Results 29,481-29,500 of 33,214 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Integrated Ticketing (25 Nov 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: Responsibility to develop, procure, implement, operate and maintain the Leap Card system is a function of the National Transport Authority (NTA). Noting this I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply.  Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (25 Nov 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I have no plans to replace the Irish rail gauge with the international standard gauge and I am not aware of any such plans by the Authorities in Northern Ireland either. As the Deputy will be aware the rail gauge on the island of Ireland is different to that in mainland United Kingdom.   While I am aware that the idea of an undersea tunnel linking Ireland and mainland UK...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Tolls (25 Nov 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: As I indicated recently, there are no plans to introduce additional tolls during this Government's term in office. As regards the contracts for the privately-operated toll schemes, these are commercial agreements between the NRA and the PPP concessionaires concerned. Under the terms of the PPP Contracts, the PPP Company has the right to levy toll charges in accordance with the Toll...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (25 Nov 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: The issue raised is a matter for the relevant local authority, which has responsibility for the setting and phasing of traffic signal priorities. I understand that, in the case of Luas junctions, there is a considerable amount of liaison between the Railway Procurement Agency (RPA), Transdev and the local authorities in relation to traffic priorities.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport Initiatives (25 Nov 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport.  The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for developing public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) including Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) projects. The NTA's Integrated Implementation Plan...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Haulage Industry Regulation (25 Nov 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: As I have previously stated, the UK HGV road user levy is an unwelcome development, especially in its effect on Irish hauliers operating in the Border region.  The UK authorities have rejected all requests to have significant sections of the Northern Ireland roads infrastructure exempted from the levy and have agreed to exclude only approximately 7 km of roads that criss-cross the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (25 Nov 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: Accessibility improvements to public transport services are being advanced in the context of Transport Access for All, my Department's Sectoral Plan under the Disability Act 2005. The 2013 Plan sets out a series of policy objectives and targets for accessible public transport across all modes. However, while significant progress has already been achieved, much remains to be done and...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Contracts (25 Nov 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: My Department has not awarded any contracts to the company mentioned. The awarding of any contracts by agencies is a matter for the agency themselves, I will forward your query to them for direct reply to you as soon as possible. Please contact my Office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Industry (25 Nov 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: While my Department provides the capital funding for investment in tourism projects such as the Wild Atlantic Way, it is not directly involved in developing or managing them. The development of the Wild Atlantic Way and similar initiatives is a matter for the Board and management of Fáilte Ireland.    Fáilte Ireland is currently developing a similar tourism...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety (25 Nov 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: Speed limits exist to promote safe usage of our roads.  The legislation prescribes different classes of speed limit for different classes of roads,  It also allows some leeway to local authorities, in their capacity as road authorities, to determine the appropriate speed limit for particular roads or stretches of road. Where the law does allow options to local...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Roads Authority Projects (25 Nov 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: As Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme.  The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.   I support the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Traffic Management (25 Nov 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I think we can all agree on the need to make cycling as safe and attractive a mode of transport as possible.   In other jurisdictions, the 'local traffic only' option is often used in urban rather than in rural areas, and is mostly seen as an anti-congestion measure.  It is mainly a method of routing non-local traffic on to by-passes and out of built-up areas.  In...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Services (20 Nov 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: CIÉ continues to face a very challenging financial situation and is dependent on continued bank funding.  Irish Rail has incurred accumulated losses of over €148m in the past six years, a position which is unsustainable.   I acknowledge the changes that have been accepted by workers and the contribution of the LRC proposals of 3rd...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Test (20 Nov 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy should note that it has, for some time, been an offence to use a vehicle on public roads without a valid NCT certificate. Currently, this is a 'straight-to-court' offence which attracts 5 penalty points on conviction. The change to that position that I will be implementing shortly - by commencing section 10 of the Road Traffic Act 2014 - is to bring this offence...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (20 Nov 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: Irish driver licensing law operates within the framework of EU driver licensing law.  For this reason, there is mutual recognition of driving licences across all EU Member States.   EU Member States may also make bilateral agreements with non-EU states for recognition of driving licences for the purposes of exchange.  Where such bilateral agreements exist, they apply only...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety (20 Nov 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: The law against drink driving has been strengthened a great deal in recent years.  At the same time, the issue of driving under the influence of drugs has been a growing concern. The Road Traffic Act 2014 provided for the introduction of roadside impairment testing by An Garda Síochána.  This testing consists of simple, physical, cognitive tests to assist...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Staff Data (20 Nov 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: My Department has three staff who have been assigned specific responsibility for different areas of Data protection.  All staff within my Department are regularly reminded of their own responsibilities for data protection.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Test (20 Nov 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 168 and 169 together. The operation of the National Car Test is a matter for the Road Safety Authority (RSA). As this is a matter for the RSA, I have forwarded the question to the Authority for direct reply, and I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received in the next ten days.

Water Sector Reforms: Motion (Resumed) (19 Nov 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I listened with interest to what Deputy Collins said and was reminded of her previous speeches on bin charges.

Water Sector Reforms: Motion (Resumed) (19 Nov 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy assured working communities that she would defeat bin charges and told them not to pay. Where did that get her? She made similar claims relating to the household charge and told people not to pay it.