Results 4,241-4,260 of 32,569 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Transport Provision (3 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: The National Transport Authority, NTA, has responsibility for the implementation and development of infrastructure projects in the greater Dublin area, GDA. Under this remit, the NTA has commissioned the Fingal-north Dublin transport study to examine all existing proposals as well as other possible options for a transport solution to meet the needs of the Swords-Dublin Airport-city...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Transport Provision (3 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: By the middle of 2015 I aim to have achieved clarity on the projects that should be progressed and why. It is more difficult to answer the second part of the Deputy's question about when work will begin and when the projects will be open to serve the travelling public because the recommendation I take to the Government will determine which projects will be built and how long it will take to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Transport Provision (3 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I absolutely appreciate the Deputy’s point, that there is a need for public transport projects in parts of our country to alleviate congestion challenges just as in many other parts of the country there is an acute need for infrastructure and investment in our local road network to respond to the needs in many counties. For me to gain support within Government for projects to be...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Rail Network (3 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I am committed to supporting a well-funded public transport system into the future, recognising the vital role it plays in our economy and society generally. I ensured that PSO funding for bus and rail services was maintained at current levels in the last budget, the first time this has happened since 2008. At the end of 2014 I brought forward a Supplementary Estimate which...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Rail Network (3 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I will try to respond to each of the points made by the Deputy. In regard to the north east, I spent all day yesterday, including yesterday evening, in Donegal where I heard first-hand many of the points made today by the Deputy. For example, the county manager made the point that there is more than 6,000 km of road network and between 4,000 and 5,000 bridges in County Donegal. The vast...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Rail Network (3 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: On access to the airport, a matter Deputy Alan Farrell has also raised, we have put in place a process to examine the options that might substantially improve access between Dublin city centre, the airport and Swords. As I told Deputy Timmy Dooley earlier, I aim to have that process completed by the middle of the year to ensure we will be clear on what projects will be involved which will...

Other Questions: Transport Infrastructure (3 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: The National Transport Authority, NTA, has commissioned the Fingal-north Dublin transport study to examine all existing proposals, namely, heavy rail, metro, Luas extensions, as well as other options for a rail-based transport solution to meet the needs of the Swords-Dublin Airport to city centre corridor in the long term. Phase one of the study was launched on 8...

Other Questions: Transport Infrastructure (3 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: To answer the Deputy's specific question, I do not believe that BRT on its own would replace a long-term rail or public transport option for the north side of the city. At the moment, we are exploring what role it can play in the medium term. As the Deputy is aware, and as I have said in response to other Deputies earlier on, we will be getting back a business case which will allow me to...

Other Questions: Transport Infrastructure (3 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy can well understand, I am not going to pre-judge a process that is weighing up all these different factors. I understand he has participated in it and has made his views known. The reason we have the National Transport Authority doing this work is so that it can evaluate all the different options and make a recommendation to me. BRT could play a role in the future. I do...

Other Questions: Road Signage (3 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I note that there were several extraordinarily tragic incidents on the roads at the start of the year. Of course, any loss of life is tragic, but our hearts go out to everyone involved in the incidents that occurred. While there has been a slight decrease versus where we were one year ago, I derive little satisfaction from this, given the number of people who have lost their lives. ...

Other Questions: Road Signage (3 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy asked a number of questions. I will come back to him on two of them as I am not in position to answer them now. He asked me a specific question about the Vienna Convention. I will come back to him on the matter within the next week. I expect that the signage book would be updated, but I will confirm that and will reply to the Deputy on it. Regarding the A5, there is a...

Other Questions: Road Signage (3 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: That is a matter for Google in terms of how such vehicles are to be planned. I am actively considering the home zone proposal for a different, lower speed limit within residential areas. I am considering whether a designated amount could be set aside to look specifically at the issue of speed limits in residential communities, because it is a point of which I am aware. I will have to...

Other Questions: Rail Services (3 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I refer the Deputy to my answer to the Priority Question No. 127. I have touched on the Supplementary Estimate I brought in the purpose of which is to address the points the Deputy has raised. Some additional points are pertinent to the question he has put to me on public transport use and integration. Since 2011, €143 million has been topped up on Leap cards. For 2014 alone, that...

Other Questions: Rail Services (3 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: As I indicated in response to questions from Deputies Dooley and Ellis, before Christmas the Department introduced a Supplementary Estimate of €101 million specifically for public transport. This funding was allocated towards the modernisation of the Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann fleets and renewal and infrastructure works on busy parts of the rail network. These works are under...

Other Questions: Rail Services (3 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I intend to commence a public consultation on rail policy. As Deputy Durkan is aware, the rail service plays an important role in meeting transport needs. It also has specific funding needs and must continually fund maintenance and renewal works on the rail system. This is one of the reasons almost €50 million was allocated to Irish Rail before Christmas. We also maintained the...

Other Questions: Penalty Points System (3 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: The fixed charge and penalty points system is an important element of our overall road safety strategy and the Government is committed to ensuring the most effective and equitable system is in place to maintain public confidence in it. The Deputy will appreciate and has acknowledged that the Minister for Justice and Equality and I have responsibility for different parts of the...

Other Questions: Penalty Points System (3 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: On the points the Deputy has made about the current status of the recommendations, since the last set, policies have been implemented to deal with the issues to which he refers. Only three individuals have authorised the cancellation of penalty points since 16 June 2014. On the status of different recommendations, we have two reports at play, as the Deputy noted. The first is the report...

Other Questions: Penalty Points System (3 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: As I said, the fact that so much centralisation of decision making has taken place shows how important this matter is to the Garda Commissioner and the Minister for Justice and Equality. I am absolutely clear that not implementing the regime or policies in place is a disciplinary matter and I am sure it will be treated as such by the Garda Commissioner. Both the Garda Commissioner and the...

Topical Issue Debate: State Airports (3 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Deputy for raising the matter. The DAA is the body charged with statutory responsibility to manage, operate and develop Dublin and Cork airports. It operates under a clear commercial mandate, is entirely funded from its own resources and receives no Government funding supports. As such, any plans to address the reduction of services at Cork Airport and improve the airport's...

Topical Issue Debate: State Airports (3 Feb 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: The Deputy acknowledged the constraints I am under in regard to discussing the Heathrow slots for Cork Airport. I am however aware of the strong regional dimensions of national connectivity, as Deputy Dooley outlined very clearly in previous discussions. Access to our country is a vital component in the evaluation of any potential offer. All of our airports make an essential contribution...