Results 3,941-3,960 of 9,442 for speaker:Hildegarde Naughton

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (10 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I can assure you that the Department is very aware of the challenges facing the RSA as they work hard to further manage the backlog in the Driver Testing Service. I acknowledge that there are many different cohorts across all areas of society who have being impacted by the increased demand on the service. The driving test service is not currently operating as normal due to the impact of...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety Authority (10 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: In late 2020, the RSA presented an initial plan to the Department outlining its proposals for carrying out its functions under the COVID Framework. This plan included proposed measures needed to reduce current waiting times. Amongst the range of options outlined, the RSA sought sanction to recruit 80 additional testers. My Department examined this request in detail in relation to its...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Airport Landing Slots (10 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: Regulation (EU) 2021/250, providing temporary relief from the slot utilisation rules at Union airports due to the COVID-19 crisis, was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 19 February 2021 and entered into force the following day. This Regulation does not replicate the previous waiver of the 80:20 slot usage rule, but It does provide some alleviation by means of a...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aviation Industry (10 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: The Government has put in place a range of supports for businesses, including those in the aviation sector. The supports include the wage subsidy scheme, alleviation of commercial rates, deferral of tax liabilities, the COVID Restrictions Support Scheme, the Credit Guarantee Scheme, and the SBCI Working Capital Scheme. My Department has estimated that over €100 million in operational...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (10 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: The operation of the Driver Testing Service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority (RSA), and as such the RSA, and its service providers, are responsible for the health and safety of staff under health and safety legislation, including assessments of their various functions, and developing safety protocols to ensure the safety of their workers and customers. Given...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Policy (10 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: The Deputy may be aware that I recently signed into law the European Union (Road Vehicles: Type-Approval and Market Surveillance) Regulations(S.I. No. 556 of 2020). These Regulations set out the requirements for new types of trailers and extensions for existing types of trailers. Trailer types that have been approved under the previous European Union (Road Vehicles: Type-Approval: Entry into...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety (10 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: To create a statutory obligation on the wearing of reflective clothing would entail making it a criminal offence under Road Traffic legislation. A person in breach of such a provision would fall to be issued with a fixed charge notice or summonsed to court, depending on what procedure would be put in place for the processing of such offences. I believe that the wearing of such clothing is...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (10 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: A person can drive on a foreign licence for up to a year as a visitor to Ireland. This provision is provided for under the 1949 Geneva Convention. A person resident in Ireland must have an Irish or EU driving licence to drive here. The current average processing time for exchanging a licence is 12 -15 working days, but can take up to 3 months depending on the licence and the necessary...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (10 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: All inquiries relating to driver licensing are handled by the National Driver Licence Service (NDLS), operated by the Road Safety Authority (RSA). My Department does not have access to individual applications. Having said that, the matter the Deputy has raised has been noted by my Department. More generally, I can advise the Deputy that a further extension to the expiry dates of driving...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Test (10 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I would clarify for the Deputy that the applicable dates for periodic roadworthiness testing are provided for by national legislation. Under Regulation 3(2) of the Road Traffic (National Car Test) Regulations 2017 (S.I. No. 415/2017), the initial test due date for a vehicle is determined using the date of registration of that vehicle and subsequent test due dates fall on anniversaries of that...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (10 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: The Driver Theory Test has not been deemed to be an essential service under Level 5 restrictions. The service will remain closed while level 5 restrictions remain in place. No exceptions will be made regardless of the circumstances. While I fully appreciate the inconvenience this poses, I am sure you will agree with me that the limiting of the spread of the virus and the safeguarding of...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aviation Policy (10 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: The recently adopted EU regulation will fully replace the existing national regulation of drones. Certain transition periods are included within the new EU regulation including the continuing use of drones that do not carry a CE marking. Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/947 lays down detailed provisions for the operation of unmanned aircraft systems as well as for personnel,...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Pension Schemes (11 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: Under section 46 of the Postal and Telecommunications Services Act, 1983, the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, with the concurrence of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, approves  any superannuation schemes submitted by An Post. The operation of the schemes is a matter between the management of An Post, staff representatives and  the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Postal Services (11 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: An Post records postal addresses of new and changed buildings in its CAD database.  A postal address is a routing instruction to An Post and the post town is associated with an address for postal delivery purposes only and  allows for delivery of post as efficiently as possible. The most comprehensive address database available in the country is the postal address database,...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Motor Tax (11 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: While there is a facility in place to declare a vehicle off the road in advance if it not going to be in use, thus avoiding a liability for motor tax, motor tax is payable where a vehicle is in use, and has been in use in a public place. Arrears of motor tax are payable where more than a month has elapsed since the expiry of the most recent tax disc. For example, if a tax disc expires at...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Proposed Legislation (11 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: The intention is to legislate for e-scooters in accordance with the Programme for Government this year. This involves identifying and developing appropriate amendments to primary legislation across a range of complex areas. The work is being carried out in such a way so that it does not undermine the overall framework of Road Traffic law or road safety in general. Department officials...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (11 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: At the request of the Department, the RSA is working on a plan to rollout an online driver theory test service. It has been trialled on a pilot basis for those taking a theory test for trucks and buses during the months of December and January. The pilot is now being evaluated and the RSA is committed to extending the service for all theory test customers during 2021. There will be a...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (11 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: At the request of the Department, the RSA is working on a plan to rollout an online driver theory test service. It has been trialled on a pilot basis for those taking a theory test for trucks and buses during the months of December and January. The pilot is now being evaluated and the RSA is committed to extending the service for all theory test customers during 2021. There will be a...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Aviation Industry (24 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: Legislation to provide for the introduction of the mandatory quarantine system recently entered into force. Contractual arrangements have now been finalised and it is the intention of the Government to commence the operation of mandatory quarantine this week. The Department of Health is leading this process, supported by officials from several Departments, including the Departments of...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Aviation Industry (24 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: As I outlined, more than €200 million of supports has been granted to the aviation sector. The airports and airlines have had access to that funding, which includes the temporary wage subsidy schemes and other supports. As a result of the very difficult circumstances the aviation industry is experiencing, the Government agreed a revised funding package of €80 million...