Written Answers Nos. 359-380
359. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Transport the funding that has been allocated for maintenance and improvement of regional and local roads in county Meath in the current budget year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34458/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2026, Meath County Council was initially allocated a total of €26,862,000. Of this, €25,637,000 was allocated for the protection and renewal of Meath's regional and local roads.
In accordance with Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993, as amended, the improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority. Work on such roads is funded from Councils' own resources, supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of work to be funded is a matter for local authorities.
For 2026, €718 million was allocated, through State road grants, for the improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads, with approximately 90% of this funding allocated to road maintenance and renewal and the remainder directed towards new roads, bridges, and road realignments. This total allocation will facilitate an increase in funding of €26 million this year for road protection and renewal work.
All funding available through the 2026 Regional and Local Road Grant Programme was allocated to local authorities in February this year. Such allocations should supplement realistic contributions from local authorities’ own resources.
360. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider introducing additional park and ride facilities in Meath to ease congestion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34459/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) is leading the development and rollout of strategic park and ride sites nation-wide through the Park and Ride Development Office (PRDO).
In light of the above, I have forwarded the Deputy's questions to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within 10 working days.
Pending this more detailed response, the Programme for Government commits to working with local authorities and relevant agencies to develop affordable Park and Ride facilities on the outskirts of major towns and cities.
The NTA established the PRDO in February 2020 to enable and advance the delivery of strategic Park & Ride sites in collaboration with Local Authorities and transport agencies across all regions of the State by providing full time specialist resources on these projects. The PRDO published a Park & Ride Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area as part of the NTA Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area 2022-2027. The Strategy sets out the vision and objectives for Park & Ride and identified the zones for strategic Park & Ride sites in the region.
361. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Transport the plans in place to expand and improve rural bus services under the Transport for Ireland Network in villages such as Ballivor, Longwood and Kildalkey, in county Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34460/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister of State at the Department of Transport with special responsibility for Rural Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to rural public transport service provision; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally including the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan and TFI Local Link services. In light of the NTA responsibilities 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.
362. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Transport the current vehicles that are eligible for the disability toll exemption scheme; if his Department is giving any consideration to adding private vehicles where the passenger has a physical or mental disability to the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34479/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Disability Toll Exemption Scheme (DTES), established by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) allows disability modified vehicles that qualify for exemption under the Drivers and Passengers with Disabilities tax relief Scheme (known as the DDS) to be exempt from charges on Irish toll roads. The DDS is the responsibility of my colleague, the Tánaiste and Minister for Finance. TII will implement through the DTES any exemptions granted under the DDS. The Deputy may wish to raise this matter with the Tánaiste.
363. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport if he will review the case of a person (details supplied); if he will indicate whether a driving test appointment can be expedited given the circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34480/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the National Driver Testing Service, including all testing and scheduling matters. Neither I nor my Department hold information on, nor have the have the power to intervene in, individual cases.
I would advise the person to engage with the RSA directly in relation to this matter and to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.
364. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Transport whether he will examine the use of private wires, modular substations and depot based DC microgrids to accelerate the delivery of charging infrastructure for electric bus fleets; whether such systems could support depots in securing dedicated renewable electricity supply while wider grid reinforcement is being progressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34487/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra365. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Transport whether consideration is being given to permitting bus depots, Luas depots and other public transport facilities to utilise private wire connections to nearby renewable generation and storage infrastructure in order to provide dedicated charging capacity, reduce pressure on constrained local grids and improve energy resilience for public transport infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34491/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra366. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Transport whether his Department has engaged with the National Transport Authority, ESB Networks and the Commission for Regulation of Utilities on the potential use of modular substations, battery storage and depot based DC microgrids to prevent delays to the rollout of electric bus infrastructure and reduce the risk of publicly funded electric buses remaining out of service due to charging and grid connection delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34492/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 364, 365 and 366 together.
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 the planning and development of public transport infrastructure, including the provision and upgrade of public bus fleets and bus depots.
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 working days.
Pending a more detailed response, I note that electric buses are currently in operation in the urban public transport fleets in Dublin, Limerick and Athlone, including fully electric fleets in the latter two locations. There have been delays to the delivery of electric charging infrastructure to bus depots around Dublin, which has in turn prevented the ability of operators to absorb electric buses into their fleet. However, due to recent progress in installing electric charging guns in depots, these buses will exit storage in the coming months. Moreover, the NTA will shortly finalise a procurement framework with suppliers of bus charging infrastructure to expedite future installations across the country.
Significant efforts are underway by the NTA and transport operators to move electric buses into passenger service, and I look forward to the continued rollout of electric buses across Dublin and our other urban centres.
367. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Transport if the NTA will install Leap Card vending machines in both terminals of Dublin Airport and in Dublin Port. [34581/26]
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. 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, including the installation of Leap Card vending machines.
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.
368. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Transport for a detailed update on the progression and implementation of the 12 primary actions and 77 support actions of the Phase 2 Action Plan of the Road Safety Strategy; to highlight engagements with local authorities on the ongoing speed limits review and implementation of 2023 speed limit review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34587/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Phase 2 Action plan of the Government’s Road Safety Strategy was published by my Department in July of last year for the period 2025 – 2027. Delivering the Action Plan is a collaborative effort involving my Department, the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration together with An Garda Síochána, the Road Safety Authority, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, National Transport Authority, the Courts Service, Medical Bureau of Road Safety, Health and Safety Authority and the Local Authorities.
Key deliverables for this year include passing the National Vehicle and Driver File Bill 2025 to allow Local Authorities to resume accepting and processing collision data. The next Road Traffic Bill is also under development to advance Programme for Government commitments around graduated speeding penalties and the camera enforcement of mobile phone and seatbelt offences. We are also addressing the long-standing issue relating to repeat renewal of learner permits with regulations coming into effect this November.
On 29 April, I published the first National Safety Camera Strategy which provides a framework for increased deployment of cameras across the road network in urban and rural locations. A delivery focused Camera Enforcement Oversight Group will be established shortly to progress the strategy.
The Deputy might wish to know that this year €14 million has been allocated under the Low-Cost Safety Improvement Scheme to support small-scale engineering measures to address identified road safety issues, representing an increase of €1 million (approximately 8%) on 2025 allocations.
The NTA reports that in 2025 a total of 146km of active travel infrastructure has been delivered, along with 149 bus shelter upgrades. In addition, 315 junctions have been upgraded, exceeding initial expectations. In December 2025, 105 additional schools were added under round four of the Safe Routes to School programme.
I am pleased that the RSA has again ringfenced funding of €18 million for road safety awareness, education and promotional campaigns focused on making our roads safer for all road users, including and especially vulnerable road users.
As the Deputy will be aware Phase 1 of the Speed Limit Review was completed in February 2025, when the default speed limit on rural and local roads was reduced from 80km/h to 60km/h, impacting approximately 83,000km of Ireland’s 102,000km road network.
Phase 2 is underway and, following direction from Minister O'Brien, my Department issued a Circular with updated ‘Guidelines’ to local authorities in October 2025, directing them to implement the urban speed limit changes of 30km/h, where appropriate, to come into effect no later than 31st March 2027.
Phase 3 is to be commenced, subject to legislative amendments, and will provide for a reduction in the default speed limit on national secondary roads from 100km/h to 80km/h, where appropriate.
My Department, together with representatives from the Speed Limit Implementation Working Group, continues active engagement with the Association of Irish Local Government, which represents the 949 elected city and county councillors.
My focus as Minister, the focus of my Department and of all the road partners who we work with, is on the delivery of the Phase 2 Action Plan. This Action Plan was developed by road experts, based on Irish experience and looking at best practice in other countries.
369. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the implementing timeline of actions arising from the National Safety Camera Strategy; whether he will increase the number of static speed camera enforcement areas and red light camera locations nationwide; if there are plans in place or being considered to achieve this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34589/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra370. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the membership and ongoing work of the Camera Enforcement Oversight Group and the Road Safety Leadership Group; how frequently they have met since commencement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34591/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra371. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Transport the local authorities that have drawn down any of the €20 million made available for the procurement and installation of road safety signage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34592/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraFor 2026, as yet, there has been no allocation of funding to local authorities for the procurement and installation of speed limit signage for the implementation of the built-up and urban area speed limit changes.
In October 2025, my Department issued a circular directing local authorities to:
• confirm their initial estimate (pre-statutory public consultation) of the number of poles, signs, and periodic speed limit signs, they would require to implement the necessary changes, no later than 25th February 2026.
• conclude the adoption of special speed limit bye-law process no later than 30th October 2026.
• install all new poles and signs in advance of the new speed limits effective date, to ensure implementation of all urban speed limit changes by 31st March 2027.
Local authorities have been advised that the Department of Transport will confirm the grant that is to be made available to them, once they have confirmed the numbers of poles, signs, retention sockets, road markings, and periodic speed limit signs, that they will require following the conclusion of the bye-law process.
372. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Transport the specific actions that are being taken by his Department, and under what timeline, to revitalise and reinforce the Road Safety Authority; particularly in their role to strengthen road safety enforcement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34595/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Roads Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has the statutory responsibility for the promotion of public awareness of road safety and of measures, including the advancement of education, relating to the promotion of the safe use of roads. Enforcement of road traffic offences is first and foremost the responsibility of An Garda Síochána.
In 2024, my Department commissioned Indecon Economic Consultants to conduct an independent, external review of the RSA. This review was presented to Government and the report published in November 2024.
In total, the report made 34 recommendations. At the core of the recommendations was that the operational services run by the RSA should be separated from its research, media campaigns, partnerships and education programmes to improve road safety. A related recommendation was that the RSA’s public interest work should receive Exchequer subvention.
Since the publication of the review, RSA reform activities have been taken forward on a number of fronts. For the first time since 2012, the fees for certain RSA services increased on 1 January 2025 to raise additional revenue and improve the RSA’s financial position; €18m has been specifically ringfenced for annual investment in public interest work for 2025 and 2026; the Road Safety Communications Steering Group was established in December 2024; the Department of Transport took over central responsibility for the coordination of the Road Safety Strategy commencing with the publication of the Phase 2 Action Plan; and, a new Chair and three new ordinary members were appointed to the RSA board during 2025 with a stronger focus on the RSA’s operational mandate. A further four new ordinary members have been appointed to the Board this month.
I decided not to pursue the recommendation to separate out the RSA’s operational and public interest functions as I believe that reform can be delivered more efficiently and effectively from within the existing RSA organisational structure. I have directed my officials to prepare revised reform proposals in line with this decision and these will be presented to Government shortly.
Road safety is a core priority for me and the Government, and work is ongoing to deliver the targets set out in the Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030. The Phase 2 Action Plan 2025–2027 under the Strategy was published in July 2025 and identifies 12 primary and 77 support actions. These actions are being delivered through partnership and collaborative working by road safety experts and stakeholders including the RSA, An Garda Síochána, Transport Infrastructure Ireland, National Transport Authority, the Courts Service, Medical Bureau of Road Safety, Health and Safety Authority and Local Authorities.
373. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Transport whether he is aware of the frequency and duration of recent DART service curtailments for maintenance works, particularly on the northside of Dublin; the rationale for scheduling such works during peak periods including bank holiday weekends and major events; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34623/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra374. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Transport whether his Department has engaged with the National Transport Authority and Iarnród Éireann regarding the planning of alternative transport arrangements during DART service disruptions; the requirements that are in place to ensure adequate replacement bus capacity and frequency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34624/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra375. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Transport the advance planning and coordination mechanisms that exist between the National Transport Authority, transport operators and relevant stakeholders to mitigate the impact of planned rail maintenance works on commuters; whether the adequacy of alternative transport provision is assessed in advance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34625/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra376. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Transport whether any assessment has been carried out on the wider economic and social impact of repeated DART service disruptions, including the effect on commuter behaviour, city centre footfall and local businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34626/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 373, 374, 375 and 376 together.
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. As Minister for Transport, I continue to engage with all public transport operators on an ongoing basis in relation to maintaining high operational, maintenence, and safety standards.
The query raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for Iarnród Éireann. I have, therefore, referred the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
377. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Transport to provide further testing staff to the drivers licence test centre in Killarney given the wait time is over four months currently (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34632/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra378. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Transport to provide a detailed waiting time for driver licence tests in Kerry, by area, as in Killarney, Tralee, Castleisland and so on, for each of the years 2023 to 2025 and to date in 2026, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34633/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 377 and 378 together.
Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the National Driver Testing Service. Therefore, the information requested by the Deputy is held by the Authority. Given the RSA's responsibility in this matter, I have referred the Deputy's questions to the RSA for direct response. Please contact my office if a reply is not received within ten days.
Pending this response, the latest information to provided to me by the RSA indicates that as of 30 April, the average waiting time for a driving test in Kerry was 15-weeks at each of the test centres, Tralee and Killarney. While this is an improvement on the average wait time at the end of April 2025 it is still above the Service Level Agreement target of an average wait time of 10 weeks.
Regarding driver testers, I am informed by the RSA that as of 30 April, 191 testers were operational, a significant increase since the start of 2025 when the number of testers was 151. The RSA is working to reach its full complement of 200 testers, subject to the training and onboarding of new recruits. In addition the RSA has indicated that in order to manage demand effectively at national level, driver testers although formally assigned to specific centres can be and are deployed to other locations as required. This is an operational matter for the RSA.
The Deputy may wish to note that detailed statistics on the National Driver Testing Service, including driving tester distribution and driving test waiting times, are made available on the CSO website on a monthly basis and can be accessed via the following link: https://data.cso.ie/product/rsadts.
379. Deputy Ann Graves asked the Minister for Transport to ensure that Fingal County Council installs safe paths and cycle lanes in Chapel Road, Kinsealy, County Dublin to ensure residents have safe access to schools, train stations and bus stops. [34668/26]
Amharc ar fhreagra380. Deputy Ann Graves asked the Minister for Transport to ensure that Fingal County Council installs safe paths and cycle lanes in Chapel Road, Kinsealy, County Dublin to ensure residents have safe access to schools, train stations and bus stops (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34700/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 379 and 380 together.
As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to Active Travel infrastructure. The National Transport Authority (NTA) along with the relevant local authorities are responsible for the development and delivery of individual projects.
The Government has committed around €360 million per annum to walking and cycling to the end of the decade. The vast majority of this funding is allocated to the National Transport Authority (NTA) through the Department of Transport for its Active and Sustainable Transport Investment Programme.
In general, the main focus of active travel investment will be to support high quality walking and cycling infrastructure, for everyday trips, in villages, towns and cities, particularly in designated growth settlements, with a view to promoting the greatest potential modal shift to active travel.
Of the 2026 funding, Fingal County Council have received €23.5 million. As part of the allocations determination, the NTA liaises with each local authority to fully understand the projects being proposed by the local authority and its considerations in terms of priorities.
Given the ramping up of activities over the last few years in the Active Travel area, the number of projects being progressed now exceeds the level of funding made available to the NTA. Accordingly, the NTA is unable to fully fund all proposed Active Travel projects and has to prioritise certain projects over others in order to remain within its allocated budget. While a project may not be selected by the NTA for funding in a particular year, it may be funded in subsequent years.
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.
