Emer Currie
Ceist:373. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport for an update on traffic lights (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11877/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraRoad Signage
Ceisteanna (373)
Freagraí scríofa
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 BusConnects.
BusConnects is a transformative programme of investments in the bus services across five cities in Ireland, including Dublin.
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 Orders.
Departmental Projects
Ceisteanna (374)
Roderic O'Gorman
Ceist:374. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Transport the projects, if any, which he has designated under s.20 of the Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Act 2024; the dates of their designation; and to supply a copy of the designations. [11885/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
One project, the The MetroLink Project, is currently pending designation under section 20 of the Future Ireland Fund and Infrastructure, Climate and Nature Fund Act 2024.
The text of the designation will be available in the coming weeks.
Parking Provision
Ceisteanna (375)
Michael Cahill
Ceist:375. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Transport to issue a disabled drivers permit to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11919/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Disabled parking permits are available to people living in Ireland whose mobility is severely restricted, whether they are drivers or passengers, as well as to those who are registered blind. The scheme is administered by the Disabled Drivers Association of Ireland and the Irish Wheelchair Association.
Neither I nor my Department have any role in the day-to-day administration of the scheme or the processing of permits. Accordingly, I cannot intervene in, nor comment upon, any individual case.
Departmental Data
Ceisteanna (376)
Malcolm Byrne
Ceist:376. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Transport the systems in place to agree performance metrics of Chief Executives of agencies within the aegis of his Department; the way in which these are measured; the person or body that carries out the assessment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11968/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
There are 12 commercial bodies and 5 non-commercial bodies under the aegis of the Department of Transport, which are governed by the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies 2016 (The Code). In accordance with the principles of the Code, high standards of corporate governance are of critical importance within State Bodies. This is primarily a matter for each board, with my Department providing oversight to ensure good governance is achieved across a broad range of activities.
In response to the Deputy’s question, it is the Board of each agency that assesses the performance of its CEO.
This is outlined in Section 1.7 of the Code, which sets out matters for decision of the Board, including the appointment, remuneration and assessment of the performance of the CEO.
National Transport Authority
Ceisteanna (377)
Jennifer Whitmore
Ceist:377. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport the oversight the NTA currently has of the systems used by app-based dispatch operators, that are now algorithm-driven platforms; whether he proposes to mandate full audit access to the NTA; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11990/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The 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.
Accordingly, I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you have not received a reply within 10 working days.
Departmental Regulations
Ceisteanna (378)
Jennifer Whitmore
Ceist:378. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport if his Department has considered introducing regulatory models recommended by agencies such as Transport for London, which has called for enhanced statutory access to platform data, to address the lack of mandatory data-sharing obligations for dispatch operators; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11991/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The 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.
Accordingly, I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you have not received a reply within 10 working days.
Legislative Measures
Ceisteanna (379)
Jennifer Whitmore
Ceist:379. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Transport whether legislative measures are planned to ensure full regulatory visibility of pricing and fee structures for taxi ride-booking apps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11992/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The 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.
Accordingly, I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you have not received a reply within 10 working days.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Orders.
Departmental Inquiries
Ceisteanna (380)
Thomas Gould
Ceist:380. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Transport his views on the proposal to make the BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) delivery drone zone over Cork City permanent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12019/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA), the civil aviation regulator, is responsible for the regulation of Irish airspace and ensuring it is used safely and efficiently. To achieve this, the IAA certifies Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs), who manage specific areas of airspace designated to them for the provision of services such as Air Traffic Control (ATC). Any aircraft operating in the control zone is subject to entry conditions. AirNav Ireland manages access to Cork ATC control zone.
The IAA and AirNav Ireland are independent State bodies that are committed to maintaining the highest safety standards and balancing the needs of all airspace users.
I understand the AirNav Ireland has applied to the IAA requesting the establishment of a UAS Geographical Zone (UGZ) in the Cork Air Traffic Control Zone. A UGZ is a portion of airspace with specific rules for UAS/drone operations. There are already number of UGZ established for safety reasons in Irish airspace and these are regularly reviewed.
Currently, below certain heights, a UAS/drone pilot may operate in the Cork ATC control zone without seeking an entry permission from AirNav Ireland. With the introduction of the new UGZ, a pilot must coordinate, in advance, with Cork ATC by submitting a form to AirNav Ireland. This is required to ensure the safety of all UAS/drones operations within the Cork ATC control zone.
The request for the establishment of a UGZ is on foot of an application to AirNav Ireland from a drone delivery company to conduct beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations within the Cork Control Zone. The proposed UAS Geographical Zone will allow routine BVLOS operations in Cork City to continue while maintaining a high level of safety. The IAA has initiated a public consultation on the proposal for a permanent UGZ over Cork City and is seeking input from aviation stakeholders and airspace users in the Cork Air Traffic Control Zone.
Maintaining the highest standards of safety in Irish aviation continues to be the priority objective of Irish aviation policy.
Departmental Inquiries
Ceisteanna (381)
Emer Currie
Ceist:381. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport to consider additional capacity on a service (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12097/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As 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 planning and 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 query to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
Departmental Data
Ceisteanna (382, 383)
Ken O'Flynn
Ceist:382. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport whether his Department accepts that the Road Safety Authority data supplied in reply to Question No. 242 of 2026 shows an increase in serious injuries involving scrambler bikes on public roads between 2022 and 2025; whether his Department has conducted any trend analysis of this data; and if he will publish any such analysis. [12117/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraKen O'Flynn
Ceist:383. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport whether his Department or the Road Safety Authority holds or has access to data on serious injuries and fatalities involving scrambler bikes and off-road vehicles in public places other than public roads, including parks, housing estates and green spaces; if not, whether he will direct that such data be collated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12118/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 382 and 383 together.
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has a statutory remit to report on fatal, serious and minor injury collisions on public roads only. The RSA receives collision data from An Garda Síochána for this purpose and produces official statistics to help develop evidence-based road safety interventions.
I am aware of the analysis carried out by the RSA of scramblers involved in fatal and serious injury collisions on public roads over the last five years, which shows an increase in road users seriously injured in a collision where a scrambler was involved. As the Deputy is aware, I intend to introduce regulations as a matter of urgency to further prohibit the use of scramblers in any public place and strengthen the existing enforcement powers that An Garda Síochána has in relation to the dangerous use of scramblers and powers of seizure.
These regulations will help bring additional legal clarity to the existing position that scramblers are banned for use on the road in almost all cases. It is my intention that the regulations will close any cases where scrambler use may previously have been legal outside of appropriate off-road settings by implementing a total ban on all scrambler use in any public place and will:
• Explicitly prohibit the use of vehicles such as scramblers in any place where their use is non-appropriate and the public might be present.
• Make the mere use of a vehicle such as a scrambler in these locations an offence, building on the current position where a member of An Garda Síochána has to form a reasonable belief about dangerous use before it can be seized.
My Department is working with the Office of the Attorney General and the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel with a view to making these regulations within a matter of weeks. I also propose to impose greater financial penalties on seized vehicles to reduce the number that re-enter circulation.
Question No. 383 answered with Question No. 382.
Legislative Measures
Ceisteanna (384, 385, 386)
Ken O'Flynn
Ceist:384. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport the status of the proposed legislation commonly referred to as “Grace’s Law” to prohibit the use of scramblers and similar off-road vehicles in public places; the expected date of publication of the Bill; the proposed commencement timeline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12119/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraKen O'Flynn
Ceist:385. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport whether his Department has examined policy options to restrict the retail sale or supply of non-type-approved scrambler bikes for use by minors; whether any such proposals are under consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12120/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraKen O'Flynn
Ceist:386. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport whether, in light of the number of pedestrians and cyclists seriously injured in collisions involving scrambler bikes, his Department has assessed the wider public safety implications beyond road users; and the measures being developed to address these risks. [12121/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I propose to take Questions Nos. 384, 385 and 386 together.
As the Deputy is aware, I intend to introduce regulations as a matter of urgency to further prohibit the use of scramblers and strengthen the existing enforcement powers that An Garda Síochána has in relation to the dangerous use of scramblers and powers of seizure.
These regulations will help bring additional legal clarity to the existing position that scramblers are banned for use on the road in almost all cases. It is my intention that the regulations will close any cases where scrambler use may previously have been legal outside of appropriate off-road settings by implementing a total ban on all scrambler use in any public place and will:
• Explicitly prohibit the use of vehicles such as scramblers in any place where their use is non-appropriate and the public might be present.
• Make the mere use of a vehicle such as a scrambler in these locations an offence, building on the current position where a member of An Garda Síochána has to form a reasonable belief about dangerous use before it can be seized.
My Department is working with the Office of the Attorney General and the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel with a view to making these regulations within a matter of weeks. I also propose to impose greater financial penalties on seized vehicles to reduce the number that re-enter circulation.
Finally, in relation to the Deputy’s question on restrictions on the sale or supply of non-type approved scrambler bikes for use by minors, section 30 of the Road Traffic Act 2004 prohibits the supply of mechanically propelled vehicles, such as scramblers, to persons under the age of 16. Under this section, ‘supply’ includes sale, gifting or otherwise making the vehicle available to a person.
Question No. 385 answered with Question No. 384.
Question No. 386 answered with Question No. 384.
Question No. 387 answered with Question No. 357.
Question No. 388 answered with Question No. 357.
Question No. 389 answered with Question No. 357.