Results 4,981-5,000 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Tourism Industry: Tourism Industry (14 Apr 2011)

Leo Varadkar: The matter raised is an operational one for Tourism Ireland. I have referred the Deputy's question to the agency for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

Written Answers — Driving Licences: Driving Licences (14 Apr 2011)

Leo Varadkar: Under the Road Traffic (Recognition of Foreign Driving Licences) Order 2007 (SI No. 527 of 2007) Ireland has arrangements for recognition and exchange of driving licences from a number of other jurisdictions, including Australia. It is an accepted principle of these arrangements that a person should not hold two driving licences at the same time. In consequence it is a principle that, where...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (14 Apr 2011)

Leo Varadkar: The information sought by the Deputy is available from 2002 when the Department of Transport was formed. The total full time staff equivalent in the Department at 31st December each year was 551 in 2002, 511 in 2005 and 495.5 in 2010. The numbers and detail by grade are shown in respect of 2005 and 2010 in the attached table. There were a number of changes within the Department between...

Written Answers — Driver Testing Service: Driver Testing Service (14 Apr 2011)

Leo Varadkar: Responsibility for setting the driver theory test rests with the Road Safety Authority. The last major review of the questions posed in the driver theory test took place in 2006 and I understand the Road Safety Authority has decided that it is now timely to carry out a review of the question bank to update the questions in light of changes and experience in the interim.

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (14 Apr 2011)

Leo Varadkar: The Railway Safety Commission (RSC) was established on 1 January 2006, under the Railway Safety Act 2005, as the independent regulatory agency charged with oversight of the safety of all railway activities in the State. The RSC has no governing board. However, Section 81 and 82 of the Railway Safety Act 2005 requires the Minister to establish by order a Railway Safety Advisory Council...

Leaders' Questions (19 Apr 2011)

Leo Varadkar: It happened before the Government came to power.

Written Answers — Light Rail Project: Light Rail Project (19 Apr 2011)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 351 and 352 together. As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. Following the establishment of the National Transport Authority (NTA) in December 2009, the implementation and development of infrastructure projects in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), such as Metro North, comes under the remit...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (19 Apr 2011)

Leo Varadkar: In line with the Department of Finance guidelines on the staffing of Ministerial offices, my constituency office consists of a Personal Secretary, a Personal Assistant, and 2 civil servants. In keeping with the same guidelines, the constituency offices of each of the Ministers of State in my Department consist of a Personal Secretary, a Personal Assistant and 1 civil servant. In the case of...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (19 Apr 2011)

Leo Varadkar: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme element of Transport 21. The construction, improvement and maintenance of individual national roads, including those mentioned by the Deputy, is a matter for the National Roads Authority under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities...

Written Answers — Cycle Facilities: Cycle Facilities (19 Apr 2011)

Leo Varadkar: Fingal County Council's unsuccessful application to my Department under the Smarter Travel Areas Competition identified this potential walking and cycling route. My Department has had no further engagement with the County Council with regard to this proposal and future progress with it is a matter for the local authority.

Written Answers — Sports Capital Programme: Sports Capital Programme (19 Apr 2011)

Leo Varadkar: Under the Sports Capital Programme, funding is allocated to sporting and to voluntary and community organisations at local, regional and national level throughout the country. No decision has been made on the timing of the next round of the Programme. While no new call for applications for funding has been made since 2008 a provision of €33m has been provided in this year's estimates to...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (19 Apr 2011)

Leo Varadkar: The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from local authorities own resources and are supplemented by State road grants. However, the initial selection and prioritisation of projects to be funded is also a matter...

Written Answers — Rural Transport Services: Rural Transport Services (19 Apr 2011)

Leo Varadkar: €10.62m is being provided for the Rural Transport Programme (RTP) in 2011 in recognition of the important role it plays in combatting social exclusion in rural Ireland. Thirty-six rural community transport groups around the country, including Ring-a-Link which operates in Carlow, Kilkenny and Tipperary South Riding, are being funded under the Programme. Pobal administers the RTP on behalf...

Written Answers — Tourism Employment: Tourism Employment (19 Apr 2011)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 359 to 362, inclusive, together. The matters raised are operational matters for Fáilte Ireland. I have referred the Deputy's Question to the agency for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (19 Apr 2011)

Leo Varadkar: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme element of Transport 21. The construction, improvement and maintenance of individual national roads, is a matter for the National Roads Authority under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Noting this I have referred the...

Written Answers — National Lottery Funding: National Lottery Funding (19 Apr 2011)

Leo Varadkar: The distribution of the proceeds of the National Lottery is a matter for the Minister for Finance. The Sports Capital Programme, which is part funded from the proceeds of the National Lottery, distributed more than €50 million to clubs, sports organisations and local authorities in 2010 for the provision of sports facilities and the purchase of non-personal sports equipment. The...

Written Answers — Olympic Games: Olympic Games (19 Apr 2011)

Leo Varadkar: The funding available to athletes preparing for the 2012 Olympics is an operational matter for the Irish Sports Council. I have referred the Deputy's question to the Council for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days. A high-level coordinating group, chaired by my Department, is identifying opportunities for Ireland that may...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (19 Apr 2011)

Leo Varadkar: The matters raised are operational issues for Dublin Bus (in the case of Dublin City services) in conjunction with the National Transport Authority. I have referred the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (19 Apr 2011)

Leo Varadkar: As the shareholder of the CIE Group, I appoint the Board of Dublin Bus. The shareholder relationship is reflected in the Transport (Re-Organisation of Córas Iompair Éireann) Act 1986, as amended, and the requirements of the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies. In my relationship with Dublin Bus I am concerned to ensure that the company continues to strengthen its...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (19 Apr 2011)

Leo Varadkar: There are ten State commercial port companies established and operating under the Harbours Acts 1996 - 2009. Rosslare Europort is also owned by the State, via Iarnród Éireann. The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport is the principal shareholder in each company with the Minister for Finance holding one share in each. The Minister's relationship with the companies is governed by the...