Results 6,741-6,760 of 9,471 for speaker:Hildegarde Naughton

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (8 Nov 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: The Road Safety Authority has statutory responsibility for the operation of the national driving test and the information requested is held by them. This question has therefore been referred to the Authority for direct reply. If a reply has not been received within 10 working days, the Deputy should contact my office.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (8 Nov 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: The Road Safety Authority has statutory responsibility for the operation of the national driving test and the information requested is held by them. This question has therefore been referred to the Authority for direct reply. If a reply has not been received within 10 working days, the Deputy should contact my office.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Data (8 Nov 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: As stated in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 210 of 25 October 2022, "shell" records are created only in situations where an Irish Driving Licence or Learner Permit could not be matched to an individual. A shell record is required, for example, to record a disqualification where the driver has a foreign driving licence or never held a Irish driving licence. As such, the number of...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Fuel Prices (8 Nov 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: The Ukraine crisis and matters arising from it continue to adversely affect European and Global oil markets, causing a sustained increase in the price of crude and in the price of refined products on the retail market. The Government recognises the important role the haulage sector plays in supporting the economy and is fully aware of cost pressures on haulage businesses arising from high...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (8 Nov 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: The operation of the national driving test service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority. I have therefore referred this 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.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Ukraine War (8 Nov 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 201 and 202 together. Under European Union Regulation (EU) 2022/1280, which came into force on 27 July, Ukrainians residing in Ireland under the Temporary Protection Directive may drive here on their national driving licences. All categories on the holder's Ukrainian licence are recognised. The Regulation applies to driver documents held by Ukrainians...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (8 Nov 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: There is no online driver CPC training in place at the current time. EU Directive 2003/59/EC, which introduced driver CPC, was updated in 2018 (EU Directive 645 of 2018) and the amended directive allows for part of the driver CPC training to be completed online. However, most of the training is required to be completed in a classroom-based environment. The Road Safety Authority has begun...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (8 Nov 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: My department has received 13 representations requesting the provision of online Certificate of Professional Competency (CPC) courses from 2020 to date. The number of representations stating objections to attending an in-person CPC course were four in 2020 and six in 2021. There has been none received in 2022 to date. Some representations covered both issues.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (8 Nov 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: Due to the COVID pandemic, and the necessary ensuing precautions, I understand that a significant backlog of driver testing services developed. Since public health restrictions have eased, considerable progress has been made, and waiting times have reduced significantly. Pre Covid, the target national average wait for a test was 10 weeks. On the eve of the pandemic, however, the actual...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Cycling Facilities (8 Nov 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: The DAA has the statutory responsibility to operate, manage and develop Dublin Airport including the provision of sustainable transport infrastructure, including cycling infrastructure, in the airport. The Capital Investment Programme 2020+ for Dublin Airport considers upgrades to sustainable transport infrastructure, which includes cycling, as vital components to improve overall...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Heritage Sites (8 Nov 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: The Shannon Airport Group informed the Department in Summer 2020 that it was necessary to consider a comprehensive and radical adjustment to its structure to secure the long-term future of the Shannon Heritage business and its employees. Government noted, inter alia, the intention of the Group to explore the potential to transfer the business of key heritage sites, where appropriate, to the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aviation Industry (8 Nov 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: Work on reviewing our national aviation policy has not progressed to the extent I would have wished as the focus in my Department over the last couple of years was necessarily diverted to dealing with the unprecedented impact that the COVID pandemic has had on the aviation sector worldwide and aiding the recovery of the sector in Ireland. It is intended to recommence this work before the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Dublin Airport Authority (8 Nov 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: The daa has statutory responsibility to operate and manage Dublin Airport. As this is an operational matter for the daa, I have forwarded your question to the company for direct reply. Please advise my Private Office if a reply within ten working days is not received from the daa.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Test (8 Nov 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: The operation of the National Car Testing Service (NCTS) is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority (RSA). I have therefore referred the Deputy's query to the Authority for direct reply. I am very aware of the challenges that the RSA and the NCTS are currently facing to meet demand and the delays which vehicle owners have encountered since the start of this year. I have...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Car Test (10 Nov 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: I thank the Deputy. The statutory responsibility for roadworthiness testing lies with the Road Safety Authority, RSA. However, I am very much aware of vehicle owners' concerns over delays this year in securing test appointments. I have emphasised to the RSA the importance of reducing the test backlog and my officials are meeting weekly with the RSA to monitor progress in reducing delays....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Car Test (10 Nov 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: All of those approaches will be used by the contractor to reduce the waiting times. This will include overtime and recruitment in Ireland and abroad. As I outlined earlier, we are working with the Minister of State, Deputy English, to allow the recruitment of up to 100 non-EU testers. Some 44 additional testers are expected before the end of this year. To directly answer the Deputy's...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Car Test (10 Nov 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: With regard to the qualifications, I can confirm that the temporary vehicle inspectors from Spain are qualified to QQI level 5. That is the standard in many EU member states. As the Deputy alluded to, however, until 2020, QQI level 5 certification was considered the appropriate minimum requirement for vehicle inspectors in the State. This was changed in accordance with apprenticeship...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Ports Policy (10 Nov 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: The port capacity study is currently under way and is due for completion shortly. Upon its finalisation a full review of national ports policy will commence later this year which will look at the overall ports policy framework. The first stage in this review will be the drafting of an issues paper and it is anticipated that this will go to public consultation in early 2023. Pending this...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Ports Policy (10 Nov 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: A lot of work is happening within the Department and there has been ongoing engagement with the EU, the ISIF and the EIB to lay the ground for our ports and the potential investment there. The policy statement recognised that existing ports in Ireland, or entities within ports with development plans, such as Rosslare Europort and the Port of Cork, can play a significant role in providing the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Ports Policy (10 Nov 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: I assure the Deputy that huge work is happening in this space. From engagements with ports and industry it is known that ports and private entities are engaging in their own commercial discussions with ORE project developers to underpin the business case for port infrastructure developments, progression of the projects and timelines. It remains subject to the results of the auctions. On...