Written answers

Thursday, 16 September 2021

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

Transport Policy

Photo of Martin KennyMartin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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114. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way in which his Department is improving rural transport services under the Our Rural Future - Rural Development Policy 2021-2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38321/21]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As Minister for Transport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport.

From a policy perspective, I have been clear that there is a need for a fundamental change in the nature of transport in Ireland and the Programme for Government, 'Our Shared Future', commits to making public transport and active travel better and more accessible, including in rural areas.

In addition, "Our Rural Future - Rural Development Policy 2021-2025", contains a number of commitments to improve public transport services in rural areas and pilot new transport initiatives for people of all ages and abilities living in rural areas.

My Department has been undertaking a review of the Sustainable Mobility Policy, which incorporates a review of public transport in rural areas. I intend to develop a new policy framework for the next 10 years that can provide a strategic backdrop to the increased investment planned by this Government across the sustainable mobility programme. The new policy statement will be informed by the review of the previous policy framework (known as Smarter Travel), submissions received during my Department's consultation process and the views and recommendations of other relevant stakeholders. It will provide a platform to advance the ambitions of the Programme for Government in the area of sustainable mobility, including in rural areas.

Our committments in both the Programme for Government and "Our Rural Future" in relation to public transport in rural areas will be progressed in the context of that new policy statement.

Among the measures we will prioritise is the NTA’s “Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan” to ensure settlements over a certain size can connect to the national public transport system, expanding TFI Local Link services and prioritising public transport projects that enhance regional and rural connectivity.

The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally.  The NTA also has responsibility for local and rural transport, including the management of Rural Transport Programme (RTP) which operates under the TFI Local Link brand. 

The NTA is developing its "Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan", which has the objective of providing better connections between villages and towns through enhanced and new local routes. These local routes will be integrated with an enhanced regional network connecting cities and regional centres nationwide. Connecting Ireland is being developed by identifying and measuring the extent of gaps in connectivity between settlements, outside of Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford; and also through developing a set of proposals to address those gaps, by enhancing existing services and introducing new ones.

In developing the Connecting Ireland initiative, the NTA undertook workshops with local authorities nationally. The NTA will shortly be undertaking a public consultation on the proposals emanating from Connecting Ireland.  The consultation will provide all interested parties and the general public with an opportunity to review and comment on the proposals.

Photo of Darren O'RourkeDarren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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115. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to support the taxi industry in the time ahead in view of the fact that work volumes remain significantly reduced related to Covid-19; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44096/21]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I recognise that the SPSV industry has been very badly affected by COVID-19 which brought about an almost complete collapse in passenger demand for taxi and other SPSV services. I understand that as many as 70% of SPSV drivers have availed of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment which, as the Deputy will be aware, has been extended to February 2022. Self-employed SPSV operators can continue to claim the PUP and earn up to €960 in a given 8-week period, net of expenses.

Based on figures from the National Transport Authority (NTA) I am pleased to advise that passenger demand for SPSV services is now rising as we progress through the next and final phase of the Government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic: COVID-19: Reframing the Challenge, Continuing Our Recovery and Reconnecting. NTA figures also show a steady increase in the proportion of taxi drivers working over the last few months: from 36% of all drivers working in January 2021 to 62% working in June 2021. I expect these trends to continue as restrictions are lifted in line with public health advice.

Support for SPSV operators continues to be available through a series of measures designed to support the sector, with a view to addressing statutory costs faced by operators which cannot be deferred. Standard licence renewal fees for SPSVs were waived in 2021 and I can confirm that they will be waived again in 2022 at an estimated cost of €3 million. The NTA has put in place schemes to refund the Motor Tax paid by SPSV operators in the period 1 September 2021 to 31 August 2022 and to waive NCT fees for the same period. Further details on these schemes are available on the NTA website. The NTA has also extended age limits for SPSVs to 2022.

Recognisng that the replacement of a vehicle is the single largest cost faced by any SPSV operator, and in view of my commitment to support the transition of the SPSV fleet towards zero/low-emission vehicles, I increased the funding available to the Electric SPSV (eSPSV) grant scheme for 2021 to €15 million, up from €1 million. This scheme can be used in conjunction with COVID-19 investment and liquidity measures, such as the COVID-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme. There has been a strong interest in the revised scheme, which has received over 1,100 application. To date 254 vehicles have been licensed that were purchased under the scheme at a cost of just over €3 million.

Furthermore, Microfinance Ireland announced on 9 September that a loan finance up to €25,000 is now available to support the eSPSV Grant Scheme, as many SPSV owners are finding it difficult to secure finance from banks and other commercial lending providers. Further information on this facility is available from Microfinance Ireland.

Photo of James O'ConnorJames O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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116. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to help small rural communities move to more environmentally sustainable modes of transport in cases in which on-demand transport may not be economically viable. [44234/21]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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As Minister for Transport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport.

It is the National Transport Authority (NTA) which has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally. The NTA also has national responsibility for integrated local and rural transport, including management of the Rural Transport Programme which operates under the Local Link brand.  

In light of the NTA's responsibilities in this matter, I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

Photo of Alan DillonAlan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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117. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress that has been made in relation to projects associated with the school active travel programme in County Mayo; and the level of investment and future proposals to support these future initiatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44235/21]

Photo of Eamon RyanEamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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In March, I was delighted to launch the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Programme which will support Active Travel infrastructure for selected schools around the country. The Programme will see approximately €15 million of funding this year to support walking, scooting and cycling to primary and post-primary schools and aims to create safer walking and cycling routes within communities, alleviate congestion at the school gates and increase the number of students who walk or cycle to school by providing the necessary infrastructure.

All schools were eligible to apply to the programme and information was circulated from the Departments of Education and Transport to schools nationwide. By the deadline of 16thApril, 931 applications had been received from schools in every county in Ireland. 170 schools were notified on 21stJune that they have been selected for inclusion in the first round of the SRTS Programme, including 7 schools in Mayo. The schools selected were assessed against a range of criteria including school type, location and the school’s commitment to sustainable travel.

Schools that have applied this year and who have not been included in the first round of funding will not be required to reapply as they will come into the programme on a rolling basis. There are no plans for an additional call for schools to join the SRTS programme at this time.

The Safe Routes to School Programme is funded by my Department through the National Transport Authority (NTA) and An Taisce's Green-Schools is co-ordinating the programme. Noting the NTA's responsibility in this matter, I have forwarded your correspondence to them for a more detailed reply.

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