Peter Fitzpatrick
Question:222. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Transport to provide information in relation to lighting the M1 motorway (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22604/23]
View answerRoad Safety
Questions (222)
Written answers
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 Public Spending Code 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.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 51
Parking Provision
Questions (223, 224)
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
Question:223. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Transport if funding will be provided for the remarking of the car park at the front of a station (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22380/23]
View answerJennifer Murnane O'Connor
Question:224. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Transport if Iarnród Éireann plans to provide additional train service between Dublin Heuston and Waterford in both directions on Sundays and Bank Holidays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22381/23]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 223 and 224 together.
As the 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 issues raised by the Deputy regarding the remarking of the car park at Kilkenny Station and plans to provide additional train services between Dublin Heuston and Waterford are operational matters for Iarnród Éireann, and I have therefore forwarded the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply.
Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 51
Question No. 224 answered with Question No. 223.
Motor Fuels
Questions (225)
Aindrias Moynihan
Question:225. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Transport if he is has considered maintaining a supply of E5 fuel after 1 July 2023 for owners of older petrol vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22402/23]
View answerWritten answers
The move to E10 as the standard grade of petrol in Ireland was signalled in November 2021 when I published the Renewable Fuel for Transport Policy Statement 2021-2023. Following a 28-day statutory consultation period on the draft regulations and consideration of responses and stakeholder feedback the regulations were made on 1 April 2023 establishing a minimum 5.5% ethanol in petrol placed upon the market by renewable transport fuel obligation account holders.
Through the consultation on the regulations many submissions were received from respondents identifying as classic or vintage car owners or enthusiasts, i.e. 70 submissions or 90% of submissions received on the regulations; rather than submissions from owners of older vehicles used for day-to-day transportation.
In the first instance there should be no concern about the move to E10. The experience from those jurisdictions where E10 and higher ethanol blends have been used widely for a prolonged period of time has not indicated issues of damage to vehicles as a result. On the contrary, recent analysis published on the website of the US Department of Energy indicates no reliability or operability issues concerning E10, which has been in use in the US since the late 70s.
Concerning continued supply of E5 in Ireland, consultation with industry prior to making the regulations indicated that, unlike the UK and Northern Ireland, the vast majority of suppliers do not have the storage or distribution systems to supply both an E5 and an E10 petrol grade at forecourts in Ireland. It would not be reasonable to mandate investment to provide additional refuelling infrastructure for continued supply of E5 when there would be a very small and declining demand for the fuel, and investment plans are focussed on electrification and charging infrastructure.
However, the regulations will not prevent any independent or specialist fuel supplier from placing an E5 blend of petrol on the market, if sufficient demand exists. After 1 July when the regulations are to be operational E5 supply will not, however, be eligible for renewable transport fuel obligation (RTFO) certificates.
Moving to E10 will bring an immediate climate-change mitigation measure using the existing vehicle fleet as Ethanol (E5) in petrol currently accounts for almost 10% of annual tailpipe carbon emission savings (8.5% in 2022). The policy and regulation supporting the move to E10 takes into account the over-riding consideration of the public good in decarbonising transport through increasing biofuels.
The regulations will be kept under review within the context of the development and implementation of the Renewable Transport Fuel Policy 2023-2025 the draft of which remains open to consultation until 26 May.
National Car Test
Questions (226)
Carol Nolan
Question:226. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Transport the reason the National Car Test Service requires the owner of a vehicle to present a driver's licence or public services card at test centres in order to be given their NCT certificate and disc; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22449/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Road Traffic (National Car Test) Regulations 2017 (SI 415 of 2017), provide the legal basis under which proof of identification is required by an NCT test centre when a vehicle is presented for roadworthiness testing. The Regulations permit a test centre to withhold a vehicle’s test certificate until identification has been produced. The Data Protection Commissioner has deemed a driving licence to be the most appropriate form of identification for this purpose, as a driver is required to produce a driving licence when operating a vehicle in a public place.
The Regulations also permit the details from the identification to be recorded by a test centre. The data recorded is held for 12 months and then deleted. As the Data Protection Commissioner would not permit recording and retention of passport details, the use of a passport for identification was discontinued. If a driving license cannot be produced at the test centre, a Public Services Card may be used.
Road Safety
Questions (227)
Maurice Quinlivan
Question:227. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Transport the safety measures, if any, that are being considered to ensure the safety of pedestrians and cyclist road users due to the high volume of HGVs driving along the N20 through the town of Charleville. [22489/23]
View answerWritten answers
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 Public Spending Code 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.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 51
National Transport Authority
Questions (228)
Neasa Hourigan
Question:228. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Transport if he will outline a timeline for when the National Transport Authority will produce recommendations on the development of camera-based enforcement at junctions and for management of bus/cycle lanes; when its report will be finalised and provided to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22590/23]
View answerWritten answers
The information requested relates to Action 67 of the Government's Road Safety Strategy, for which the National Transport Authority has been delegated with lead responsibility.
I have therefore referred the Deputy's 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
Pension Provisions
Questions (229)
Cormac Devlin
Question:229. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide an update on correspondence and meetings by his officials around the CIÉ 1951 Pension Scheme; if he will confirm that no changes will be made the underlying statutory instrument until there has been full consultation with stakeholders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22609/23]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy may be aware, the CIÉ Group is actively engaged in introducing changes to their pension schemes aimed at rectifying the significant deficit in order to meet the statutory Minimum Funding Standard required by the Pensions Authority. The changes also aim to sustain the pension schemes into the long-term.
The Balance Sheet deficit at the end of 2021 for the two defined benefit pension schemes operated by CIÉ, namely the Regular Wages Scheme (“RWS”) and 1951 superannuation scheme (“1951 Scheme”), was €846m. Officials in my Department are actively engaging with CIÉ in relation to the 2022 end of year position and have been advised by CIÉ that these figures will be finalised in the coming weeks when the Scheme Actuary submits an Actuarial Funding Certificate and a Funding Standard Reserve Certificate to the Pensions Authority reflecting the updated Balance Sheet position.
In relation to CIÉ's Regular Wages Scheme (RWS), I signed three Statutory Instruments related to the RWS on 6th July 2022, with an operative date of 18th July 2022.
In regards to the 1951 Scheme, CIÉ has prepared and submitted a draft SI to give effect to Labour Court recommendations for the 1951 Scheme, as passed by ballot of trade union members in May 2021. This is being considered by my Department in conjunction with NewERA. The Deputy may also be aware that the rules governing the 1951 scheme are currently subject to ongoing legal proceedings before the Commercial Court. The Hearing commenced on 24 May 2022 for 4 days and the outcome from the Hearing is expected in the coming months.
As issues in relation to CIÉ pension schemes are primarily a matter for the trustees of the schemes, the CIÉ Group and their employees, I have referred the Deputy's question to CIÉ for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 51
Road Projects
Questions (230)
Carol Nolan
Question:230. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Transport to provide in tabular form the funding provided to local authorities for the Non-National Roadworks Programme in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22615/23]
View answerWritten answers
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 Councils' own resources supplemented by State Road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the local authority.
As regards the regional and local road grant funding allocated to each local authority in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, details of the regional and local road grant allocations to local authorities are outlined in the Regional and Local Road Allocations Booklets which are available in the Oireachtas Library.
As regards the funding drawn down by each local authority in 2020, 2021 and 2022, this is reflected in the Regional and Local Road Payments Booklets which are also available in the Oireachtas Library.
Driver Test
Questions (231)
Michael McNamara
Question:231. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Transport when a person (details supplied) will be facilitated with a driving test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22641/23]
View answerWritten answers
The Road Safety Authority has statutory responsibility for all aspects of the National Driving Test service, including test applications and scheduling matters. Neither I nor my Department have the power to intervene in individual cases.
I have therefore referred the Deputy's 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
National Car Test
Questions (232)
Peter Burke
Question:232. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Transport if a case for an NCT refund will be reviewed in light of the cancellation policy (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22701/23]
View answerWritten answers
The operation of the National Car Testing Service (NCTS) is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and I have no function in relation to individual cases. I have referred the Deputy's query 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
Public Transport
Questions (233)
Paul Murphy
Question:233. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of the persistent issue of unreliable Luas service on the Saggart line, with issues including schedules that are not being followed and Luas trams that are being diverted or frequently cancelled; if he will work with a company (details supplied) to create a permanent resolution to the problem and request more direct Luas services between Saggart and the Point during peak and off-peak hours and on weekends; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22759/23]
View answerWritten answers
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 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 light of the Authority's responsibility in this area, I have forwarded the Deputy's question in relation to the Luas service on the Saggart line, to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 51
Public Transport
Questions (234)
Paul Murphy
Question:234. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of the difficulties faced by elderly people who are not computer literate and find it difficult to pre-book tickets and parking online before a journey; if he will ensure that the NTA introduces a designated person in each station to assist with these queries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22760/23]
View answerWritten answers
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 issue raised by the Deputy in relation to the introduction of a designated person to assist with the pre-booking of tickets and parking before a journey is a matter for the individual transport operators.
I have, therefore, referred the Deputy's question to Irish Rail, Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann and Go-Ahead Ireland for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
A referred reply was forwarded to the Deputy under Standing Order 51
Ports Policy
Questions (235, 236)
Louise O'Reilly
Question:235. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Transport when boats (details supplied) will be inspected by the Port State Control under the Paris Memorandum of Understanding. [22794/23]
View answerLouise O'Reilly
Question:236. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Transport the reason a harbour master (details supplied) has not received a response to a communication from November 2022 seeking an update as to when boats would be inspected by the Port State Control under the Paris Memorandum of Understanding. [22796/23]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 235 and 236 together.
The Marine Survey office of my Department has now contacted the Harbour Master in Fingal County Council in relation to the communication from November 2022.
Ireland is a member of the Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control, Paris MoU. The requirements of the Paris MoU are set out in European Union Directive 2009/16/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 on port State control, as amended. This is transposed into Irish law by means of the Statutory Instrument No. 656/2010 - European Communities (Port State Control) Regulations 2010, as amended.
Port State Control under the auspices of the Paris MoU applies to the inspection of foreign flagged vessels within the port of a state other than that of the flag state. The Paris MoU carries out inspections on merchant ships falling within the scope of the relevant instruments which include the main international shipping conventions. Fishing vessels are not currently within the scope of the Paris MoU.
In relation to the harbours of Balbriggan, Skerries, Loughshinny and Rush, these are mainly used by small Irish flagged vessels and such vessels do not come within the remit of the Paris MoU.
The MSO is the Competent Authority for port state control in Ireland. Under the Paris MoU all ships are assigned an inspection priority of P0, PII or PI depending on their risk profile. Should a ship falling within the scope of these requirement use any Irish port then they are included within the overall port state control selection mechanism and are inspected by the MSO in accordance with their profile. It is understood that the harbours under the jurisdiction of Fingal County Council are unlikely to receive such vessels. However, if they did then they would come within the remit of Paris MoU inspections.
Question No. 236 answered with Question No. 235.
Public Transport
Questions (237)
Catherine Murphy
Question:237. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport the date on which upgrade works will commence on the forecourt area of Bray train station; and if the forecourt will contain additional secure cycle storage, charging points and set-down areas for public transport [22827/23]
View answerWritten answers
As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public and sustainable transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) is responsible for the development and implementation of public transport and active travel infrastructure, allocating the funding provided by my department at project level and working in conjunction with the relevant local authorities.
Noting the NTA's responsibilities in the matter, I have referred your question to the NTA for a detailed 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