Results 6,361-6,380 of 9,184 for speaker:Jack Chambers

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Driver Test (18 Jan 2023)

Jack Chambers: I appreciate the kind words of Deputy O'Sullivan. It was great to be down in west Cork and see huge ambition in sport. However, now in a new role, we have to resolve some of the issues the Deputy is having in regard to transport. I know the difficulty and anxiety the delays in driver testing is causing many people who are waiting excessive times. It is unacceptable. As the Deputy knows,...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Driver Test (18 Jan 2023)

Jack Chambers: I absolutely agree, and I welcome the Deputy’s positive and constructive contribution on this. We have to build greater capacity. The 30% increase in permanent headcount will make an impact and, as I said, they are being deployed with a focus very much on the centres that are above the national average, which should benefit Skibbereen. More generally, the Deputy is correct that...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Car Test (19 Jan 2023)

Jack Chambers: I appreciate the question. The operation, oversight and delivery of the NCTS is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority, RSA, and it is the RSA which is responsible for the management of the contract for the NCTS with its contractor, Applus Inspection Services Ireland Ltd. As Minister of State at the Department of Transport, I do not have a specific role in operational...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Car Test (19 Jan 2023)

Jack Chambers: I accept that point and I have had engagement with officials this week and in recent weeks, since I have entered the role, on making the system more efficient in terms of slots. The message is that anyone who is due a test shortly might see that a test date is set out for a number of months time but they should attempt to go on the priority waiting list. That is there as a means to give...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Car Test (19 Jan 2023)

Jack Chambers: There are 20 vehicle inspectors from the Spanish operation and 110 vehicle inspectors, including 44 testers, were recruited from the Philippines. There has also been a significant increase in staff overtime, allowing for 12 tests per tester per day. The RSA has agreed to the Applus proposal to recruit additional inspection personnel at Quality and Qualification Ireland, QQI, level 5 to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Aviation Industry (19 Jan 2023)

Jack Chambers: As the Deputy will be aware, Dublin Airport Authority, DAA, holds statutory responsibility for the management, operation and development of Dublin Airport. Noise mitigation at Dublin Airport is subject to substantial regulation and oversight as well as best practice mitigation measures. Following the opening of the north runway in August last year, an issue regarding the runway's departure...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Aviation Industry (19 Jan 2023)

Jack Chambers: It is important that there is community engagement from DAA and all the authorities involved. As I said, noise mitigation at Dublin Airport is subject to substantial regulation and oversight and best practice mitigation measures. These measures are designed to address the long-term adverse effects of noise, particularly at night, while also facilitating the sustainable development of the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Aviation Industry (19 Jan 2023)

Jack Chambers: The flight paths will become operational from 23 February, as I outlined. There is a process in place relating to ICAO safety rules that includes the inputting of flight data. That has to be promulgated months in advance, and has happened. However, I take the Deputy's point about community engagement. I will reflect the feedback that he has given as an elected representative for Fingal...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Car Test (19 Jan 2023)

Jack Chambers: As the Deputy is aware, the RSA is the body responsible for the operation and oversight of periodic roadworthiness testing under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006 (Conferral of Functions) Order 2006. My Department is actively assisting the RSA in tackling the long-term labour shortages of qualified mechanics which have contributed to the current testing backlog and the corresponding...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Car Test (19 Jan 2023)

Jack Chambers: The current situation is totally unacceptable. That is why the RSA is in a legal process with Applus on imposing penalties on the company, which is not delivering the service that has been contracted to the State. What we are trying to do as a Department is to provide every assistance we can in terms of getting that extra recruitment, whether it is within the European Union or outside of...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Car Test (19 Jan 2023)

Jack Chambers: I share the Deputy’s frustration on this. There are 31,200 people on the priority waiting list. The conditions that apply, I have been informed by the RSA, are that a free test will be provided where an appointment cannot be offered within 28 days, unless any of the following apply: the test is overdue by more than seven days at the time of contacting the NCT service; an appointment...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Driver Test (19 Jan 2023)

Jack Chambers: The Deputy will be aware that the RSA has statutory responsibility for the operational aspects of national driver's test, including test applications and scheduling matters. I would first like to address the broader issue of driver testing delays, which is a problem across the State and has been raised by a number of Deputies. The current national average waiting time for an invitation to a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Driver Test (19 Jan 2023)

Jack Chambers: I accept that the current service that is being delivered does not meet what the public expects. People are waiting 19 or 20 weeks or even more in certain cases and that is not an acceptable public service. If we are being honest, the service level agreement of ten weeks needs to be examined as well. For me as Minister of State, even ten weeks is too long as I am concerned. There is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Driver Test (19 Jan 2023)

Jack Chambers: I have them and it is a mixed picture - in Kilrush, it is 15 weeks; Ennis, 20 weeks; and Shannon, 35 weeks, which is completely unacceptable. The 30 permanent drivers that have been recruited are being deployed to the areas where people are waiting for the longest. The focus of the RSA and its operational plan is on those who have been waiting for the longest. All of County Clare is beyond...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Funding (19 Jan 2023)

Jack Chambers: The Deputy is probably aware that voluntary search and rescue groups, such as those referred to by him, do not come under the aegis of the Department of Transport. However, I can confirm that the Department does provide an annual maintenance grant to support the search and rescue activities of voluntary search groups involved in mountain and cave rescue and community rescue boats. The...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Funding (19 Jan 2023)

Jack Chambers: There have been grants to a number of rescue teams. I have a list of them here. I appreciate the feedback the Deputy has given. I will engage with my colleagues across the Government, perhaps the Minister for Rural and Community Development or the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport, Gaeltacht and Media, on this issue. They provide a vital community service, as Deputy Naughten has...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Funding (19 Jan 2023)

Jack Chambers: I hear what Deputy Naughten says. When tragic circumstances occur, we have volunteers that front up and provide assistance to families. The State cannot abandon volunteers and groups. I will engage with my colleagues across the Government on this. As I referenced at the outset, some of these groups do not specifically come under the Department, but that means nothing to them; they want to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Test (19 Jan 2023)

Jack Chambers: I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 18 together. The operation of the National Car Testing Service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority. I would firstly advise that pass rates at individual test centres are an operational matter, and as Minister, I do not have any role. The RSA has confirmed to my department that the same consistent high standard of...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Airport Policy (19 Jan 2023)

Jack Chambers: I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 24 together. As the deputy will be aware, daa holds statutory responsibility for the management, operation, and development of Dublin Airport. Noise mitigation at Dublin Airport is subject to substantial regulation and oversight as well as best practice mitigation measures. Following the opening of the North Runway in August last year an issue...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (19 Jan 2023)

Jack Chambers: The operation of the national driving test service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority (RSA). Therefore I have referred the Deputy's specific questions to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response is not received within 10 days. I am aware of the significant backlog in the driver testing service, however, I would like...