Results 901-920 of 5,902 for speaker:James Lawless

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Road Safety (4 Jul 2024)

James Lawless: I hear what the Deputy is saying. He stated that local authorities could not get funding from the Government. I want to hear about that if it is the case. I am surprised to hear it, as there has been a significant allocation. Some €658 million was allocated in the past year, 90% of which was directed towards maintenance and renewal work. That allocation was a €32 million...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Road Safety (4 Jul 2024)

James Lawless: I listened with interest to and take on board the Deputy's comments. I am not sure it is entirely fair to suggest that local authorities are saying they cannot get works done. A staggered approach is taken and it is not just a case of being given the money and tar to fix a road. Rather, what is the collision data, what are the risks and what is the opinion of the local engineer, who is...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Road Safety (4 Jul 2024)

James Lawless: That is exactly what we would want to see. The Deputy mentioned interagency co-operation. A strong example of that was the recent implementation of an initiative by my predecessor, the Minister, Deputy Chambers, who signed a ministerial order on 21 June just before leaving this role to allow the sharing of collision data between agencies. Now, the Garda and the Road Safety Authority,...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Airport Policy (4 Jul 2024)

James Lawless: As the Deputy will be aware, in June 2019 the then Government gave an approval in principle of an expression of support for an expansion proposal at Waterford Airport and to providing Exchequer funding of €5m towards a runway extension project. The project was then estimated to cost €12m and the €5m Government support being sought at that time was not only contingent on...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (4 Jul 2024)

James Lawless: I propose to take Questions Nos. 31 and 45 together. Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the National Driver Testing Service. The national average estimated waiting time for a car driving test invitation is 15.6 weeks for a new applicant. While this is still above the service level agreement target of 10 weeks,...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Airport Policy (4 Jul 2024)

James Lawless: As an island nation, aviation plays a crucial role in our economy and society. The National Aviation Policy (“NAP”) published in August 2015, established a policy framework for the development of the aviation sector. The NAP was designed to create an environment that would encourage the sector to enhance Ireland's connectivity, to foster the growth of aviation enterprise and to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety (4 Jul 2024)

James Lawless: The Government’s Road Safety Strategy 2021–2030, which was published in December 2021, has the target of reducing road deaths and serious injuries by 50% this decade and achieving Vision Zero by 2050. Vision Zero has been adopted across the EU and aims to eliminate deaths and serious injuries on our roads. The strategy is currently in Phase 1, which runs to the end of 2024,...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Air Services (4 Jul 2024)

James Lawless: I thank the Deputy for his continued interest in this matter. In the context of supporting greater connectivity on the island of Ireland, and as part of its commitments under New Decade New Approach, the Government agreed ‘to take forward a review of the potential for Government support to renewed viable air routes from Cork to Belfast and Dublin to Derry, working with the UK...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Test (4 Jul 2024)

James Lawless: The operation of the National Car Testing Service (NCT), including the provision of new test centres, is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority. Therefore, I have referred the Deputy's query to the Authority for direct reply and any further update since their last response to the Deputy in February 2024. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Ports Policy (4 Jul 2024)

James Lawless: I propose to take Questions Nos. 66 and 147 together. My Department is committed to facilitating commercial Irish State ports under its remit as positive contributors to the offshore renewable energy (ORE) industry to support Ireland in meeting its 2030 ORE targets. Supporting the development of port infrastructure is a core objective of the National Offshore Wind Delivery Taskforce and...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (4 Jul 2024)

James Lawless: Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the National Driver Testing Service and the specific information requested is held by that agency. I have therefore referred the question to the RSA for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response is not received within 10 days. The driver testing service...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Wind Energy Generation (4 Jul 2024)

James Lawless: I wish to inform the Deputy that under the National Ports Policy commercial state ports operate on a self-funding basis. Commercial state ports receive no exchequer funding and must finance their infrastructure developments, including those necessary for Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE), through their own revenues, borrowings, EU grant funding, or private sector investment. As such,...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Coast Guard Service (4 Jul 2024)

James Lawless: The Department of Transport is responsible for the Irish Coast Guard (IRCG) building programme, which aims to ensure that Coast Guard stations along the coast are fit for purpose. The programme is managed through the Office of Public Works (OPW), from planning and design to build and on-going maintenance. The Cleggan Unit are on the priority list for the IRCG Building Programme. In...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Coast Guard Service (4 Jul 2024)

James Lawless: The Minister will be meeting with all relevant stakeholders in his new areas of responsibility in the coming months and looks forward to familiarising himself on the Irish Coast Guard (IRCG) Division and the IRCG Building programme. The Minister's Diary Secretary will be in touch with department officials in relation to this shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Fines Administration (4 Jul 2024)

James Lawless: The aim of penalties for road traffic offences is to improve driver behaviour in Ireland and reduce deaths and serious injury on our roads. Penalties are applied to a driving licence, not a vehicle. All drivers may be issued with fixed charge notices, regardless of where their vehicle is registered.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tax Collection (4 Jul 2024)

James Lawless: The table below shows the amount of motor tax collected by my Department in 2024 to the end of May and for the same period on 2023. Month 2023 2024 January 89,745,303 91,362,208 February 78,095,647 80,942,931 March 83,654,174 75,346,265 April 73,347,446...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Expenditure (4 Jul 2024)

James Lawless: Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the National Car Testing Service. This includes operational matters, and the detailed information requested is held by the agency. As such, I have referred the question to the RSA for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Pension Provisions (3 Jul 2024)

James Lawless: Two out of four ain't bad.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Pension Provisions (3 Jul 2024)

James Lawless: Two out of three is even better.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Pension Provisions (3 Jul 2024)

James Lawless: They are indeed.