Written Answers Nos. 141-161
141. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Transport the total fleet number of Bus Éireann Expressway buses; the number that have onboard toilet facilities in each of the past five years and to date in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32091/26]
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 service is a commercial bus service 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.
142. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Transport if he will intervene on behalf of a person (details supplied) in County Clare who has been trying to obtain a logbook for a moped for a number of years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32161/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister of State for International & Road Transport, Logistics, Rail & Ports, I wish to advise that the registration number provided is not registered on the National Driver Vehicle File database. We would require further information from the vehicle owner in order to investigate further. If Deputy Crowe wishes to make contact with his constituent and provide contact details, my Department will be happy to discuss the details with the vehicle owner.
143. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport to confirm whether the designated email account (details supplied) remains active and monitored for correspondence from public representatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32169/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra144. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport the average response time for appeals and queries received through the designated email account (details supplied) in 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026. [32170/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra145. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport the number of emails received through the designated email account (details supplied) in 2024, 2025 and to date in 2026 remained unanswered after ten working days and after 20 working days. [32171/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra146. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport whether an automatic acknowledgement is issued for emails received through the designated email account (details supplied); and if not, the reason. [32172/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra147. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Transport whether he accepts that delays or failure to respond to public representative appeals through the designated email account (details supplied) obstructs constituency casework and may result in individuals being left without valid driving licences, permits or access to essential services; and the steps being taken to ensure timely responses. [32173/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 143, 144, 145, 146 and 147 together.
Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the National Driver Licence Service.
I have therefore referred the Deputy's question to the RSA for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.
149. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware that an airline (details supplied) recently decided to require passengers to produce passports or passport cards when travelling on its routes within the common travel area (CTA); whether the documents which can be required by an airline in this manner is currently governed by legislation or by regulations issued by his Department; his views on whether the continued and now increasing requirements for Irish citizens to produce passports or passport cards travelling within the CTA both at departure from Ireland and arrival in Ireland reduces the notion of the CTA to a mockery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32224/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile I have overall responsibility for transport policy, including aviation, it is not within my remit to intervene in the operational matters of private commercial airlines. Decisions regarding identification requirements for boarding are a matter for individual airlines.
While I understand that, in the past, the airline accepted a wider range of photographic identification, this practice was applied at the airline’s discretion rather that under any statutory obligation. Airlines are entitled to set their own conditions of carriage, including the forms of identification they require for travel, provided these are consistent with application law.
Under the CTA framework, there is no legal requirement for British and Irish citizens to carry passports when travelling between the UK and Ireland.
However, legal authorisation to enter a country does not in itself necessarily satisfy airline boarding requirements. Airlines operate under their own conditions of carriage and exercise discretion regarding acceptable boarding documentation. They may require documentation that exceeds minimum legal requirements.
150. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 333 of 20 January 2026, the way proceedings taken by a private citizen against a semi-State body can override the Minister's constitutional responsibility to answer questions in Dáil Éireann on decisions made by him, in line with Article 28.4.1 of the Constitution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32226/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI wish to thank the Deputy for her question. As the matters raised in your PQ of 20 January 2026 were subject to an ongoing legal proceedings, in line with the Standing Orders of the Dáil Éireann it would have been inappropriate for me to comment at that time.
151. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport the number of protected disclosures that have gone missing or have been compromised that have been submitted to his Department or State bodies that are responsible to his Department. [32297/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraNeither I nor my Department comment on individual Protected Disclosure cases, in order to protect both the integrity of those cases and the identity of reporting persons.
Any report of potential wrongdoing which is received by my Department is handled in accordance with its Protected Disclosures: Policies and Procedures document, which aligns with both the Protected Disclosures Act 2014 and with best practice guidelines such as those issued by my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation.
These policies and procedures require that all such cases are addressed until they reach an appropriate conclusion under the Act.
Additionally, individual agencies under the aegis of my Department all operate their own Protected Disclosures policies and processes as public sector organisations. Again, to protect the integrity of those cases and the identity of reporting persons in accordance with the Protected Disclosures Act, the details of individual cases are not published or reported to my Department directly, but only as number and type of case received.
152. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Transport for confirmation that the current programme for the Mallow relief road remains on schedule, particularly in relation to the submission of the Preliminary Business Case in Q2 2026. [32374/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra153. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Transport for an updated projected timeline for progression through planning and towards construction of the Mallow relief road [32375/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra154. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Transport for confirmation of ongoing and future funding commitments required to ensure the Mallow relief road advances without delay. [32376/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 152, 153 and 154 together.
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 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 on the status of this project.
I can confirm that €600,000 has been allocated for the N72/N73 Mallow Relief Road scheme in 2026.
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.
155. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Transport whether interim measures will be funded to reduce traffic congestion in Mallow pending the construction of the Mallow relief road. [32377/26]
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 in relation to traffic congestion in Mallow pending the construction of the N72/N73 Mallow Relief Road.
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.
156. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Transport if his Department will support the deployment of average-speed cameras on high-risk routes within 12 months given Ireland is one of the only developed countries without a functioning network, despite overwhelming evidence that they reduce fatalities. [32392/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraEnforcement of road traffic offences, such as speeding, is the primary responsibility of An Garda Síochána. This includes enforcement of speeding laws through the use of cameras.
To assist An Garda Siochána in these activities the National Safety Camera Strategy was published on 29 April as agreed by the Road Safety Leadership Group, which is driving implementation of the Road Safety Strategy. This Strategy provides the framework for the 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. It focuses on speeding, red light running, and bus lane infringements, with flexibility for the enforcement of other types of offence in future.
The Strategy sets out a partnership approach for camera deployment and enforcement between An Garda Síochána, Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) and the National Transport Authority (NTA). It proposes that TII takes responsibility for the management of fixed and average speed cameras, in partnership with An Garda Síochána, who will continue to be responsible for the enforcement of camera-detected speed offences. The NTA will assume the primary responsibility - both management and enforcement functions - for urban traffic management offences. This approach provides an effective structure through which the most progress can be made on the deployment of road safety camera systems in the near-term and was developed by an inter-agency working group led by TII.
A delivery focused Camera Enforcement Oversight Group (CEOG) will be established, comprising senior leaders from AGS, NTA, TII, RSA, the Courts Service and the Local Authority sector. The Group will be responsible for progressing the Strategy. This Group will report to the Road Safety Leadership on its progress. The Strategy aligns with Programme for Government Commitments to expand the use of safety cameras across the road network. It also delivers on part one of Action 6 of the Government’s Road Safety Strategy Phase 2 Action Plan.
It should be noted that camera enforcement has been increasing. Since late 2024, An Garda Síochána with the assistance of TII and local authorities has installed three additional average speed camera zones and nine static camera locations. This means that there are now five average safety cameras and nine static safety cameras in operation across the network. In addition, there are also 9,000 hours of AGS GoSafe monitoring carried out on our roads each month.
157. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Transport if his Department will support a funded national programme to redesign the 50 highest-risk road sections with published timelines (details supplied). [32393/26]
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 grants.
My Department funds Network Safety Analysis of the Regional and Local Road Network across the country. Using available collision datasets high collision locations are identified and Locations of Interest (LoIs) reports are produced.
These LoI reports are then issued to the relevant local authority and form the basis for application for funding under the Safety Improvement Schemes Grant. In 2026 my Department allocated €14 million in Safety Improvement Schemes Grant to the sector, which is funding over 330 low cost safety schemes nationally and is an 8% increase over the 2025 allocation.
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 in relation to road traffic accident black spots on National Roads.
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.
158. Deputy Gillian Toole asked the Minister for Transport the information his Department has received from the Aircraft Noise Competent Authority (ANCA) on the number of enforcement actions taken since ANCA's establishment under the Aircraft Noise (Dublin Airport) Regulation Act 2019; and whether he is satisfied that ANCA, which is embedded within Fingal County Council and funded by a levy paid by the airport operator under section 5 of the 2019 Act, meets the independence requirements of Article 3(2) of EU Regulation 598/2014. [32405/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraDeputy, I refer to the response provided to you in my recent reply of 30 April 2026 to Dáil Question No: 247, which comprehensively clarified my position regarding the independence of the Aircraft Noise Competent Authority (ANCA), and which also explained that it is not unusual for a regulatory body to be funded by an entity it is responsible for regulating, in the form of a levy or charge on that entity.
Regarding ANCA enforcement actions, I can confirm that ANCA has taken no enforcement actions under Part 4 of the Aircraft Noise (Dublin Airport) Regulation Act 2019.
159. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Transport if Leap card fares will increase as part of Budget 2027; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32418/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraImproving the accessibility, reliability, and affordability of public transport, while ensuring the system remains well-funded and responsive to passenger needs, is a core priority under the Programme for Government. The National Transport Authority (NTA), which regulates fares for services provided under Public Service Obligation (PSO) contracts, plays a central role in achieving this.
Sustained and increasing investment in the PSO programme over the last few years has led to record public transport usage in 2025, with passenger numbers more than 23% above pre-Covid levels, alongside expanded network coverage connecting over 240 towns and villages.
In this context, we secured an unprecedented allocation of €940 million for PSO services in Budget 2026, a significant 43% uplift in the allocation from Budget 2025. This allocation ensures that existing public transport services can operate reliably and sustainably throughout the year in the face of growing passenger demand and increased operational costs. The 2026 allocation maintains targeted fares initiatives such as the recently introduced free travel for all children up to the age of 9 and the Young Adult Card for those aged 19-25, as part of the NTA's National Fares Strategy.
Under the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008, the NTA has the statutory responsibility for regulating fares for services provided under PSO contracts, and publishes an annual Fares Determination. As such, any future Fares Determination is a matter for the NTA.
I can assure the Deputy that this Government is committed to delivering an accessible, reliable and affordable public transport system for all our citizens.
160. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Transport if he has met with the NTA to discuss their upcoming allocation as part of Budget 2027; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32419/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraImproving the accessibility, reliability, and affordability of public transport, while ensuring the system remains well-funded and responsive to passenger needs, is a core priority under the Programme for Government. While my Department sets the overall policy direction and funding framework for the delivery of public transport services nationwide, it is the NTA that have the statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally.
Sustained and increasing investment in the PSO programme over the last few years has led to record public transport usage in 2025, with passenger numbers more than 23% above pre-Covid levels, alongside expanded network coverage connecting over 240 towns and villages.
In this context, we secured an unprecedented allocation of €940 million for PSO services in Budget 2026, a significant 43% uplift in the allocation from Budget 2025. This allocation ensures that existing public transport services can operate reliably and sustainably throughout the year in the face of growing passenger demand and increased operational costs. The 2026 allocation maintains targeted fares initiatives such as the recently introduced free travel for all children up to the age of 9 and the Young Adult Card for those aged 19-25, as part of the NTA's National Fares Strategy.
In terms of engagement, my officials regularly meet with the NTA at monthly monitoring meetings; quarterly corporate governance meetings; the newly established PSO Oversight Group; various Working Groups; and at ad-hoc meetings as the need arises. As Minister for Transport, I also regularly engage with the NTA on a range of public transport matters.
I can assure the Deputy that this Government is committed to delivering an accessible, reliable and affordable public transport system for all our citizens.
161. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport the total number of road fatalities recorded in the State for each of the years 2023, 2024 and 2025, broken down by road user category (driver, passenger, pedestrian, cyclist, motorcyclist), in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32486/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra162. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport the total number of road fatalities recorded in the State for each of the years 2023, 2024 and 2025, broken down by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32487/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 161 and 162 together.
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has a statutory remit to report on fatal, serious and minor injury collisions on public roads. The RSA receives collision data from An Garda Síochána for this purpose and produces official statistics to help develop evidence-based road safety interventions.
Given the RSA's responsibility in this matter, I have referred the Deputy's questions 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.
