Parliamentary questions

719. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Transport the actions his Department will take to maintain public transport connectivity in the areas affected by the planned cancellation of Bus Éireann Expressway routes in May 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25223/26]

720. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport for an update on a driving test (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25226/26]

721. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the roll-out of new automated speed cameras at road accident black spots across the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25235/26]

722. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport to provide a list of the locations which have been funded for road safety improvements under the low-cost safety improvement scheme since 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25237/26]

723. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Transport if his Department has undertaken an evaluation of the outcomes of the low-cost safety improvement scheme; if the scheme has reduced the number of accidents on our roads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25238/26]

724. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Transport whether motor tax revenue is ringfenced for expenditure on road construction and road improvements; the amount taken in motor tax revenue in each year from 2015-2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25239/26]

725. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Transport the initial estimated allocation compared to the actual outturn for the period of carbon tax to his Department, disaggregated by the programme or measure funded, for each of the years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25276/26]

726. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Transport the number of services operating on the Maynooth train line, per day, in each of the years 2016 to date in 2026, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25301/26]

727. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Transport the amount of allocated carbon tax funding that remained unspent at year end; the amount surrendered back to the Exchequer via the Central Fund; the amount carried over via formal arrangements for deferred surrender; and whether amounts carried over were retained for the specific programme/measure originally allocated or transferred …

728. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Transport the steps being taken to strengthen road safety governance to achieve the target 50% reduction in deaths and serious injuries by 2030, in line with the Government Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030; the specific actions being taken to enhance the accountability and performance management of the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and its collaboratio…

729. Deputy Keira Keogh asked the Minister for Transport if he has considered launching a public service obligation service in place of the recent cancellation of Expressway services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25371/26]

730. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Transport for an update on plans to develop a new vehicle adaptation scheme; if the primary medical certificate will be a part of its eligibility criteria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25373/26]

731. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Transport if his Department records reports of sulky horse racing on public roads; the steps his Department is taking to eradicate such practices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25381/26]

732. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Transport if he will outline the way in which Ireland’s certification and audit framework for renewable liquid fuels will be strengthened to address concerns about feedstock integrity, particularly in the context of EU-level investigations. [25427/26]

733. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Transport whether a new tendering process has commenced for the continuation of the driver theory test service as the existing contract is due to end in December 2026 (details supplied); if not, when will this tendering process commence; the steps are being taken to ensure transparency and fairness in the awarding of this long-standing contract; the …

734. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Transport whether there are plans to operate the provision of the driver theory test service through the Road Safety Authority itself rather than through use of a private contractor (details supplied); if there has been any projection and analysis of the cost of doing so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25430/26]

735. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Transport the total pay bill for the civil service in his Department for each year from 2016 to 2025 inclusive. [25452/26]

736. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Transport the reason Bus Éireann is ceasing its route 52 Expressway service between Galway and Ballina; the steps his Department is taking to ensure that a bus connection between Galway and Ballina is preserved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25462/26]

737. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Transport the assessment that has been carried out regarding the availability of wheelchair-accessible public transport between Ballina and Galway if route 52 is withdrawn; if the NTA acknowledges that Citylink does not provide a wheelchair-accessible service on this corridor; the contingency plan to ensure wheelchair users are not left without any a…

738. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Transport the most recent passenger numbers for route 52, broken down by town, village, Ballina, Foxford, Straide, Castlebar and Claremorris; if the NTA can provide data on daily, weekly, and peak-time usage; the number of passengers that use route 52 for hospital appointments, education, or employment; and the number of passengers that rely on wheel…

739. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Transport his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25472/26]

740. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Transport the analysis that has been conducted regarding the impact on access to Mayo University Hospital, University Hospital Galway, Merlin Park Hospital and Galway Clinic; if the NTA reviewed the number of patients that travel for outpatient appointments, surgery, treatments, or consultant visits; the provision that will be made for patients who c…

741. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Transport the assessment that has been completed on the way the cancellation of route 52 will affect students attending University of Galway, ATU Castlebar and Galway, students needing onward connections to UL, via Galway; the way in which students without cars be expected to travel between Mayo and Galway; if the NTA has considered the context of t…

742. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Transport the analysis has been carried out regarding the effect on elderly residents, isolated rural communities, and individuals placed in Direct Provision or emergency accommodation; the way in which people who rely on the route 52 service for shopping, family visits, sporting events, and community activities will be supported; if the NTA has iden…

743. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Transport the public consultation that took place before route 52 was selected for discontinuation; if accessibility organisations, disability advocates, local authorities, or community groups were consulted; if the NTA will publish the documentation, modelling, and rationale behind this decision; and when did the NTA first receive or approve the pro…