Results 2,841-2,860 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (2 Nov 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, NRA, and the local authorities concerned. I am informed by the NRA that expenditure on the Dublin Port tunnel project to date is €653,066,676. The overall project budget is €751 million. The main area of expenditure on the project...

Written Answers — Rail Services: Rail Services (2 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: A public sector benchmark has not yet been prepared for the PPP metro. This will, however, form part of the work during the next phase of project development and will be completed in accordance with guidelines published by the Department of Finance.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (2 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: Under the decentralisation programme, 50 transport posts are due to transfer to Loughrea. These comprised posts in my Department and in the National Safety Council. Many of these will now be in the Road Safety Authority and revised implementation plans are being prepared on this basis. Much of the detail of our original implementation plan will therefore be reviewed in light of the...

Written Answers — Rail Services: Rail Services (2 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: Iarnród Éireann is at planning and design stage of a project which involves a major signalling upgrade in the city centre area. The company proposes to increase the number of train paths through the city centre from the current maximum of 12 per direction per hour to 16 per direction per hour. I expect Iarnród Éireann to place specific proposals before me shortly for this work.

Written Answers — Dublin Port Tunnel: Dublin Port Tunnel (2 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: The planning, design and implementation, including the supervision of construction, of national road improvement projects, including the Dublin Port tunnel, is a matter for the National Roads Authority, NRA, and the local authority concerned. I am informed by Dublin City Council that as with construction of any tunnel, under a 20m head of ground water, some minor initial entry of water is...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (3 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: The scheduling of rail services is an operational matter for Irish Rail. However, I have been informed by the company that in December 2004, in response to the growing commuter demand from Athy and Carlow, an additional later evening peak commuter service departing Dublin at 19.45 was introduced. Irish Rail is also examining the possibility of providing an additional morning peak commuter...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (3 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: My Department has no office on the north side of Dublin that is due to relocate under the decentralisation programme.

Written Answers — Airport Development Projects: Airport Development Projects (3 Nov 2005)

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

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (3 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: The statutory power to levy tolls on national roads, to make toll by-laws, and to enter into toll agreements with private investors in respect of national roads is vested in the National Roads Authority, NRA, under Part V of the Roads Act 1993, as amended by the Planning and Development Act 2000. Tolls were raised in 2002 on both the East Link and West Link bridges. Toll revenues raised on...

Written Answers — Driving Tests: Driving Tests (3 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: A suitable location has been identified in Letterkenny to facilitate driving tests for articulated vehicles. Final arrangements are being made by the OPW which will allow such testing to resume shortly.

Written Answers — Air Services: Air Services (3 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: As I have indicated in responses to previous questions, it is my clear intention to ensure that an EU-US open skies agreement contains an appropriate transitional arrangement for Shannon. The details of the transition arrangement will be a matter for negotiation with the US. I do not propose to compromise my negotiating position by giving details of what I might seek at this stage. There is...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (3 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 149 and 150 together. Statistics relating to road accidents, based on information provided by the Garda Síochána, are published by the National Roads Authority, NRA, in its annual road accident facts reports. The most recent report, now entitled "Road Collision Facts", relates to 2003 and is available on the NRA website. Reports relating to previous years...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (3 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: The proposed contactless smartcard-based integrated ticketing system, for which the Railway Procurement Agency, RPA, was given statutory responsibility, is, in line with international experience, being introduced on a phased basis, initially in the Dublin area. In advance of the introduction of full smartcard technologies, magnetic strip based integrated ticketing already exists for travel on...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (3 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 153 and 155 together. The Government's strategy for road safety 2004 to 2006 identified speed, seatbelt wearing, driving while intoxicated, engineering measures and vulnerable road users as the key priority areas to be addressed over the coming years in terms of yielding road safety benefits. As regards motorcyclists, the strategy states that it is the...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (3 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: The National Safety Council, NSC, is the agency mandated with responsibility for road safety advertising and education. The council has been allocated €3.965 million from the Exchequer in 2005. The council also receives funding from the Irish Insurance Federation, IIF, and from private sponsorship. A joint National Safety Council-Garda Síochána winter road safety campaign, called "Arrive...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (3 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: The planning, design and implementation of national road projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority, NRA, under the Roads Act 1993. I understand from the NRA that 70 km of motorway-dual carriageway and 20 km of single carriageway will be completed and open to traffic during 2005.

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (3 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 159 and 160 together. The total amount of Exchequer capital funding expended on the development of public transport over the period 2000-2004 was €1,887 million. Year Outturn 2000 252,850,610 2001 344,489,217 2002 390,228,615 2003 436,807,564 2004 295,670,021 2005 426,132,000* *estimated outturn. The anticipated spend for 2005 is...

Written Answers — Light Rail Project: Light Rail Project (3 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: I announced a new transport investment programme, Transport 21, on Tuesday, 1 November last. This ambitious programme underlines the Government's commitment to develop a world-class transport system for the 21st century. The Minister for Finance and I engaged extensively on the preparation of this landmark framework which involves the investment of over €34 billion in current prices in the...

Written Answers — Rail Services: Rail Services (3 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: The DART upgrade project will deliver a capacity increase of 30% by providing for the operation of eight-car DARTs instead of the previous maximum of six cars. With a combination of the upgrade project and the introduction of additional rolling stock, the DART capacity will have increased by 100% since 2000. The project will be substantively completed by year-end with some minor works to be...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (3 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: In 1999, prior to the introduction of the national development plan, the capacity of the Dublin Bus fleet was 74,385, inclusive of standing capacity. By the end of 2000 capacity had increased to 82,590. By the end of 2005, it is estimated that the capacity will be 94,524. Furthermore, with the purchase of a further 20 double deck buses which I sanctioned on Tuesday last, it is expected that...