Results 2,801-2,820 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (25 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: I understand that the Railway Procurement Agency, RPA, is developing proposals for a number of extensions to the Luas network. Proposals for the development of public transport in the greater Dublin area, including Luas, are being considered by my Department as part of its preparatory work on the ten-year transport investment framework. In this connection, there have been consultations with...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (25 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: I understand from Iarnród Éireann that the DART upgrade project is nearing successful completion. The budget for the project is €176 million and the company's forecast outturn is estimated at €165 million. The completion of the project allows Iarnród Éireann to operate eight-car trains on the entire DART network. The next project designed to increase the capacity of the DART, is a...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (25 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: A comprehensive review of the classification of national and regional road system was concluded in 1994 as set out in SI 209 of 1994, Roads Act 1993 (Declaration of National Roads) Order 1994, and SI 400 of 1994, Roads Act 1993 (Declaration of Regional Roads) Order 1994. This classification was carried out based on criteria relating, inter alia, to the type of route, for example, whether it...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (25 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: My Department is meeting all its obligations under the Official Languages Act 2003 and will continue to do so. This Department has spent approximately €36,000 on the implementation of the Official Languages Act 2003.

Written Answers — Rail Services: Rail Services (25 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: It is my view that future investment in rail freight is a matter which should be decided on the basis of sound economic appraisal, taking all factors into account. I am informed by Iarnród Éireann that the company disposes of rolling stock or handling equipment only when it has reached the end of its operating life, is surplus to requirements and uneconomic to repair. The average age of...

Written Answers — National Development Plan: National Development Plan (25 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: I refer the Deputy to my response to Question No. 259 of 19 October in which I provided information on capital projects for which my Department has responsibility. The essence of my Department's activities is the consideration and implementation of policy on the delivery of a safe, efficient and integrated transportation system. Over time, within this overall policy context, virtually every...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (25 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: Provision to support the outsourcing of the collection of fixed-charge payments was included in the Road Traffic Act 2004. The extension of both the fixed-charge system and the penalty points system to additional road traffic offences will be progressively commenced once the appropriate Garda Síochána IT processing system is fully operational and related administrative supports are in...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (25 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: No policy direction under section 41 of the Roads Act 1993 has been given to the National Roads Authority, NRA, regarding this matter. The national spatial strategy, NSS, identifies Athlone, Mullingar and Tullamore as a linked gateway. The NRA has regard to the NSS in the implementation of the national roads programme.

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (25 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: The planning, design and implementation of national road improvement projects, including the upgrade of the M50 and the move to barrier-free tolling at the West Link Bridge, are a matter in the first instance for the National Roads Authority, NRA. The timing and cost of the move to barrier-free tolling, which will not occur before the opening of the Dublin Port tunnel, will depend on the...

Written Answers — Airport Development Projects: Airport Development Projects (26 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 207 and 202 together. As my predecessor pointed out in reply to Question No. 636 on 27 April 2004, in the context of preparing the Air Navigation and Transport (Amendment) Bill 1997, consideration was given to providing the former Aer Rianta with power to make orders declaring particular areas of land in the vicinity of airports to be protected areas, where...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (26 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: The provision of transport services for older people in rural areas is a core feature of the rural transport initiative, RTI, which has been operated by my Department since 2002. All 34 RTI pilot projects throughout the country provide transport services for older people as part of their public transport remit. The RTI arose as a response to the needs of specific categories of people in rural...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (26 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: The planning, design and implementation of national road improvement projects, including related traffic management arrangements as part of these projects, are a matter for the National Roads Authority, NRA, the local authorities concerned and the relevant contractors. I understand from the NRA that the maintenance of traffic flow will be a key requirement of the contracts for the upgrade of...

Written Answers — Foreign Travel: Foreign Travel (26 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: In the period June 2002 to 25 October 2005, no foreign conferences have been attended by me or by my predecessor, the Minister, Deputy Brennan.

Written Answers — Air Services: Air Services (26 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: I understand, based on information from the Department of Foreign Affairs, that the investigation by the UN human rights committee mentioned in the Deputy's question may be the periodic appearance by the Government of the US at the human rights committee meeting in Geneva, which is ongoing. The US, like all states which are party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,...

Written Answers — State Bodies: State Bodies (26 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: In accordance with the State Airports Act 2004, the three airport authorities, including the Dublin Airport Authority, are preparing comprehensive business plans for their airports. As I have previously indicated, the DAA will, as part of its business plan, address the position of its principal subsidiaries, including the future of the Great Southern Hotels group. I will consider the DAA's...

Written Answers — Taxi Hardship Panel: Taxi Hardship Panel (26 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: The final payment under the taxi hardship payment scheme was made by Area Development Management Limited on 16 September 2005. The administrative winding up of the scheme is now complete and I expect that a final report will by received by my Department from ADM within the next few days. It is my intention to publish that report in due course. The initial estimate for the cost of...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (26 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: The planning, design and implementation of national road improvement projects, including the Dublin Port tunnel, is a matter for the National Roads Authority and the local authorities concerned. The NRA states that the primary construction work on the port tunnel is expected to be completed in December 2005 and that the tunnel will be open to traffic by mid-2006, following the testing and...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (26 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: The number of driver testers based in County Kerry at the start of each year since 2003 is as follows: three in 2003; four in 2004; and four in 2005.

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (27 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: The response referred to in the Deputy's question was issued on 26 August 2005. A copy has been forwarded to the Deputy this week.

Written Answers — Road Signage: Road Signage (27 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: The Road Traffic Act 2004 establishes the legislative basis for the application of speed limits on all public roads. The Act sets down specific speed limit values that apply on a default basis to different types of road. In addition, section 9 of the Act provides that the elected members of county and city councils may make by-laws for the purpose of effecting the deployment of special speed...