Written Answers Nos. 35-47
35. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport if there are any funding mechanisms for local authorities who wish to erect bus shelters in their locality; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29982/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure, including the provision of bus stops and shelters.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
36. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport to provide a full list of all toll roads; when the toll contract began with the operator; when the contract will conclude, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29984/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015, the operation and management of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
Therefore, matters relating to the day to day operations regarding national roads, including toll roads are within the remit of TII. More specifically, the statutory power to levy tolls, to make toll bye-laws and to enter into agreements with private investors are vested in TII under Part V of the Roads Act 1993 (as amended). Moreover, the contracts for the privately-operated toll schemes are commercial agreements between TII and the Public Private Partnership (PPP) concessionaires concerned.
Noting the above position, I have referred the question to TII for a direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
37. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Transport what supports are available to people who are not able to use computers to carry out their theory tests. [29986/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder 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 that agency. I have therefore referred the question to the RSA for direct, detailed reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response is not received within 10 days.
38. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the outcome of any recent discussions he had with his counterpart in the Northern Ireland Executive in relation to the urgent need to progress the A5 road; the Government’s financial commitment to this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30023/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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.
The planning and implementation of the A5 upgrade project is the responsibility of the authorities in Northern Ireland.
The funding arrangements in relation to the A5 were governed by the 2014 Stormont House Agreement and Implementation Plan - A Fresh Start, and under this Agreement the Government had committed to provide funding of £75 million towards the cost of the A5 upgrade scheme once the statutory planning process in Northern Ireland was concluded. Provision of £25 million sterling was made by my Department in 2024 for funding the scheme should it be required. It was announced on February 20th that as part of Government funding commitments for Shared Island projects, €600 million was being committed for the progression of the A5 project.
The Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland estimates the total scheme cost for the A5 project is £1.6 billion with completion expected by 2032/2033 and the largest funding demands over the 2025 to 2028 period. The Department for Infrastructure has informed the Department of Transport that construction of the Main Works may commence in 2024. However, this is subject to a number of conditions being met. In addition, if there is a further legal challenge the start dates will likely be revisited.
I can confirm that my Department regularly engages with colleagues in the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland. These engagements consider a range of North/South transport proposals, including the A5.
39. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Transport the number of all-terrain vehicles/quad bikes, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30028/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAll Terrain and Quadricycle vehicles should be registered with Revenue and therefore have a corresponding registration on the Department of Transport's National Vehicle and Driver File (NVDF) database. However if the vehicles are only used on private property (e.g., on farms) they do not require taxation. For this reason two tables are provided below, one for registered vehicles and one for those under taxation.
The data in Table 1 reflects the number of vehicles with a body type of Quadricycle and All Terrain registered on the NVDF as of the 30th of June 2024.
Table 2 details the number of vehicles with a body type of Quadricycle and All Terrain under taxation as of the 30th of June 2024.
Table 1 Number of vehicles with a body type of Quadricycle and All Terrain registered on the NVDF as of the 30th of June 2024
|
County |
All Terrain Vehicles |
Quadricycle |
Total |
|
CARLOW |
22 |
1 |
23 |
|
CAVAN |
79 |
79 |
|
|
CLARE |
49 |
4 |
53 |
|
CORK |
221 |
8 |
229 |
|
DONEGAL |
265 |
2 |
267 |
|
DUBLIN |
166 |
42 |
208 |
|
GALWAY |
89 |
7 |
96 |
|
KERRY |
115 |
5 |
120 |
|
KILDARE |
74 |
17 |
91 |
|
KILKENNY |
73 |
4 |
77 |
|
LAOIS |
38 |
4 |
42 |
|
LEITRIM |
11 |
3 |
14 |
|
LIMERICK |
69 |
6 |
75 |
|
LONGFORD |
10 |
10 |
|
|
LOUTH |
25 |
1 |
26 |
|
MAYO |
89 |
5 |
94 |
|
MEATH |
35 |
8 |
43 |
|
MONAGHAN |
19 |
4 |
23 |
|
OFFALY |
37 |
7 |
44 |
|
ROSCOMMON |
36 |
1 |
37 |
|
SLIGO |
38 |
2 |
40 |
|
TIPPERARY |
86 |
15 |
101 |
|
WATERFORD |
52 |
2 |
54 |
|
WESTMEATH |
27 |
8 |
35 |
|
WEXFORD |
112 |
3 |
115 |
|
WICKLOW |
97 |
3 |
100 |
|
UNKNOWN |
1 |
1 |
|
|
Total |
1,935 |
162 |
2,097 |
Table 2 Number of vehicles with a body type of Quadricycle and All Terrain under taxation as of the 30th of June 2024.
|
County |
All Terrain Vehicles |
Quadricycle |
Total |
|
CARLOW |
1 |
1 |
|
|
CAVAN |
47 |
47 |
|
|
CLARE |
6 |
2 |
8 |
|
CORK |
34 |
2 |
36 |
|
DONEGAL |
14 |
1 |
15 |
|
DUBLIN |
31 |
20 |
51 |
|
GALWAY |
9 |
4 |
13 |
|
KERRY |
7 |
2 |
9 |
|
KILDARE |
1 |
5 |
6 |
|
KILKENNY |
4 |
2 |
6 |
|
LAOIS |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|
LEITRIM |
1 |
1 |
|
|
LIMERICK |
24 |
4 |
28 |
|
LONGFORD |
1 |
1 |
|
|
LOUTH |
2 |
2 |
|
|
MAYO |
10 |
4 |
14 |
|
MEATH |
6 |
5 |
11 |
|
MONAGHAN |
1 |
1 |
2 |
|
OFFALY |
5 |
2 |
7 |
|
ROSCOMMON |
3 |
3 |
|
|
SLIGO |
4 |
2 |
6 |
|
TIPPERARY |
5 |
6 |
11 |
|
WATERFORD |
1 |
4 |
5 |
|
WESTMEATH |
5 |
2 |
7 |
|
WEXFORD |
12 |
1 |
13 |
|
WICKLOW |
5 |
3 |
8 |
|
Total |
239 |
74 |
313 |
40. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Transport the total funds raised through the persons with reduced mobility charge, by airport, in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30087/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra41. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Transport to provide a breakdown of how the moneys raised through the persons with reduced mobility charge have been spent over the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30088/24]
Amharc ar fhreagra42. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Transport whether or not all the moneys raised through the persons with reduced mobility charge are spent on the provision of services/supports for people with reduced mobility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30089/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 40 to 42, inclusive, together.
Irish airports and air carriers must comply with European Union Regulation (EC) 1107/2006 concerning the rights of disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility ("PRM") when travelling by air (“Regulation 1107”). The objective of this Regulation is to ensure “high and equivalent levels of protection and assistance throughout the Member States and to ensure that economic agents operate under harmonised conditions in a single market.” The Irish Aviation Authority ("IAA”) is the National Enforcement Body for Regulation 1107.
Article 8(3) of Regulation 1107 states that an airport may, on a non-discriminatory basis, levy a specific charge on airport users for the purpose of funding assistance to disabled persons and persons with reduced mobility when travelling by air. The levy is specifically for the purposes of recovering the costs of providing the PRM service and cannot be used to fund other developments or services. This is monitored by the IAA. The amounts raised from the levy and the specific services they are spent on are operational matters for the airports. I have, therefore, forwarded your question to the Shannon Airport Group and daa (who have statutory responsibility for Shannon, Dublin and Cork airports) for direct reply. If a response is not received within ten days, please contact my private office.
43. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Transport for a monthly breakdown of the number of bus services scheduled by Dublin Bus and Go Ahead in Dublin city; the number of those services cancelled for the period 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2024; his views on the frequency of cancellations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30090/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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 request to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
44. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport if a dangerous junction in County Kerry (details supplied) will be modified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30148/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs 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.
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.
45. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Transport whether a funding application has been received from Cork City Council for footpath restoration and the removal of bollards on John F Connolly road. [30150/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to Active Travel. Funding is administered through the National Transport Authority (NTA), who, in partnership with local authorities, have responsibility for the selection and development of specific projects in each local authority area.
Noting the role of the NTA in the matter, I have referred your question to that agency for a more detailed answer. If you do not receive a reply within 10 working days, please contact my private office.
46. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport if he will address the issue of NCT delays (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30154/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder European Directive 2014/45/EU on periodic roadworthiness tests for motor vehicles and their trailers, Ireland, like all other EU Member States, is obliged to adhere to the minimum specified intervals for carrying out periodic roadworthiness inspections on motor vehicles. This is given effect in Irish law by means of the Road Traffic (National Car Test) Regulations 2017 (S.I. No. 415/2017), as amended. Regulation 3(2) of the 2017 Regulations provides that the initial test due date for a vehicle is determined using the date of registration of that vehicle and subsequent test due dates fall on anniversaries of that date. Accordingly, all test due dates are predetermined based on the date of registration of a vehicle. Any NCT certificate issued for that vehicle is only ever valid up to the test due date that falls after that certificate was issued and does not automatically apply for 12 months, or 24 months as the case may be, from the date of testing.This is a binding obligation under European law and the Department of Transport does not foresee these regulations being amended in the near future.
I am informed that customers who are unable to secure a test date before the certificate expiry date, can contact NCTS Customer Service directly, by phone (+353-1-4135992) or through the NCTS website (www.ncts.ie), to request to be added to the priority waiting list.
47. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the light rail system in Cork; and the stations that will be on the northside of Cork city. [30178/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware, the Cork Light Rail project seeks to provide a high-capacity public transport corridor connecting Ballincollig to Mahon Point via the city centre. A public consultation for this project will launch later this year.
As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure, including the Cork Light Rail project.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
