Results 28,081-28,100 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Bus Services (1 Feb 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I do not disagree with the Deputies. To give some reassurance as to what Dublin Bus is doing, each bus, as I said, is equipped with CCTV. It also has access to central control, An Garda Síochána, both radio audible and silent alarms so they can get back up. It is also engaged a lot in the community forums Deputy Ward mentioned. It does that in a progressive way as well as in the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Bus Éireann (1 Feb 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I reassure the Deputy that I and my Department have regular engagement with Bus Éireann at all levels, including at CEO level, on issues such as governance, finance, investment, safety and service provision. I last met the chairwoman of Bus Éireann on 27 September last. I am aware of the ongoing public transport service issues in Cork city and the negative impact they are...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Bus Éireann (1 Feb 2024)

Eamon Ryan: We need more drivers. The key thing we can do to help the bus service in Cork and around the country is to deliver the BusConnects network because no amount of drivers will be able to work-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Bus Éireann (1 Feb 2024)

Eamon Ryan: We need to look at that. As I said earlier, we have carried out two years of consultation. In my mind, there is broad political support for the BusConnects network. In terms of what we need to do, I would look to accelerate that in order to get it into planning this year rather than next. That is one of the ways we could accelerate it. That will involve pushing all of the levers flat...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Bus Éireann (1 Feb 2024)

Eamon Ryan: The Deputy is absolutely correct; the bus service In Cork has to become more dependable. That requires new investment in drivers, as well as new buses and facilities. It also requires us to improve the conditions in which buses operate so that those drivers are not stuck in traffic. That is my key point. Delivery for the likes of BusConnects corridors is frustratingly slow, but it is the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rail Network (1 Feb 2024)

Eamon Ryan: The DART+ programme is a key programme of projects which will significantly expand the DART train service across the greater Dublin area. The programme comprises the DART+ fleet project, as well as various infrastructure projects. The NTA, in consultation with Iarnród Éireann, is progressing these projects which are at various stages of planning and development. In December...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rail Network (1 Feb 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I am not aware of the difficulties of the turnback in Malahide but I will try to find out about them and speak to the Deputy after the debate. There are a lot of different moving parts. The trains are coming. We need to determine the things we need to get right to accelerate the roll-out of the project. I spoke to officials about this yesterday. I question why it takes us so long to test...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rail Network (1 Feb 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I agree with both Deputies. I was not forgetting north Kildare and the DART+ South West. A lot of projects are coming, and they will get through planning. I am confident that we are going to see them start to come through the planning system now. We must then immediately start thinking that now we have got them through planning, let us build. I will make one broader and much wider...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Road Projects (1 Feb 2024)

Eamon Ryan: Deputy Griffin and I have had a discussion on this in the past, so I am particularly attentive to it. I do not believe I have been given the actual statistics on fatalities or injuries the road. I will make sure that my officials deliver that to the Deputy later today. I apologise because that is not the answer with which I have been presented, which I only realised when we came in this...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Road Projects (1 Feb 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I agree with the Deputy. I know that road well. It is very important that if we start it and upgrade some sections that we complete it and do the entire project. My understanding is that we are committed and that the funding will be provided to do it on a phased basis. It would make no sense to improve safety on large sections and then people suddenly come to a very poor section of the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Road Projects (1 Feb 2024)

Eamon Ryan: It will be in the next week or two.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Road Projects (1 Feb 2024)

Eamon Ryan: We were heartbroken this morning when we heard that news from County Carlow. It is devastating for their families. We pray for them and for the individual in hospital. That is why we have to do everything we can to try to reduce those instances and why we will invest to improve safety on our roads. I absolutely echo and agree with the Deputy's comments.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Transport Costs (1 Feb 2024)

Eamon Ryan: It is difficult; the reply looks like more than a minute's worth. I very much agree with the Deputy. Perhaps in the limited time I have, I could give some figures that I did not give earlier. That might answer the question in a way. This is part of the Supplementary Estimate I have but it is just to give an understanding of the figures. I will focus on the cost of public transport for...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Policy (1 Feb 2024)

Eamon Ryan: As the Deputy is aware, Smarter Travel is a national behavioural change programme, led by the NTA, which supports employers and third level institutions to implement voluntary Travel Plans. These plans focus on promoting and encouraging staff and students to sustainably and actively commute and beyond, and for organisations to consider flexible working arrangements. Campuses are also...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Student Travel Card (1 Feb 2024)

Eamon Ryan: The Government is strongly committed to providing all citizens with reliable and realistic sustainable mobility options, and public transport plays a key role in the delivery of this goal. Budget 2024 has allocated €613 million to support Public Service Obligation services across the State. This Budget allocation builds on the investments secured in recent years which have supported...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (1 Feb 2024)

Eamon Ryan: Our Programme for Government commits to a ‘fundamental change in the nature of transport in Ireland’ and this is supported by the National Development Plan and significant investment plans to maintain, enhance and improve transport infrastructure across the country by 2030. The BusConnects programme is a key element of these plans. However, I acknowledge that there are a...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (1 Feb 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I wish to thank the Deputy for his question. The Mallow Relief Road is identified as a project for consideration in the current National Development Plan. Town bypasses allow for traffic to be redirected from the centre of our towns and villages, freeing them up for pedestrians and cyclists, improving air quality, and allowing public realm improvements. In the case of Mallow, this will have a...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (1 Feb 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I understand when you refer to Phase 1 of the Limerick Northern Distributor Road you are speaking about the Coonagh to Knockalisheen Distributor Road project. For clarity, the Coonagh to Knockalisheen Distributor Road was submitted and approved by An Bord Pleanála as a stand alone scheme; however, I am aware that the scheme is sometimes referred to locally as Phase 1 of the Limerick...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety (1 Feb 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I wish to thank the Deputy for his question. My Department and TII are committed a safe network of National Roads. With regard to safety barriers, locations are identified through Road Safety Inspections, which is a proactive approach used by TII to identify suitable locations for safety measures, which may include the installation of barriers. These inspections are carried out on every...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (1 Feb 2024)

Eamon Ryan: On the 27th of April 2023, the National Transport Authority (NTA) published a new National Fares Strategy. The Fares Strategy followed the previous implementation of a simplified fares structure for Dublin, which combined elements of distance and equitability between routes, and proposes an approach for the rest of Ireland aimed at providing better value, greater transparency, and equality in...