Written Answers Nos. 131-147
131. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport his proposals for the enhancement of rural transport throughout County Kildare, with particular reference to the interlinking of the public and private sectors where possible, and the introduction of new services to include any areas, urban or rural not served by existing areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20930/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra-----and that is our view. I reject the Deputy's contention that we have not been acting. We have been acting. More social housing was built last year than any year since the 1970s. Nearly 8,000 new units were built and 10,000 new social homes were provided. We are going to do more than that this year. That is our objective and we will achieve it. We are also telling local authorities to take up the option of buying a property where a landlord is selling up if that prevents the tenant going into homelessness. We have provided resources to for them to do exactly that.
We will consider legislation. Good ideas have been put forward by the Simon Community and Focus Ireland in respect of children and those facing homelessness. In many other jurisdictions, legislation has not been the solution, unfortunately. Legislation does not build any more houses or create any more tenancies, and that has to be the solution.
133. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport the discussions he has had with stakeholders in the transport sector, with a view to maximising a changeover to the use of non-fossil fuels while maintaining best economic focus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20932/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by my officials that the Ukraine Crisis Temporary Emergency Team (UCTAT) within my Department has accommodated a total of 1,068 Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection in 22 properties in the Cork City Council Local Authority Area.
There are currently 11 properties in use by the International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS), with 1,380 International Protection Applicants (IPAs) being accommodated in County Cork, 576 of which are residing in Cork City.
A further 6 properties are currently under consideration in County Cork by the Department. Full assessments of these properties are underway at present, and, if a contract is agreed, it is hoped that these properties can be brought into use.
I am further advised that vacant properties fall within the remit of the Department of Housing. Local Government and Heritage and that the relevant Local Authority is the appropriate contact point regarding such information.
135. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport the total number of vehicles currently using the M4 for commuting purposes on a daily basis; the future plans in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20934/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra
I also point out that I am not the only one raising these concerns. Senior Fine Gael sources who spoke to the Irish Mail on Sunday, which is not The Ditch, also expressed their alarm. One is reported as saying:
It's creating real unease in rural Ireland - rural Ireland is ready to explode. We are being turned into economic ghettos where tourism is forced out of rural Ireland. Dublin's hotels may be booming, but ours are full of refugees wandering around main streets without a penny to spend.
Unless the Taoiseach wants to characterise these senior Fine Gael sources as part of some far-right conspiracy, he will have to deal with the seriousness of this situation. I want to know exactly what is being done to rescue our rural tourism from the effects of the Government's over-reliance on hotels. I want to know what the Government is doing to take this matter seriously and I do not want to hear the Taoiseach dismissing it because that is not fair to the small businesses in rural Ireland that are suffering because of the action or inaction of the Government. I want to hear a credible pathway outlined in terms of the mitigation measures that Government Departments can take to reduce the potential loss of €1 billion in revenue from the rural economy. I welcome the Taoiseach's thoughts and proposals on this matter.
136. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Transport the schemes and initiatives his Department has introduced to benefit rural Ireland since 2020. [21006/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraA number of schemes and initiatives have been introduced by my department since 2020, to benefit rural Ireland and these are included in the table below.
|
Name of Scheme / Initiative |
Date Introduced |
Still operational yes / no |
|
Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan |
2021 |
Yes |
|
Community Car Scheme |
2020 |
Yes |
|
Regional Airports Programme 2021 - 2025 |
2021 |
Yes |
|
Shared Island Sports Club EV Charging Scheme |
2023 |
Yes |
|
EU JTF Community Facilities EV Charging Scheme |
2023 |
Yes |
|
Pathfinder Programme (incorporating various rural projects with the objective of furthering Goal 4 of the Sustainable Mobility Policy: Expand availability of sustainable mobility in regional and rural areas) |
2022 |
Yes |
137. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Transport if the bus and rail networks servicing rural areas have expanded since 2020; and if so, if he will provide examples of such expansion. [21007/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra
138. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport if more frequent direct Kerry-to-Dublin train services will be introduced; if more frequent Kerry connections will be facilitated on high-speed Cork-to-Dublin services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21008/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this refers to service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive (HSE) to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
139. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport if he is concerned by the high number of road fatalities to date in 2023; the measures that can be taken to prevent more tragedy on Irish roads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21009/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnfortunately, there has been an increase in fatalities on our roads over the last 12 months over and above the pandemic period, as well as above 2019 levels. For every fatality there is a family and community severely impacted by this loss.
The current road safety framework is set out in the Government’s fifth Road Safety Strategy 2021 – 2030. The Road Safety Authority has overall responsibility for overseeing implementation of the Strategy and in so doing reports quarterly to the Ministerial Committee on Road Safety on progress. A senior officials’ group (the Road Safety Transformation Partnership Board) chaired by the Department meets quarterly to support progress on Strategy actions. Delivered in 3 phases (2021-2024, 2025-2027, and 2028-2030) the Government’s ten-year Strategy brings it into line with EU-wide strategy for Road Safety. There are 186 Actions in Phase 1 ranging from the delivery of feasibility studies, infrastructure investments and development of new legislation.
While good progress was throughout 2022, in order to urgently address the upward trend in fatalities, a number of additional measures were considered as the year progressed. Coming into force last October, these measures included the introduction of regulations to double fixed charge fines for those caught speeding, using a mobile phone, or not wearing a seatbelt, among other offences. Action 30 of the Road Safety Strategy under which these measures were introduced was reprioritised and delivered 2 years earlier than originally planned.
The first annual review of the Road Safety Strategy was held in February 2023, with the aim of setting priorities for 2023 focusing on reversing the trend in fatalities seen in 2022. Speed and the review of speed limits was particularly targeted. As a result of this review, in March a series of new priority actions for 2023 were presented to the Ministerial Committee on Road Safety by the Road Safety Transformation Partnership Board, which were endorsed.
We all have our role to play and the successful delivery of the Strategy’s road safety actions is dependent on the mutual cooperation and contributions from Government Departments, key stakeholders and road users alike.
140. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Transport if support or a grant is available to an organisation (details supplied) for staff who experience severe trauma following on from a deliberate road traffic accident/ suicide by an oncoming driver and are then suffering mentally from the incident; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21023/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not have any funding for the purposes of grant schemes of this type.
For information, the Road Safety Authority's website provides a list of organisations lending support to victims, and their families, who have been directly affected by road traffic collisions. The support provided ranges from general information to advocacy services to those bereaved or injured by road traffic collisions. This information can be accessed via the following link: www.rsa.ie/road-safety/support-organisations.
Employers may perhaps also be in a position to provide support through employee assistant programmes.
141. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport the action his Department is taking to improve modes of public transport, in particular the national bus service, given that passenger numbers have in some cases exceeded pre-Covid levels, resulting in capacity issues on many bus routes across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21032/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraIs that agreed?
142. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport the action his Department is taking to ensure stronger security measures across all Irish airports in light of recent events of drone activity at Dublin Airport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21033/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAnother long-standing report we have been waiting for in this House is the review of the termination of pregnancy legislation.
143. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Transport if his Department is committed to funding a specific grant application from Mayo County Council for further works on the R312; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21041/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 those roads are funded from Councils' own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is a matter for the local authority.
Any road improvement projects proposed by local authorities for consideration for funding are assessed by the Department on a case-by-case basis. All projects put forward by local authorities for consideration must comply with the requirements of the Public Spending Code and my Department's Capital Appraisal Framework. Given the limited funding available for regional and local road improvement works it is important for local authorities to prioritise projects within their overall area of responsibility with these requirements in mind.
The Department has provided funding to Mayo County Council for the road re-alignment and bridge replacement scheme at Glenisland on the R312 which was completed at the end of 2021.
Mayo County Council received an allocation of €100,000 this year under the Specific Improvement Grant Programme to progress the planning and design of the second phase of proposed works at Glenisland on the R312.
144. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Transport if he will support the inclusion of the N84 Ballinrobe bypass in the revised NDP, in line with the Government’s Towns Centre First policy where in 2023, priority is being given to the ongoing progression of local bypasses to facilitate more people-friendly development and ensuring that towns can thrive and develop without 24/7 car congestion; if he will support the provision of funding to Mayo RDO; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21042/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly, as soon as possible.
145. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance the increased supports, if any, that businesses will receive in tackling the cost-of-living crisis as they struggle to pay bills at this time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20942/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Temporary Business Energy Support Scheme (TBESS) was introduced in Finance Act 2022 to support qualifying businesses with increases in their electricity or natural gas costs arising from the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.
The scheme provides support to qualifying businesses in respect of energy costs relating to the period from 1 September 2022 to 30 April 2023. TBESS is available to tax compliant businesses carrying on a trade or profession the profits of which are chargeable to tax under Case I or Case II of Schedule D where they meet the eligibility criteria.
Recognising the ongoing difficulties that many businesses face in terms of energy prices, in February of this year, I exercised the power contained in Finance Act 2022 to extend the scheme from 28 February 2023 to 30 April 2023 and also to increase the monthly caps on aid granted under the scheme. From 1 March the monthly caps on aid increased to €15,000 per trade or profession, or in cases where the trade or profession of a qualifying business operates across more than one location, €15,000 per MPRN up to a maximum amount of €45,000 per month.
In addition, at the end of February 2023 the Government decided, as part of a package of cost of living measures, to make a number of enhancements to the scheme. The enhancements are aimed at allowing more businesses qualify for support and at increasing the level of support given.
These enhancements, for which State aid approval has been received under the European Commission
Temporary Crisis and Transition Framework are being legislated for in Finance Bill 2023 and are as follows:
• The extension of the scheme to 31 May 2023.
• The reduction in the energy cost threshold for entry into the scheme from 50 percent to 30 percent with effect from 1 September 2022.
• The increase in the amount of the temporary business energy payment (TBEP) from 40 percent of the eligible costs to 50 percent of the eligible costs for claim periods from 1 March 2023 until the end of the scheme, subject to the relevant monthly limits.
• The amendment of the time limit for making claims under the scheme such that businesses now have two months from the end of the scheme to complete their claims.
Revenue have advised that claims already made prior to the amendments are automatically being reassessed using the new 30 percent energy costs threshold. Therefore, businesses will not have to amend them or re submit their previous claims to take account of the revised threshold.
Further details on TBESS and the relevant conditions for making a claim can be found at: www.revenue.ie/en/starting-a-business/tbess/index.aspx.
The Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment also put in place a number of schemes to help businesses and further details on those schemes can be found at: www.enterprise.gov.ie/en/what-we-do/supports-for-smes/access-to-finance/.
146. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance the supports available to any of the 65,000 firms around the country faced with tax-debt warehousing repayments dating back to the earlier stage of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, that may struggle to pay back this debt with the climate of increased costs at this time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20943/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
147. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Finance if he or his Department have had any discussions with the banks in respect of speeding up the process of small businesses meeting with banks, and in particular, reducing the time period for dealing with such loan applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20944/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to the Deputy directly.
