Results 3,041-3,060 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Road Safety. (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: Since we are heading into the Christmas season I ask people throughout the country to respect themselves, the road and other road users by driving with great care over this Christmas.

Road Safety. (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: Let us, collectively, try to reduce the number of deaths and injuries on our roads.

Written Answers — Road Tolling: Road Tolling (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: Open road tolling, that is, the collection of tolls by automated means in a barrier free environment, is the optimal means of toll collection where the traffic volumes and toll revenues justify the investment required. My Department is currently reviewing the need to change, where necessary, the legislative framework so as to facilitate the introduction of open road tolling. In particular, it...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: Although there is no statutory basis for it, there is a long-standing convention that increases in standard single CIE fares of CIE and the RPA are approved by me. This control covers only the basic standard single journey fares for adults and children. It does not extend to return fares or to weekly, monthly or annual fares or to other concessionary, premium or promotional fares. The level...

Written Answers — Light Rail Project: Light Rail Project (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: The projects within Transport 21 will be subject to: normal statutory procedures where required; capital appraisal in line with the Department of Finance guidelines; and the value for money initiatives set out in the Minister for Finance's speech of 20 October last. Some elements of the overall investment programme, including metro north and the rail investment programme for the greater...

Written Answers — Light Rail Project: Light Rail Project (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: Plans for a metro line from Tallaght via Kimmage to the city centre have not been dropped. Transport 21 provides for feasibility studies for this and other projects, including the proposed Luas line from the city centre to Dundrum via Terenure, over the course of the programme. While Transport 21 involves a very large commitment of financial resources, those resources are also finite. It has,...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 169 together. The Government's ten-year transport investment framework, Transport 21, which was launched recently, provides for significant funding for an expansion of public transport infrastructure and services. At the same time I will provide significant additional funding under the rural transport initiative, RTI, for public transport in rural...

Written Answers — Light Rail Project: Light Rail Project (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: Transport 21 includes the completion of the Luas line from Sandyford to Cherrywood by 2010 and from Cherrywood to Bray by 2015. Subject to compliance with the relevant statutory procedures, I expect construction of the Cherrywood extension to start during 2006. On 7 November 2005, I received an application from the Railway Procurement Agency for a railway order in respect of a proposed Luas...

Written Answers — State Airline: State Airline (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos 20, 32, 57 and 178 together. As the Deputies will be aware, in its decision of 18 May the Government agreed to the State disposing of a majority shareholding in Aer Lingus and retaining a stake of at least 25% to protect strategic interests provided that both myself and the Minister for Finance are satisfied that this level of disposal is warranted on foot of...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 21, 66 and 97 together. I am committed to the delivery of a high quality, effective public transport system in which buses will continue to play a central role. At the launch of Transport 21, I said that I was convinced that we need a new approach to transport in the greater Dublin area, delivered through a single authority with the power to ensure joined-up...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: I advise the Deputy that a pilot real time passenger information, RTPI, scheme is currently in operation on Dublin Bus routes in west Dublin where 30 RTPI units are fitted to bus stops. I understand Dublin Bus is reviewing the operation of this pilot scheme before deciding how to proceed with the wider application of RTPI across the Dublin Bus network.

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 24 and 82 together. The question of the adoption of changes in the circumstances where the driver of a vehicle can be made the subject of a preliminary roadside breath test has been the subject of considerable debate and consideration for some time. The current road safety strategy recommends that the introduction of random breath testing should be pursued...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: My Department and the NRA have received correspondence, both directly and indirectly, from the parents of the person who tragically lost her life in a road accident on the N59 at Murrivagh, Westport in December 2004. The concerns raised in this correspondence relate mainly to the possible contribution of road conditions at the scene of the accident and the adequacy of the supervision of...

Written Answers — Staff Pensions: Staff Pensions (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: The Irish airlines — general employees — superannuation scheme is a multi-employer scheme which, in addition to Aer Lingus and the Dublin Airport Authority, formerly Aer Rianta, also includes a private sector company, SR Technics, formerly FLS Aerospace-Team Aer Lingus. I have met representatives of RASA on a number of occasions and I appreciate that they have genuine concerns about their...

Written Answers — Transport Policy: Transport Policy (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 28, 46, 72, 81, 182 and 187 together. Transport 21 is a fully costed programme. The €34.4 billion cost is based on the aggregate cost of the constituent projects and these are in turn primarily based on costs provided by the transport agencies. However, I do not propose to release this commercially sensitive information until the public procurement processes...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: Transport 21 provides for the reopening up of the Navan rail line in two phases. The first phase involves reopening 7.5 km of railway line running off the Maynooth line, at Clonsilla, to the M3 interchange at Pace, near Dunboyne. Three stations are proposed at Hansfield, Dunboyne and a major park and ride facility at the M3 interchange at Pace. Subject to further studies, it is proposed to...

Written Answers — Staff Pensions: Staff Pensions (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: The Irish airlines (general employees) superannuation scheme, established in 1954, is a multi-employer scheme which, in addition to Aer Lingus and the Dublin Airport Authority, formerly Aer Rianta, also includes a private sector company, SR Technics, formerly FLS Aerospace/Team Aer Lingus. Pension entitlements for employees of commercial State bodies, including Aer Lingus and the Dublin...

Written Answers — Road Signage: Road Signage (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: The traffic signs manual, which was published in December 1996, is currently the subject of a comprehensive review. That review is being carried out by consultants, under the direction of my Department, the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the National Roads Authority, at a cost of €380,000. The review has focused in the first instance on the issue of the...

Written Answers — Airport Development Projects: Airport Development Projects (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: As the Deputy will be aware, the Dublin Airport Authority, DAA, announced two months ago its medium term plans for new infrastructural provision at Dublin Airport, including a new second terminal and other related developments. I am informed by the DAA that it is working to meet the Government objective to have T2 operational in 2009. Currently, the DAA is involved in tender processes for the...

Written Answers — Departmental Estimates: Departmental Estimates (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 36, 69 and 76 together. The reduction in funding in 2006 under subhead C3 of my Department's Vote arises because the Railway Procurement Agency, RPA, will not require any operating subsidy for the Luas. Additionally, the RPA had to make an exceptional payment in 2005 towards the funding of a pension scheme deficit which will not recur in 2006. The capital and...