Results 341-360 of 20,758 for speaker:Alan Kelly
- Seanad: Future of Local and Rural Transport: Statements (15 Sep 2011)
Alan Kelly: Thank you. I thank Senators for their comments and questions. When previously a Member of this House, I told myself that if I ever got the opportunity to hold the position of Minister or Minister of State, I would always endeavour to answer as directly and fairly as possible any questions put to me. I will endeavour to do so today. I will try to respond to questions in the order they were...
- Seanad: Future of Local and Rural Transport: Statements (15 Sep 2011)
Alan Kelly: I do not doubt it. I can imagine in my own area that man would be on the one run for a week. I have met the people in Woodlawn and will raise the highlighted issue. I understand exactly where they are coming from. There is an issue relating to timetabling and I will revert on the issue. Changing a timetable takes some time and there is a domino effect with consequences along the line....
- Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (20 Sep 2011)
Alan Kelly: A short description of each of 31 projects that were approved under the Smarter Travel Project Fund early in 2010 is available at www.smartertravel.ie/Smarter-Travel-Project-Fund/Funded-proj ects. One further project, led by County Sligo Leader Partnership, which explores synergies and seeks opportunities to support the integration of transport services in Counties Sligo and Leitrim between...
- Written Answers — Taxi Regulations: Taxi Regulations (27 Sep 2011)
Alan Kelly: This is a matter for the National Transport Authority and not one in which I have any role. I have forwarded the question onto the NTA for direct reply. Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
- Written Answers — Taxi Regulations: Taxi Regulations (28 Sep 2011)
Alan Kelly: The regulation of the taxi industry, including matters related to both drivers' knowledge of the local area and quality of vehicles, is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the Taxi Regulation Act 2003. The NTA is committed to introducing a comprehensive Skills Development Programme in line with international best practice and, to this end, made it compulsory for new...
- Public Transport (29 Sep 2011)
Alan Kelly: The funding of public service obligation, PSO, services is governed by public transport contracts between the National Transport Authority, NTA, and the three CIE subsidiaries. In 2011, Dublin Bus will receive, through the NTA, an estimated â¬72.4 million in Exchequer subvention. Decisions on the overall level of subvention available for PSO services in 2012 will be made following the...
- Public Transport (29 Sep 2011)
Alan Kelly: There are no decisions made on the subvention that will be in place in the next few years. I have some sympathy with what the Deputy is saying about Dublin's subvention being one of the lowest in Europe. The Deloitte report on Dublin Bus showed it was a superbly run organisation. It offers a great service and has delivered for its customers. The Network Direct programme has proven to be...
- Public Transport (29 Sep 2011)
Alan Kelly: We will try to retain the maximum number of services. In doing so, we will try to lower costs, drive more people onto the buses and create efficiencies so people will be more interested in using public transport. We will exploit every opportunity to encourage this and lessen the loss of services. Greater efficiencies are being achieved through Network Direct and there are greater...
- Rural Transport Services (29 Sep 2011)
Alan Kelly: There is recognition within the programme for Government of the importance of the rural transport programme. My Department is currently exploring efficiencies that can be achieved by bringing together aspects of HSE transport, school transport, the rural transport programme and other transport services. A study of a pilot scheme on the integration of transport services has been carried out...
- Rural Transport Services (29 Sep 2011)
Alan Kelly: I probably come from a smaller rural community than Deputy Troy and, therefore, am very conscious of and passionate about this issue. I fully intend to support transport services in rural areas because I know their value very much. The two reports will be published very shortly. The issues that will transcend not just the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport but also other areas are...
- Rural Transport Services (29 Sep 2011)
Alan Kelly: The reports will be published in the coming weeks. The pilot schemes are in the north west and north east. The findings are contained in the reports and when they are published the Deputy will see them. There is value in integrating services in rural areas and there is value in examining school transport and HSE transport. I would have preferred if the previous Government had considered a...
- Travel Tax (29 Sep 2011)
Alan Kelly: Deputy Troy would not know about it anyway.
- Bus Passenger Information Systems (29 Sep 2011)
Alan Kelly: Following the establishment of the National Transport Authority, NTA, on 1 December 2009, the implementation of infrastructure projects in the greater Dublin area, such as the real time passenger information, RTPI, now comes under the remit of the NTA. The authority's functions were subsequently extended by ministerial order to include provision of RTPI to the four major regional cities of...
- Public Transport (29 Sep 2011)
Alan Kelly: It is a benefit that the Labour Party is in Government and that a Labour Party Minister of State has responsibility for public transport. We are fully committed to public transport and maintaining public services. This is the bedrock of what the Labour Party stands for and I hope the Deputy appreciates that. With regard to Dublin Bus, as I have said previously, we are looking for...
- Public Transport (29 Sep 2011)
Alan Kelly: I will mention a statistic brought to my attention recently by Dublin Bus and the National Transport Authority. The changes that have taken place with regard to the network and many of the routes have seen a significant increase in passenger numbers. There may be issues in some areas, but in others we have seen increases in passenger numbers. We will use every avenue we can to try and get...
- Taxi Licences (29 Sep 2011)
Alan Kelly: I propose to take Questions Nos. 15, 35 and 43 together. Specific proposals such as providing taxi licences to public house owners in rural areas or determining vehicle standards that apply to taxi licences are currently matters which fall within the responsibility of the National Transport Authority, NTA, which regulates taxi services under the Taxi Regulation Act 2003. The NTA revoked the...
- Taxi Licences (29 Sep 2011)
Alan Kelly: I thank the Deputy for his comments. There are specific issues with regard to rural Ireland. The issues that relate to the taxi and hackney industry in Dublin, Cork, Limerick or Waterford do not relate to the area from which I come, where there are no taxis. This issue is completely different. It is about creating a service that will work in both urban and rural areas and in order to do...
- Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (29 Sep 2011)
Alan Kelly: The issue raised is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA). I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
- Written Answers — Value for Money Reviews: Value for Money Reviews (29 Sep 2011)
Alan Kelly: As agreed in the Programme for Government, we are currently exploring efficiencies that can be made by bringing together aspects of HSE transport, school transport, the Rural Transport Programme and other transport services. A study of a pilot scheme on the integration of transport services has been carried out and I intend to publish the study report shortly. In addition, a Value for Money...
- Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (29 Sep 2011)
Alan Kelly: Dublin Bus will receive â¬72.4 million in Exchequer funding in 2011 for the provision of public service obligation services. The services provided form part of the public service contract between Dublin Bus and the National Transport Authority and there is no Ministerial involvement in this. There are no plans to privatise the Company. Dublin Bus has consulted with residents, local...