Results 3,921-3,940 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Written Answers — Driver Licensing: Driver Licensing (21 Mar 2006)

Martin Cullen: The provision of an on-line system of applications for road haulage licences has been considered. A number of practical and legal difficulties have been identified in that regard. These difficulties are being considered in the context of a forthcoming Road Transport Bill.

Written Answers — Port Development: Port Development (21 Mar 2006)

Martin Cullen: The Government's ports policy statement, launched in January 2005, aims to better equip the port sector and its stakeholders to meet national and regional capacity and service needs. One of the key challenges that lie ahead is the provision of adequate in-time port capacity, particularly for unitised trade. The policy statement sets out a framework to ensure that capacity needs are...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (21 Mar 2006)

Martin Cullen: My Department does not hold records of tachograph infringements or vehicle checks on Irish registered vehicles operated by Irish licensed transport operators that occur outside the State.

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (21 Mar 2006)

Martin Cullen: Responsibility for Baltimore and Skibbereen Harbour has transferred from the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources to my Department with effect from 1 January 2006. The Government's ports policy statement, which was launched in January 2005, states that the continued operation of many of the regional harbours under the outdated provisions of the Harbours Act 1946 is...

Written Answers — Driving Tests: Driving Tests (21 Mar 2006)

Martin Cullen: This automated service is available 24 hours a day. Although staff in Ballina are under considerable pressure at present dealing with the driver testing backlog, arrangements have been put in place so that, with the exception of lunchtime, there is an option provided in the automated service to allow applicants to talk directly to an officer in the driver testing section between 09:30 and...

Written Answers — Driving Tests: Driving Tests (21 Mar 2006)

Martin Cullen: The on-line service facilitates driving test applicants with an alternative method of applying for a test and provides general information on the driver testing service. It does not arrange driving tests nor does it issue e-mail confirmations of driving test appointments. Once an application has been made on-line there are various checks and processes that must be completed before it can be...

Written Answers — Park and Ride Facilities: Park and Ride Facilities (21 Mar 2006)

Martin Cullen: Park and ride facilities are an important component in the strategy for attracting people out of private cars and on to public transport, so reducing congestion and improving the environment. In this context, last summer I approved a Dublin Transportation Office — DTO — strategy for rail-based park and ride, which envisages facilities at 22 locations on the existing and proposed rail...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (21 Mar 2006)

Martin Cullen: New speed limit structures were introduced in January 2005 under the Road Traffic Act 2004. These included the application of a default speed limit of 80 km/h to rural non-national regional and local roads and a default of 50 km/h to all classes of roads, except motorways, in built-up areas. The Road Traffic Act 2004 empowers county and city councils to make special speed limit by-laws for...

Written Answers — Driver Licensing: Driver Licensing (21 Mar 2006)

Martin Cullen: Since 11 June 2001 all applications for a first provisional licence must be accompanied by a driver theory test certificate. The specification which the contractor operating the driver theory test is obliged to meet provides for the delivery of a user-friendly computerised theory testing system and requires that candidates with special needs be provided for. This includes the provision of...

Written Answers — Cycle Facilities: Cycle Facilities (21 Mar 2006)

Martin Cullen: The contents of the submission in question have been noted and the present requirements regarding the use of mandatory cycle lanes will be looked at in the context of the review of the current traffic and parking regulations 1997-2005 being undertaken in my Department.

Written Answers — Taxi Regulations: Taxi Regulations (21 Mar 2006)

Martin Cullen: The Commission for Taxi Regulation has published an annual report and financial statement for the period from 1 September 2004 to 31 December 2004 in accordance with the requirements of section 29 of the Taxi Regulation Act 2003. A copy of the 2004 annual report and accounts is available on the Commission for Taxi Regulation website at www.taxiregulator.ie, directly from the commission and in...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (21 Mar 2006)

Martin Cullen: The driving of coaches is subject to legislation governing road traffic, road passenger transport operator licensing, the use of tachograph recording equipment, driver's hours and working time rules. List of the relevant legislation is set out in the following schedule. European Communities Road Transport Regulations, 2006 Drivers hours rules European Communities (Road Transport)...

Written Answers — Driving Tests: Driving Tests (21 Mar 2006)

Martin Cullen: As speed ramps and cars vary considerably in their design and construction, it is not possible to be definitive about the speed a car should be travelling at when negotiating a ramp. In general, a car should be driven over ramps at a speed and in a manner which does not cause undue discomfort to the occupants, or undue strain on the car. Neither should the car be driven at an unnecessarily...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (21 Mar 2006)

Martin Cullen: The Government Road Safety Strategy 2004-2006 sets a primary target of a 25% reduction in road collision fatalities by the end of 2006 over the average annual number of fatalities in the 1998 to 2003 period. Achievement of the target would result in no more than 300 deaths per annum by the end of the period of the strategy. This is an ambitious target which will require the continued...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (21 Mar 2006)

Martin Cullen: The Road Traffic Acts establish a range of offences and penalties that can be applied for breaches of legislation. These range from the payment of a fixed charge or an on the spot fine in respect of specified offences in lieu of court proceedings to a fine, imprisonment or driver disqualification on conviction in court. The enforcement of offences established under the Road Traffic Acts is...

Written Answers — Statutory Instruments: Statutory Instruments (21 Mar 2006)

Martin Cullen: Statutory instruments signed by me and my colleague, the Minister for State, in 2005 and to date in 2006 are summarised in the following table. S.I. No. S.I. 2 of 2005 European Communities (Organisation of Working Time of Persons Performing Mobile Road Transport Activities) Regulations 2005 S.I. 8 of 2005 Road Traffic Act 2004 (Commencement) (Parts 1 and 2 and sections 27 and 32)...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (21 Mar 2006)

Martin Cullen: In June 2003 a notice requesting the submission of tenders to supply a plastic card licence was published in the EU Official Journal. A number of developments took place following receipt of tenders and the proposals were reviewed in the light of these developments. These developments included developments concerning anti-fraud protection measures, possible developments in e-government and...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (21 Mar 2006)

Martin Cullen: Data on test activity for individual test centres are not compiled by my Department but would be available from National Car Testing Service Limited. Information on the ages of car owners whose vehicles underwent the NCT is not compiled. I have no plans to waive the NCT fee for old age pensioners.

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (21 Mar 2006)

Martin Cullen: I have been advised by Iarnród Éireann that the Phoenix Park tunnel has not been upgraded since 1996 but that it receives normal routine maintenance. I also understand heavier maintenance work was carried out in 2000. The tunnel is an essential piece of the operational railway network enabling freight trains to and from Dublin Port to access the southern and western network and for the...

Written Answers — Taxi Regulations: Taxi Regulations (21 Mar 2006)

Martin Cullen: The licensing of small public service vehicles and their drivers is currently governed by the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) Regulations, 1963 to 2002, made under the Road Traffic Acts, and the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2003. The main regulations relating to the grant and renewal of small public service vehicle and driver licences are as follows: Road Traffic (Public...