Results 28,581-28,600 of 33,214 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Roads Authority Expenditure (10 Mar 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: Details of NRA administrative budgets for the period 2010 – 2013 are outlined in the Authority’s annual reports and accounts for the years in question copies of which are available on the NRA website and in the Oireachtas Library. I understand that figures for 2014 and to date in 2015 are available directly from the NRA.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rural Transport Services Provision (5 Mar 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 266 and 267 together. I am committed to supporting a well-funded public transport system into the future, recognising the vital role it plays in our economy and society generally. I ensured that PSO funding for bus and rail services was maintained at current levels in the last Budget, the first time this has happened since 2008. I also recently...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Éireann Services (5 Mar 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: Bus Éireann’s Expressway services are commercial services operated in competition with private operators on main trunk routes and are licensed by the National Transport Authority (NTA). By their very nature, commercial services cannot and do not receive any PSO funding from the Exchequer. All of these commercial bus operators will only provide services where it is...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Test (5 Mar 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006 (Conferral of Functions) Order 2006 (S.I. No. 477 of 2006), the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has responsibility for the delivery of the National Car Test. The RSA has overall responsibility for the operation, oversight, development, quality assurance and delivery of vehicle testing arrangements. Therefore, I have referred the Deputy's Question to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aer Lingus Sale (5 Mar 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: As Aer Lingus is in an 'offer period' under the Irish Takeover Rules, I am constrained in what I can say publicly on the matter, as these rules apply to significant shareholders in some regards as well as offerors and offeree companies during an offer period. I briefed the Cabinet last week on the latest position in relation to the IAG proposal to make an offer for Aer Lingus...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Properties (4 Mar 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: The Office of Public Works is responsible for the procurement of office (and other) accommodation required for the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and accordingly, the arrangement of lease terms, rental levels (and reviews etc.) is a matter for them. In addition, the OPW undertakes regular monitoring of space allocated to Departments to ensure that it is used to the optimum...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourist Accommodation (4 Mar 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: Under the Tourist Traffic Acts 1939-2011, certain types of accommodation using protected titles, such as hotels and guesthouses, are statutorily obliged to register and comply with approved regulations.  These regulations mainly relate to the quality of the product and level of service.  In addition to this system of registration, Fáilte Ireland also offers a...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (4 Mar 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: The R179 Carrickmacross to Donaghmoyne Road is a regional and local road, the improvement and maintenance of which is the statutory responsibility of Monaghan County Council, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on such roads are funded from local authorities' own resources supplemented by State road grants.  The initial selection and...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Test (4 Mar 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006 (Conferral of Functions) Order 2006 (S.I. No. 477 of 2006), the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has responsibility for the delivery of the National Car Test.  The RSA has overall responsibility for the operation, oversight, development, quality assurance and delivery of vehicle testing arrangements. Therefore, I have referred the Deputy's...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Traffic Offences (4 Mar 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy will appreciate, one of the main causes of road crashes on Irish roads is excessive and inappropriate speed. My Department, in conjunction with the Road Safety Authority, An Garda Síochána and other stakeholders, is continuing to examine this area to identify measures that can be taken to bring about future reductions in fatalities and serious injuries....

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Traffic Offences (4 Mar 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: A Criminal Justice (Fixed Charge Processing System) Working Group, jointly chaired by my Department and the Department of Justice and Equality, comprising representatives of all relevant State bodies, was established in March 2014 to oversee and facilitate the implementation of the recommendations of a report by the Garda Inspectorate into the Fixed Charge Processing System.  As...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Appointments to State Boards (4 Mar 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: Since 2011 two senior civil servants at Assistant Secretary level from the Department have been appointed to State Boards under the aegis of my Department following their retirement. Mr Paul Bates was appointed to the Board of Dublin Port Company on 19th September 2013 based on his wide ranging experience of strategic policy development and analysis, programme design and management,...

Seanad: National Car Testing System: Statements (3 Mar 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Acting Chairman. In a break with tradition, I wish to first acknowledge the presence of Sarah Davis-Goff and Lisa Coen in the Public Gallery today, founders of Tramp Press, a new publishing company that has only been up and running for a short while. They have been publishing novels by new Irish writers. They are in the House this afternoon because I will be using some of their...

Seanad: National Car Testing System: Statements (3 Mar 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank Senators for their contributions. I will respond to the points in the order in which they were raised. A common theme in the contributions was delays in obtaining appointments at NCT centres to have appropriate checks carried out. Some Senators alleged these delays are ongoing. The NCT service has the capacity to carry out 150,000 more tests than it was able to carry out last...

Seanad: National Car Testing System: Statements (3 Mar 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: That was the point Senator Landy touched on. Those changes are being made to emphasise to people that it is fundamentally their responsibility to make sure their cars are roadworthy. They need to take responsibility for that and to contact the NCT centres at the right time to ensure their vehicle can be checked. That being said, the most recent figures we have show very clearly that, on...

Seanad: National Car Testing System: Statements (3 Mar 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I believe it is, but if I am corrected and have misquoted the Senator in any way I am sure he will correct me at a point in the future. One cannot say that we want to get more companies into the country and at the same time say that when a company wins a contract and operates in what we believe to be an efficient and fair manner, it might operate in such a way that would constitute a breach...

Seanad: National Car Testing System: Statements (3 Mar 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: The Senator raised a point with me and I did not respond. I have responded to a number of his colleagues on this issue. I am closely monitoring what is happening and I am very much aware of people's concerns regarding the six different options available. There was an exchange on that. One in particular has an effect on the Galway racecourse, which is a very valuable amenity to the city,...

Seanad: National Car Testing System: Statements (3 Mar 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I apologise for missing that point. I take a different view from that of the Senator. I understand why he would say it is something that should be considered. However, the reason I am not supportive of such a change is that a really important objective behind this testing procedure is to encourage people to do all they can to have their cars safe all the time. My concern is that if we...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Motor Insurance Coverage (3 Mar 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: Motor insurers are private concerns subject to the regulation of the Central Bank. I have no role in the regulation of motor insurers and no powers to ensure that they offer a quotation to their customers. It is advisable for people seeking motor insurance to shop around as the costs can vary dramatically.  Some insurers and brokers specialise in certain vehicles, for example...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Light Rail Projects Status (3 Mar 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: Given the constraints on the public finances, a number of projects, including the extension of the Luas to Lucan, were deferred under the Government's 5-year capital programme, Infrastructure & Capital  Investment Programme 2012-2016 - Medium Term Exchequer Framework, published in November 2011. The priorities under the current capital plan are to protect investment made to...