Results 7,501-7,520 of 26,208 for speaker:Kieran O'Donnell

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised)
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (9 Feb 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: Sorry.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised)
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (9 Feb 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: I will raise just one thing. Page 158 of the Revised Estimates relates to national aviation policy, which we understood was going to start next year. There does not appear to be a commitment on it. It states "Delayed due to Covid. May commence in 2022 but not expected to be published."

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised)
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (9 Feb 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: Will it be commenced?

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised)
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (9 Feb 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: That is fine. The recording of penalty points is in the Revised Estimates. The figure was 180,000 last year and it will be 195,000 next year. Is that a target?

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised)
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (9 Feb 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: Is the recording of penalty points a target?

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised)
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (9 Feb 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: The numbers.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised)
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (9 Feb 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: I am just wondering why it was 180,000 last year and there is an estimate of 195,000 for next year. It is a little unusual that under recording of penalty points the Department is estimating a figure in advance of the year itself. Is that an estimate?

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised)
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (9 Feb 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: I would very much welcome the Minister's thoughts on the commuter rail link that will link into Adare. One of the bigger issues in Adare has been the lack of a bypass. I know the Minister has tried to get through Adare. Once again, rail and road are not mutually exclusive. We also need to bring people from other areas of the country, such as Cork, via the M20. I am once again saying, and...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised)
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (9 Feb 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: That is what the bypass is very much about. It is due to come through An Bord Pleanála imminently. I presume it is something that the Department will very much factor in. I know the Minister is under time pressure.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised)
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (9 Feb 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: What time does the Minister have to be in Limerick?

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised)
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (9 Feb 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: On the phone. I thought the Minister would be driving there.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised)
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (9 Feb 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: The motorway does not quite do that for the Minister, but it helps.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised)
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (9 Feb 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: Not a problem.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised)
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (9 Feb 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: On page 23 of the Minister's summary document, under subhead C3 on road improvement and maintenance, the capital programme side has been reduced from €1.319050 billion to €1.260450 billion, which is a reduction of approximately €60,000. Why has there been a reduction in the road capital budget?

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised)
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (9 Feb 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: Timing. What is the Minister's view on the Adare bypass project? We spoke about it, but I should have asked because it is nearby.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised)
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (9 Feb 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: Many other things are in the middle of planning and the Minister is very vocal on them.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised)
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (9 Feb 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: If the outcome from An Bord Pleanála is for a bypass, is that something the Minister will support?

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised)
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (9 Feb 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: Before An Bord Pleanála, there is currently a process under way with TII in respect of the N20 and M20 projects. I presume it will continue that work.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised)
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (9 Feb 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: No. I am saying a process is still under way, as is the case with the Limerick metropolitan area transport strategy. My primary purpose was to ask the Minister about the Adare bypass. In fairness, he has given an update on that. As I said, the other two projects are going through a process of their own at present. Does the Minister wish to make any concluding comments?

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2022
Vote 29 - Environment, Climate and Communications (Revised)
Vote 31 - Transport (Revised) (9 Feb 2022)

Kieran O'Donnell: I thank the Minister and his officials for attending and engaging with the committee. The next meeting of the committee will take place next Wednesday, 16 February at 2 p.m., with the Minister again in attendance, for Committee Stage consideration of the Merchant Shipping (Investigation of Marine Casualties) (Amendment) Bill.