I thank Deputy Gould for raising this important topic, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Transport, Deputy O'Brien. From the outset, I would like to clarify that the Minister for Transport has responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport but neither the Minister nor his officials are involved in the day-to-day operation of public transport services. The statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally rests with the National Transport Authority, NTA. The NTA works with the public transport operators, which deliver the services and have responsibility for day-to-day operational matters. That said, I would like to reassure the Deputy that the Government is strongly committed to providing all citizens with reliable and realistic sustainable mobility options and public transport plays a key role in the delivery of this goal. As the Deputy will be well aware, bus services in Cork city have, unfortunately, been experiencing significant reliability issues for a combination of reasons, including both driver availability issues and traffic congestion. The NTA and Bus Éireann are working together on the matter and are holding weekly meetings to review plans to rectify these issues. There has been an increase in recruitment efforts, which have included open days and a number of online campaigns. There are currently a number of candidates in the process of completing their driver school training and following this, Bus Éireann expects to be in a position to fully operate their existing timetabled services in late November. However, I understand that additional drivers are required in order for Bus Éireann to introduce the required timetable changes that would help in alleviating some of the issues regarding congestion and reliability issues seen on some routes. It is intended that there will be changes to the timetable along a number of routes on a phased basis as and when these drivers become available. A number of timetable fixes have been implemented on certain routes already. Bus Éireann has advised that it has the necessary number of applicants within its recruitment pipeline to address the additional driver requirements outlined above. Its assessments factor in applicant attrition rates and mixtures of candidates with and without the D-category licence, as well as other relevant factors such as retirements, resignations and short-term absenteeism. I can also confirm that as part of the Connecting Ireland rural mobility plan, the TFI Local Link route 255 from Kinsale to Cork west was recently launched in August 2025. This new route 255 operates four daily return services between Charles Fort and the west of Cork city from Monday to Sunday. The new route provides peak-time services connectivity to Forthill, Kinsale College, Kinsale Community Hospital, Halfway, Ballinhassig, Wilton Shopping Centre, Cork University Hospital, Munster TU Campus and regional bus services. BusConnects is a transformative programme of investment in the bus system providing better bus services across our cities, including in Cork. It is the largest investment in the bus system in the history of the State and is managed by the NTA. Planning for the implementation of the new bus network has commenced and it is expected that the new network will be implemented on a phased basis over the coming years subject to funding and resource availability.
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That is not what I said.
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I thank the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach. First, I accept and I said here that the service is not right. I have also said I and the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, are not responsible for the day-to-day running of the service - we are responsible for providing the funding. If there are issues with the service we will get to the bottom of it. I know there have been issues with getting drivers and I appreciate the Deputy's frustration and that of the people in Cork. There is no point in having a public bus service if we are not able to deliver it. We will work to get it right, we will work to get the additional people in place, but there are also new routes that have to be put in to try to avoid the congestion and to put in BusConnects. The timetable and the scheduling is being looked at and as I said to the Deputy, Bus Éireann and the NTA are meeting weekly to try to resolve some of these issues. I would say to the Deputy as well-----
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Sorry-----
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A Chathaoirligh.
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With due respect, Deputy, you had your time and-----
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If you could have the manners to let me talk, please. It is just common courtesy. I gave that to you. What I would say to you is I meet Bus Éireann on a regular basis where issues arise and I can meet it on this, but I will not be goaded into it or bullied into it by you.
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What do you want?
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No, I would say he can have the time. Sure he knows it all.
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There is no point in talking when he shouts over me.
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I thank the Deputy for the question. Commercial vehicle roadworthiness testing, CVRT, in Ireland is largely based on the EU roadworthiness directive, which is Directive 2014/45/EU. Although the directive has not set specific standards, it requires the provision of modern, up-to-date testing facilities to ensure all tests are carried out in accordance with the directive. While as Minister of State I have responsibility for the legislation governing commercial vehicle testing, the Road Safety Authority has statutory responsibility for the operation and oversight of the system, including the authorisation of CVRT facilities and operators. The standards required for CVRT premises were set out by the Department of Transport in 2004 but implemented differently by the local authorities. The need for existing CVRT premises to meet these standards has been discussed since 2013. In 2019, the operators were made aware their premises would need to meet the new standards, including drive-through lanes, to renew their authorisations in 2024. In 2022, new regulations, SI No. 475/2022 - Authorisation of Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness Test Operators and Testers (Amendment) Regulations 2022, amended SI No. 107 of 2013 to set out new standards for the authorisation of CVRT operators, including the requirement for drive-through lanes. The regulations supported revised requirements in the RSA's premises and equipment guidelines, with which CVRT operators must comply to obtain or renew an authorisation in accordance with the Road Safety Authority (Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness) Act 2012. Among other things, the new regulations set out the minimum standards required for currently authorised testing facilities to renew their authorisation for the next ten-year period. They also delayed, for three years, those requirements for CVRT operators whose premises did not meet the new standards on expiry of their previous authorisation in March 2024 until March 2027. This three-year grace period, introduced because of Covid-19, gave authorised operators the opportunity to review the new standards and make informed decisions on whether to make the necessary investment to comply with them as well as sufficient time to carry out any upgrades. The RSA has informed the Department of Transport that the majority of CVRT operator authorisations issued under section 11 of the 2012 Act will expire in March 2027. The RSA has also advised that the majority of operators whose authorisations expired in 2024 already meet the required standards and will be able to renew their authorisations for ten years to 2034. Others will have to decide whether to upgrade their premises in order to continue as authorised operators after March 2027. Overall, the changes will mean consistent standards in roadworthiness testing facilities for the Irish commercial fleet.
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There are currently 147 authorised commercial vehicle roadworthiness test operators. I will list the expiry dates for their authorisations. Sixty will expire on or after 18 March 2034 and seven will expire between 18 March 2027 and 18 March 2034. Their premises will also comply. Sixty-nine expire on 18 March 2027 and 11 operators have informed the RSA that they will not continue to operate after that date. Of the 69 companies whose authorisations are expiring, 51 are at different stages of completing their upgrades. Seven have works completed, 19 are in the process of carrying out the works, 13 are seeking quotations and a further six have planning approvals. One more planning approval is with the Department. Plans have been approved in two cases but it is not yet confirmed when works will commence. Plans have been submitted to the RSA and responses have issued to the operators in three further cases. I take on board the point that some people might face a financial impediment in continuing. I will talk to the officials and see if I can get a reason that those operators must have a drive-through lane. These regulations were introduced in 2022. We are a long way down the road of implementing them. If we were to change them now, it would do a disservice to those who have already undertaken these investments. It is a double-edged sword. I will check that out. From reading these figures, it seems that many of the operators are in compliance with the standards or are in the process of complying with them. Of course, some have said they will not continue. I do not know if all of those decisions were made for financial reasons. Some may be retiring or so on. I will have a look at that.
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I thank the Deputy very much for raising this matter. I will give her the reply that I have been given, but, basically, my understanding is that in the context of the role of the Minister, this is a planning issue. I believe there is planning going on at the moment. I do not know the exact detail. While there is a planning application in the system, the role of the Minister is primarily to provide a policy and legislative framework under which the planning authorities, An Coimisiún Pleanála and the Office of the Planning Regulator, OPR, perform their statutory planning functions. I understand there is a live planning case and therefore, as provided under section 30 of the Act of 2000, the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage shall not exercise any power or control in relation to any particular case with which a planning authority or An Coimisiún Pleanála is or may be concerned. This means that the Minister is explicitly prevented from interfering in such cases, which is of utmost importance to maintain the independence of the planning authority or the commission. Therefore, it would be inappropriate to comment on any individual case that may be subject to appeal or judicial review. All development proposals require planning permission unless they are specifically exempted under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, or the supplementary Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended. Where any person is unsure if planning permission is required, under section 5 of the 2000 Act they may seek a declaration from the relevant planning authority as to whether any particular case is or is not a development, or is or is not exempted development, within the meaning of the 2000 Act. When a person submits a planning application, irrespective of whether the proposed development is located in an urban or rural area, the relevant planning authority in making its decision shall have regard to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area. It is a matter for the relevant planning authority to consider each application on a case-by-case basis and to decide whether to grant the permission, subject to or without conditions, or to refuse permission. Where an individual who has participated in the planning process, or is directly affected by a planning decision of a planning authority, they may lodge an appeal to the commission in accordance with section 37 of the 2000 Act. Furthermore, any person who has participated in the appeals process, or shows they have sufficient interest, may seek a judicial review. Public participation is a long established and key element in the substantive decision-making process under the planning Acts. It is open to any person to make a submission or observation. In addition, a person who made a submission or observation on a planning application that a planning authority has decided to grant or refuse may subsequently appeal this decision to An Coimisiún Pleanála or may make a further submission in relation to an appeal of that decision. I do not know the exact detail of this case, but I understand there is a planning process going on. While that planning process is going on, the Minister cannot interfere in it. It has to go through its course. If that is the correct position, I will accept the Deputy's response.
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I cannot comment on the particular situation. Now that I understand what has happened, planning permission has been given for this and it is still in the planning process. I cannot comment on that-----
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I have it in my own constituency with wind farms. These wind farms are being imposed on communities in their own backyards. They are very imposing. Again, we do not know who owns them. Investors own them. Communities are preparing submissions to go into the local authority to make their cases. They are meeting in community halls to see how they will do this when they should be at home enjoying themselves with their families. That is the context of the overall issue. More public transport is definitely needed. The questions I have been answering, including from the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach, in the past couple of weeks highlight that the public transport systems we have are not fulfilling the function they are supposed to be doing. We had it from another Deputy in Cork here tonight. We have deficiencies in the system. That is a different conversation from getting public transport up and running, but I cannot comment on a live planning application. As the Deputy said, it will be appealed it or whatever, but I do not know. I cannot comment on that particular thing and the question is about parking charges. I wondered what the background was to it but now I understand it. I sympathise with the community and I presume that justice will prevail.
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I thank the Deputy for the question. In County Galway, we have 30 villages without any treatment plant, so I empathise with him. Uisce Éireann has statutory responsibility for all aspects of water services planning, delivery and operation. Neither I, nor the Minister, Deputy Browne, who offers his apologies as he cannot be here this evening for this question, have an operational function in the matter to which the Deputy refers. However, we have asked Uisce Éireann for an update on the Deputy's behalf. Uisce Éireann has made significant investments in upgrading wastewater treatment infrastructure across Cork since 2014. However, it is important to note that it is dealing with a legacy of underinvestment in water services and infrastructure across Ireland. The scale of the remedial work necessary in our water and wastewater systems will take a number years and investment cycles to fully resolve. The upgrade of the Carrignavar wastewater treatment plant will come under Uisce Éireann’s small towns and villages growth programme, which is a national programme to cater for growth in smaller towns and villages within existing Uisce Éireann infrastructure. This programme is delivered in partnership with local authorities and is aligned with the county development plans. Each local authority is responsible for prioritising candidate settlements for investment under the programme. Carrignavar was not included in Cork County Council’s list of prioritised sites for upgrade under the scheme for the 2020 to 2024 capital investment plan. Local authorities were asked to review the ranking of candidate settlements in their area in 2023. Cork County Council has Carrignavar currently ranked at no.13 in the list of candidate settlements. Schemes ranked 1 to 7 in Cork are currently progressing under the programme. Due to the scale of projects already confirmed in Cork and nationally and Carrignavar’s relative position on the priority list, a project to expand capacity at the local treatment plant has not been included in the 2025 to 2029 plan. However, €2 billion has been set aside under the national development plan to support housing delivery, which includes €300 million for the enhancement of that small towns and villages growth programme. Uisce Éireann will continue to engage with Cork County Council under the scheme and there may be opportunities for the council to reprioritise the scheme relative to other sites on this list under the capital investment plan for 2025 to 2029. Additional money of €2 billion has been ring-fenced for new infrastructure and it is important that Cork County Council re-engages with Uisce Éireann at this stage to see how it can bring this project forward, following on from what the Deputy has described to me.
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I can feel the Deputy's frustration with this particular issue. As I said, for the first time ever we have put money into Uisce Éireann, which is ring-fenced money, for it to develop new infrastructure. Since its inception, Uisce Éireann has spent a lot of its time trying to firefight existing infrastructure which was not functioning properly. In fairness, it did not get the proper money to do the job it was set up to do. That is an inherent problem and a legacy we have. With the agreement of Uisce Éireann, we also have allowed developer-led infrastructure to be used. The developer can build a treatment plant to the specifications of Uisce Éireann, which will take it over and manage it thereafter. That is another option that is coming up. I do not have timelines for when the reviews will happen from the Minister. I will bring the Deputy's situation and this question back to him to see what can be done. I agree that a small sum of money for towns and villages creates opportunities to build houses for people who can live in their own areas, enhance their villages and parishes and keep the community alive. It allows developers to make houses available for young people who want to live in their own areas. It is a question of getting money to develop the treatment plants that are needed. There is no mystery about them; we just need to get them done. I concur with the Deputy's feelings and will bring them back to the Minister.
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