Written Answers Nos. 175-194
175. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to reports that the National Driver Licence Service office in Cavan town is to close; the actions he is taking to ensure that this office remains open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9317/23]
View answerThe RSA is responsible for the operation of the NDLS. Accordingly, I have referred the specific question to the Authority for direct reply.
I am aware that the Road Safety Authority (RSA) was considering proposals to reduce opening hours in certain NDLS offices, to more closely match front office capacity with local demand for face to face services. However, I understand that the RSA is not intending to implement any such proposals at this point.
178. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Transport his views on projects currently under progress under TII’s greenway funding programme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9348/23]
View answer179. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Transport his views on projects that have been funded under TII’s greenway funding programme but have yet to commence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9349/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 178 and 179 together.
As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to Greenways.
The number of Greenway projects under development has increased significantly, from 13 in 2019 to around 70 projects/sections being progressed by TII at present. These projects are at various stages of development from preplanning through to construction.
An underspend on the Greenways Programme was incurred over recent years has been due to a number of factors, including COVID-19 construction restrictions, staff shortages and increased requirements for local authorities under the Public Spending Code (PSC). The situation is now improving as the projects are bedded in. Furthermore, TII’s expertise with infrastructure delivery should assist in progressing the roll-out of Greenways in the coming years since their takeover as Approving Authority in 2021, especially given that there are now far more projects under development.
As you are aware, the Programme for Government committed to cross-Government spending of around €360 million per annum for walking and cycling throughout the lifetime of the Government.
Given the significant ramping up of investment in the last few years, I am pleased to see that notable progress has been made in the delivery of Greenways and Active Travel infrastructure despite some of the challenges. Almost 48km of new Greenway opened in 2022 with nine projects totalling 112km under construction. I look forward to further progress across all planned projects in 2023 and additional Greenways openings throughout the year.
180. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide in tabular form the number of NTA-funded active travel officer roles filled and vacant in each local authority; the number of these roles filled through internal transfers within the local authority system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9368/23]
View answerThe 2009 National Cycling Policy Network sets out the requirement for Local Authorities to assign an officer at an appropriate senior level to act as an Active Travel Officer (ATO), also known as Walking and Cycling Officers.
Many Local Authorities employed an ATO prior to the commencement of the current National Transport Authority (NTA) Active Travel resourcing programme in 2021. As such, these positions are not funded by the NTA. 3 Local Authorities employ ATOs which are funded by the NTA;
- Cork City: one Active Travel Officer currently being recruited
- Dublin City: two Walking and Cycling Officers currently being recruited
- Kerry: one Active Travel Officer already in place.
Of the remaining Local Authorities;
- Carlow, Cavan, Donegal, Laois, South Dublin, Waterford and Wexford have full-time ATOs
- Dun Laoghaire Rathdown, Longford, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly and Roscommon have part-time ATOs.
There has been a significant increase in the number of filled positions across Local Authorities for technical roles in the delivery of active travel infrastructure, reflecting the substantial increase in funding and project delivery since 2019. These have not been included in the figures above as they are not specifically Active Travel Officers.
181. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Transport if free travel scheme holders have to book train journeys online in order to use their pass; if this is the case for all public transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9369/23]
View answerAs 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 issue raised by the Deputy in relation to Iarnród Eireann's booking system for free travel users is an operational matter for the company and I have therefore forwarded the Deputy's question to the Iarnród Éireann for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
182. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport the details of the works to be carried out with the €400,000 allocation for 2023 for the Bellaghy to Collooney Greenway for 2023; if the route for this greenway has been selected, and whether it will compromise the possibility in both the short and long-term of re-opening the Collooney to Claremorris railway line ahead of the report of the Strategic Rail Review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9370/23]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to Greenways.
Regarding the rail review, as the Deputy is aware, the Strategic Rail Review is being undertaken in cooperation with the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland. It will inform the development of the railway sector on the Island of Ireland over the coming decades. The Review is at an advanced stage. Publication of the final report will follow after it has been considered and approved at Ministerial level on both sides of the border. Any affected potential greenways will be given due consideration. It should be noted, that in some instances it may be feasible to run a greenway alongside a rail line. Whilst this may be more costly it may allow for, if an economic case is made, for the provision of both services.
The planning, design and construction of individual Greenways is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. In this context, TII is best placed to advise you further on the details of the status the Bellaghy to Collooney Greenway project. Noting this 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.
183. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Transport the current number of live studies, reviews and research undertaken or commissioned by him; and the date by which each study, review and research is scheduled to be completed, in tabular form. [9400/23]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table below:
|
Current number of live studies, reviews and research undertaken or commissioned by the Minister for Transport |
Date by which each study, review and research is scheduled to be completed |
|
All Island Strategic Rail Review |
Q1 2023 |
|
Review of the safety regulatory and infrastructural frameworks for the use of hydrogen as a transport fuel in Ireland and in Northern Ireland (Co-funded with Shared Island Fund) |
Q1 2023 |
|
Biofuels Differentiated Taxation Study |
Q1 2023 |
|
Irish Ports Capacity Study |
Q1 2023 |
|
Update of the Common Appraisal Framework |
Q1 2023 |
|
The Quality Assurance Process 2021 In depth checks |
Q1 2023 |
|
Review of the Transport Management Certificate of Professional Competence programme |
Q1 2023 |
|
Review of the CycleRight Programme |
Q2 2023 |
|
Project BRUCE (Better Road User Charging Evaluation) Draft Implementation Plan |
Q2 2023 |
|
Citizen insight, research and stakeholder consultation |
Q2 2023 |
|
Review of the Code of Practice for the Safe Operation of Recreational Craft |
Q3 2023 |
|
Research Paper on the Economic Cost of Traffic Congestion in the Greater Dublin Area 2020-2040 |
Q3-Q4 2023 |
|
The Quality Assurance Process Report 2022 |
Q4 2023 |
|
Five Year Assessment Report (5YAR) - Writer Support Award – Volume 4 (Realising the benefits of transition and transformation) (Co-funded with the EPA) |
Q4 2023 |
|
DRIFT-HDV: DecaRbonisation Irish HDV FleeT (Co-funded with the SEAI) |
Q1 2024 |
|
Climate Resilient Places (Co-funded with the EPA) |
Q2 2024 |
|
Just resilience and adaptation in Ireland: sectors and regions (Co-funded with the EPA) |
Q3 2024 |
|
An international best practice review of the localised and wider pollutant contribution of large railway hubs on air quality, in large urban centres(Co-Funded with the EPA) |
Q1 2025 |
|
Transboundary Climate Risks for Island of Ireland (TCRII) (Co-funded with the EPA) |
Q2 2025 |
|
Inclusive Sustainable Cycling (ISCycle): Inclusive E-bike Uptake and Sustainable Use (Co-funded with the SEAI) |
Q3 2025 |
|
TRACT: TRAnsport Behaviour Change Trials (Co-funded with SEAI) |
Q3 2025 |
|
Research into the impact upon public attitudes and behaviour of a forthcoming climate communications campaign |
2025 |
|
Spending Review Paper on Protection and Renewal of the Regional and Local Road Network |
Scheduled completion date to be determined |
184. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if he will expedite the issuing of a motor tax refund to a person (details supplied). [9412/23]
View answer185. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide a schedule indicating the number of requests for a refund of motor tax that are outstanding by county; and the amount of motor tax refunded in the past ten years to date by county. [9413/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 184 and 185 together.
Motor tax refunds are legislated for in S.I. No. 385/1992 - Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing) (Amendment) Regulations, 1992, as amended. Applications must be made at a local motor tax office, run by the local authorities. There is a prescribed form and procedure for such applications.
These procedures and the application form are available online at www.motortax.ie.
It is a matter for each local authority to manage individual applications.
In relation to the number of current refunds applications on hand in each local authority, my Department does not have this information.
Each Motor Tax Office does report an annual refund figure to my Department. However, it is not possible in the time available to collate this information for each of the 26 Motor Tax Offices over a 10 year period. My Department prepares an annual Motor Tax Account that is audited by the Comptroller and Auditor General under section 3(7) of the Comptroller and Auditor General (Amendment) Act 1993 and laid before the Oireachtas. Motor Tax Offices transfer receipts to the Exchequer net of refunds and thus the annual Motor Tax Account does not include a figure for refunds.
186. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport the reason a person (details supplied) is waiting so long for their driving test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9423/23]
View answerThe operation of the national driving test service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority and I have therefore referred the 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. As Minister, I have no influence on the scheduling of appointments.
On the broader issue of driver testing delays, 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 and an increase in Approved Driving Instructors capacity to deliver lessons to learner drivers which has increased the volume of learners becoming eligible and ready to take their actual test.
I would like to assure the Deputy that the RSA is making every effort to address this issue. The Authority conducted a review of the current and evolving needs of the driver testing 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.Further to this, the RSA conducted an updated analysis of demand and capacity in late 2022 and early 2023, which has concluded that a further increase in driver tester is required. My Department is actively engaged with the RSA in evaluating this request at present.
187. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if he will confirm that he will not sign any amending Statutory Instrument changing the benefits of members of the CIÉ ‘1951 Scheme’ because the ‘1951’ Committee of Trustees’ independent actuary has confirmed that the ‘1951 Scheme’ now meets the minimum funding standard provisions of the Pensions Act 1990 and is solvent. [9456/23]
View answer188. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if he will direct CIÉ to provide a detailed explanation, including all of the outstanding information sought by the statutory ‘1951 Scheme’ Committee of Trustees, in respect of the failure of the CIÉ Board to act in a timely manner in relation to investment decisions from the end of March 2020 to 13 May 2020, and which lead to an as yet unspecified financial loss to the pension scheme it was responsible for; and if he will provide answers to the preliminary questions outlined in the Elected Trustee Bulletin, dated 20 February 2023. [9457/23]
View answer189. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if he will request specific details from CIÉ (details supplied). [9458/23]
View answer190. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport if he will direct CIÉ to respond to the queries posed by this Deputy’s Elected Trustees in relation to Agreed Actuarial Protocols, as outlined in its Elected Trustee Bulletin, dated 20 February 2023. [9459/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 187 to 190, inclusive, together.
CIÉ have advised that the Group’s two pension schemes, namely the Regular Wages Scheme (“RWS”) and 1951 superannuation scheme (“1951 Scheme”), are currently not in compliance with the Minimum Funding Standard (MFS) as defined in the Pensions Act 1990.
As the Deputy may be aware, the CIÉ Group is actively engaged in introducing changes to the schemes aimed at rectifying the significant deficit in order to meet the statutory Minimum Funding Standard required by the Pensions Authority.
In relation to the 1951 Scheme, CIÉ has prepared and submitted a draft SI to give effect to proposed changes to the 1951 scheme which is being considered by my Department in conjunction with NewERA. However, 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.
The questions raised by the deputy in relation in relation to the 1951 scheme are an operational matter for CIÉ. 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.
191. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Transport the timeline for beginning the project of automating the remaining gate keeper crossings on the Limerick-Nenagh-Ballybrophy railway line; if the overall running costs of the line will be reduced when these crossings are automated; if he expects new services to be introduced following this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9461/23]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding of public transport, including rail. The operation, maintenance and renewal of the rail network, including level crossings, is a matter for Iarnród Éireann in the first instance.
As the Deputy may be aware, the Infrastructure Manager Multi Annual Contract (IMMAC) provides the funding framework for the protection and renewal of our railway infrastructure, including the Ballybrophy to Limerick rail line.
This is the fourth year of the five-year IMMAC programme, as approved by Government in 2020, and over the five years of the programme in excess of €1.3billion in Exchequer funding will be made available under the current contract. This funding will increase service reliability and punctuality, improve journey times and ensure continued safety of rail services. Usage of level crossings is reviewed on an annual basis through an on-going programme of inspections.
The Deputy may wish to note that in 2022 additional funding of €6.4 million was allocated to Iarnród Éireann for the renewal of 9.5 miles of track on the line, which will saw the full length of the Ballybrophy line upgraded to continuous welded rail, bringing journey time improvements for passengers.
Noting Iarnród Éireann's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to IÉ for a direct reply on the specific matter raised. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.
192. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Finance the way a divorced single person can access the help-to-buy-scheme under the fresh start principle; when this can take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9290/23]
View answerSection 477C of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 (TCA) requires that applicants for the Help to Buy (HTB) scheme must be first-time purchasers, which is defined as:
" 'first-time purchaser' means an individual who, at the time of a claim under subsection (3) has not, either individually or jointly with any other person, previously purchased or previously built, directly or indirectly, on his or her own behalf a dwelling;"
There are no exceptions to the HTB definition of first time purchaser. This includes circumstances where there is more than one person involved in the purchase or building of a new home. The intention behind this is to target the tax relief on those who have not had the opportunity to build up equity in another property which could be used to purchase the second or subsequent property and those who could not have availed of HTB relief previously.
The "fresh start" principle set out in Section 10 of the Affordable Housing Act 2021, and which relates to the criteria for qualifying for affordable housing, does not apply to HTB. I have no plans at present to extend HTB to make provision for those who might qualify under that principle.
193. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Finance if carbon tax is levied on domestic and commercial electricity bills; if so, the rate levied; how a person can determine the financial amount levied by the utility supplier on each electrical bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9292/23]
View answerIreland’s taxation of fuel and electricity is governed by European Union law as set out in Directive 2003/96/EC, commonly known as the Energy Tax Directive (ETD). The ETD prescribes minimum tax rates for fuel and electricity with which all Member States must comply. Ireland’s national legislation provides for the application of carbon taxes to liquid fuels, natural gas and solid fuels used for motor or heating purposes, in the form of the Mineral Oil Tax (MOT) carbon component, Natural Gas Carbon Tax (NGCT) and Solid Fuel Carbon Tax (SFCT). These carbon taxes operate as excises and their rates are proportional to the carbon dioxide emissions of each fuel type to which they apply.
Carbon taxes do not apply directly to electricity, nor do they apply indirectly as fuels used solely for the generation of electricity are fully exempted from MOT, NGCT and SFCT. In compliance with the ETD, supplies of electricity are subject to Electricity Tax. Electricity Tax operates as an excise and is currently applied at a rate of €1.00 per megawatt hour which is one of the lowest tax rates on electricity across the EU. Electricity Tax law provides for a full exemption to apply to electricity supplied for household use. Further details on Electricity Tax are published on Revenue’s website at www.revenue.ie/en/companies-and-charities/excise-and-licences/energy-taxes/electricity-tax/index.aspx
The supply of electricity is also subject to VAT and earlier this week the Government decided that the temporary application to electricity of the 9% reduced rate of VAT will now continue until end October 2023.
Apart from taxation, the Deputy will be aware that electricity generation is subject to carbon pricing via the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). The EU ETS is operated in Ireland by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and further information is available from the EPA’s website at www.epa.ie/our-services/licensing/climate-change/eu-emissions-trading-system-/
Finally, the PSO (Public Service Obligation) levy is charged to all electricity customers in Ireland and supports the generation of electricity from sustainable, renewable and indigenous sources. The rate of the PSO levy was amended last year so that from 1st October 2022 to 30th of September 2023 it is a negative rate amounting to an annual credit for electricity consumers of €89.10.
194. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Finance if a full tax exemption for any income earned from excess residential solar microgeneration provided back through the National Grid can be explored, given that such a tax exemption would incentivise households to migrate to renewable energy options, such as solar PV; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9293/23]
View answerS. 216D Finance Act 2021 provides for a tax disregard in respect of personal income received by households who sell residual electricity from micro-generation back to the national grid. From 1 January 2022 an income disregard of up to €200 per year applies to profits or gains arising to a qualifying person from the micro-generation of electricity. The measure will operate for an initial period of three years with a sunset clause applying at the end of 2024.
The aim of the measure is to remove a potential administrative barrier to entry to the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications' Micro-generation Support Scheme. The €200 disregard was set to ensure that the majority of domestic renewables self-consumers, who typically have an installation of below 6kW, will pay no tax on income from this source.
In designing tax reliefs, there is always a balance to be struck between providing support to as many people as possible, consistent with the overall policy intention behind the measure, and ensuring that there is an appropriate degree of control in the management of limited Exchequer resources.
Decisions regarding taxation measures are usually made in the context of the annual Budget and Finance Bill process. Such decisions must have regard to the sound management of the public finances and my Department's Tax Expenditure Guidelines.
I currently have no plans to amend this measure.
