Results 3,581-3,600 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Written Answers — Driving Tests: Driving Tests (7 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: My Department sought expressions of interest from staff in the Department of Agriculture and Food, identified by the Department of Finance as surplus to that Department's organisational needs. Expressions of interest were received from 25 eligible staff. Following a competitive process, my Department proposes to temporarily redeploy eight staff. The eight will commence a six-week training...

Written Answers — Driving Tests: Driving Tests (7 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: The direct cost of the bonus scheme will be in the region of €1.5 million to €2 million. The scheme is available to all driving testers and 90 testers have signed up to participate. New recruits will also be eligible to participate. It is not possible to indicate the total number of tests to be carried out under the bonus scheme but, based on the commitment given by the 90 testers, it is...

Written Answers — Road Signage: Road Signage (7 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: The Traffic Signs Manual, published in 1996, incorporates the design of all of the traffic signs that can be deployed on public roads and guidance and advice in relation to the use of such signs. Traffic signs can be generally divided into three distinct groupings. These are regulatory signs, warning signs and information signs. While the manual provides depictions of regulatory signs, the...

Written Answers — Bus Corridors: Bus Corridors (7 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: I understand from the DTO that the status of hard shoulder bus lanes being implemented by local authorities in the greater Dublin area is as follows: N3 Dunshaughlin approaches, at construction. Expected completion Q3 2006; Bracetown, construction works complete; and, Clonee-Blanchardstown bypass, inbound extension to Blanchardstown QBC, at public consultation. In addition, hard shoulders are...

Written Answers — Driving Tests: Driving Tests (7 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 3311/06, which I answered in the House on Wednesday, 1 February 2006. As I have indicated to this House previously, the delay in providing driving tests is a matter of regret to me. It not only represents a poor service to the public but it is also hampering the development of initiatives I wish to pursue and which will contribute further to road...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (7 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: Details of funding for the agencies under the auspices of this Department as outlined in Parliamentary Question No. 39961 of 15 December is set out in the following table. This table outlines the total amounts these agencies provisionally spent in 2005, their respective allocations included in the 2006 abridged Estimates volume, AEV, and the relevant expenditure to date in 2006. Agency...

Written Answers — Transport Regulations: Transport Regulations (7 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: At present, transport officers are executive officers in my Department who receive an allowance for carrying out specific duties. To date, vacancies have been filled by confined competition within my Department. However, under the Government's decentralisation programme, executive officers who applied under the Central Applications Facility, CAF, may be offered positions as transport officers...

Order of Business. (8 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: No, it is just hot air coming from over there.

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (8 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: The licensing of small public service vehicles is currently governed by the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) Regulations 1963 to 2002. Under these regulations, small public service vehicle licences are granted and renewed by individual local licensing authorities. Information regarding the number of licences that have not been renewed at any given time is not available in my Department....

Written Answers — Search and Rescue Service: Search and Rescue Service (8 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: I refer the Deputy to the reply given to Question No. 352 of Tuesday, 7 February 2006 which sets out the current position regarding the acquisition of a suitable site for a new station house for the Doolin coastal unit. Until the site acquisition has been finalised it will not be possible to determine the cost of construction of the accommodation.

Written Answers — Driving Tests: Driving Tests (8 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: The fees received in respect of driving tests for 2005 amounted to €7.09 million. The total cost of operating the service in 2005 is estimated to be approximately €12 million. There is not a direct correlation between receipts and expenditure in any given year as while cash is received with applications, the test may be conducted in a subsequent year.

Written Answers — Driving Tests: Driving Tests (8 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: The number of driving tests conducted by a driver tester each day depends upon the time of year, the category of vehicle being tested, the test location and if the tester is working overtime. On average 7.6 standard car test equivalents should be conducted per driver tester per day.

Written Answers — Driving Tests: Driving Tests (8 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: My Department in consultation with the Minister for Finance has developed a package of measures to deal with the backlog of driving test applications. One aspect of the package is a bonus scheme for driver testers. A total of 90 driver testers have signed up for the bonus scheme which is due to commence on 6 February 2006 for one year. This is expected to deliver a minimum of 30,750 extra...

Written Answers — Rail Services: Rail Services (8 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: The strategic rail review commissioned by my Department and published in 2003 contained an examination of the rail freight business and its realistic potential to support economic development and contribute to sustainable development. In preparing the report, the public were invited to make submissions on rail policy and a number of public consultation sessions were held around the country....

Written Answers — Driving Tests: Driving Tests (8 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Questions Nos. 113, 133 and 207 of 1 February 2005. As I have indicated to this House previously, the delay in providing driving tests is a matter of concern to me. I believe it not only represents a poor service to the public but it is also hampering the development of initiatives which I wish to pursue and which will contribute further to road safety. The...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (8 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: The McCann report recommended a phased approach to the construction of the western rail corridor. Following the launch of Transport 21, I asked Iarnród Éireann to commence the design and planning stages of the western rail corridor from Ennis to Claremorris. The line between Ennis and Athenry will be the first section to be developed and I await specific proposals from Iarnród Éireann in...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (8 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: On 20 January 2006, Dublin Bus submitted an application for funding for 200 additional buses to be provided over the two-year period 2006 to 2007 and the construction of a new garage. The projected total capital cost of the proposals contained in the application is €120 million. My Department is currently examining this application in accordance with the requirements of the Department of...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (8 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: The Dublin Transportation Office, DTO, strategy for the greater Dublin area, A Platform for Change, proposes a network of radial and orbital quality bus corridors, QBCs, and additional bus priority measures. The proposed orbital QBC referred to by the Deputy, linking as it would a series of radial Luas lines, red and green, existing QBCs, N11 and the Rock Road, future QBCs and the DART...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (8 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: Issues relating to the tolling of the East Link bridge are matters for Dublin City Council in the first instance.

Seanad: Road Network: Motion. (8 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: That is rubbish.