Results 5,401-5,420 of 9,471 for speaker:Hildegarde Naughton

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised)
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (30 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: The work is about finding the best place for Shannon Heritage and ensuring that we maintain those critical historic monuments, that we preserve and conserve them, and that the right expertise in technical matters and preservation is brought in to ensure we can assess the costs around it.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised)
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (30 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: The OPW is currently engaged in that process around assessing the preservation and costs around preserving Bunratty Castle and King John's Castle. That work is ongoing.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised)
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (30 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: The OPW will be reporting back to the Department on the matter because we need to ensure these monuments are maintained and preserved. The OPW has the technical expertise and is best placed to do that.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised)
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (30 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I thank the Chairman. The RSA is examining ways of increasing the number of tests within the current health constraints, and it is working in close consultation with my Department on the matter. It needs to be understood, however, that there are no easy solutions, unfortunately. I have been trying to find easy solutions but, unfortunately, it is just not possible with the restrictions....

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised)
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (30 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: That has to be a decision of the Government. The issue at the moment is the level 5 restrictions. I realise it is very frustrating that essential workers cannot do a test because they have not done all 12 lessons.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised)
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (30 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: When the restrictions ease, I assure the Chairman we will be considering this. On the online service, a pilot has been trialled-----

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised)
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (30 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: The RSA is considering a theory test for trucks and buses-----

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised)
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (30 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I cannot say because we are dealing with health restrictions at the moment. It is only essential workers who are permitted. I hear the frustration regarding those who do not have the 12 lessons done but, unfortunately, we must adhere to our public health advice. The matter will remain under consideration, however. I hope as things ease, we can consider issues like that. On the online...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised)
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (30 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I thank the Deputy. He raised several really good programmes. I am delighted he did because it is important that I get a chance to discuss them. A lot of the funding is for rural areas. Just yesterday, the €72 million active travel budget for rural towns and villages was announced. When people hear of walking and cycling strategies and active travel, they immediately think of...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised)
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (30 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: Briefly, to respond to the Chairman's question relating to the 2019-2024 national cybersecurity strategy, it has outputs and timelines and they are included in the actions for 2020 onwards. That is set out in the strategy.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2021
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised)
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (30 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I will.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (25 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: The Government has put in place a comprehensive package to help businesses and workers during the pandemic, including the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS), the Covid Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS), low-cost loans, the deferral and warehousing of tax liabilities and the waiver of commercial rates. While travels agents and tour operators have benefitted from many of these central...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Shannon Airport Facilities (25 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 36 to 38, inclusive, together. Shannon Group plc. has confirmed to my Department that the aircraft detailed in the Deputy's Question did not operate into Shannon Airport on 15 January 2021.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Shannon Airport Facilities (25 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: No exemption, pursuant to Article 5 of the Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Orders, 1973 and 1989, was granted for the flight in question.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Ports Development (24 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I thank the Deputy. We have to identify funding streams, which is what the Department is actively doing. We are engaging with the European Commission to seek changes to the CEF criteria to allow EU funding of port infrastructure for offshore renewable energy in the next 2021-23 funding stream. We are also seeking to influence the next TEN-T regulations so that green infrastructure projects...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Driver Test (24 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: My understanding is that testing capacity is at the maximum allowed under public health advice. There is a limit to the number of tests that can be physically carried out each day due to the level 5 restrictions. Even with the hire of extra driver testers, that in itself will not help the current backlog due to the time involved and the limitations on the throughput in the centres. I...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Driver Test (24 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: Deputy O'Rourke can be assured that whatever resources are needed in order to alleviate this backlog will be provided. I have sanctioned 40 extra testers and they should be in place by the end of June. Given the public health restrictions under level 5, there is a physical limit to the number of tests that can be undertaken. I assure the Deputy that if more testers are required then more...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Ports Development (24 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: The primary function of State ports is to facilitate maritime transport, which is the most important means of connecting Ireland to international markets, accounting for more than 90% of Ireland's international trade, in volume terms. At the same time, it is recognised that there is a pressing need for Ireland to have the port capacity in place to exploit the opportunities presented by...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Ports Development (24 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I agree with what Deputy Murphy said about the importance of offshore renewable energy. The Minister for Transport, Deputy Eamon Ryan, is present and I can attest to his passion and commitment to ensuring this is rolled out. Any funding provided to ports can only be a contribution towards the costs and would have to be in compliance with state aid rules. It is envisaged that this would...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Aviation Industry (24 Mar 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: As I said earlier, the aviation industry is absolutely critical for Ireland and its foreign direct investment, tourism, economy and for the functioning of an island nation. This Government acted quickly when the pandemic broke last year and offered a large range of supports. The airlines and aviation sector have benefited from more than €200 million of that suite of supports. ...