Results 14,981-15,000 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Network (22 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: The €10.5 million allocation of funding for repair and improvement works for non-public roads in rural communities, to which the Deputy refers, relates to the Department of Rural and Community Development's Local Improvement Scheme (LIS).  The Deputy may wish, therefore, to refer the question to the Minister for the Department of Rural and Community Development...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Schemes (22 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: As Minister for Transport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. Under the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008, the National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for promoting the development of an integrated, accessible public transport network. The NTA works with the relevant public transport operators, who have...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (22 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 201 and 202 together. As the Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. However, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport. The issues raised are an operational matter for Iarnród Éireann and I have forwarded the Deputy's questions to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid-19 Pandemic (22 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: I have arranged for a copy of the letter from Minister of State Naughton, sent in May rather than in April as was stated in the Dáil on 17 June 2021, and sent to the Taoiseach, Minister for Health and other Ministers endorsing antigen testing to be forwarded to the Deputy. Minister of State Naughton has also written to the Minister for Health this week on the subject of the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Staff (22 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: There are 41 full-time staff members employed by this Department that earn less than €12.30 per hour. These staff members are currently all on incremental payscales which will see them rise to above the living wage rate after 4 years of service under the provision in the Public Service Stability Agreement for public servants recruited since 2011 to skip their fourth and eighth...

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Bill 2021: Second Stage (21 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: I am honoured to be here to debate Second Stage of this Bill. This is hugely significant legislation that is central to our programme for Government and is one of our key legislative priorities. I am keen that we pass this Bill in a timely manner in order to allow us to play our part both within the European Union, which is looking to set higher and more ambitious climate targets, and as...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Service Obligation (17 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: I agree with the Deputy. That is a very good example of an anomaly where the fare system is not based on similar distance. Bus Éireann, like all transport companies, is going through its own challenges in managing Covid but when coming out of it, we want it to come back stronger, both in the work it does on Expressway and on the PSO services, and in the work it does in supporting...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Service Obligation (17 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: I understand there is a lot of good work going on in Waterford in terms of it setting itself as an example of a sustainable city. It needs to grow as a capital of the south-east in that way, and part of that is recognising that places like Tramore, which now has a population of almost 15,000 and is, as the Deputy said, a dormitory town, are inextricably linked to Waterford in so many...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (17 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: I thank the Deputy for his question. I propose to take question Nos. 13, 64, 98 and 197 together. I take this opportunity to set out the broad framework of horizontal support measures the Government has made available to the taxi industry in response to this pandemic. The industry has been badly affected by Covid-19. Passenger demand for services has dropped and many small public...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (17 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: The Deputy is right and that is a real difficulty but we have done everything to try to support the taxi industry. In the relevant negotiations, the Minister for Social Protection made an exception by allowing people in this industry to have an income while on the PUP, and also to cover the expenses. I absolutely recognise that that does not apply to people above a certain age limit but...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (17 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: I am happy to put on record that the taxi industry provides a vital public service. It will start coming back. It is slow at the moment, as it should be. We do not want a complete return immediately. We can all see this staged, step-by-step process of bringing life back and of people starting to travel again. People are nervous initially and that is understandable after a year and a half...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Service Obligation (17 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: The Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008 provides a statutory power to the NTA to establish a fare structure for public passenger transport services. Following the establishment of the NTA in 2009, the authority has responsibility for the regulation of fares charged to passengers in respect of public transport services, provided under PSO contracts. Bus Éireann is responsible for...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tax Reliefs (17 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: We are considering a range of extensions to PSO supports for commercial and public bus operators. We have maintained services throughout the pandemic even though the numbers have been low. We expect a return to 100% carrying capacity on all public transport from 2 August, so there will not be restrictions, per se, on travel. However, it is not certain that the numbers will start to return....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Budgets (17 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: The capital budget for my Department for 2021 is more than €2.5 billion. My Department reports monthly to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform on expenditure versus budget profile. In addition, I am also providing a quarterly report to the Government in respect of progress on the investment of capital. Regarding the capital position at the end of quarter 1, expenditure...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Budgets (17 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: Those non-county roads are in private ownership.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Budgets (17 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: I am sorry, but I am uncertain as to the definitions the Deputy is using. Funding is always being sought for various categories of road, but the priority is the public road network. There has been significant investment in local roads across the country and there has been no delay in the spending allocated. However, there has been a certain underspend because of Covid. Certain...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Budgets (17 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: The carry-over from last year was €110 million, of which €41 million is still due to be spent. When I describe a road as a private road, I do not deny that there is a public right of way or that such a road is important. As the Deputy said, though, there is a considerable requirement within the council's own works to maintain and upgrade the public road network. The...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Budgets (17 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: To reassure the Deputies, the profile of regional and local road grants for the year to date was for us to have spent €39 million. Despite the pandemic and the differences, the actual spending for the year to date is €36.39 million. Most of the works do not start until spring, namely, in April or May. We do not typically do those works between January and March. Thus the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Driver Test (17 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: Were the Deputy to send me a letter to that effect, I certainly would follow up. I will say a "Thank you" as well. Various people have kept working. While everyone has kept working in their own way through this pandemic, the staff in driving testing were able to do those 52,569 driving tests for essential purposes. That was an important part of keeping the country and the economy going,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Tax Reliefs (17 Jun 2021)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 9 and 17 together. As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport or in decisions on fares. Following the establishment of the National Transport Authority in December 2009, the NTA has responsibility for the regulation...