Results 5,121-5,140 of 9,059 for speaker:Hildegarde Naughton

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...

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: Post Office Network (4 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: The Programme for Government recognises that a modernised post office network will provide a better range of financial services and e-commerce services for citizens and enterprise, as part of our commitment to a sustainable nationwide post office network. An Post is transforming its retail network by delivering new products and new formats. This includes, among other things, diversifying...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Mountain Rescue Service (4 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: The Department of Transport provides operational funding to support the search and rescue activities of Mountain and Cave Rescue Teams by way of an annual grant. However, it does not provide capital funding for the type of project described.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (4 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: A further extension to the expiry dates of driving licences has been introduced in response to the continued disruption caused by Covid-19 to driver licensing services in Ireland and across the EU. The extension will apply to different groups of licence holders including those who benefited from extensions in 2020. The change will apply as follows- - Any licence holder, who has not...