Results 20,421-20,440 of 21,489 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Cycling Facilities (27 Jun 2013)

Alan Kelly: My Department is fully supportive of the development of cycle ways along canal paths and recognises the benefits of these initiatives.  In general, it is a matter for relevant local authorities to progress and submit proposals for the development of such routes to the Department.    In respect of the Grand Canal, I understand that the provision of a...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport Initiatives (27 Jun 2013)

Alan Kelly: The National Transport Authority (NTA) is responsible for procuring Public Services Obligation (PSO) vehicles on behalf of Dublin Bus and Bus Eireann.  EU Directive 2009/33/EC requires that the NTA take environmental and energy criteria into account when making such procurement decisions. As this matter is more appropriate to the NTA,  I have forwarded your...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Cycling Facilities (27 Jun 2013)

Alan Kelly: My Department is currently administering a multi annual funding programme related to the development of the National Cycle Network (NCN) to cover the period 2012 to 2016.  Significant investment has already been made in 2012 and 2013 with €7 million allocated to 16 projects across Ireland.  One of the projects to benefit from this funding is a 3km section of cycle way from...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Integrated Ticketing (27 Jun 2013)

Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 54 and 66 together. Responsibility to develop, procure, implement, operate and maintain the integrated ticketing Leap Card system in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) is a function of the National Transport Authority (NTA). In addition  among the Authority's principal functions is the promotion of an integrated, accessible public...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Bike Schemes (27 Jun 2013)

Alan Kelly: The Dublin Bikes scheme is one of the most successful city bike rental schemes in operation, which has led to on-going calls for its expansion. The National Transport Authority has worked closely with Dublin City Council to draw up the plans for the current expansion of the scheme along an east/west axis, from Heuston Station to Docklands.  I have referred the Deputy's...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Taxi Regulations (27 Jun 2013)

Alan Kelly: The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the regulation of the taxi industry under the provisions of the Public Transport Regulation Act, 2009 and is also the lead agency for implementation of the recommendations of the Taxi Regulation Review Report 2011,  including Action 32 of the Review Report concerning the Smartphone App for driver verification. I have...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Cycle Network (27 Jun 2013)

Alan Kelly: Firstly, I should explain that it is a matter for the relevant local authority to progress any proposals related to the development of cycle infrastructure, whether along disused railway lines or the existing road infrastructure. My Department is fully supportive of the such infrastructure and is currently administering a multi annual funding programme related to the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport Initiatives (26 Jun 2013)

Alan Kelly: Responsibility to develop, procure, implement, operate and maintain the integrated ticketing Leap Card system in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) is a function of the National Transport Authority (NTA). In addition  among the Authority's principal functions is the promotion of an integrated, accessible public transport network. Noting this I have referred the...

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (25 Jun 2013)

Alan Kelly: I must first declare that I was formerly a manager of Bord Fáilte-Fáilte Ireland. I worked in that agency for almost eight and a half years. I take on board what the Deputy had to say. The US market is looking good, as is the mainland European market. We expect to meet The Gathering target of over 300,000 visitors and €170 million in revenue. As a Government, we have...

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (25 Jun 2013)

Alan Kelly: The increase relates in the main to our hosting of the Presidency of the European Council. I expect the allocation for this area to return to previous percentages.

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (25 Jun 2013)

Alan Kelly: I will deal with the Chairman's question first. It is something I have asked about myself. It is an issue and we will provide the Chairman with the exact figures of how much it costs. We all despise it. Not alone is there a cost impact, but there is also an alignment and co-ordination impact if a real issue arises somewhere else. Much of the time it is difficult to track down these...

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (25 Jun 2013)

Alan Kelly: This is a very topical issue and I thank Deputy Ellis for raising it. The Department is working with various sporting organisations. If a ban were put in place, it would be a challenge to replace the amount. This decision will be made at Cabinet in the near future. The health and social benefits must also be taken into account.

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (25 Jun 2013)

Alan Kelly: We must consider the health and social benefits with regard to linking alcohol and sport. From the purely balance sheet point of view we are here to discuss today, the obvious answer is that if the funding were withdrawn, of course it would be difficult to replace it. From an overall Government point of view, this must be balanced with the health and social aspects which are also extremely...

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (25 Jun 2013)

Alan Kelly: The reason for this increase is because the staff in Coaching Ireland have been incorporated into the budget.

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (25 Jun 2013)

Alan Kelly: I will deal with the issue of roads in general. We never have enough money for roads. The general Exchequer situation means that we do not have the allocations we want. We accept that and are trying to do the best we can with what we have. Given the budget constraints and the impact of reduced maintenance spending, the Minister, Deputy Varadkar, and I decided to channel all available...

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (25 Jun 2013)

Alan Kelly: As the Deputy is well aware, discussions on that are ongoing and it would not be appropriate for me to prejudge that. Decisions on that and across a range of other related issues-----

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (25 Jun 2013)

Alan Kelly: On my behalf and on behalf of the Minister and the other Minister of State in my Department, I thank the Deputy for being so-----

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (25 Jun 2013)

Alan Kelly: Absolutely, I would love to see it completed. There will be discussions on the matter of the promissory notes. We will discover the implications of that in the near future. As the Deputy knows we will have an early budget this year. Deputy Ellis asked a very good question about the Road Safety Authority, RSA. If this is not viewed in the broader sense, one could imagine there might be a...

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (25 Jun 2013)

Alan Kelly: It is mainly to protect the investment through restoration and maintenance. That is the best value for money we can deliver with this funding. There has been a serious investment in roads. We had two hard winters and with every hard winter the impact is increasing all the time. We have asked local authorities to prioritise the roads they feel have suffered the biggest impact because of...

Committee on Transport and Communications: Select Sub-Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2013
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (25 Jun 2013)

Alan Kelly: From a departmental point of view, we would have taken more but, unfortunately, it was not available. We were quite happy that we got the allocation of €50 million. It was discussed at Cabinet and was prioritised as an area that we knew needed extra funding. The figure of €50 million came out of the total financial situation that was there at the time at which the Minister...