Parliamentary questions

233. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Transport in the case of a HGV driver who comes to Ireland from South Africa on a work permit, the reason that their drivers licence must be validated twice by the same agencies; considering the licence is first validated during the work permit application process and approval for said work permit is contingent on positive approval; and considering t…

234. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport the details of any secondments from consulting firms to his Department since 2020; the consulting firm involved; the purpose of the secondment; the durations of the secondments; who paid the salary of the individual seconded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13193/25]

235. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Transport the reason for a delay at a driving test centre (details supplied); if he is aware that some applicants have been waiting 20 weeks for a test date; the actions being taken to ensure an efficient service is provided from the location; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13219/25]

236. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Transport if he will outline the work of his Department to strengthen the State’s ability to detect and sanction breaches of law relating to the carriage of munitions of war on civil aircraft in Irish sovereign airspace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13220/25]

237. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide a copy of the plan to restore waiting times for driving tests to ten weeks that was requested by his officials as condition of his Department sanctioning 70 permanent positions for driver testers for the RSA in September 2024; the date by which his Department has requested waiting times to be restored to ten weeks; and if …

238. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Transport regarding the decreasing year on year monthly CSO numbers of driving tests being delivered in County Cork, the efforts being made to reduce waiting times for driving tests in the county; the number of testers employed at the beginning of each respective year from 2021 to 2025 inclusive; the plans to employ additional testers or to open add…

239. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Transport his views on a recent report by the National Transport Authority which suggests that it will be at least 2028 before contactless payments are available on rail and bus services; the timeline he is working towards on implementing the programme for Government commitment to introduce contactless payments on all public transport; and if he will…

240. Deputy Pádraig Rice asked the Minister for Transport if he plans to provide funding to the 1951 CIÉ superannuation pension scheme so that members can receive an increase in payments, given that no increases have been made since 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13249/25]

241. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Transport if his Department, or any agency under his Department’s remit, have, since 1 November 2024, entered any contract in respect of a hotel (details supplied) or have had any discussions, or received any offers, in respect of using this premises for any reason; the details of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13288/25]

261. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Transport to provide an update on the implementation of the recommendations of the Shannon Estuary Economic Taskforce Report, specifically the recommendation to "Undertake a feasibility study and develop a concept proposal for the development of a National Logistics Hub in the Shannon Estuary, as an input into the preparation of a ‘Regional Freight…

262. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Transport the provision that is made for special parking rights and allowance for passengers with autism, similar to the blue badge issued by an organisation (details supplied). [12336/25]

263. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport the expected timeline for an increased provision of bus services for the Millers Glen estate in Swords; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10600/25]

264. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Transport if he is satisfied that the price of a train ticket from Cork to Dublin is double that of a train ticket from Galway to Dublin, despite there only being a difference of around 40 km in the length of the journey; if an assessment of train fares has recently been carried out by his Department; if that assessment will be made available; and if…

265. Deputy Ciarán Ahern asked the Minister for Transport for an update regarding pension increases for retired CIÉ workers under the 1951 scheme who have received no increases to their pension since 2008; if he intends to discuss the matter with the CIÉ board; if he will meet with the retired CIÉ workers representative organisation [details supplied]; and if he will make a statement on the matter…

266. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport if he will provide a timeline for his Department to publish its policy framework on commercial drone regulation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10621/25]

267. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport if he intends to introduce regulations differentiating between various types of commercial drone uses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10622/25]

268. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport if he will introduce regulations to mitigate noise disruption caused by commercial drone use in residential areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10623/25]

269. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport if he will introduce regulations on the noise emissions of commercial drones, including design and operational standards, to mitigate noise pollution; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10624/25]

270. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport the number of applications made to the Irish Aviation Authority to operate drones in the 'specific' category; the number of applications accepted; the number of applications rejected, in each of the years from 2023 to 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10625/25]

271. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport the number of drone operators investigated by the Irish Aviation Authority and An Garda Síochána for non-compliance with drone regulations since the commencement of S.I. No. 24 of 2023 (Irish Aviation Authority (Unmanned Aircraft Systems (Drones)) Order 2023), per year, between 2023 and 2025, into 'open' and 'specific' categories, in tabular…

272. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport the number of drone operators found to be non-compliant with drone regulations by the Irish Aviation Authority and An Garda Síochána since the commencement of S.I. No. 24 of 2023 (Irish Aviation Authority (Unmanned Aircraft Systems (Drones)) Order 2023), per year, between 2023 and 2025, into 'open' and 'specific' categories, in tabular form;…

273. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport if he will increase the required cruising altitude for commercial drones to mitigate noise disruption caused by commercial drone use in residential areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10628/25]

274. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Transport what progress has been made to date regarding the procurement of a new site to construct a fit-for-purpose Coast Guard station in Courtown, County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10695/25]

275. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of the crisis situation regarding the condition of County Wexford’s local, secondary and tertiary roads network, which are among the worst in the country; if he acknowledges County Wexford’s poor position in relation to other counties, as documented in recent and historic National Oversight and Audit Commission roa…

276. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Transport if there has been progress made on any capital projects such as the MetroLink or the Galway bypass since the formation of this Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10739/25]