Gino Kenny (Dublin Mid West, People Before Profit Alliance)
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34. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to ensure that public transport is available to all those that need it during the Covid-19 crisis in view of the fact that most transport is running at 50% capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25891/20]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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The continued operation of the public transport sector is important and, from a very early stage in the Covid-19 crisis, public transport was designated by Government as among the essential services that could continue throughout the emergency. Guided by public health advice, measures have been introduced across the system to enable the continued operation of services during the pandemic, including enhanced cleaning regimes and appropriate social distancing measures across the network.

With the commencement of Phase 3 of the Government's Roadmap for Reopening Society and Businesson 29 June 2020, changes to the existing public transport social distancing restrictions were agreed, allowing a move from 2-metre social distancing to utilising 50% of the passenger-carrying capacity of bus and rail fleet. Alongside this change, new Regulations were introduced making mandatory the wearing of face coverings on public transport, with some limited exceptions. This has helped to underpin public transport services provided by both public and commercial licensed operators during these unprecedented times, with a view to safeguarding public transport capacity.

There is continued strong messaging that public transport capacity remains restricted and therefore should only be used for essential travel, with only those who have to travel at peak times doing so and encouraging staggered retail and office opening hours. People are being encouraged to walk or cycle where practical, and organisations are encouraged to continue to facilitate working from home.

The Government is also spending considerable additional Exchequer funds on the public transport sector in order to support the continued operation of necessary services, despite the reduced demand and the restricted capacity owing to the Covid-19 situation. The Exchequer is now funding the PSO (public service obligation) regime far in excess of the allocation that had been provided under Budget 2020. In addition, the Government introduced a new temporary funding support for the non-PSO (licensed, commercial) bus sector in respect of its continuation of necessary bus services.

The Government's newly announced Living with Covid Plan, clearly sets out the guidance and restrictions that will apply for all sectors, including public transport, at the 5 levels of the Plan, including strong messaging that people should use active travel as an alternative where this is feasible. This advice along with other measures (such as continuing to work from home where possible) is aimed at suppressing the spread of Covid-19 in Ireland. The advice is also aimed at ensuring public transport is safeguarded for those who need it most, most notably, frontline workers and students.

Both my Department and the NTA are closely monitoring public transport demand and will continue to be guided by public health advice.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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35. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the degree to which steps can be taken to allow sea and air transport to operate within specific guidelines necessitated by the Covid-19 crisis in view of the need to recognise the important role of the transport sector in the economy; the extent to which he continues to have discussions with stakeholders in the industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25823/20]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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50. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the extent to which he envisages facilitating a travel regime in which air and sea transport can be restored to reasonable levels; if he is satisfied that the airline industry has available to it necessary supports to offset the impact of Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25824/20]

Hildegarde Naughton (Galway West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 35 and 50 together.

Ireland, as an island nation, is particularly dependant on air and sea connectivity both socially and economically, and both the aviation and maritime sectors play a critical role in this regard.

Measures implemented with regard to travel restrictions, due to Covid-19, are decided by Government as a whole, based on public health advice from the National Public Health Emergency Team.

The Government’s new “Green list” of countries for international travel came into effect on Monday 21 September. Travel to the seven countries on this list, which currently have a ‘normal precautions’ (“green”) security status rating, are exempt from the general advice against non-essential travel overseas and the request to restrict movements does not apply to individuals arriving into Ireland from these locations. This is a positive step in opening up international travel.

The Government has also taken the decision to broadly align with the European Commission’s co-ordinated approach to international travel, which is expected to be considered on 13 October at the General Affairs Council. With regard to countries other than those on the green list, the proposed new EU approach would involve graduated requirements for testing for incoming and outgoing passengers.

In this regard my Department is in consultation with the Department of Health, the HSE and maritime and aviation stakeholders, to consider the possibility of introducing testing for Covid-19 in the context of international travel, as an alternative to the current restrictions, which is consistent with public health requirements and cognisant of the resources and capacity available in our health sector.

The Government has put in place a comprehensive suite of generalised supports measures to help mitigate the effects of the crisis on our citizens and businesses, including the aviation and maritime sectors. These measures include the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme and the new Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme, which will now run to April 2021.

In June 2020, the Government announced the formation of a Taskforce for Aviation Recovery, which delivered its final report on 10 July. The report, which is available on the Gov.ie web site, contains a number of recommendations on how to support Irish aviation. The recommendations include measures to sustain the industry for as long as travel restrictions are in place and also measures to help stimulate a return to growth at the appropriate time.

In addition to the broader financial supports for jobs and businesses set out in the July Stimulus package, the Government is also providing targeted supports for aviation, many of which arise from the Aviation Task Force Final Report recommendations. These are as follows:

- Subvention of air services to the regions is being maintained

- Some €2.5 million in Exchequer funding is being provided for capital investment in the areas of safety and security to the airports of Donegal, Ireland West (Knock) and Kerry

- A new Regional Airport Programme for the period 2020 – 2024, which will incorporate a number of support Schemes for our regional airports, is due to be published shortly

- Shannon Airport has been given an emergency grant of €6.1m to enable the Airport to complete its Hold Baggage Screen project – which is a safety and security requirement under EU Regulations.

- Legislation has been introduced to provide a State-guarantee for Refund Credit Notes issued to the customers of Irish licensed travel agents and tour operators who have had to cancel holiday bookings. This guarantee ensures that where a Credit Note is accepted by a customer then its monetary value will be secured until such times as it is used in the future.

My Department is also examining how best to help secure the future of the Shannon Group, including the Airport, and in this regard it is proposed that a Memorandum for Government will be submitted in the coming weeks.

Other recommendations, including further targeted financial supports to help reinstate connectivity, regional development and sustainability in the aviation sector, are being developed by my Department. This work will feed into the Government’s further plans to re-launch international connectivity and to aid broader economic recovery at the appropriate time, while being cognisant of prevailing public health advice.

The maritime sector is essential to the continued supply of goods coming in and out of the country, accounting as it does, for 90% of Ireland’s international trade in volume terms. It is, therefore, vitally important to ensure that Ireland’s ports, shipping operations and all the elements of that maritime supply chain continue to function.

In the earlier part of the year my Department provided for a financial intervention by way of the designation of five key strategic routes as public service obligation routes. This measure was taken in order to maintain continuity of service and to mitigate against some of the financial impacts of the crisis. However, as freight volumes have recovered somewhat and the “emergency” element has now gone, this measure has now been discontinued. My Department continues to explore all avenues available in terms of supports to ensure our strategic maritime routes are maintained. As we move to align ourselves more closely with the EU position on a more co-ordinated approach to international travel, I am confident that the clarity being provided will help in restoring consumer confidence in the maritime sector.

I and my officials have met stakeholders in both the aviation and maritime sectors and will continue to engage with them to determine what measures we can put in place to assist these sectors.