Written Answers Nos. 83-91
83. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport the reason for the delay in driving tests; when a person (details supplied) will be given a driving test; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14149/23]
View answerThe operation of the national driving test service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority (RSA), this includes the scheduling of driving tests. Neither I nor my department have access to information in relation to in individual cases. Therefore, I have referred this specific component of 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.
On the broader issue of driver testing delays, I would like to assure the Deputy that the Authority is working closely with my Department to address the issue. The Driver Testing service has been under significant pressure to meet unprecedented demand which is 28% up on 2021 figures and 27% up on 2018 pre Covid-19 pandemic figures.
The current increase in demand for driving tests and the time to invitation to book a test appointment 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 test.
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. Deployment of these successful candidates is almost complete and has been focused on geographical areas with the longest waiting lists.
Given the continued backlog, demand and capacity of the driver testing service was further reviewed in late 2022 and early 2023. My Department is actively engaged with the RSA in evaluating a subsequent request for additional resources at the present time.
84. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Transport the plans to provide increased public transport either by way of CIÉ or private bus operators to Kilshanroe, Enfield, County Kildare, given the population increase in the area in recent years, and the fact that the 120 bus passes through the village each day but does not stop; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14150/23]
View answerAs 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 increased public transport to Kilshanroe, Enfield, County Kildare, to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
85. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide information about the introduction of E10 petrol in Ireland; if he is aware of the concerns about the potential impact of this fuel type on older engines, both in cars and garden equipment; if he can provide reassurance about these concerns; if he will advise if E5 Petrol will still be available to purchase in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14174/23]
View answerIn November 2021, As Minister of Transport I published The Renewable Fuels for Transport Policy Statement 2021-2023 which signalled the incentivisation of E10 petrol supply by 2023. Following the 28 day statutory consultation period on the draft Regulations on the move to E10 and consideration of responses, I, as Minister may make the regulations having regard to effects of the regulations on a range of matters concerning economic activities in the State and on the Environment. It is envisaged that these regulations will be kept under review within the context of the development and implementation of the Renewable Transport Fuel Policy.
The move to E10 is one of several transport measures to achieve a 51% reduction in transport emissions by 2030 - a projected 1.08 MtCO2eq abatement in greenhouse gas emissions through increasing biofuel blending to E10 (10% Ethanol) and B20 (20% Biodiesel equivalent) set out in Climate Action Plan 2023, with an interim target of E10/B20 by 2025. In 2022, approximately 307m litres (9.6 PJ) of biofuel was placed on the market.
Since 2009, E10 petrol as standard has been rolled out across 15 European countries as well as other countries around the world such as the US and Australia. This measure will also align the current petrol supply used in Ireland to that of Great Britain and Northern Ireland which made the move in 2021 and 2022 respectively. All vehicles and equipment can operate on an E10 petrol blend. Some older vehicles pre-2011 (predominantly pre-2003/pre EURO V standard), were not manufactured with certification for E10 use, but it does not mean they cannot use E10. In countries where E10 and higher ethanol blends are used widely there is no evidence of issues. All vehicle owners and operators are required to maintain their vehicles to operating and roadworthy standards.
Maintaining an E5 petrol grade is not in line with the policy objective under the Climate Action Plan for E10 by 2025. Furthermore, consultation with industry concerning the policy to move to E10, indicated that the vast majority of suppliers do not have the storage or distribution systems to supply both an E5 and an E10 petrol grade. The annually declining number of petrol cars would not support investment in dual-system infrastructure. At this point in time, Ireland’s vehicle fossil fuel fleet is predominantly diesel (c.63% at end 2022) and of the c.1million petrol vehicles, there is a very low level of older vehicles (c.2.4% inc. vintage) that are pre-2011 (predominantly pre-2003/pre EURO V standard).
Information concerning individual vehicle types can be obtained in operating manuals, information on vehicle’s manufacturer websites, or inside the fuel cap (on newer vehicles). The gov.ie/E10 information website is the main point of reference for further information on the move to E10 and will continue to be over the course of the public information campaign which is currently running in advance of the move to E10.
86. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport if he will intervene with the NTA in relation to the poor provision of bus services in Ballyfermot, specifically in relation to routes in lower Ballyfermot such as the 60 route; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14175/23]
View answer87. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider increasing the frequency of the Dublin Bus 60 route; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14176/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 86 and 87 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. 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 questions in relation to bus services in Ballyfermot and in particular the 60 bus route, to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
88. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Transport the current status of the updated speed guidance document for local authorities; when it will be issued to local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14183/23]
View answerAs part of Action 6 of the Government’s Road Safety Strategy, a review is underway to examine and review the framework for setting of speed limits including specific consideration of the introduction of a 30km/h default speed limit in urban areas. This review is nearing completion and as part of the work of the group a detailed assessment was carried out on the existing framework of speed limits including the current guidance document for the ‘Setting and Managing of Speed Limits in Ireland’.
Given its importance, work has already commenced on updating the Guidelines for Setting and Managing of Speed Limits in Ireland. This is to be overseen by a Department led working group that builds upon the work and findings of the Action 6 review. Although it is intended to issue an update in 2023, it may be necessary to do so on a phased basis as the task is expected to be complex.
89. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Transport if an audit of habitable properties or properties that were previously inhabited, to include but not limited to station masters’ accommodation and gate keepers’ lodges and houses has recently been carried out by CIÉ; if he will outline the results of the most recent audit carried out, specifying when it was carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14229/23]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport in Ireland.
The property affairs of CIÉ are matters for the CIÉ Board in accordance with the provisions of the Transport Acts 1950 and 1964. Accordingly, I have forwarded 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.
90. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport if a person (details supplied) will be given priority in their driving test as they require it for work. [14276/23]
View answerThe operation of the national driving test service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority (RSA), this includes the scheduling of driving tests. Neither I as Minister, nor my Department, have any information on individual applications. Therefore, I have 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.
91. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Finance the number of persons to whom online platforms have paid compensation following said persons being victims of authorised push payment fraud as a result of fraudulent advertisements on their platforms; and the total value of compensation paid, in each of the years 2018 to 2022, inclusive. [14335/23]
View answerIntermediary Service Providers (ISPs), including online platforms, are regulated by the Digital Services Act (DSA), which entered into force on 16 November 2022. Under the DSA, users have the right to complain to the platform, seek out-of-court settlements, complain to their national authority in their own language, or seek compensation for breaches of the rules.
However, there is no one categorisation of push payment fraud and it is not recorded as authorised push payment fraud on the Gardai’s PULSE system. Push payment fraud is usually a fraud that involves a level of social engineering where victims are manipulated into making real-time payments to fraudsters. These type of frauds are called cyber-enabled frauds.
As stated in my response to a previous question on this topic, the Banking and Payments Federation has supplied data on the number of transactions affected by authorised payment fraud and the total value of those transactions from 2019 to 2021, noting that this information is not available for the years prior to 2019.
In 2019, there were 1,646 transactions with a gross loss of €10.3 million. In 2020, there was a significant rise associated with the Covid-19 pandemic with 2,947 transactions and a gross loss of €15.6 million. The trend continued in 2021, which saw 3,967 transactions and a gross loss of €16.8 million.
The Provisional Crime Statistics for 2022 released by An Garda Síochána notes that Fraud Offences fell overall from 2021 levels, driven in reductions post-pandemic in online fraud.
While the revised payment services directive (PSD2) set out the industry requirements concerning liabilities for unauthorised payment transactions and the applicable security requirements to help protect consumers against fraud, there is no requirement for payment services providers to compensate customers where authorised push payment fraud occurs.
It should also be noted that measures contained in the revised payment services directive (PSD2) apply only to businesses authorised as payment services providers.
