I thank Deputy Troy on behalf of Minister for Health, Deputy Donnelly, for this opportunity to update the House on this important matter. The Regional Hospital Mullingar is an important level 3 hospital that provides a wide range of health services for people in counties Westmeath and Longford and specialised services for a broader midlands population of 291,000. As Deputy Troy referenced, when I trained as a doctor, I spent time with the RCSI in Mullingar hospital and noted the tremendous public service and work o…

I assure the Deputy that the Ireland East Hospital Group and the HSE are committed to progressing the new MRI unit in the Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar for the people of counties Westmeath and Longford and the broader midlands. I am pleased the building works to facilitate the MRI equipment are progressing in the context of the planned completion date. Consideration is being given to the funding allocation for the MRI staffing required. In the interim, as I said, the recruitment of the clinical specialist ra…

Unfortunately, there has been an increase in fatalities on our roads over the last 12 months over and above the pandemic period, as well as above 2019 levels. For every fatality there is a family and community severely impacted by this loss. The current road safety framework is set out in the Government’s fifth Road Safety Strategy 2021 – 2030. The Road Safety Authority has overall responsibility for overseeing implementation of the Strategy and in so doing reports quarterly to the Ministerial Committee on Road Saf…

On offshore wind, the Deputy will be aware that the Port of Waterford is proposing to develop offshore renewable energy operations on the downstream location at Belview Port in Kilkenny. That project is at preliminary design stage. The Rosslare Europort is progressing plans for offshore renewable energy, ORE, with a purpose-built quay and berth and up to 50 acres for an ORE quayside storage area for the purposes of marshalling and assembly. This will require dredging of the navigable channel to a depth of 9 m to 11…

On Dublin Port, the Deputy will be aware that a number of Departments were involved in that process, with the EU, on what footprint was required at that time. On the Deputy's previous point about Dublin Port, there is a need for additional capacity at the port. The 3FM project outlines that there will be further demands within the Dublin Port footprint. I have had positive engagement with them. I had a meeting with them a number of weeks ago. We must ensure that the economic footprint of Dublin Port continues to be…

On the ORE port infrastructure, we are determined. There has been an issue and we are trying to reform that in the context of the Maritime Area Regulatory Authority, MARA, and getting the marine consents. We are also working with a number of ports on advancing the business plans so that the financing can be put in place. We are ambitious to ensure that we embrace the opportunities around offshore wind in the coming years.

I thank the Deputy for his question. I am aware of the importance of this matter and the concern in Dublin and in other locations. It is a very serious issue of safety in our public transport network, as the Deputy said. I fully recognise that those who regularly use and work in our public transport network are most directly impacted by any safety or security incidents. Safety and security on public transport are matters that first and foremost must be managed by public transport operators in conjunction with An Ga…

We are fully committed to continuing to work with all stakeholders to ensure the safest possible environment for passengers and all employees providing vital public transport services. I welcome that in recent weeks the Garda transport hub has been announced and will be in operation in the National Train Control Centre at Heuston Station this Friday, 5 May 2023. This will allow An Garda Síochána to have oversight of all public transport networks, including trains, buses and trams. It will strengthen the links betwe…

I am answering on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan. The advice is that the sustained use of E10 fuel in older vehicles may result in more frequent maintenance due to the vulnerability of certain vehicle parts to the solvent properties of ethanol requiring, for example, their more frequent replacement, but the clear feedback is that this does not mean they cannot be operated with E10 fuels and that it is safe to do so. The European specifications have outlined that. The legislation does not prevent any inde…

The clear evidence and guidance is to the effect that E10 fuel is safe but may necessitate more frequent maintenance. If the Deputy wishes to correspond with the Department about her specific concerns, I will ask the officials who have been engaging on this issue here and with their European colleagues to respond with the specific guidance. That may be helpful in responding to the people who have been in touch with her. The policy advice is that it is safe to change to E10 fuels.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 24 together. With the State having incurred the investment required to deliver BusConnects, it is vital to ensure sufficient enforcement is in place to protect the benefits of that investment from widespread breaches of the restrictions applying to bus lanes, cycle tracks and junctions. To effectively ensure this outcome, camera-based enforcement will be required to augment the on-street activities of An Garda Síochána. In addition to supporting BusConnects in its operational…

Section 81 of the Road Traffic Act provides for the use of camera apparatus to capture the constituent of an offence in the case of a number of offences under the Road Traffic Acts. Failure to obey a red light is a contravention of Article 30 of the road traffic regulations of 1997, and these regulations are made under section 35 of the 1994 Act. The offence of not obeying a red light is therefore an offence under section 35 of the 1994 Act and is therefore covered by the provisions of section 81 of the 2010 Act. A…

I thank both Deputies for their thoughts on this. The working group is inclusive of representatives of An Garda, local authorities, Transport Infrastructure Ireland and the Department of Transport. The NTA is taking the lead in this phase, with the recommendation to be made in the third quarter of this year. We also need to look at international best practice if we are making significant investment and a transformation in how we embrace active travel within our cities and towns. Is important we ensure it is properl…

Under section 46 of the Postal and Telecommunications Services Act 1983, the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, with the concurrence of the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, approves any superannuation schemes submitted by An Post. The operation of the schemes is a matter between the management of An Post, staff representatives and the trustees of the schemes. I have asked An Post to correspond directly with the Deputy on this matter. The reductions in excise on petrol…

Irish driver licensing operates within a framework of EU law, which sets out the driver licensing legislation with which all Member States must comply. The format of driving licences, categories of vehicles and the standards to be met in driving tests to qualify for a licence are set at EU level. Therefore, all EU-issued licences are mutually recognised in Member States. Ireland may make bilateral licence exchange agreements with non-EU jurisdictions. Such agreements can be made only when the authorities in both ju…

The operation of the National Car Testing Service (NCTS) is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority (RSA). I have referred the Deputy's query 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. I am aware of the challenges that the RSA and the NCTS are currently facing to meet high demand for tests and the delays which vehicle owners are encountering. My officials continue to meet weekly with the Authority, to monitor …

The Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021 is due to return to the Seanad for the Report and Final Stage on 24 May 2023. Given that there are Seanad amendments, a report back to the Dáil after passing the Seanad will be required. It is anticipated that the Bill will be signed into law in June. Work on commencement orders has already begun. This Bill contains a number of provisions relevant to the work of the Road Safety Authority (RSA). Completion of the Road Traffic and Roads Bill is the focus at the present time. My De…

The Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, has responsibility for overall policy and Exchequer funding in relation to the national roads programme, NRP. Once funding arrangements have been put in place with Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2015, and in line with the national development plan, NDP, the planning, design, improvement and upgrading of individual national roads is a matter for TII, in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. TII ultimately delivers the nat…

The roads outlined in the national development plan are an absolute priority. I look forward to engaging with the officials from Monaghan County Council and with the local councillors. I accept the Deputy's bona fides in trying to advance this on behalf of his community for reasons of economic development. The road safety matters he has outlined are also very important to the people of Monaghan and the people who transit through the county as well. As I have said, the allocations have been made for 2023. As part of…

I fully respect the right of any party to use its parliamentary time in whatever way it sees fit but it is really disappointing to see that the Labour Party has decided to fall back on the cheap theatre of a no confidence motion which it knows will fail.