Parliamentary questions

485. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Transport the number of occasions since January 2024 on which additional DART services were operated on bank holiday weekends due to increased passenger demand; the routes and dates involved, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43080/26]

486. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Transport whether the National Transport Authority has considered the introduction of a dedicated bank holiday timetable for DART services, distinct from the current Sunday timetable, in recognition of changing travel patterns and increased leisure and tourism demand; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43081/26]

487. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Transport if he will commit to the full implementation of developments for new cruise facilities at Dublin Port (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43195/26]

488. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Transport if the ESPSV to enable owners of small public service vehicles, such as taxis, hackneys and limousines, to buy electric vehicles will reopen; whether there is a planned timeline for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43318/26]

489. Deputy Roderic O'Gorman asked the Minister for Transport if bin companies can access the road transporters support scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43335/26]

490. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Transport for an update on the new proposed bus route 515 New Mallow to Killarney as of June 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43377/26]

491. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Transport to provide additional funding for a new Local Link bus service from the Gap of Dunloe/Kate Kearney’s Cottage to Beaufort village and on to Killarney town and vice versa; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43387/26]

492. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Transport to provide additional funding for a new Local Link bus service from Beaufort village to Whitefield, Meanus and on to Killorglin town and vice versa; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43388/26]

493. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Transport the plans in place to improve public transport connectivity between towns and villages in south Kildare and major employment centres including Naas, Newbridge and Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43486/26]

494. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Transport the engagement that has taken place or is planned to take place with disability sector organisations and representative groups regarding the replacement of the disabled drivers and disabled passengers scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43500/26]

495. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Transport to provide his Department’s eligibility criteria that a person must meet in order to receive a disabled parking permit under the disabled parking scheme; if he could provide a copy of any document outlining these eligibility criteria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43518/26]

496. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding the proposed increase in pension entitlements for retired employees under the CIÉ 1951 pension scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43556/26]

497. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding any engagement he has had with the retired employees under the CIÉ 1951 pension scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43558/26]

498. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Transport the position regarding any engagement he has had with the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation in relation to the proposed increase in pension entitlements for retired employees under the CIÉ 1951 pension scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43560/26]

499. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Transport the status of plans to improve accessibility at railway stations serving County Kildare; and the stations identified for upgrades over the next three years. [43749/26]

500. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Transport the number of applications received and approved under the Active Travel Programme in County Kildare in 2025 and 2026; and the projects currently awaiting funding decisions. [43750/26]

501. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Transport if he is aware of the long wait times for licence exchanges (details supplied); the measures he is taking to address this; if he has considered steps to allow Irish emigrants moving home to exchange their licence from abroad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43778/26]

502. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Transport whether his Department, the National Transport Authority or Iarnród Éireann has undertaken any assessment of the feasibility of reopening Kildangan railway station; whether passenger demand modelling has been conducted; whether the station is included in any current or planned rail investment strategies; and if he will make a stat…

503. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Transport the actions being taken to improve signalling resilience and service reliability across the national rail network following recent service disruptions; the investment planned in signalling infrastructure during 2026 and 2027; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43830/26]

504. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Transport the estimated timeline for the completion of the Navan DART Plus route; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43833/26]

505. Deputy Shónagh Ní Raghallaigh asked the Minister for Transport the estimated timeline for the completion of the Metrolink project; the estimated cost for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43834/26]

506. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Transport if he plans to examine the current eligibility criteria for the disabled parking scheme to reflect the challenges faced by parents of children with autism who experience, sensory overload, distress, development risk, difficulties coping with busy public environments and difficulties walking long distances. [43892/26]

507. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport to provide an update on a driving test for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43941/26]

508. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider making the €8,500 scrappage grant available under the new EV scheme available in respect of vehicles being scrapped to be replaced by a second-hand EV, if he would consider the many benefits of this for the EV market; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43962/26]

509. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Transport the rationale for setting the threshold at 13 years for the new EV scrappage scheme; if he will consider reducing the threshold to vehicles aged ten years or older; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43963/26]