Results 1,981-2,000 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Written Answers — National Car Test: National Car Test (16 Jun 2005)

Martin Cullen: The public consultation phase of the mid-term review of the National Car Testing Service, NCTS, concluded on 18 May 2005. The submissions and suggestions for the improvement of the car testing service which were received from interested organisations and individuals during this process are now being assessed by PricewaterhouseCoopers which has been engaged by my Department to manage the...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (16 Jun 2005)

Martin Cullen: Details of the surplus surrendered and budget each year since 1997 are provided in the following table. Figures before 2002 relate to the Department of Public Enterprise. The Department of Transport was established in 2002. Figures for 2004 are being audited and are therefore provisional. Explanations of material variances between budgets and outturns are available in the annual reports of...

Written Answers — Rail Services: Rail Services (16 Jun 2005)

Martin Cullen: I wish to advise the Deputy that the responsibility for the development of rail freight operations at particular locations rests with Iarnród Éireann itself. It is my policy that Iarnród Éireann should remain in the rail freight business and the company has made significant progress in growing the rail freight business in areas where it holds a competitive advantage over road haulage,...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (16 Jun 2005)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions No. 118 and 119 together. Iarnród Éireann has submitted a business case to my Department for the development of a greater Dublin integrated rail network, aimed at meeting the projected demand for rail services into the future. Included in the business case are proposals to: construct a new rail station in the city centre docklands area; provide an interconnector...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (16 Jun 2005)

Martin Cullen: Since 10 January 2001, Dublin Bus is required by ministerial direction to notify my Department of proposed new services or proposed changes to existing services at least four weeks prior to their introduction. The Department has on hand five notifications from Dublin Bus concerning services in the Fingal area, all received within the last four weeks. Of these notifications, four are for minor...

Written Answers — State Property: State Property (16 Jun 2005)

Martin Cullen: A potentially suitable site for a new Killarney driving test centre has been identified for which negotiations are ongoing between the OPW and the owner. In the meantime, driver testing will resume on Monday, 11 July 2005 and will be conducted from the Quality Inn, Killarney. There are currently 2,144 people awaiting a test in Killarney and the average waiting time is 35 weeks.

Written Answers — Parking Regulations: Parking Regulations (21 Jun 2005)

Martin Cullen: The legislative basis for the application of immobilisation devices to vehicles that are illegally parked on public roads is set out in section 101B of the Road Traffic Act 1961, as inserted by section 9 of the Dublin Transport Authority (Dissolution) Act 1987. Regulations entitled the Road Traffic (Immobilisation of Vehicles) Regulations were made in 1998 to give effect to that section. The...

Written Answers — Driving Licences: Driving Licences (21 Jun 2005)

Martin Cullen: Irish driving licence regulations are required to operate within the framework of a harmonised EU system. The criteria essential for recognition of licences from other countries are testing and licensing regimes, which meet the requirements of the EU directive on driving licences, and reciprocal recognition of Irish licences. Ireland does not have a bilateral agreement with the United States...

Written Answers — Driving Tests: Driving Tests (21 Jun 2005)

Martin Cullen: A driving test will be arranged as soon as possible for the person concerned.

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (21 Jun 2005)

Martin Cullen: Iarnród Éireann, in conjunction with Meath and Fingal county councils, recently completed a feasibility study into the possibility of providing a spur off the Maynooth line at Clonsilla to Pace on the N3 beyond Dunboyne. I am aware that Iarnród Éireann is examining the study. The next step is for Iarnród Éireann to decide if and how it wishes to proceed with this project and I expect a...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (21 Jun 2005)

Martin Cullen: The greater Dublin integrated rail network plan submitted to my Department by Iarnród Éireann includes a proposal for a new terminal station at Spencer Dock. To date no funds have been expended on this project. The integrated rail network plan will be considered in the context of the ten-year transport investment framework which is currently under consideration by the Cabinet committee on...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (21 Jun 2005)

Martin Cullen: The location of railway stations is a matter for Iarnród Éireann. I understand, however, that the company has examined potential demand for a new station at Avoca and that the survey concluded that patronage would be very low. If proposals emerge for the development of the catchment area around Avoca, with an increase in population, Iarnród Éireann will revisit the issue.

Rail Services. (22 Jun 2005)

Martin Cullen: In accordance with Directive 2004/51/EC the market for international rail freight services will be opened from 1 January 2006. This will enable any railway undertaking established in the EU, whether publicly or privately owned, to provide international freight services on the existing Irish rail network. From 1 January 2007, the domestic freight market will be opened. Under the proposed...

Rail Services. (22 Jun 2005)

Martin Cullen: As Deputy Mitchell knows, I agree with her on this issue, and I find it deeply frustrating. We made a large investment in the rail infrastructure, and there is no question of decommissioning it. Perhaps Deputy Mitchell is referring to some of the rolling stock issues. I have engaged on this issue and many Deputies, primarily Deputy Mitchell, have contacted me on this issue. I have tried to...

Rail Services. (22 Jun 2005)

Martin Cullen: I agree with the Deputy. I have had discussions with the company and I will continue to impress upon it the points the Deputy makes. In fairness to all the CIE companies, whether it is Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann or Iarnród Éireann, they have all become much more efficient and have improved their productivity. Many of them have done a great job in transforming themselves in recent years. We...

Rail Services. (22 Jun 2005)

Martin Cullen: I take the point. The Deputy has made the point publicly, and made it well. I would be on the same track — no pun intended — as would most people. I hope we can come to a decent outcome on this issue.

Public Transport. (22 Jun 2005)

Martin Cullen: I do not accept that there has been any delay in publishing the plan. An outline of the draft transport investment framework is currently under active consideration by the Cabinet committee on infrastructure, housing and PPPs. When the committee has concluded its consideration I will bring my proposals to Government as quickly as possible. The transport investment framework will build on the...

Public Transport. (22 Jun 2005)

Martin Cullen: I would make two points in response to the Deputy. First, there is a five year plan and budgeting framework in place and all of that becomes part of the overall ten year investment. There is no stoppage on companies. I note in a positive way that the NRA is continuing to roll out its programme. Bus Éireann is continuing to fulfil its orders and enhance its rolling stock. Iarnród Éireann is...

Public Transport. (22 Jun 2005)

Martin Cullen: I have a fairly clear view at this stage of the framework but the question the Deputy will pose to me is whether I have applied due diligence to the costs. The figures involved in terms of the financing are very significant, as the Deputy can appreciate. In fairness, the Minister for Finance wants to be sure that the moneys we put in to the budget line for the next ten years will not be out...

Public Transport. (22 Jun 2005)

Martin Cullen: I am not in absolute control of this in the sense that I am waiting for people to get back to me on some technical and financial aspects. As soon as that happens I will go back to the Government as quickly as possible. I accept it is much better from the Government's point of view and that of the different companies involved in public transport that they have clarity on the issue as quickly...