Results 5,401-5,420 of 9,443 for speaker:Hildegarde Naughton

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (24 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: A driving licence exchange agreement is now in place between Ireland and the United Kingdom. The Road Traffic (Recognition of Driving Licences) (United Kingdom) Order 2020 (S.I. 683 of 2020), made under section 23A of the Road Traffic Act 1961, was signed on 22 December 2020 and came into force at 11pm on 31 December 2020 (the end of the transition period). The agreement recognises UK...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Airport Policy (24 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I would like to thank the Deputy for her question on Shannon Airport.  As the Deputy is aware Shannon Airport, a subsidiary of Shannon Group, has been severely impacted by Covid-19 and given the unprecedented challenges faced by the Group, I committed to undertaking an examination of the future viability and sustainability of the entire Group.    The outcome of this...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid-19 Pandemic (24 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: In accordance with EU Single Market rules, EU operators of flights into or out of Ireland do not require an authroisation from my Department and, therefore, my Department does not hold records of such movements. The Department provides authorisations permitting commercial air transport operations by third country air operators to, from, within and over the State.  ...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (24 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: Specific details on the number of persons awaiting a driver test and theory test are held by the Road Safety Authority.  I have therefore referred this part of 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. The current public health emergency has had a profoundly disruptive effect...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Driver Licensing Service (24 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. Further information can be found on the Road Safety Authority (RSA)...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (24 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: As at week ending 14 March 2021, standard applications for driving licences are taking on average 17 working days to process by the National Driver Licence Service (NDLS), which is provided by the Road Safety Authority (RSA). Online applications that do not require review are taking 1 day to process. Postal applications are taking on average 21 days, while applications for...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (24 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: The Road Safety Authority is currently examining a number of strategies to increase the number of driving tests within current health constraints with an eye to resuming wider testing after level 5. These strategies include increasing the number of testing staff to help reduce and, over time, eliminate the testing backlog that has developed as a result of the pandemic. To this end,...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Shannon Airport Facilities (24 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I would like to thank the Deputy for his question on Shannon Group. As the Deputy is aware, given the unprecedented challenges faced by Shannon Group as a result of Covid-19, I committed to undertaking an examination of the future viability and sustainability of the Group.  The outcome of this examination was reflected in a recent Memorandum to Government on Shannon Group. ...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Brexit Issues (24 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: A key priority for my Department in the lead up to the end of the transition period was to ensure continued maritime connectivity with both our UK and EU markets. As of March 2021, there are around 68 RoRo freight sailings between Ireland and the Continent in a typical week. This includes five shipping operators, Irish Ferries, Stena Line, DFDS, Brittany Ferries and...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Signage (24 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: My Department is looking at the criteria and legislation surrounding zebra crossings and use of Belisha beacons with a view to the possibility of relaxing the use of such beacons in certain situations.   Any amendments to the use of beacons and where they may or may not be legally required will have to be adequately researched so as to ensure they...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (24 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: Driver Certificate of Professional Competency (CPC) training is ongoing in level 5 as this training has been deemed as an essential service. Driver CPC training organisations continue to provide training and drivers continue to attend and maintain their CPC qualification. At the current time, the Road Safety authority (RSA) does not facilitate online Driver CPC...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid-19 Pandemic (24 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: The Government continues to advise against non-essential international travel and that any essential travel is undertaken with due regard to public health safety measures.  It is a mandatory requirement for passengers arriving in Ireland, including if they are travelling onwards to Northern Ireland, to complete a Covid-19 Passenger Locator Form. The form must also be filled out...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (24 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: This is a matter for the Road Safety Authority.  I have referred the question to the Authority for direct reply.  I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response is not received within 10 days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid-19 Pandemic (24 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: In 2015, the proceeds from the State's disposal of its 25.1% shareholding in Aer Lingus were invested in a new ‘Connectivity Fund’ as a sub-portfolio of the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF). The Minister for Finance sought Oireachtas approval for the proceeds to be paid into this fund in accordance with Section 46(2) of the National Treasury Management Agency (Amendment)...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (24 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: Covid-19 has created difficulties for many public services, including the National Driver Licensing Service (NDLS), which is provided by the Road Safety Authority.  Closures during the initial lockdown last year led inevitably to backlogs, while restrictions on the services, which are necessary in the interests of public health, have reduced capacity since the services reopened leading...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Reports (24 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: The draft National Investment Framework for Transport in Ireland (NIFTI) will begin its public consultation phase at the end of March 2021 and will run for a period of almost eight and a half weeks, until the end of May. Upon the completion of the public consultation phase, the report will be finalised, with publication of NIFTI expected to take place in Quarter 3 of 2021.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (24 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. Further information can be found on the RSA website. The Road Safety...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (24 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: The current public health emergency has had a profoundly disruptive effect on the driver learning and testing system in this country. I can assure the Deputy 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 and Theory Testing Service. The driving test service is not currently operating as normal due to...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Post Office Network (24 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 222, 223 and 238 together. My officials and I have met with representatives of the Irish Postmasters Union (IPU) to discuss matters relating to the post office network in general including the Offline Services Report. An Post  has been proactive in taking steps in recent years to diversify its offering through: - An expansion of financial services...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Postal Codes (24 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: Capita Business Support Services Ireland, trading as Eircode, was awarded a 10 year contract in December 2013 to develop, implement, maintain and promote the National Postcode System "Eircode". Eircodes are assigned to new property addresses using a valid postal address and verified geo-locations. An Post collects information on new and existing buildings, as well as changes to existing...