question:282. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Transport the number of qualified female train drivers currently working for Iarnród Eireann, in tabular form. [71804/25]
View answerWritten answers
As 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 Iarnród Éireann. 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.
Public Transport
Questions (283)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:283. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport his plans to introduce legislation to ensure that public transport employers, such as Dublin Bus, provide a full occupational sickness and long-term illness benefit to its drivers, which is to replace private income protection schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71819/25]
View answerWritten answers
As 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. In general, the drafting of employment legislation is a matter for the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment and does not come under the remit of my Department.
However, the specific query raised by the Deputy relating to private income protection schemes is an operational matter for Dublin Bus. 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.
Public Transport
Questions (284)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:284. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the only income protection provider in Ireland (details supplied) to bus drivers is ceasing its income protection schemes to public transport drivers; if he is planning to intervene to provide full income protection to drivers through their employer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71820/25]
View answerWritten answers
As 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.
In general, the drafting of employment legislation is a matter for the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment and does not fall under the remit of my Department. However, the specific query raised by the Deputy relating to private income protection schemes is an operational matter for the bus operators involved who should be contacted directly in this instance.
Ports Policy
Questions (285)
Paul McAuliffe
Question:285. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Transport the current status of the ongoing review of national ports; when his Department’s position will be published for public consultation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71856/25]
View answerWritten answers
My Department plans to complete a public consultation on a draft revision of the National Ports Policy (NPP) in the first half of 2026.
This second public consultation will build on the thematic Issues Paper, to which over 70 responses were received and assessed by officials in my Department. Following consideration of the responses received from stakeholders, the Irish Maritime Development Office (IMDO) was commissioned to carry out further research on national port capacity post-2040. This research has now been reviewed and will form part of the revised NPP.
Once the public consultation on the draft revision of the National Ports Policy is launched, I look forward to the same level of stakeholder engagement with this second public consultation as was achieved during the first.
Road Projects
Questions (286)
Pádraig O'Sullivan
Question:286. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport if he will undertake works on the Carrigrohane straight road, N22 in Cork, to resurface the road and upgrade the streetlights (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71860/25]
View answerWritten answers
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 Infrastructure Guidelines and the necessary statutory approvals. In this context, TII is best placed to advise you in relation to the N22 at Carrigrohane, Co. Cork.
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.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Orders.
Bus Services
Questions (287)
Conor D McGuinness
Question:287. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Transport the reason funding applications for Local Link DRT services are not being processed at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71862/25]
View answerWritten answers
As Minister of State at the Department of Transport with special responsibility for Rural Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to rural public transport service provision; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally, including implementation of the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan. Post Budget discussions around allocating funding for the Public Service Obligation programme are ongoing, as is regular engagement between the NTA and the Transport Coordination Units on resourcing requirements.
In light of the NTA responsibilities I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
Bus Services
Questions (288)
Conor D McGuinness
Question:288. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Transport the number of funding applications for Local Link DRT services waiting to be processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71863/25]
View answerWritten answers
As Minister of State at the Department of Transport with special responsibility for Rural Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to rural public transport service provision; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations.
The National Transport Authority (NTA), via the 15 Transport Coordination Units operating under the "TFI Local Link brand" nationwide, has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally. In light of the NTA responsibilities I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
Bus Services
Questions (289)
Conor D McGuinness
Question:289. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Transport when a specific funding application for a Local Link DRT service (details supplied) will be processed; and if an update could be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71864/25]
View answerWritten answers
As Minister of State at the Department of Transport with special responsibility for Rural Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to rural public transport service provision; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations.
The National Transport Authority (NTA), via the 15 Transport Coordination Units operating under the "TFI Local Link brand" nationwide, has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally. In light of the NTA responsibilities I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
Road Network
Questions (290, 291, 295, 296, 297)
Paul Lawless
Question:290. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Transport the feasibility studies undertaken in the past five years into the condition, safety, and capacity of the N68 (Ennis to Kilrush), the N67 (Kilrush to Kilkee) and if so, to provide details of the findings and recommendations of those studies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71921/25]
View answerPaul Lawless
Question:291. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Transport if any engineering or safety audits have been carried out over the last 5 years on the N68 and N67, and the works identified as necessary to improve safety and traffic flow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71922/25]
View answerPaul Lawless
Question:295. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Transport his plans to upgrade or improve the N68 and N67, including timelines for works, budget allocations, and specific safety measures to be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71926/25]
View answerPaul Lawless
Question:296. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Transport if consideration has been given to widening, strengthening, or re-aligning sections of the N68 and N67, to accommodate heavy goods vehicles and tourist traffic safely; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71927/25]
View answerPaul Lawless
Question:297. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Transport the measures to ensure that traffic management during road closures on the N68 and N67, is safe, supervised, and does not impede emergency services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71928/25]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 290, 291, 295, 296 and 297 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 Infrastructure Guidelines and the necessary statutory approvals. In this context, TII is best placed to advise you in relation to the N67 and N68.
The Government is committed to reducing road deaths and creating safer roads for everyone in Ireland.
Noting the above position, I have referred your question to TII for a direct reply in relation to the N67 and N68. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Orders.
Question No. 291 answered with Question No. 290.
Road Traffic Accidents
Questions (292, 293)
Paul Lawless
Question:292. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Transport the number of recorded accidents on the N68 (Ennis to Kilrush), the N67 (Kilrush to Kilkee), and the R483 (Cooraclare to Cree village, joining the N67 northbound) for each of the past five years, broken down by year and severity (fatal, serious injury, minor injury); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71923/25]
View answerPaul Lawless
Question:293. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Transport to provide comparative accident statistics for the R483, given its role as a main tourist route, for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71924/25]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 292 and 293 together.
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has a statutory remit to report on fatal, serious and minor injury collisions on public roads. The RSA receives collision data from An Garda Síochána for this purpose and produces official statistics to help develop evidence-based road safety interventions.
Given the RSA's responsibility in this matter, I have referred the Deputy's 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.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Orders.
Question No. 293 answered with Question No. 292.
Road Traffic Accidents
Questions (294)
Paul Lawless
Question:294. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Transport the estimated costs incurred by the State in responding to accidents on the N68 and N67, over the past five years, including Garda response, emergency services, road closures, diversions, and recovery operations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71925/25]
View answerWritten answers
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 Infrastructure Guidelines and the necessary statutory approvals. In this context, TII is best placed to advise you in relation to the N67 and N68.
The Government is committed to reducing road deaths and creating safer roads for everyone in Ireland.
Matters in relation to emergency services and Garda response times would not fall under my remit as Minister for Transport. Noting the above position, I have referred your question to TII for a direct reply in relation to any costs incurred by TII in relation to accidents on the N67 and N68. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Orders.
Question No. 295 answered with Question No. 290.
Question No. 296 answered with Question No. 290.
Question No. 297 answered with Question No. 290.
Valuation Office
Questions (298)
Duncan Smith
Question:298. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the current and projected legal costs of the dispute between the Valuation Office and tan organisation (details supplied) concerning the rates valuation and if any mediation has been attempted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71929/25]
View answerWritten answers
I wish to thank the Deputy for his question.
In line with the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies, where a legal dispute involves another State body every effort should be made to mediate, arbitrate or otherwise resolve the dispute before expensive legal costs are incurred.
In line with the Code's annual reporting requirements, daa is required to provide details of legal disputes with other State bodies involving expenditure of €25,000 or over.
I can confirm that daa has reported to the Department on this matter in line with the Code of Practice.
Fishing Industry
Questions (299)
Paula Butterly
Question:299. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Transport the oversight procedures for ensuring Irish fishing vessels are seaworthy and safe; the bodies responsible for conducting inspections of sea vessels; the number of inspections conducted for each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71938/25]
View answerWritten answers
The responsibility for ensuring the safety of fishing vessels rests in the first instance with the owner of the fishing vessel who is responsible to ensure the safety of the vessel and its crew. The Master or skipper is also responsible for ensuring the safety of the vessel and its crew and should not proceed to sea in a vessel which is not seaworthy and must ensure that all operations are carried out safely.
In addition to these legal responsibilities on the owner and skipper, Irish fishing vessels are subject to a safety regime which addressed the three main classes of fishing vessels. These are fishing vessels of less than 15m length overall, fishing vessels between 15m and 24m in length and fishing vessels 24m in length and over. Considering each of these groupings as follows:
Fishing vessels of less than 15 m length overall are required to comply with the Code of Practice for the Design, Construction, Equipment and Operation of Small Fishing Vessels of less than 15 metres Length overall. My Department oversees this Code of Practice and appoints private surveyors to a panel to carry out periodical surveys for compliance with the Code, which was last updated in 2022 and is under constant review Copies of the Code and details of the surveyors appointed to the panel are available online at [Code of Practice for Fishing Vessels less than 15 metres in length overall].
Irish fishing vessels of between 15m length overall and less than 24m registered length are required to comply with the Merchant Shipping (Safety of Fishing Vessels) (15-24 Metres) Regulations 2007 and be issued with a Fishing Vessel Safety Certificate. Periodical surveys are carried out by the Marine Survey Office of the Department of Transport, prior to the issue or endorsement of a certificate.
Irish fishing vessels of 24m registered length and over are required to comply with the European Communities (Safety of Fishing Vessels) Regulations 2002 and the Fishing Vessels (Safety Provisions Regulations 2002 which give effect to Council Directive 97/70/EC of 11 December 1997 setting up a harmonised safety regime for fishing vessels of 24 metres in length and over. The International Maritime Organisation’s Torremolinos Protocol is given effect in the EU by Council Directive 97/70 as amended. Periodical surveys are carried out by the Marine Survey Office of the Department of Transport, prior to the issue or endorsement of a certificate.
The Marine Survey Office (MSO) of my Department carries out compliance inspections on all sizes of fishing vessels throughout each year and may take enforcement actions requiring rectification of non-compliance within a specified time, detention of a vessel in port or prosecution of the owner and skipper. The MSO also follows up on all reported incidents and accidents on fishing vessels.
The safety levels of the Irish fleet has shown positive trends and figures published by the Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) in their Annual Report for 2024 record zero fatalities in 2024, three in 2023, zero in 2022 and zero in 2021. Despite this safety profile the safety of fishing vessels remains a key priority and will continue to receive the attention which it deserves.
Available figures are included below for inspections carried out in recent years. As the MSO transitioned to a new task management system recently, figures are not available for 2021 or 2022. However, inspections in these years would have been at a minimum due to the Covid pandemic restrictions.
|
Year |
Over 15 Meters |
Under 15 Meters |
Total Inspections |
|
2025 |
149 |
398 |
547 |
|
2024 |
167 |
404 |
571 |
|
2023 |
197 |
331 |
528 |
|
2022 |
Not Available |
227 |
227 |
|
2021 |
Not Available |
448 |
448 |
|
Total |
513 |
1808 |
2321 |
|
Registered Fleet |
173 |
1773 |
1946 |
Rail Network
Questions (300, 301, 304, 306, 307)
Grace Boland
Question:300. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware that Irish Rail primarily provides service disruption updates via a service (details supplied) rather than through its official website or other social media platforms; the rationale for this approach; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71940/25]
View answerGrace Boland
Question:301. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport if he will confirm whether Irish Rail has plans to expand its communication channels for service disruption updates beyond a service (details supplied), including its website and other social media platforms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71941/25]
View answerGrace Boland
Question:304. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of the significant communication failures experienced by passengers at Pearse Street railway station on 9 December 2025 during high wind conditions, including the inability to clearly hear public address announcements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71994/25]
View answerGrace Boland
Question:306. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport the procedures in place to ensure that front line staff at Pearse Street railway station are provided with accurate and timely service information during severe weather events, in view of reports that on 9 December 2025 staff were unable to advise passengers when trains would arrive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71996/25]
View answerGrace Boland
Question:307. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Transport the actions which will be taken to improve the resilience and clarity of public address systems at Pearse Street and other Dublin railway stations, following widespread reports that on 9 December 2025 announcements were inaudible to passengers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [71997/25]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 300, 301, 304, 306 and 307 together.
As 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 Iarnród Éireann. 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.