Results 5,101-5,120 of 9,052 for speaker:Hildegarde Naughton

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Post Office Network (10 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 64, 69, 94 and 116 together.   I am aware of the serious decline in mail volumes and the impact that Covid-19 has had on footfall through post offices and on the postal network and of the importance of maintaining a post office network in our society. In the four years since the Private Members' motion referred to was...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid-19 Pandemic (10 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 207 and 244 together. Consumer rights for overseas travel are protected under EU law, which of course applies in Ireland. Air passenger rights are protected by Regulation (EC) No. 261/2004, which covers the rights of airlines passengers in instances of flight cancellations. It provides that where a flight is cancelled then the consumer must receive a refund...

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

Hildegarde Naughton: An international convention is a multi-nation agreement between states that sets out certain standards to be met by signatory nations and according to Bunreacht na hÉireann, international conventions can only become a part of domestic law if the Oireachtas so determines. Therefore, anytime Ireland is required to ratify an international convention, primary legislation is required. In...

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

Hildegarde Naughton: I can assure the Deputy that the Department is very aware of the challenges facing the RSA and its contract provider as they work hard to further manage the backlog in the Driver Theory Testing Service. At the request of the Department, the RSA is working on a plan to rollout an online driver theory test service. This has been trialled on a pilot basis for those taking a theory test for...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (10 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: As the Deputy will be aware, from early in the Covid crisis, the Government put in place a broad range of unprecedented supports to help mitigate the effects of the pandemic on business, including a wage subsidy scheme, grants, low-cost loans, a commercial rates waiver and deferred tax liabilities. Shannon Airport (as part of Shannon Group) has availed of many of these horizontal business...

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

Hildegarde Naughton: As the Deputy may be aware, Shanon Airport Authority has statutory responsibility to operate, manage and develop Shannon Airport. Shannon Airport Authority is a subsidiary of Shannon Group which is a commercial State Body. Accordingly, the matter raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for the Company. I have therefore forwarded your request to Shannon Group for a direct...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid-19 Pandemic (10 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: The driving test service is not currently operating as normal due to the impact of Covid-19.Tests are only available, under Level 5 Covid-19 restrictions, to essential workers. This has had a significant impact on waiting times. RSA driver testers are undertaking driving tests in extraordinarily difficult conditions in the current Covid-19 environment. The driving test is conducted in an...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid-19 Pandemic (10 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: Announcements made by An Taoiseach on the 23rd of February confirmed that level 5 restrictions are set to continue until the 5th of April, at which point the situation will be reviewed. As before, Approved Driving Instructors (ADIs) may continue to provide lessons under these restrictions, but only in such circumstances where the learner in question has already been scheduled a test date....

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid-19 Pandemic (10 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: At Level 5, the public health risk means that people are asked to stay at home, except for travel for work, education or other essential purposes. The operation of an airport is considered to be an essential service and as such Weston Airport is permitted to stay open to ensure essential activities continue. All public health regulations and guidelines must be strictly adhered to and...

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

Hildegarde Naughton: The operation of the National Car Test (NCT) service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority. 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.

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

Hildegarde Naughton: The details requested are provided in the two tabular tables below. The data provided for 2021 covers the period from January and February only. The number of penalty points issued for 2020 and 2021 is based on the driver records endorsed on the National Vehicle and Driver File with total number of penalty points issued. Table 1: Number of Drivers broken down by Gender and number of penalty...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (10 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 229 and 263 together. 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. As regards...

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

Hildegarde Naughton: Provisional figures for 2020 from the Irish Maritime Development Office indicate the average weekly RoRo Units for export and imports arriving at Irish Ports was 22,560. The breakdown of this figure is as follows: Provisional figures for 2020 Number Average Weekly RoRo Units 2020 22,560 Average Imports 11,378 ...

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

Hildegarde Naughton: At Level 5, the public health risk means that people are asked to stay at home, except for travel for work, education or other essential purposes. Attending a flight training school is considered to fall within the category of education. On 6 January 2021, the government announced that all higher, further and adult education should remain primarily online. However, where such activities...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid-19 Pandemic (10 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: During the first lockdown from March of last year, my predecessor extended the validity period of Initial Basic Training (IBT) certificates, and I can confirm that the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has recently submitted a proposal to my Department for a further extension. This is currently being considered within my Department. No decision has yet been made.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid-19 Pandemic (10 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: The provision of driving instruction has been defined in legislation introduced by my colleague, the Minister for Health, as an essential service that may continue under level 5 restrictions, albeit in extremely limited circumstances. Both Essential Driver Training (EDT) for cars and Initial Basic Training (IBT) for motorcycles are currently suspended. Approved Driving Instructors (ADIs)...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid-19 Pandemic (10 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: The provision of driving instruction has been defined in legislation introduced by my colleague, the Minister for Health, as an essential service that may continue under level 5 restrictions, albeit in extremely limited circumstances. Approved Driving Instructors (ADIs) may continue to provide lessons to learners across all vehicle categories, but only in such circumstances where the...

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

Hildegarde Naughton: As the Road Safety Authority (RSA), who have statutory responsibility for the operation of the driver testing service, is entirely self-funded, I have referred this question to the Authority for direct reply. I 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: 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...