Parliamentary questions

644. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Transport the merits of creating the role of a road safety commissioner and a related office with the legal authority, budget and mandate to deliver action on addressing road deaths; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24192/26]

645. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Transport the merits of creating the role of a road safety commissioner and a related office with the legal authority, budget and mandate to deliver action on addressing road deaths (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24193/26]

646. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Transport his views on the merits of allowing for automated speed cameras, which are in use in other EU countries, to encourage better driver behaviour; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24194/26]

647. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Transport if any research has been done into the merits and legality of introducing automated speed cameras to encourage better driver behaviour; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24195/26]

648. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Transport Minister his views on the merits of creating a database of driving black spots in the country (details supplied); if this is under review; if this information can be used to improve road safety measures at these locations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24196/26]

649. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport the measures that are being taken at Mulhuddart test centre specifically to reduce driving test wait times from double the national target down to ten weeks, including provision of additional testers, and more test slots in the evenings or at weekends and bank holidays. [24212/26]

650. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding attempts to restore the Donegal-Dublin flights service that has been in place for decades given that no decision has been made and the Donegal – Dublin afternoon flight will be lost from 1 April 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24222/26]

651. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Transport to request the NTA to publish publicly the data for buses which fail to turn up and the reasons given by the bus operators for these failures to show; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24225/26]

652. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Transport if funding announced for sound barriers along the N6/M6 Athlone Bypass will apply to residents in Bay Lough and the County Roscommon side who are affected by consistent traffic noise; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24234/26]

653. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Transport if he will examine the potential barriers to not-for-profit ridesharing platforms (details supplied) to be introduced in Ireland, particularly in light of the CCPC recent findings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24235/26]

654. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 501 of 19 April 2025 if there has been an increase in the amount of tests held in the centre to date in 2026. [24246/26]

655. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport if he will confirm the number of scheduled tests in the Navan test centre for January 2026 was at 820 and for February 2026 is 706; the number of tests actually performed in each of these months; and of these, the number who passed, failed, were paused and or were not eligible. [24247/26]

656. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 1463 of 18 March 2026, if the 70 additional permanent staff mentioned have been taken on and remain to date nationwide. [24248/26]

657. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport the additional net valid applications that were actually added to the wait list for Navan test centre for February 2026, and all other months for each of the past five years (details supplied). [24249/26]

658. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport further to Parliamentary Question No. 1463 of 18 March 2026, his views on any progress referred to; and the actions that have been taken during this time to achieve such objectives (details supplied). [24250/26]

659. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport the current actual wait time from initial application to appointment date for B class driving test in the Navan test centre and also each year for the past five years (details supplied). [24251/26]

660. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport the number of 10,320 scheduled appointments for a driving test from February 2025 to February 2026, that proceeded, were cancelled, not eligible and paused; of the 10,320 the number that passed and driving licences issued; and the number of fails (details supplied). [24252/26]

661. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport his views on the additional figures quoted by CSO with regards to paused applications; the definition of a paused application; the main factors that contribute to a paused application; the breakdown of the reasons there are 1,654 paused applications as of February 2026 at the Navan test centre; and if a test is cancelled, if it is consider…

662. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Transport whether he intends to introduce statutory noise or vibration limits for operational railways in Ireland as we are currently reliant on UK legal limits as a guideline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24286/26]

663. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Transport the reason that, when search and rescue crews are required to remain at work for a 24-hours period, their working time is not being recorded in full in accordance with the requirements of the European Communities (Organisation of Working Time) (Mobile Staff in Civil Aviation) Regulations 2006 [S.I. 507/2006] insofar as crews on-call at their …

664. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider creating a statutory Road Safety Commissioner with the legal authority, budget and mandate to deliver the 2030 road safety target, consolidating the duties of his Department, local government, the Road Safety Authority, An Garda Síochána and Transport Infrastructure Ireland, in order to ensure proper accountability for roa…

665. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Transport when the new driving test centre in Sandyford will be opened; when learner drivers can apply for a test at this centre; the reason for the delay in opening this test centre; the number of driving testers that will be based in the centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24334/26]

666. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Transport the current number and location of average speed camera systems in operation and any plans for expansion in 2026 [24348/26]

667. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Transport whether any assessment has been carried out on the effectiveness of average speed cameras in reducing collisions and fatalities; and if so, the findings. [24349/26]

668. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Transport whether any legislative or regulatory barriers exist to the wider rollout of average speed enforcement. [24350/26]