Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin (Wicklow-Wexford, Sinn Fein)
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385. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to provide an update on the Arklow to Shillelagh greenway project (details supplied); if he will provide details on the delay; if he will commit to ensuring the project progresses in a timely manner; the timeframe for delivery; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44236/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to Greenways. There has been a significant amount of investment for Greenway schemes in County Wicklow with €1,650,000 allocated in 2025.

In line with Section 32 (2) of the Roads Act 1993, the planning, design, and construction of individual Greenways is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Investment in Greenway and National Roads Active Travel projects is also subject to the requirements of the Infrastructure Guidelines and necessary statutory approvals.

Noting the above position, I have referred your question, on this occasion, to TII for a direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.

Maeve O'Connell (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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386. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to list the disability person’s representative organisations that were present at each of the four stakeholder engagement meetings as part of the development of an updated SMP Action Plan and as part of the Sustainable Mobility Policy 2022; and the organisations that received invitations to participate but did not attend. [44267/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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My Department held four National Sustainable Mobility Forum stakeholder engagement events in May this year; two online and two in-person - in Dublin and Galway. All invitees were invited to attend any one of these events and could choose the time and format most suited to them. The purpose of this approach was to facilitate equity of participation from a broad range of stakeholders, by ensuring that the number of attendees at each event was small enough to provide all participants with the opportunity to substantively contribute to the discussions on the development of the next Sustainable Mobility Policy Action Plan.

Invitations were issued to each of the following Disabled People’s Representative Organisations (DPROs) on 15 April:

• AsIAm
• Disability Power Ireland
• Disabled Women Ireland
• Headway National Advisory Group
• Independent Living Movement Ireland
• Irish Deaf Society
• National Disabled Postgraduate Advisory Committee
• National Platform of Self Advocates
• Physical Impairment Ireland
• Voice of Vision Ireland

• ADHD Ireland
• Cycling Without Age [attended online event on 27 May]
• Inclusion Ireland
• Irish Wheelchair Association
• Mental Health Reform
• National Disability Authority [attended Dublin event on 29 May]
• Rehab Group
• Tilting the Lens
• Vision Ireland [attended online event on 27 May]

Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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387. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the plans to make changes to a bus route under the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40723/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally and for the scheduling and timetabling of these services in conjunction with the relevant transport operators.

In light of the NTA's responsibility in this area, I have forwarded the Deputy's query to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.

Donna McGettigan (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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388. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the measures that will be taken to prevent rideshare drivers from soliciting passengers who have not contacted them through the App, at Shannon International Airport which has a taxi rank and paid staff who are booking passengers into taxis, but rideshares are collecting them from outside the terminal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40815/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including compliance and enforcement, is a matter for the independent transport regulator, the National Transport Authority (NTA), under the provisions of the Consolidated Taxi Regulation Acts 2013 and 2016. I have no role in the day-to-day operations of the SPSV sector.

Ridesharing is not available in Ireland via online platform or otherwise. No special regulations have been developed to govern the carriage of passengers by passenger cars, which are not SPSVs. Online services and app companies, such as Uber and FreeNow (which has been acquired by Lyft), are licensed as dispatch operators by the NTA and are restricted to using licensed taxi drivers to provide journeys to customers. The ridesharing transport model operating outside Ireland, is not a model that would comply with Irish law.

An SPSV dispatch operator is an individual or organisation that provides a service for taking bookings for SPSV services that are delivered by someone else, or who provides a service that enables intending passengers to arrange the hire of an SPSV themselves. The NTA grants dispatch operator licences to individuals or companies that meet set criteria. Dispatch operators have an important role to play in providing a first-class service to the travelling public. Dispatch operators also play a key role in improving the delivery of door-to-door services to people with disabilities.

Approving the use of unlicensed drivers and unlicensed vehicles for the carriage of passengers for reward would be a significant departure from the current regulatory position. Fundamentally, it requires a complete re-evaluation of policy objectives in this area of transport, and an assessment of the need, and justification, for any regulatory regime covering small public service vehicles.

If unlicensed or illegal activity is suspected of occurring, it should be brought to the attention of the NTA. Accordingly, I have referred your question to the NTA for further information. Please advise my private office if you have not received a reply within 10 working days.

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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389. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to outline the nature of refurbishment works that were carried out at Drogheda Train Station, in the years of 2024 and to-date in 2025, in tabular form. [40843/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport.

The query raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for Irish Rail. I have, therefore, referred the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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390. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the total spend by his Department on external legal services in each of the past three years; the main areas of legal activity for which external advice was sought; if he will provide a breakdown by case or category; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40858/25]

Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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392. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount spent on legal fees associated with litigation, advice and settlements in each of the past three years by his Department and agencies under its aegis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40889/25]

Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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414. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if all external legal fees incurred by his Department, and by any bodies under its aegis, are charged at negotiated discounted rates; how fees are monitored for compliance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41513/25]

Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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415. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department conducts regular benchmarking, or market testing, to ensure that the rates paid for legal services, solicitors and barristers, represent value for money for the taxpayer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41531/25]

Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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419. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his Department makes use of capped fee arrangements, fixed-fee briefs, success-based fee models or other such arrangements in its legal engagements; if not, the reason such options are not considered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41603/25]

Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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420. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport whether any legal engagements have exceeded their initial estimated or approved cost in the past three years; if so, the number of such cases and total overrun; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41621/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 390, 392, 414, 415, 419 and 420 together.

My Department, when required, engages the services of the Chief State Solicitor's Office, the Attorney General's Office and the State Claims Agency in relation the provision of legal advice and representation in litigation. Where officials of my Department engage external legal services, these procurements are conducted in compliance with applicable procurement Regulations, national legislation and the Public Financial Procedures.

The Department has no record of any legal engagements which have exceeded their initial estimated or approved cost in the past three years.

With regard to the Agencies under my remit, this is a matter for the Agencies themselves. My office will forward your questions to them for their direct response. If the Deputy has not received a reply within ten working days, please contact my private office.

Please see below the total spend by The Department of Transport on external legal services in each of the past three years.

Eoghan Kenny (Cork North-Central, Labour)
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391. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to look at the possibility of providing a canopy bus shelter on both sides of the road at the bus stops in New Twopothouse, Mallow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40865/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy may be aware, as Minister for Transport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for planning and development of public transport infrastructure, including the provision of bus stops/shelters.

There is a commitment under the Programme for Government to ensure that public transport operators provide safe and accessible access for all passengers and a commitment to work with local authorities and national bodies to improve public transport options and infrastructure.

Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for a direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 days.

Ryan O'Meara (Tipperary North, Fianna Fail)
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393. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider additional funding allocations in 2025 for local authorities looking to complete bridge rehabilitation works, but were not successful in allocations made earlier this year; when the next round for applications will open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40915/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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In accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993, each local authority has statutory responsibility for the improvement and maintenance of their regional and local roads. Works on those roads are funded from local authorities' own resources and are supplemented by State Road grants. Of these grants, the vast majority (approximately 90%) are targeted at the maintenance and renewal of the network with c. 10% of the remaining funding invested in new roads/bridges or for road realignments.

My Department provides grant assistance to local authorities under the Regional and Local Road Grant Programme for a number of targeted programmes, including the Bridge Rehabilitation Programme. Applications are sought each year from local authorities under this programme for consideration for funding in the subsequent year. Councils are made aware of this and are asked to submit applications in order of priority.

Applications will again be sought later this year for funding of bridge rehabilitation works on regional and local roads to be carried out by local authorities during 2026. The deadline for submission of applications for 2026 will be notified to local authorities in the circular which will be issued later this year.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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394. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if facilities are available for those that have literacy or computer difficulties to avail of adequate assistance with the driver theory test; if such are a requirement of the service provider; if they are available at all test centres; the criteria by which it is determined if a person can avail of such facilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41015/25]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
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Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the Driver Theory Test. Neither I nor my officials are involved in the service at an operational level.

Given the RSA's responsibility in this matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the RSA for direct, detailed response. Please contact my office if a reply is not received within ten days.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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395. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will review correspondence (details supplied); if he will address concerns raised regarding the service and pricing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41016/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. However, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the regulation of fares charged to passengers in respect of public transport services provided under public service obligation (PSO) contracts, and also for public passenger transport services nationally and for the scheduling and timetabling of these services in conjunction with the relevant transport operators.

In April 2023, the NTA published a new National Fares Strategy, aiming to deliver a more consistent, equitable, and transparent fare structure for all passengers. Following this, the NTA commenced a phased rollout of revised fare zones and structures. Phase 1 of this Fares Determination was implemented in June 2024, focusing on fare changes for towns and shorter journeys within Dublin.

As the Deputy may be aware, the second part of this Determination is being implemented in two phases: Phase 2A (commenced from Monday, 28 April 2025) introduced new multi-modal fare caps in Dublin and revised commuter rail fares; and Phase 2B (commenced from Monday, 16 June 2025) for revised commuter bus fares. The new system aligns fares with distance, meaning some fares increase while others decrease, but the structure is now equitable and easier to understand. It is the NTA’s intention to roll out further changes in future determinations during 2025, designed to deliver a fares approach that is easier for customers to understand.

Average fares on all PSO transport services per passenger in Ireland remains quite low in comparison to other countries. My Department supports these measures in line with the recent commitment in the Programme for Government to keeping fares low and affordable. As with all such measures, further expansion will be considered in the upcoming Annual Estimates Process discussions.

The issue raised by the Deputy is therefore an operational matter for the NTA. In light of the NTA's responsibility in this area, I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.

Keira Keogh (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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396. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to provide a list of all the greenways in the State over 8km in length; if each route is on publicly owned land or accessible by way of permissive access agreements for each greenway, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41033/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Transport has responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to greenways. The planning, design and construction of the Greenways programme, is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. The Department of Transport generally provides funding to greenways over 20km in length (or shorter distances where it is proposed to join a number of existing Greenways to form a longer, more strategic route). I am aware of other funding schemes such as the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme and Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (administered by other Government Departments) which has been used to fund other routes which are branded as greenways. The below table refers to Greenway routes that have been funded by the Department of Transport that exceed 8km.

James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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397. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider including a children’s ambulance service in the list of emergency vehicles exempt from the payment of toll charges (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41044/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015, the operation and management of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.

Therefore, matters relating to the day to day operations regarding national roads, including toll roads are within the remit of TII. More specifically, the statutory power to levy tolls, to make toll bye-laws and to enter into agreements with private investors are vested in TII under Part V of the Roads Act 1993 (as amended). Moreover, the contracts for the privately-operated toll schemes are commercial agreements between TII and the Public Private Partnership (PPP) concessionaires concerned.

Noting the above position, I have referred the question regarding unpaid tolls to TII for a direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.