Written Answers Nos. 201-211
202. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if he will clarify the criteria that community projects must meet in order to access just transition funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5325/23]
View answerIn 2020, the National Just Transition Fund was made available in the Midlands region to support communities impacted by the end of peat extraction for energy production. This Fund focuses on retraining peat workers, generating sustainable employment in green enterprise, supporting training and reskilling, and enabling local businesses and communities to adjust to a low-carbon transition.
Funding agreements with all 56 successful projects are now in place. A full list of successful projects, together with background information on eligibility, is available at:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/ed10d-just-transition-fund/.
This Fund will provide up to €22.1 million in grant funding to these projects until 2024. The projects aim to mobilise up to €15 million in additional funding and support an estimated 178 direct and 999 indirect jobs, as reported by the grantees. To date €3.173 million has been drawn down from the Fund.
Separately, Ireland's Territorial Just Transition Plan and Programme under the new EU Just Transition Fund have recently been approved by the Government and by the European Commission. Details of the approved Plan and Programme are available at:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/4d421-eu-just-transition-fund/.
The Programme will incorporate a number of new funding schemes including, in some cases, support for community-focused projects. Details of individual scheme eligibility will be published by the relevant sponsoring Department or Agency in due course. A formal launch of the Programme is anticipated in the coming weeks.
203. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department and Inland Fisheries Ireland will support the eradication of invasive perch from lakes in Connemara (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5332/23]
View answerThe issues raised by the Deputy, in relation to a number of lakes, are operational matters for Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) in which neither I nor my Department have any function.
IFI has established a specific email address for queries from Oireachtas members so that queries can be addressed promptly, in line with IFI’s objective to deliver services to the highest standards. The email address is oireachtas@fisheriesireland.ie.
204. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications the reason person (details supplied) gave her their resignation letter in person following their last board meeting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5333/23]
View answerThe Chairperson of Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) resigned her position by letter to me of 11 January last in line with the provisions of the Inland Fisheries Act 2010. Her resignation and the resignations of other Board members and the implications for Inland Fisheries Ireland are currently under active consideration by me. I am not in a position to comment further at this time.
205. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department will provide additional funding to Inland Fisheries Ireland to fully conduct the Owenriff Fish Population Rehabilitation Plan in Oughterard, County Galway (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5480/23]
View answerThe issues raised by the Deputy are operational matters for Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) in which neither I nor my Department have any function. The funding allocation provided to IFI by my Department is not generally disaggregated for individual activities and the responsibility for the funding of any specific projects lies with Inland Fisheries Ireland.
IFI has established a specific email address for queries from Oireachtas members so that queries can be addressed promptly, in line with IFI’s objective to deliver services to the highest standards. The email address is oireachtas@fisheriesireland.ie.
206. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications if his Department will fully support, financially or otherwise, Inland Fisheries Ireland in its efforts to eradicate invasive pike from Aughrusbeg Lough, Cleggan, County Galway (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5481/23]
View answerThe issue raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI) in which neither I nor my Department have any function.
The funding allocation provided to Inland Fisheries Ireland by my Department is not generally disaggregated for individual operational activities and the allocation of resources for specific purposes is a matter for IFI.
IFI has established a specific email address for queries from Oireachtas members so that queries can be addressed promptly, in line with IFI’s objective to deliver services to the highest standards. The email address is oireachtas@fisheriesireland.ie.
207. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Transport the amount of funding that was allocated to a local authority (details supplied) for specific purposes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4919/23]
View answerThere are two primary sources of roads funding - the regional and local roads programme and the national roads programme.
In relation to regional and local roads the improvement and maintenance of same 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 local authorities' own resources supplemented by State road grants which are allocated on an annual basis.
Under the Department's Discretionary Grant, Councils have the discretion to use grant funding for eligible winter maintenance works. In this context it is a matter for each Council to determine its winter road treatment programme including the prioritisation of routes for salting/gritting.
In addition, local authorities are advised by my Department that a contingency provision should be reserved from the overall resources available to each local authority for regional and local roads so as to deal with damage caused by severe weather conditions.
As regards the maintenance funding allocated to Mayo County Council in 2022 for regional and local roads, details of those grant allocations to local authorities are outlined in the regional and local road allocations booklets which are available in the Oireachtas Library. Allocations for 2023 will be notified to local authorities as soon as possible.
In relation to national roads, 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 operation and management of individual national roads is a matter for 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, on this occasion, to TII for a direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
208. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Transport the amount of funding allocated to electric vehicle grants in 2021, 2022, and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5371/23]
View answer209. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Transport the amount of funding that was allocated to EV grants and supports in 2021, 2022, and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5394/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 208 and 209 together.
Providing a sustainable, low-carbon transport system is a key priority of my Department. The Programme for Government commits to 7% average annual emissions reduction to 2030; ultimately, the goal is for a zero-emission mobility system by 2050.
The Government has already committed significant funding to support low emitting vehicles through the National Development Plan, which currently includes an allocation of almost €500 million for the period 2021-2025 and additional support from the Climate Action Fund and the Shared Island Fund.
€110m has been allocated in 2023 to ensure the continued transition to electric vehicles which includes funding for EV grants and EV charging infrastructure. This underpins the Government’s commitment to making electric vehicles accessible to all. This funding will continue to incentivise the switch to electric vehicles as well as enabling the expansion of a fast and rapid electric vehicle charging network to stay ahead of demand.
The following table outlines the funding allocated to the uptake of EVs in 2021, 2022 and 2023.
|
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
|
€36.5m |
€102m |
€110m |
210. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Transport the action he will take to alleviate the backlog of learner drivers waiting to sit their tests (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5415/23]
View answer216. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Transport the action he will take to alleviate the backlog of learner drivers waiting to sit their tests (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5423/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 210 and 216 together.
The operation of the national driving test service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority (RSA). However, I would like to assure the Deputy that my department is working closely with the RSA as the Authority endeavours to manage the demand pressures and required resourcing as a matter of priority.
I am informed that the current increase in demand for driving tests and the time to invitation for learner drivers has a number of contributing factors which include: an increase in learner permits in circulation which has grown by about 30% since Q3 2019; increased capacity in the Driver Theory Test when the service resumed post Covid-19 pandemic and an increase in Advanced Driving Instructors (ADI's) capacity to deliver lessons to learner drivers which has increased the volume of learners becoming eligible and ready to take their actual test.
The RSA conducted a review of the current and evolving needs of the driver tester service in 2022, following which, my department sanctioned an increase in the permanent driver tester headcount from 100 to 130. I am informed that the RSA has deployed the majority of successful candidates across the driver testing service, with a focus on geographical areas with the longest waiting lists. It is expected that the remainder will be deployed by the end of Q1 2023.
The RSA has assured me that they are keeping the situation under constant review. The Authority is setting out a plan for what is needed to continue to reduce waiting times. I have asked the RSA to report back to my department on this plan and its implementation as soon as possible. The RSA has indicated that a further sanction request for increases in driver testers will be submitted imminently, my department will evaluate this promptly on receipt.
211. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Transport to provide in tabular form the number of driving test centre and testers in each county. [5416/23]
View answerThe operation of the national driving test service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority and the information requested is held by them.
I have therefore referred the question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response is not received within 10 days.
