Results 14,221-14,240 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Correspondence (21 Sep 2021)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 155 and 156 together. I can confirm the correspondence dated 26 August 2021 referred to by the Deputy has been received by my office. A response to the contents of the correspondence is currently being drafted and will issue in writing shortly. Each of the seven items raised in the correspondence will be addressed in my reply. I would like to take the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (21 Sep 2021)

Eamon Ryan: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area, including, in consultation with Iarnród Éireann, the planning and development of rail infrastructure such...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Communications (21 Sep 2021)

Eamon Ryan: I can confirm that since the term of my appointment as Minister for Transport began on 27 June 2020, I have not deleted any text messages or email correspondence related to the business of my Department or of Government. Records relevant to my role as Minister for Transport are kept by my private office in accordance with my Department's Records Management Policy.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (21 Sep 2021)

Eamon Ryan: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. However, I am not involved in the operations of public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally including the contracting of services with relevant operators. I have,...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (21 Sep 2021)

Eamon Ryan: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure, including the provision of Real Time Passenger Information (RTPI) signage. Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rail Network (16 Sep 2021)

Eamon Ryan: The DART+ programme is critical for our transport future in Dublin and the eastern region. It comprises five complementary projects: DART+ West; DART+ South West; DART+ Coastal North; DART+ Coastal South; and DART+ Fleet. Naturally, there is a sequencing to the delivery of these different projects as each sits within the overall programme framework. It is also the case that the success of...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rail Network (16 Sep 2021)

Eamon Ryan: The key initial development is those new ICR units which can fit within the existing train, adding an additional carriage. They are very imminent. Going on memory, they will be coming in 2023. It is not a long delay. The next iteration is the new battery-electric DART trains and they will be a significant improvement and improve capacity. They do not require the full electrification of...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rail Network (16 Sep 2021)

Eamon Ryan: We have just started a strategic rail review. Included in that is consideration of an upgrade on the Dublin-Belfast line, including new trains and so on. I do not have the specific details here but I will come back to the Deputy directly with information on that.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Regional Airports (16 Sep 2021)

Eamon Ryan: We followed the appropriate Public Appointments Service approach here and it is absolutely correct and proper. Unfortunate circumstances meant we had to run a second process but that could not have been foreseen. It was appropriate for us to respond in the way we did. The Public Appointments Service has done a good job. From what I have seen, it carried it out properly. It did take time...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Road Projects (16 Sep 2021)

Eamon Ryan: I answered some of these questions earlier so I will not read out the full response. To answer a very specific question, however, €8.1 million has been spent to date. I recall the Deputy was Chair of the transport committee when we had a specific session to consider the road. As I recall, there were concerns from local residents around some of the traffic management implications of...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Road Projects (16 Sep 2021)

Eamon Ryan: No, I do not see obstacles. There is a funding constraint more broadly. The existing NDP included a huge number of different roads. The reality is the funding of those would eat up the budget for the next 20, 30 or 40 years if they were all to be completed at one time. We will have to prioritise and it will be difficult. It is not a question of saying "No" to particular projects but we...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Road Projects (16 Sep 2021)

Eamon Ryan: It has to get through planning. The Government has to make decisions on a sequential basis and that has to be the next key issue. Something being in the existing national development plan is not the best way of securing funding. In truth, if one said that all the projects being in the existing NDP means they will receive guaranteed funding, they would break the budget ten times over. As I...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Regional Airports (16 Sep 2021)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 74 and 80 together. The Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, and I have recently concluded interviews for potential candidates, who were proposed by the Public Appointments Service. All five people we interviewed were eminently qualified, which makes for a difficult decision. We hope to conclude that process within the coming days, and return to the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Regional Airports (16 Sep 2021)

Eamon Ryan: To answer Deputy’s Crowe’s point, we expect to be able to do it this month. That delay or that sequence of events was unfortunate. It was done at a time when the airport was effectively closed because of the Covid crisis. Now is the time to come back to get that chair in place. I ask the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, to answer the question too because she is centrally...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Road Projects (16 Sep 2021)

Eamon Ryan: I will conclude by asking the Deputy to cast his eyes even further east. One of his colleagues, Deputy James O'Connor, from the eastern side of Cork, is rightly making the case that towns and villages such as Castlemartyr are currently suffering what Macroom is suffering with through traffic throttling urban and village life. We must think about where is our first priority. I know that...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Dublin Bus (16 Sep 2021)

Eamon Ryan: I thank the Deputy for asking the question and I will take the opportunity to again thank all Dublin Bus employees for continuing to provide an exemplary service throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. I must clarify, as I did earlier to Deputy O'Rourke, that industrial relations issues in Dublin Bus, as is the case for all public transport operators, are a matter for the company, its employees...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Dublin Bus (16 Sep 2021)

Eamon Ryan: I very much recognise the vote. I will support the process to hopefully get a resolution to it. Our labour relations processes have, to my mind, served us well. Our trade unions do a very good job for the workers in the process. I trust the company, the management, the unions on behalf of the employees and the customers of Dublin Bus to be able to resolve this. I do not believe what...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Dublin Bus (16 Sep 2021)

Eamon Ryan: The exact same applies, or maybe even more so, in not intervening in those labour relations issues. We do, however, have a role with regard to trying to restore our aviation industry. We have taken a series of measures including, as the Deputy said, the significant public support for workers in that industry as in other sectors, and the management of safe travel systems within Covid-19 to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Transport (16 Sep 2021)

Eamon Ryan: The Deputy makes a valid point. I have met with local representatives for the area and had a series of discussions with my own officials to try to address the concerns. I have told them we need to look again at the very specific issue of Portiuncula Hospital and ensure that, as we change the overall route alignment, we maintain critical connectivity to those types of facilities. The NTA is...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Transport (16 Sep 2021)

Eamon Ryan: The Deputy makes a good point. We are looking at a new strategy, connecting Ireland, which looks at developing rural bus transport systems. Critically, we want to achieve an efficiency where we can connect the transport needs to health facilities into that system and look at various solutions and options. We will have to be creative and connect our health and transport needs with our...