Questions

349. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the development of the new vehicle adaptation scheme (VAS); to clarify if this new grant scheme is entirely standalone or if it is intended to phase out or replace any element of the existing disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme (DDS) run by the Department of Finance; the timeline for the finalisation of the eligibility criteria and…

350. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Transport to direct the NTA to advise if a new route 600 connecting a service Tralee-Killarney to Cork City-Dungarvan-Waterford will come into service given the public demand for this route; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61094/26]

351. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Transport to direct the NTA to advise if a service can be provided for route 300 to stop at Farranfore, given the high public demand for this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61093/26]

352. Deputy Ann Graves asked the Minister for Transport if airlines or airport authorities have minimum standards for seating, or maximum waiting times during boarding (details supplied); and whether Ireland will work with others at EU level for minimum boarding-queue conditions to be added to the EU Regulation 261/2004 framework. [61000/26]

353. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Transport the status of an issue in relation to Leap cards (details supplied); when the technical issue will be resolved; the measures being taken to ensure it does not reoccur; and if he will make a statement on the matter.' [60865/26]

354. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Transport the reason for extending Freedom of Information Act 2014 exemptions to the Medical Bureau of Road Safety in respect of railway intoxicant testing records under the Railway Safety Bill 2026; the transparency considerations underpinning this amendment; and if he will make a statement on the matter.' [60798/26]

355. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport if he will direct a company (details supplied) to accept the transport of live exports given that it is using ports that are publicly owned. [60837/26]

356. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Transport the total amounts paid by his Department to private insurance companies for insurance for each year from 2016 to 2025 and to date in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61362/26]

357. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Transport the expenditure incurred by his Government Department on external consultancy services in each of the past five years, broken down by consultancy firm, project and amount paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61345/26]

358. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Transport the extent of consultation undertaken with heritage and tourist railway operators prior to the drafting of the Railway Safety Bill 2026; the dates of such engagements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60802/26]

359. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Transport the justification for retaining copyright over Railway Accident Investigation Unit reports and restricting their commercial use under section 15 of the Railway Safety Bill 2026; the precedent for such restrictions in other safety investigation regimes; and if he will make a statement on the matter.' [60801/26]

360. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Transport the rationale for granting gardaí accompanying Railway Accident Investigation Unit personnel the power to arrest without warrant under section 17 of the Railway Safety Bill 2026; the number of incidents under existing railway safety legislation where such powers would have been required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60794/26]

361. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Transport if he has carried out an assessment of the impact of the Railway Safety Bill 2026 on volunteer run heritage railways (details supplied) and other designated heritage operations; if he has consulted with heritage railway operators regarding compliance costs, criminal liability exposure, and operational implications; and if he will make a statement on the matter.…

362. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Transport his plans to address the funding shortfall for the rollout of BusConnects; the individual projects under the programme that are now due to be delayed, the length of time of the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61367/26]

363. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport the status of the new driving test centre in the Dublin 15 area (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60783/26]

364. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Transport whether consideration will be given to reviewing the scheduling of bus routes C4 and W6 on the section of route shared between Maynooth and Celbridge; whether the NTA is aware that the current timetabling often results in both services operating within a few minutes of one another or running in convoy; whether consideration will be given to staggering the …

365. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider measures to facilitate the entry of young drivers into the taxi industry through the sale of already existing licences by older drivers who wish to exit the industry. [60769/26]

366. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Transport the basis on which compliance with the statutory maximum speed limit of 20 km/h for e-scooters is assessed (details supplied); whether enforcement is based on the actual speed at which an e-scooter is being operated or on the maximum unladen speed capability of the vehicle; the number and types of e-scooters currently available that meet the legal requirement…

367. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Transport to report on progress to meet commitments under the national human rights strategy for disabled people; the measures taken since the strategy was introduced; the key metrics identified to measure progress; and if he will make a statement on the matter [60751/26]

368. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Transport to address the condition of footpaths and streets in Cahersiveen town; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60713/26]

369. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Transport to expedite the south Kerry Greenway, a lifeline and a gamechanger for County Kerry; to speed up outstanding payments and accommodation works for adjoining farmers/landowners; to introduce a sustainability payment or the equivalent of for all landowners adjacent to the Greenway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60712/26]

370. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the proposed park and ride facilities to be developed in Galway on the N6 national primary road next to Junction 19, comprising approximately 550 spaces and at the N83 national primary road, just north of Claregalway, comprising approximately 320 spaces; the status of the accompanying development of the bus priority measures along both the N6…

371. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the limited frequency of intercity rail services between Dublin Heuston and Westport, particularly the absence of a mid-morning weekday service; if he will engage with Iarnród Éireann to examine the feasibility of introducing an additional service, potentially departing Heuston around 11:00am, to improve connectivity for pass…

372. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide a significant increase in funding for the Ring of Kerry N70 road, given its importance to Ireland’s and Kerry’s tourism industry, as 70% of this national secondary road is substandard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60520/26]

373. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Transport to direct Transport Infrastructure Ireland to invest finances and resources to correct the roads and footpaths in key towns such as Cahersiveen and Killorglin on the N70 Ring of Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60517/26]