Michael Creed
Ceist:123. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Transport when a disabled parking permit will issue to a person in County Cork (details supplied). [37140/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraParking Provision
Ceisteanna (123)
Freagraí scríofa
While my Department is responsible for the legislation underpinning the Disabled Parking Scheme, the day to day operations of the Scheme fall within the remit of the designated issuing bodies, the Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) and the Disabled Drivers Association of Ireland (DDAI). As Minister for Transport, I can neither intervene in nor comment upon any individual application.
I suggest that the Deputy raise his concerns directly with the issuing body concerned.
Bus Services
Ceisteanna (124)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:124. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport if his Department will consider installing a bus shelter in the centre of Ballybunnion town, County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37059/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As the Deputy may be aware, 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 provision of bus 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.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 51.
Greenways Provision
Ceisteanna (125)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:125. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport to provide an update on funding for a project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37078/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to Greenways. The planning, design, and construction of individual Greenways is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
Noting the above position, I have referred your question, on this occasion, 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 Order 51.
Driver Licences
Ceisteanna (126)
Michael Fitzmaurice
Ceist:126. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Transport if the staff recently employed on visas by a company (details supplied) have full Irish driving licences; if not, how they are carrying out their employment duties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37079/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the operation of the National Car Testing Service (NCTS) is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority (RSA). I have therefore referred the question to the Authority for direct 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 Order 51.
Renewable Energy Generation
Ceisteanna (127)
Thomas Pringle
Ceist:127. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Transport the five ports outlined in the recent announcement of European Investment Bank advisory co-operation agreement to assess capacity, demand and financing strategies required for the development of offshore renewable energy port infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37081/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
In March of this year my Department signed an advisory agreement with the European Investment Bank (EIB). The assignment is to assess capacity, demand and financing strategies required for the development of offshore renewable energy (ORE) port infrastructure, which infrastructure is crucial for the construction, and long-term operation and maintenance of offshore wind projects in Irish waters.
Ireland aims to achieve 80% of its electricity generation from renewable sources by 2030, with 5 gigawatts (GW) attributable to offshore wind, and this advisory assignment represents a crucial step towards facilitating these targets. Currently no Irish ports have developed the appropriate port infrastructure to facilitate the construction of the forthcoming ORE projects. The Government is therefore cognisant of the importance of the ports to enable the delivery of its climate targets, through the facilitation of the development, construction and long-term operation of offshore wind projects.
With regard to the Advisory work my Department will be the ultimate beneficiary of a number of the outputs of the assignment. As part of this work the EIB will carry out individual case studies on five ports who will be recipients of bi-lateral project-level analysis. The cases study ports are representative of a range of characteristics across scale, operations, target market, ownership structure and geographic location. The case studies will also consider ports which will facilitate fixed-base turbine ORE projects and ORE ports which will facilitate floating-base turbine ORE projects.
The selection of the five ports for inclusion in the Advisory work was entirely the responsibility of the EIB, with no Department input. Due to commercial sensitivities, the identity of these five individual ports will not be publicised by my Department or the EIB. However, as per the advisory agreement, the Department will receive an overarching report detailing key takeaways from the bilateral analyses, without identifying information about each of the ports.
The advisory assignment will be critical in developing the evidence base for my Department with regard to potential demand and capacity of the ORE market and the financial viability of ORE port projects.
Renewable Energy Generation
Ceisteanna (128)
Thomas Pringle
Ceist:128. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Transport if the port of Killybegs in Donegal is one of the five ports around the country that are expected to play a role in the deployment of offshore renewable energy projects under the advisory initiative recently announced between his Department and the European Investment Bank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37084/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Firstly, I wish to inform the Deputy that Killybegs Harbour is a fisheries harbour under the remit of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and my Department has no role in relation to its operation, administration or governance.
As the Deputy is aware, in March of this year my Department signed an advisory agreement with the European Investment Bank (EIB). The assignment is to assess capacity, demand and financing strategies required for the development of offshore renewable energy (ORE) port infrastructure, which infrastructure is crucial for the construction, and long-term operation and maintenance of offshore wind projects in Irish waters.
Ireland aims to achieve 80% of its electricity generation from renewable sources by 2030, with 5 gigawatts (GW) attributable to offshore wind, and this advisory assignment represents a crucial step towards facilitating these targets. Currently no Irish ports have developed the appropriate port infrastructure to facilitate the construction of the forthcoming ORE projects. The Government is therefore cognisant of the importance of the ports to enable the delivery of its climate targets, through the facilitation of the development, construction and long-term operation of offshore wind projects.
With regard to the Advisory work my Department will be the ultimate beneficiary of a number of the outputs of the assignment. As part of this work the EIB will carry out individual case studies on five ports which will be recipients of bi-lateral project-level analysis. The case-study ports are representative of a range of characteristics across scale, operations, target market, ownership structure and geographic location. The case studies will also consider ports which will facilitate fixed-base turbine ORE projects and ORE ports which will facilitate floating-base turbine ORE projects.
The selection of the five ports for inclusion in the Advisory work was entirely the responsibility of the EIB, with no Department input. Due to commercial sensitivities, the identity of these five individual ports will not be publicised by my Department or the EIB. However, as per the advisory agreement, the Department will receive an overarching report detailing key takeaways from the bilateral analyses, without identifying information about each of the ports.
The advisory assignment will be critical in developing the evidence base for my Department with regard to potential demand and capacity of the ORE market and the financial viability of ORE port projects.
Bus Services
Ceisteanna (129)
Richard Boyd Barrett
Ceist:129. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Transport his plans to set up community bus services during the day, to offer school bus drivers more paid hours during the day in order to alleviate the shortage of school bus drivers available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37104/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As 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 securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally. The NTA also has national responsibility for integrated local and rural transport, including TFI Local Link and the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan.
In light of the NTA's responsibilities for the TFI Local Link services and Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan, including Regular Rural Bus Services, Door-to-Door Bus services and pilot transport initiatives such as the Community Car Scheme, 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 Tolls
Ceisteanna (130)
Fergus O'Dowd
Ceist:130. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Transport the total number of tenders received for the major system upgrade of the tolling system at the Dublin Port toll tunnel, which has been ongoing for a number of months; the total numbers of tenders received; the details on the chosen tender; the total costings of the chosen tender; the total costs of the works which have been undertaken to date in 2024; whether there is an over/underspend to date on the project, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37119/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As 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.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 51.
Road Projects
Ceisteanna (131)
Jackie Cahill
Ceist:131. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Transport when a project (details supplied) will go to tender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37124/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The 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 local authorities' own resources supplemented by State road grants.
The R498 Latteragh Upgrade scheme is one of the limited number of strategic regional and local road improvement schemes being undertaken under the National Development Plan.
Planning and implementation of the R498 Latteragh Upgrade scheme is the responsibility of Tipperary County Council. My understanding is that archaeological excavations are underway on the site and the scheme is now at detailed design and contract preparation stage together with land acquisition.
Driver Licences
Ceisteanna (132)
Cathal Crowe
Ceist:132. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Transport the forms of photographic ID required to apply for a driver’s licence and, specifically, the reason for photographic ID supplied by a person (details supplied) not being accepted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37129/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The National Driver Licence Service (NDLS) accepts the following photographic ID:
- Irish driving licence or learner permit
- Current Public Services Card
- Irish passport (which cannot be expired by more than 12 months)
- Current passport for all non-Irish citizens (valid for international use)
- Current national identity card for EU/EEA/Swiss citizens
- Current UK photo driving licence
- Current Irish travel document
More information on the forms of ID that the NDLS accepts can be found here: www.ndls.ie/how-to-apply/applying-in-person.html#documents-that-will-not-be-accepted .
Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority has responsibility for the NDLS, including licence applications. As my Department does not have access to individual driving licence applications and may not intervene in individual cases, I have referred this matter to the Authority for direct 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 Order 51.
Road Network
Ceisteanna (133)
Seán Canney
Ceist:133. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Transport if local authorities, and Transport Infrastructure Ireland, where applicable, are responsible for the maintenance of all public roads within their charge, including the removal of trees all along the roadside within the curtilage of the boundary of the road; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37203/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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.
Section 70 of the Roads Act 1993 sets out the responsibility of landowners to take all reasonable steps to ensure that trees, hedges and other vegetation growing on their land are not, or could not become, a danger to people using a public road or interfere with the safe use of a public road or the maintenance of a public road. This responsibility includes "the preservation, felling, cutting, lopping, trimming or removal of such tree, shrub, hedge or other vegetation" in question.
As such, the implementation of the legislation and the management of the removal of trees is a matter for local authorities and landowners.
Road Projects
Ceisteanna (134)
Seán Canney
Ceist:134. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Transport if there are plans to fund improvements to the N84 Headford Road, Galway to Castlebar, to help cope with the increase in traffic volumes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37208/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
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 regarding the N84.
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 Order 51.