Written Answers Nos. 352-371
352. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport the timeline for the introduction of new needs-based, grant-aided, modern vehicle adaptation supports to replace the disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4061/26]
View answerAs Minister of State for International & Road Transport, Logistics, Rail & Ports, I wish to advise that the proposed Vehicle Adaptation Scheme will be developed specifically to support the additional cost of adapting private vehicles to allow people living with disabilities to use them.
Department of Transport officials are consulting with key stakeholders to develop the principles and parameters of the new scheme. As primary legislation will be required to underpin the scheme, it is not possible to provide a definitive timeline for its introduction.
353. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport if there are plans to introduce a daily bus service from Kenmare to Cork (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4146/26]
View answerAs 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 the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan. 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.
354. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Transport to provide an update on Parliamentary Question No. 193 of 5 February 2025, to provide an update on the expansion and dispersion of routes from the Finglas driving test centre. [4171/26]
View answerUnder the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the Driver Testing Service, including the developing of test routes. Given the RSA's responsibility in this matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the RSA for direct, detailed reply. Please contact my private office if a response is not received within ten days
355. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Transport number of bus services, scheduled departures affecting Longford-Westmeath PSO routes in 2024 and 2025, in tabular form. [4172/26]
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.
356. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the proposed DN2 bus route linking Haynestown to Fatima, Dundalk in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4236/26]
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 this case, Bus Éireann.
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.
357. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Transport if funding will be provided under the NDP for the double tracking of the rail line between Galway City and Athenry; the expected timeframe for the delivery of this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4237/26]
View answerThe Department of Transport is working with the National Transport Authority (NTA) and Iarnród Éireann (IÉ) to progress a number of rail projects in Galway, including double tracking of the line between Athenry and Galway.
In order to progress this project, Iarnród Eireann appointed a Multidisciplinary Engineering Consultancy and the Galway Line Capacity Study commenced last summer. The development of an emerging preferred option is expected to be identified later this year.
Separately and related, works commenced at Oranmore station last October. This project will provide an additional platform and a passing loop, increasing capacity on the Galway to Athenry line. This project is scheduled to be completed next year and will be of immediate benefit to the route.
Works are also progressing to upgrade Galway Ceannt station, and these works, which are scheduled to be completed later this year, will increase the number of platforms from two to five, which will support the growth in train service frequencies envisioned under the All-Island Strategic Rail Review.
In order to start making the vision set out in the Rail Review a reality, the NDP Sectoral Investment Plan for Transport, which my Department published in November last year, provides funding to advance a number of Early Interventions, to be delivered by 2030, including new track passing loops and platforms to boost the rail network’s resilience and capacity. Included in these Early interventions are new platforms at Clara and Woodlawn on the Galway line, which will support journeys between Dublin and Galway.
The Sectoral Plan also provides funding to commence the construction of the reinstatement of the Western Rail Corridor between Claremorris and Athenry.
Progressing these projects in the years ahead will deliver an enhanced rail service for the people of Galway.
Noting the NTA and IÉ's responsibility in the matters referred to, 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.
358. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Transport if the proposed Cabra train station can go ahead in advance of the DART south west project and serve commuters using the existing service that run from Newbridge and Hazelhatch/Celbridge to Connolly and Grand Canal Dock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4238/26]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, the National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) including, in consultation with Iarnród Éireann, the DART+ programme and the provision of new railway stations.
The DART+ programme, which comprises five different projects in and around the GDA, will triple the length of the electrified network from circa 50km to 150km and double city centre capacity from 26,000 passengers per hour per direction to 52,000 during peak hours. This will significantly enhance access to high capacity public transport across the GDA.
DART+ South West will extend DART services from the City Centre to Hazelhatch and Celbridge including four-tracking from Park West to Heuston. A Railway Order was approved for DART+ South West by An Coimisiún Pleanála in November 2024. In addition, procurement for DART+ South West and West is progressing with pre-qualification questionnaires (PQQ) notices for Design and Build works advertised in May 2025.
The NTA Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy 2022-2042, which was adopted by the Minister for Transport and published in January 2023, has identified the potential for opening a new railway station at Cabra to better serve the suburb and surrounding areas. Cabra sits within the section of track that will be addressed by the DART+ South West project, and the NTA has provided funding to Iarnród Éireann this year for the preparation of designs and planning for the station. A public information campaign on Cabra Train Station was held by Iarnród Éireann during June/July 2025.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, 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.
359. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Transport the planning that has been put in place for alternative public transport for commuters using the Maynooth train line; when that line is shut to allow the DART Plus West works to take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4239/26]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, the National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) including, in consultation with Iarnród Éireann, the DART+ programme.
The DART+ programme, which comprises five different projects in and around the GDA, will triple the length of the electrified network from circa 50km to 150km and double city centre capacity from 26,000 passengers per hour per direction to 52,000 during peak hours. This will significantly enhance access to high capacity public transport across the GDA.
DART+ West will provide an extension of DART services from the City Centre to M3 Parkway and Maynooth, and the construction of a new depot and city centre enhancements.
Conditional planning approval was granted for DART+ West in July 2024. Procurement for DART+ South West and West is progressing with pre-qualification questionnaires (PQQ) notices for Design and Build works advertised in May 2025.
Funding has been provided in the NDP Sectoral Investment Plan published by my Department in November 2025 to advance DART+ West.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, 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.
Question No. 360 answered with Question No. 290.
362. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport for clarity on the terms used by the NTA (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4258/26]
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.
363. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Transport for an update in relation to an approved increase to pension entitlement for a cohort (details supplied); the timeline for when this increase will be paid to members; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4263/26]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. As a commercial semi-state body, Córas Iompair Éireann (CIÉ) are responsible for the provision of pension schemes for their employees.
Following on from the constructive and collaborative approach of the Trade Union Group and CIÉ management in reaching agreement on a pathway forward as of May 2025, my Department are currently engaging with CIÉ as well as financial advisors at NewERA, the Pensions Authority and the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Services, Reform and Digitalisation on the next steps in progressing the agreement and bringing CIÉ pensions onto a more stable footing for the benefit of active, and retired scheme members, including review of the relevant statutory instruments and the matter of increases to pension payments.
My Department and all relevant stakeholders are endeavouring to achieve the same at the earliest, keeping in line with the appropriate processes, compliance with all applicable requirements, and necessary approvals.
364. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Transport whether he accepts the principle that public expenditure decisions must not rely on the existence of a statutory default, whether by a local authority or another public body, as a basis for proceeding with discretionary funding decisions; if clarification will be provided in relation to a series of matters in relation to same (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4267/26]
View answerThe Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area, 2022-2042 was prepared and published by the NTA in accordance with Section 12 of the Dublin Transport Authority Act, 2008. This statutory document sets out how transport will be developed across the region, covering Dublin, Meath, Wicklow and Kildare, over the period of the strategy. It was published following public consultation and has been approved by the Minister for Transport in accordance with the relevant legislation.
The current strategy provides a framework for the planning and delivery of, and investment in transport infrastructure and services across the region over a 20-year-period from 2022 to 2042.
The Strategy provides a clear statement of transport planning policy for Dublin and surrounding counties. The Strategy has been developed to be consistent with the spatial planning policies and objectives set out in the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES) as adopted by the Eastern and Midland Regional Assembly. These objectives in turn are consistent with the National Planning Framework and the National Development Plan as set out in Project Ireland 2040.
The principal functions of the NTA under the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008 include promoting increased recourse to cycling and walking as a means of transport, as well as securing the provision of public transport infrastructure, and effective management of traffic and transport demand. The NTA may also do all such things as arise out of, or are consequential on, or are necessary, or expedient for, the performance of its functions or are ancillary thereto.
In relation to the existence or non existence of a Local Area Plan, at a local level the responsibility for the preparation of a Local Area Plan rests with the relevant Local Authority, in this instance Fingal County Council are the responsible Local Authority with regard to Skerries. The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, in conjunction with the Office of the Planning Regulator operationally, oversees the development and implementation of national planning policy and legislation at local and regional levels.
It is important to highlight the ruling made by the High Court which determined that the lack of a Local Area Plan does not preclude the development and delivery of infrastructure projects in a certain area, when they have been provided for in an overarching plan or strategy. I am also given to understand that the NTA further clarified in response to a previous question posed by the Deputy that “Under planning legislation, local authorities’ development plans and local area plans are required to be consistent with the NTA’s Transport Strategy. While it is always preferable that all hierarchies of development planning are in place, it is not the position that there is an absence of a statutory framework governing transport provision in any location in Fingal where a local area plan has not yet been developed. Accordingly, where projects align with the NTA’s Transport Strategy and statutory objectives, the NTA will continue to support those projects where it considers that there is a sufficient basis to do so”.
Under the provisions of the Infrastructure Guidelines, any Exchequer investment proposal with an estimated capital cost of over €200 million requires government approval.
The NTA is also statutorily enabled to make grants, out of moneys provided by the Oireachtas, to public transport authorities including local authorities as road authorities, to secure public transport infrastructure. That public transport infrastructure includes, but is not restricted to, cycleways, cycle and pedestrian facilities and interchange facilities. Further, the NTA is enabled by statute to allocate moneys and make payments to road authorities in relation to traffic and demand management measures.
In light of the above it is clear that a statutory basis is in place. Government is committed to transforming the transport system in Ireland ensuring that it will meet the evolving needs of the population and the economy and that it will help achieve our ambitions of more sustainable transport and greater modal shift.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a direct reply on the questions posed. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
365. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Transport following his report on 10 December 2025 titled "Recording of Penalty Points and Disqualifications on Driver Records" of the 14,527 notifications he received from the Courts Service on penalty point summonses in 2024, the number of notifications that included a driver number. [4298/26]
View answerAs Minister of State with responsibility for International & Road Transport, Logistics, Rail and Ports, I wish to advise that the report noted the Deputy outlines that 14,528 notifications of disqualifications were sent by the Courts Service to my Department in 2024. As the report also outlines, approximately 15% of these notifications included the unique Driver Number of the motorist.
Where a Driver Number was provided with a notification, a match was made automatically to the relevant record on my Department's National Vehicle and Driver File (NVDF) database. Where a Driver Number was not provided, the Department, with assistance of the Road Safety Authority, attempts to find matches. In total in 2024, 76% of disqualifications were successfully matching to a NVDF driver record.
Matching will never be 100% due to the inclusion among disqualifications of foreign licenced drivers and those driver who do not or never held a licence. As the published report referred to the Deputy notes, the Department reviewed a sample of the unmatched disqualifications. This review found that the unmatched records are almost entirely made up of drivers who do not hold or have never held an Irish driving licence.
366. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Transport if his Department has taken advice in respect of the use of artificial intelligence (AI) within his Department in 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026; if any section of his Department currently makes use of artificial intelligence; if he will outline the purposes it is utilised for and costs associated with same; if he has consulted with any consultancy firms in respect of the use of AI; if he will provide a schedule of consultants engaged and costs of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4312/26]
View answerThe use of AI in my Department is overseen by an AI Steering Group, chaired at Assistant Secretary General level, and governed by strict guidelines aligned to the Government’s “Guidelines for the Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence in the Public Service” published in May 2025. My Department has not retained the services of any consultancy firms in respect of the use of AI.
Since September 2024 staff in my Department have had access to Copilot Chat under strict conditions ensuring its safe and appropriate use. There is no cost for this platform.
In 2025 my Department commenced a small pilot to assess M365 Copilot at a cost to date of €3,150. Also in 2025, a Coast Guard Chatbot POC was developed at a cost of €47,213.
367. Deputy Ann Graves asked the Minister for Transport if he will contact a company in relation to issues on a bus route (details supplied) [4321/26]
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 this case Go Ahead.
In terms of the performance of public transport operators, this is monitored by the NTA as part of the contractual arrangements in place between it and the operators. These contractual arrangements allow for not just the monitoring of performance by the NTA and the publication by it of annual performance reports, but importantly, the contracts also allow for the imposition of financial penalties where performance does not meet the required standard.
On reliability and frequency, the NTA acknowledge there have been challenges - often due to traffic congestion, driver or mechanic shortages, or unforeseen incidents. My Department is working closely with the NTA to try to address these issues through initiatives such as the previously mentioned Public Transport Workforce Taskforce which aims to address recruitment challenges for drivers and mechanics; and planned improvements to the vehicle location system under Next Generation AVL, which will enhance the accuracy of real-time passenger information.
We remain fully committed to building on these positive changes and delivering a public transport system that is reliable, accessible, and affordable for everyone
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.
368. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport for details on a service enhancement (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4351/26]
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 this case, Dublin Bus.
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.
369. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Transport the number of people that are waiting on drivers test lists and for how long in each test centre since 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4364/26]
View answerUnder the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the National Driver Testing Service, including all testing and scheduling matters. Given the RSA's responsibility in this matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the RSA for direct response. Please contact my office if a reply is not received within ten days.
Pending this response, the Deputy may wish to note that the RSA publish detailed monthly information on the driver testing service since 2021 on the CSO website. This information is available at the following link: https://data.cso.ie/table/ROA37.
370. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Transport to provide an update on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4378/26]
View answerFurther to my response to your previous PQ (Ref: 25073/25) on the matter, I am advised by my officials that the Dún Laoghaire rocket house is vested in the Minister for Transport and the property is currently vacant and surplus to my department’s requirements.
The OPW is in the process of preparing the property for transfer to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council under the protocols set out in D/PER Circular 11/15: Protocols for the Transfer and Sharing of State Property Assets.
The OPW is liaising with my Department and the Chief State Solicitor’s Office in relation to outstanding title issues and Tailte Éireann is in the process of finalising a valuation on the property.
The CSSO is preparing Contracts for Sale and these will issue to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council when the valuation has been received and the title issues have been addressed.
371. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Transport the number of persons that have registered as drone operators in each of the years 2023 to 2025 and to date in 2026; the number of pilot competency certificates issued on an annual basis over that time period; the number of drone operator IDs issued for companies over the same time period; if he will provide an estimate of unregistered drone operators. [4396/26]
View answerThe Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) is the competent authority for aviation safety regulation, including the regulation of civil drones, in the State.
I have asked the IAA to collate the requested information and send a response directly to the Deputy.
