I thank Deputy Dolan for raising this important matter. I am taking this on behalf of the Minister, Deputy O’Brien, who sends his apologies. The Deputy is correct that this is an opportunity to get this right. It is important that our public transport offering provides services that benefit people. I agree with the Deputy in that regard. In my city of Cork, we see that commuter rail is successful. It works. As the Deputy knows, the Minister, Deputy O’Brien, has responsibility for policy and overall funding. As the Deputy alluded to, the NTA is the agency responsible for the provision of this transport matter. It is important to recognise - Deputy Dolan has done so - that in response to growing demand, Iarnród Éireann increased service frequency arriving into Ceannt Station before 10 a.m. from four to five trains in August. Following completion of work on the curved glass roof and the new platform 5 in late 2025, the next phase of the Ceannt Station development was completed on Saturday, 18 April. New platforms 3 and 4 also entered service. We all know the different knock-on supports that happened with the opening of the new platforms. This latest milestone equates to roughly half of the station footprint being reopened to the public, ensuring an improved passenger experience and a more streamlined service for local rail users. That links to what the Deputy wants to see happen with the continuation of the service that he spoke about. Through funding from the Department of housing's urban regeneration and development fund and the NTA, Ceannt Station has been undergoing significant works for the past two years to deliver a modern, fully integrated and fully accessible transport hub in the heart of Galway. This commuter service is part of that, which is pivotal. As a gateway to the city, the investment will deliver better platforms and more capacity. For example, the number of platforms has gone from two to five, which will significantly expand the rail service well into the future. We have a new southern entrance and facade, creating that modern facade that we need. Enhanced connectivity and interchange between rail and bus services will make it easier and more attractive for customers to use multiple modes. There will be improved accessibility and waiting areas, along with that ticketing office improvement about which we all get representations from people who use the buses and trains. Additionally, future bus bay expansion will be provided for, which is envisaged under the development of adjacent lands. In addition to the new roof, there are renovations to the northern elevation as well as infrastructure works, including track and resignalling, to support the increase in the number of platforms. Other service work is ongoing, including drainage works. It was arising from operational arrangements associated with the ongoing renewal works at Ceannt Station that in October 2025 there was an ability to introduce a temporary 6.50 a.m. Athenry to Galway service until the end of July 2026. This service was funded though the capital project funding, as a train set had to be stabled at Athenry to facilitate the works. This temporary service is funded until the end of July this year. I heard the Deputy’s point on the consultation piece and I will bring that back to the NTA and the Minister. Iarnród Éireann has submitted to the NTA the associated costs to continue the operation of this temporary service beyond 31 July. This is currently under review by the NTA. I thank the Deputy for his advocacy. He has made a cogent and clear argument this morning. I will speak to the Minister and the NTA about it. Service level increases have proven beneficial to the travelling public and commuters. At a time when want to see more people get out of cars, this makes imminent sense. I am happy to support it and raise the matter with the Minister and the NTA.
Sentiment score: 0.27
Deputy Dolan makes a compelling case. The Deputy can be assured that I, the Department of Transport, the Minister, Deputy O’Brien, and the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, are all strongly committed to providing all regions and citizens with reliable and suitable mobility options. Public transport plays a key role in the delivery of this goal. I live in Cork where we have an ambitious plan. It has been successful. Cork, Mallow, Cobh and Midleton are beyond recognition from where they were ten years ago. The Deputy made a key point. The key point for us is that in the budget, we secured €940 million in funding for PSO and TFI Local Link services. A significant uplift of 43% has been seen, which is important. The Deputy is correct that the works in Ceannt Station have been transformative, but it is that piece about connectivity. The Government is fully supportive to continue to invest in public transport, particularly in Athenry. In the programme for Government, we are committed to a variety of changes and ways of making public transport more accessible and sustainable for the future. This service is a matter for the NTA. As I said, it is carrying out a review. It is important we communicate with the NTA in this regard. I accept that. I am happy to do so with or on behalf of the Deputy, along with the Minister, Deputy O’Brien, and the Minister of State, Deputy Canney. We have seen a transformation in the provision of public services in the Galway area. That is a credit to the Government but also to Iarnród Éireann. We should also show our appreciation to the travelling public who have had to endure a lot of hassle and hardship in that period. The Deputy’s point is well made. I am certainly happy to commit to engage with the NTA in support of the continuation of this service.
Sentiment score: 0.29
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as an ábhar seo a ardú. I welcome Ciarán and Damian and thank them for their work, advocacy and what they have been doing. I thank Deputy Bennett for raising the matter. I am taking this on behalf of the Minister who sends his apologies for not being here. In order to ensure the safety of road users, it is vital that Ireland only exchanges licences following a detailed examination of the relevant country's licensing and testing regime. Engagement with the relevant licensing authority is required in order to conduct such an examination. In addition, formal engagement is required with the other country during the licence exchange process itself in order to verify the licence. Bilateral agreements are utilised to ensure that both of these steps may be undertaken effectively. Entering into a driving licence exchange agreement with a country outside of the EU is not a straightforward matter and reaching it is not a matter of political will. However, I take the Deputy’s point with regard to political will. There needs to be that political will to do that. The former president of the GAA, Larry McCarthy, has been engaging with me on this issue. The core principle when reaching an agreement with another jurisdiction is to ensure the continued safety of road users is not compromised. In reaching a bilateral agreement, the most important element is ensuring that the other jurisdictions applies standards for obtaining a licence which are compatible with our own. Where they do not meet these standards, no agreement is possible, no matter how desirable an agreement with that jurisdiction may be. From Ireland’s perspective, the Road Safety Authority, RSA, is delegated under national legislation with the task of conducting the independent technical assessment comparing the two licensing regimes. Irish licences are normally issued for ten years but they may be issued for a shorter period in certain circumstances, such as on health grounds. Under the Road Traffic (Licencing of Drivers) Regulations 2006, as amended, someone who is resident in Ireland may apply to renew their Irish licence within ten years of it expiring. This effectively gives a window of 20 years from the day the licence is issued to the date it must be renewed. People with a non-exchangeable licence who come to reside in Ireland must obtain an Irish licence in order to drive here. However, a person with a full but non-exchangeable licence can avail of a shorter learning to drive process, which includes six essential driver training lessons instead of 12 and no minimum period of six months before taking a driving test. One of the commitments of the programme for Government is to work to facilitate the easier return to Ireland for emigrants, including reciprocal driving licence arrangements with the United States, Australia and Canada. Ireland has a licence exchange agreement with Australia and with seven of the ten Canadian provinces, with a proposed agreement under way at present with Nova Scotia. Under the programme for Government, the RSA is currently engaging with New York, Massachusetts and New Jersey in order to undertake a technical review with a view to entering into a licence exchange agreement. I am happy to ask the RSA to engage with the campaign group because it is important we hear from all sides and that we engage and understand fully what the issues are. The EU Driving Licences Directive 2025/2205 aims to modernise the driver licensing system and bring down the number of road deaths across the EU. The Union is committed to getting as close as possible to zero road traffic accident victims by 2050. The rules on driving licences are essential elements of the common transport policy and play a major role in improving road safety. The new directive provides for agreements on the EU-wide recognition of EU licences issued in exchange for licences from specific third countries, which have a road safety framework similar to the EU. This may only take place after the Commission, together with the member states, assesses and decides on a country-by-country basis which third countries meet the requisite standard. I again thank the Deputy for the opportunity to speak on this issue. I will bring her concerns and the points she raised back to the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, and the RSA.
Sentiment score: 0.38
It is not a question of political will. We all accept the great need to have that piece around connectivity. As I said at the beginning, entering into a driving licence exchange agreement is complex. It is not straightforward. We completely agree that we need to find the solution going forward. Let us have the solution. I commend the publication of the report and the work that has been done genuinely.
Sentiment score: 0.38
Whoa, whoa. Taistil go mall.
Sentiment score: 0.00
I do not disagree with the roadmap; the question is how you get to the end of the road. What we cannot do - and if we were to do so, the Deputy would come in here and excoriate me - is compromise on road standards and safety. We must engage. That is the one thing we will do. I will take back to the RSA and the Department the need to go through the report and meet with the group. They are fine people. I know them. Larry McCarthy, the former president of the GAA, has been on to me and I have spoken to him about this. We have seen an increase in fatalities on our roads in recent years and we cannot relax standards in that regard. We must ensure that the driving licence regime is robust and can stand up. I do not think any of us want to relax standards, and the report is very clear on that. We must ensure, where possible, that anybody who has passed a practical driving test to Irish standards obtains an Irish licence. Again, however, this is not as straightforward as we think. I am happy to advocate and to continue to ensure, as we have done in the programme for Government, that we have that reciprocal arrangement such that road safety and keeping Irish roads safe are the priority for all of us. Linked to the campaign about bringing people home, we must be able to ensure that anyone who obtains an Irish licence has passed a practical roads driving test that is up to our standards. I will work with the Deputy. There is more that unites us than divides us.
Sentiment score: 0.21