Written Answers Nos. 232-252
232. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Transport the funding considerations, in the incoming ministerial brief for Transport, that DART+ South West’s construction date is listed as “TBC subject to funding considerations” and if this project is planned to be in place by 2030. [13457/25]
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 in the Greater Dublin Area, including the DART+ Programme.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in this matter and the specific issue raised by the Deputy, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a direct response. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
233. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Transport if his Department will provide funding for the new bridge in Sligo (details supplied); if so, the estimated allocation for this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13460/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993, each local authority has statutory responsibility for the improvement and maintenance of their regional and local roads. Works on those roads are funded from local authorities' own resources and are supplemented by State Road grants. Of these grants, the vast majority (approximately 90%) are targeted at the maintenance and renewal of the network with c. 10% of the remaining funding invested in new roads/bridges or for road realignments. Any new road projects that seek State funding are assessed by the Department on a case-by-case basis. All projects proposed by local authorities for consideration must comply with the requirements of the Infrastructure Guidelines (formerly the Public Spending Code) and the Department's Transport 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 been providing grant funding under the Regional and Local Road Grant Programme for a proposed road improvement scheme in Sligo – the Eastern Garvogue Bridge and approach roads scheme. This scheme, which is being co-funded under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF), was proposed to support regeneration in Sligo by improving community links, facilitating reduced journey times for walkers, cyclists and vehicles between the North and South sides of the River Garvogue on the eastern side of the City and improving access to facilities on opposite sides of the river which includes schools, the Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Sligo and Sligo General Hospital. Sligo County Council has received an allocation of €740,000 in 2025 for the Eastern Garavogue Bridge Scheme.
234. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Transport the extent of collaboration between the National Transport Agency, An Garda Síochána and Dublin City Council on the deployment of traffic management cameras within Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13463/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2024, Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) was appointed to lead the development of the first National Safety Camera Strategy. In the first instance, the strategy is focused on speeding from a road safety perspective and red light running and bus lane infringement from a traffic management perspective. The strategy will be flexible to accommodate further offences over times, such as mobile phone use, motor tax evasion and non-wearing of seatbelts. Once this strategy is in place, it will provide the framework for increased deployment of cameras across the network, in both urban and rural locations, to assist with the enforcement of a wide range of road traffic offences. Pending the finalisation of the strategy, using powers under Section 81(7) of the Road Traffic Act 2010, the National Transport Authority intend to collaborate with An Garda Síochána and Dublin City Council on the deployment of traffic management cameras within Dublin. Procurement exercises will be required for both cameras and a system operator, with the intention that one or two locations will be operational this year as part of an interim arrangement.
Given the NTA's responsibility in this matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for more detailed, direct response. Please contact my office if you have not received a response within ten working days.
235. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport to review correspondence (details supplied); if he will raise this case with Bus Éireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13473/25]
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.
Further, Bus Éireann's Expressway services are commercial bus services and responsibility for the operation of the service is a matter for the company. I have, therefore, referred the Deputy's question to Bus Éireann for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
236. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider opening a driving test centre in Fermoy, County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13527/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the Driver Testing Service, including the provision of test centres. As such, I have referred the Deputy's question 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.
237. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Transport his plans to introduce a bus service from Ballydangan to Athlone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13535/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. In the new Programme for Government, Securing Ireland's Future, this Government has committed to increasing Local Link services in rural areas to better connect villages, towns and cities.
Under Budget 2025, the Department of Transport secured €658.442 million of funding for Public Service Obligation (PSO) and TFI Local Link services (an increase from €613.813 million in 2024). This package includes funding for the continuation of the various fare initiatives, such as the Young Adult Card, and the 90-minute fare until the end of 2025. Funding has also been provided to extend free child fares on PSO Services to include those aged 5 to 8-years old, and to support the roll-out new and enhanced bus services under programmes such as BusConnects and Connecting Ireland.
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 delivering the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan and New Town Services.
In light of the NTA's responsibilities for the rollout of new and enhanced services, including in County Roscommon, 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.
238. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport when real time, complete information on court driver disqualifications will flow between the courts, the Road Safety Authority, the Irish Motor Insurance Database, Insurance Ireland and An Garda Síochána to become streamlined in order that An Garda Síochána will be able to access real time and complete data at the roadside, of all who are disqualified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13541/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Courts Service informs my Department of disqualifications to be endorsed on driving licences via a weekly file. An Garda Síochána receive a nightly file from my Department which, from March 2025, will include the disqualification status of every driving licence. This can be used by frontline Gardaí on mobility devices at the roadside. The Road Safety Authority has access to my Department's National Vehicle and Driver File database (including endorsement information).
Separately, the Irish Motor Insurance Database (IMID) contains details of all vehicles and drivers who hold policies of motor insurance. From 31 March 2025 this will include driver numbers collected by those issuing motor insurance policies and verified against my Department’s National Vehicle and Driver File database. The data from IMID are also transferred nightly to An Garda Síochána for their use on mobility devices. Motor insurers will not have access to real-time data on driver disqualifications from 31 March 2025 as this will require IT changes both in my Department and in the many insurer and broker IT platforms. However, as stated above An Garda Síochána have access to this information directly from my Department.
239. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Transport to detail the total expenditure on public procurement by his Department and its agencies, including spending on goods, services and works acquired through public procurement processes, in each of the past five years, in tabular form. [13545/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table:
|
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
|
|
Procurement Expenditure |
€2,628.5M |
€3,389.6M |
€3,472.1 M |
€3,499.4M |
€3,655.9M* |
*not yet audited
With regard to the bodies under the Aegis of my Department, this is a matter for the Agencies themselves. I have referred this question to the agencies under my remit for their direct reply. If the Deputy has not received a reply within ten working days please contact my private office.
240. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Transport to engage with Irish Rail and enquire as to their current disposal method for concrete railway sleepers; if they have plans to resume the sale of same to the public; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13562/25]
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 issue raised by the Deputy in relation to the disposal method for railway sleepers is an operational matter for Irish Rail. Therefore, I have referred the Deputy's question to Irish Rail for direct response to the Deputy.
Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
241. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Transport to provide a list of regulatory, appeal or other bodies, either funded by or under the remit of his Department, which are quasi-judicial in nature. [13584/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile there are no single-function, quasi-judicial bodies under the remit of my Department as Minister for Transport, certain bodies under my remit have a statutory role for hearing appeals/hearing of complaints functions.
For example, the Commission for Railway Regulation (CRR), as regulatory body of the rail market, has a function to hear appeals under regulation 30 of European Union (Regulation of Railways) Regulations 2015-2020, from an applicant who believes they have been unfairly treated, discriminated against, or is in any other way aggrieved by a decision of the Essential Function Body, the infrastructure manager or, where appropriate, the railway undertaking or the operator of a service facility.
Under regulation 31, the CRR, as regulatory body, can decide complaints lodged by any railway undertaking or interested party if that railway undertaking, or interested party, believes that it has been treated unjustly, or treated in a non-equitable or discriminatory manner with regard to access or any other matters relevant to these Regulations. The CRR also has a function to hear an appeal from its own decision under the national transposition of the EU Cableways Regulations.
Equally, the National Transport Authority (NTA) has a statutory function under the national transpositions of the EU Passenger Rights regulations (rail, bus or sea passengers) under certain circumstances to handle complaints, including complaints (disputes) where the passenger is not satisfied with the manner in which the transport service provider dealt with their complaint in the first instance.
Noting the relevance of this question to the agencies of my Department, I have referred the Deputy's question to them for a more detailed reply. Please advise my Private Office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
242. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Transport the number of new speed limit signs installed to reflect the introduction of lower speed limits on 7 February 2025, by local authority; the date on which it is envisaged that all of the relevant speed limit signs will be replaced to reflect the new updated limits; the funding he has made available for new signage, by local authority; and the amount of same drawn down by each local authority. [13595/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of the reduction in the default speed limit on rural local roads from 80 km/hr to 60 km/hr, approximately 40,000 poles and 65,000 signs were installed nationally. Installations were substantially complete by the 7th February 2025 and where there remained any outstanding installations, local authorities were advised to liaise with An Garda Síochána and to complete the final installations as soon as possible. A breakdown on the number of poles and signs installed in each local authority is not available to the Department. With respect to the funding allocated to this project and the drawdown by local authorities, details of the regional and local road allocations and payments to local authorities are outlined in the regional and local road allocations and payments booklets which are available on the Oireachtas Digital Library.
The 2025 regional and local roads allocations booklet will be lodged in the coming weeks. The details of the 2025 regional and local road allocations by county can be found at: www.gov.ie/pdf/?file=https://assets.gov.ie/319199/4f12c3fa-1687-48aa-8074-abf1c6974953.pdf#page=null
243. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to various instances of driving tests being delayed in some cases for several months; if he will instruct his Department to take necessary steps to ensure these delays are reduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13597/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra267. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport if a driving test appointment will be expedited for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14093/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra268. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport to examine a driving test application for a person (details supplied) as he is waiting over six months for a test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14106/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 243, 267 and 268 together.
Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the National Driver Testing Service. This includes all application and scheduling matters. Given the RSA's responsibility in this matter, I have referred the Deputies' questions to the RSA for direct, detailed reply. Please contact my private office if a response is not received within ten days. Pending this detailed response, on the issue of delays in obtaining a driving test more generally, I acknowledge that current waiting times are far in excess of what is acceptable and I would like to assure the Deputies that measures have been taken to address the issue. To support the RSA in increasing testing capacity and improving service delivery, in September 2024 my Department sanctioned an additional 70 permanent positions for driver testers. This increases the total permanent sanction for testers to 200, which represents a doubling of permanent posts since June 2022. As a condition of sanction, the RSA was required to put a plan in place to restore the 10-week waiting time target as soon as possible. I understand that recruitment is well underway, with offers being made to successful candidates . The first tranche of new testers started their training this month. As additional testers progressively enter the system and increase testing capacity, I expect that we will begin to see progress on reducing waiting times in the months ahead.
244. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport if it is the case that the electric vehicle grant for SPSVs is closed; the date on which it closed, and the reason for its closure; his plans to re-open this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13603/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 2025 Electric Small Public Service Vehicle Grant Scheme (eSPSV25), which was launched the 17th of February, has this year seen an unprecedented level of interest from taxi, hackney and limousine operators across Ireland.
This Scheme supports the uptake of EVs in the small public service vehicles sector and has a budget of €12.5m in 2025.
Due to the record number of applications, the eSPSV25 Grant Scheme is now fully subscribed. The National Transport Authority (NTA) will temporarily pause the scheme to review and process the eligible applications received. This was announced on the 13th of March 2025. Following assessment of the initial applications, the scheme may reopen later in the year.
245. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Transport to examine the possibility of allowing the Foynes to Limerick rail line to be used as part of a Limerick metropolitan rail network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13613/25]
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 responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure including, through engagement with Iarnród Éireann, certain rail project proposals.
Works are currently underway to reinstate rail freight services between Shannon-Foynes Port and Limerick city which is scheduled to open to rail freight traffic in 2026. This project is to restore rail freight services only. Upgrading the Foynes to Limerick rail line to enable passenger services would require additional works which would be subject to funding and approval.
Separately, the National Transport Authority and Iarnród Éireann are examining the potential to create a temporary platform on the Foynes line to support the hosting of the Ryder Cup at Adare Manor in 2027.
Noting the NTA's responsibility in this matter and the specific issue raised by the Deputy, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a more direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
246. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide an update on the All-Ireland Strategic Rail Review examination of track access charges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13618/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware, the All-Island Strategic Rail Review was led by my Department and the Department of Infrastructure in Northern Ireland and published in July of last year. The Review Report commits to 32 strategic recommendations over the period to 2050, including reducing track access charges for rail freight services. As Minister of Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding of public transport. Track access charges for access to the rail network are a matter for the Infrastructure Manager, Iarnród Éireann, in the first instance.
In view of Iarnród Éireann's role in this matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
247. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide a timeline for the delivery of the N69 Limerick to Foynes project, which needs to be completed by 2030 to ensure Foynes port remains on the European TEN-T network; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13619/25]
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, design 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. 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.
248. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Transport if and when Dundalk will be included in the Dublin commuter zone; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13666/25]
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 responsibility for the regulation of fares charged to passengers in respect of public transport services provided under public service obligation (PSO) contracts.
In their capacity as fare regulator, on the 27th of April 2023, the NTA published a new National Fares Strategy, and following this on the 18th of January 2024 they published the first of a series of Fares Determination related to the strategy.
The most significant change in the fare determination was the implementation of a new ‘Dublin Commuter Zone’ (extending from the outer edge of the Dublin City Zone to approximately 50 km from the centre of Dublin), with simplified Leap capping, as well as changes to some Intercity Rail and town bus fares. This represents a more consistent and equitable fares approach, and one that is easier for customers to understand.
This area was selected based on a review of future public transport network proposals, for example the implementation of DART+, along with analysis of ticket sales information to determine travel demand. Later Phases will include the introduction of free transfer flat fares in the regional cities and certain towns and distance-based fares for the rest of Ireland, outside towns and cities.
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.
249. Deputy Conor Sheehan asked the Minister for Transport for an update on a request by the Shannon Airport Group from 2022 seeking financial support to establish a route to Amsterdam under a Public Service Obligation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13701/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI would like to thank the Deputy for his interest in this matter. Shannon Airport Group made a submission to my Department seeking financial support to establish Public Service Obligation (PSO) air services to provide EU Hub Connectivity to airports such as Schiphol from Shannon Airport.
This request was considered in the context of the Mid-Term Review of the Regional Airports Programme. The potential impacts of supporting such a route on the Exchequer and also on similar routes operating on a commercial basis from other regional airports were carefully considered. Given the cost to the Exchequer and the fact that any Government intervention in this market could distort airlines competing on existing routes, a decision was taken not to support the imposition of a Government funded PSO from Shannon Airport. I understand that this decision was communicated by my Department to Shannon Airport in August 2024.
I understand that one of the high-level outcomes of the mid-term review announced in July 2024 was to consider the potential for the development of an Exchequer funded Start-up Aid Scheme for airlines to support strategic route development to and from the regions, including Shannon. I trust that this initiative will be welcomed by the Deputy and can advise that my Department is preparing to engage with the market in relation to the potential for such a scheme.
Finally, the Deputy may wish to note that European Hub connectivity from Shannon Airport to onward international destinations is already provided by commercial services operating from Shannon to London Heathrow as well as the more recent commercial service operating to Paris Charles de Gaulle which commenced in September 2023.
250. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport the progress made in identifying potential alternative flight paths for the north runway at Dublin Airport, as committed to at the Oireachtas Committee on Transport on 19 June 2024 (details supplied); the engagements by the Dublin Airport Authority in the process, including with technical experts, agencies and the local community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13754/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the deputy will be aware, daa has the statutory responsibility to operate, manage and develop Dublin Airport, including the operation of flight paths arising from the use of the North Runway.
As the matter raised in your question falls within the remit of daa, I have forwarded your question to daa for direct response. If the deputy does not receive a response within 10 working days please contact my private office.
251. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Transport his plans to expedite the process of drivers renewing their PSV licences, as delays have led to significant loss in earnings for these drivers (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13755/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry is a matter for the independent transport regulator, the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Consolidated Taxi Regulation Acts 2013 and 2016. I have no role in the day-to-day operations of the SPSV sector.
As set out in section 6 of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013, An Garda Síochána (AGS) is the driver licensing authority for SPSVs in Ireland, whilst the NTA licences suitable vehicles to operate as SPSVs. I am not involved in the granting or renewal of SPSV driver licences, as this responsibility rests with AGS and the Garda Commissioner.
Drivers can apply for renewal of their licence up to three months before the driver licence expires and the NTA sends out courtesy reminders advising drivers of this fact. This ensures that a driver licence does not expire and that updated driver identity and display cards are received from the NTA in time to continue working without interruption. It can take up to 12 weeks for a renewal to be processed by An Garda Síochána.
Irrespective of when a driver renews their driver licence, before its expiry date, the new date will be five years from the current expiry date. There is no disadvantage to starting the renewal process three months before that date. Renewal applications are processed by AGS and, if approved, an SPSV driver licence will be issued. The NTA will then process and issue the driver identity and display cards associated with that licence.
It is a criminal offence to operate without a current SPSV driver licence. A conviction for this offence attracts a penalty of up to €5,000.
252. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport the reason it became the policy of the Government or Transport Infrastructure Ireland to remove roundabouts throughout the country when they have worked perfectly. [13775/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra259. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport when it became Government or Transport Infrastructure Ireland policy to remove roundabouts throughout the country; the reason for same (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13880/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 252 and 259 together.
As Minister for Transport I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme. Once funding arrangements have been put in place with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), under the Roads Acts 1993-2015, and in line with the National Development Plan (NDP), the planning, design and construction of individual national roads is a matter for TII, in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. TII ultimately delivers the National Roads Programme in line with Project Ireland 2040, the National Planning Framework and the NDP.
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.
