Results 2,941-2,960 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (15 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: I am advised by Bus Éireann that the number of buses in the Bus Éireann fleet is 1,356, of which 662 are school buses.

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (15 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 392 and 397 together. The evaluation of the public transport investment programme carried out by Indecon Economic Consultants in 2002 stated that due to a lack of garage capacity further expansion of the bus fleet in Dublin was not possible. My Department provided approximately €20 million in Exchequer funding to meet the capital cost of a new garage. It was...

Written Answers — Airport Development Projects: Airport Development Projects (15 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: While matters relating to Ireland's energy supplies do not fall within the remit of my Department, there have been a number of previous occasions when oil prices have shown volatility. This is a global phenomenon and will undoubtedly require a portfolio of solutions including, in the case of aviation, a continued technological drive towards more fuel efficient and less polluting aircraft...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (15 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: An initial feasibility study on the proposed interconnector between Heuston Station and the docklands was carried out in on behalf of Iarnród Éireann 2003. This examined possible alignments for the interconnector as well as preliminary cost estimates. I have asked Iarnród Éireann to begin immediately a more detailed technical analysis of the project. While Transport 21 includes a...

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (15 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: Since taking office, I have had the opportunity to travel on Luas — St. Stephen's Green to Sandyford line — and the DART and commuter train systems while in transit to official functions in connection with these public transport systems.

Written Answers — National Spatial Strategy: National Spatial Strategy (15 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: A substantial amount of work was undertaken by my Department and its agencies during 2005 to develop Transport 21. This work provides a key contribution to the delivery of the national spatial strategy and gives tangible support for the balanced regional development objectives set out in that strategy. Transport 21 takes account of the linkages between transport and land use and spatial...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (15 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: CIE submitted to me an application for a railway order for the Kildare route project on 5 October under the terms of the Transport (Railway Infrastructure) Act 2001. I have directed that a public inquiry be held into the application and have appointed Mr. Pat Butler SC as inspector to the inquiry. I understand that the inspector will begin the inquiry early in 2006 and that the findings will...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (15 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: The currently available data on the percentage employment of people with disabilities in my Department and in the bodies under the aegis of my Department are given in the following table. The guidelines currently followed for monitoring the employment of people with disabilities by public bodies are set out in the code of practice for the Civil Service 1994. Information on the nature of their...

Written Answers — Airport Development Projects: Airport Development Projects (15 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: As the Deputy will be aware, the role and functions of the former Aer Rianta have evolved over the decades and I do not propose to examine the historical record stretching back 30 years in an effort to pin-point when the event may or may not have happened. The objects, general duties and functions of the Dublin Airport Authority, DAA, as successor to Aer Rianta, are contained in the Air...

Written Answers — North-South Co-operation: North-South Co-operation (15 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: My Department continues to work through the institutions established under the Good Friday Agreement, in consultation with officials from the relevant authorities in Northern Ireland and the Department of Foreign Affairs, to improve the connectivity and safety of the transport system on the island of Ireland and to identify opportunities to improve the overall network. The Government recently...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (15 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: I will sign regulations to implement EU Directive 2004/52/EC on the interoperability of electronic road toll systems in the Community in the near future.

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (15 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: Under Transport 21, the greater Dublin area will benefit from the development of a fully integrated network of bus and rail services that will facilitate easy interchange by public transport users. The areas referred to by the Deputy will continue to be served by the bus which will play a crucial role in the capital's public transport system under Transport 21. In this regard Transport 21...

Written Answers — Rail Services: Rail Services (15 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: At present, there are no regulations either here or at EU level governing the number of passengers who can be carried on an individual railway carriage. However, I expect the Railway Safety Bill to be enacted before year-end, and the Railway Safety Commission will then have power to make regulations in this area. Iarnród Éireann has indicated that the issue of crowding is one of discomfort...

Written Answers — Rail Services: Rail Services (15 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 411 and 412 together. The issue to which the Deputy refers to is an operational matter within the remit of Iarnród Éireann. Iarnród Éireann informs me that it follows the UK rail vehicle accessibility regulations when formulating the specifications prior to purchase of all new rail carriages. This encompasses all carriages, including DART carriages...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (15 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: Under Transport 21 the greater Dublin area will benefit from the development of a fully integrated network of bus and rail services that will facilitate easy interchange by public transport users. Transport 21 provides for the construction of a new Luas line between Lucan and the city centre. Work on the line will start in 2010 and be completed by 2013. While the precise alignment will not be...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (15 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: This is an operational matter for the Connex in which I have no function. However, the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment introduced the Organisation of Working Time (Inclusion of Transport Activities) Regulations 2004, in line with the EU working time directive. I understand Connex Transport Ireland Limited is complying with these regulations.

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

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 336 and 337 together. The Drogheda to Navan to Kingscourt railway line has conveyed only rail freight traffic in the period 1999 to the present day. A total of €5.14 million was invested in this line since 1999 from the railway safety programme, approved by my Department. The revenue earned from the traffic carried on the line is a commercial matter for...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (16 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: The article referred to by the Deputy does not specify any alleged deficiencies in Article 20 of the Road Traffic (Licensing of Drivers) Regulations 1999 and no deficiencies have been notified to my Department. The position is that Article 20 provides in sub-article (6)(b)(iii) that a person provisionally licensed to drive vehicles of category B, C1, C, D1, D, EB, EC1, EC, ED1 or ED shall not...

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

Martin Cullen: I reject the implication that north Tipperary has been excluded from major projects contained in Transport 21. The position is that north Tipperary will gain significantly under Transport 21 as follows: completion of the N7 Dublin-Limerick motorway; the targeted improvement of the N52 from Dundalk to Nenagh, which is a key cross-country linking corridor identified by the national spatial...

Written Answers — Air Services: Air Services (16 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: In accordance with the 1944 Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation, aircraft may come into Ireland for technical stops, such as for refuelling purposes, without notifying the Department of Transport, and no notification about these aircraft was received by my Department. As I indicated in the House previously, the aircraft registered N379P and N8068V have landed at Shannon on a...