Results 4,981-5,000 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Written Answers — Driving Tests: Driving Tests (26 Sep 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 486 and 492 together. Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006 (Conferral of Functions) Order 2006 (S.I. No 477 of 2006) the Road Safety Authority has now responsibility for the delivery of the driving test and the issuing of certificates of competency. Decisions taken in relation to the use of any individual driving test centre are operational matters for the...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (26 Sep 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I have no proposals at present to apply driving rules for the users of agricultural tractors to accommodate overtaking by other vehicles in the type of scenario that the Deputy refers to or to apply time based bans on the use of public roads by agricultural tractors. The Road Safety Authority is currently undertaking a review of the use of Agricultural and Works Vehicles on Irish Roads and I...

Written Answers — Railway Stations: Railway Stations (26 Sep 2007)

Noel Dempsey: Funding for the upgrading of transport facilities of Ceannt Station, Galway has not been included in Transport 21 as I understand that CIÉ intends to fund the works involved from the proceeds of the development of the overall site.

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (26 Sep 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 489 and 490 together. The primary duty of CIÉ and its subsidiary companies as set out in Section 7 of the Transport Act 1958 and Section 8 of the Transport (Re-organisation of Córas Iompair Éireann) Act 1986 is to provide a reasonable, efficient and economical transport service having regard to their social role. Decisions in relation to the acquisition,...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (26 Sep 2007)

Noel Dempsey: No orders have been made under Section 9 of the Transport (Re-organisation of Córas Iompair Éireann) Act, 1986.

Written Answers — Rail Services: Rail Services (26 Sep 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Dail Questions 57, 72 and 144 on 28th June, 2007. Iarnród Éireann continues to pursue a policy of growing its rail freight business where real opportunities present and returning the rail freight business to profitability. Iarnród Éireann has made progress in recent years in growing the rail freight business in areas where it holds a competitive advantage...

Written Answers — Park and Ride Facilities: Park and Ride Facilities (26 Sep 2007)

Noel Dempsey: The Memorandum of Understanding between my Department and Iarnród Éireann contains no provision in relation to parking charges for the use of car parks at railway stations. The provision and management of car parks at railway stations is a matter for Iarnród Éireann, taking account of the guiding principles for the implementation of rail-based park and ride adopted by the Dublin...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (26 Sep 2007)

Noel Dempsey: Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006 (Conferral of Functions) Order 2006 (S.I. No. 477 of 2006) responsibility for vehicle standards, including matters relating to vehicle testing, passed to the Road Safety Authority RSA). I presume the Deputy is referring to the review of the roadworthiness testing arrangements of commercial vehicles, which the Authority commissioned...

Written Answers — Regional Airports: Regional Airports (26 Sep 2007)

Noel Dempsey: The re-deployment of Heathrow slots by Aer Lingus and the withdrawal of the Shannon-Heathrow service with effect from January 2008 was a commercial decision made by the executive management team in the Company. I understand the decision was taken on foot of a mandate from the Board of the Company to examine and develop commercial opportunities, in accordance with the Memorandum and Articles...

Written Answers — Regional Airports: Regional Airports (26 Sep 2007)

Noel Dempsey: My Department is currently finalising an Economic and Tourism Development Plan for the Shannon Airport catchment area. The Plan has been prepared in consultation with the Department of Finance, the Department of Arts, Sport & Tourism, the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment and the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. The purpose of the plan is to ensure that...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (26 Sep 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 498 and 501 together. The provision of a bus station and park and ride facilities at Navan and the purchase of a site for same is a matter for bus operators including Bus Éireann, in the first instance and, in the case of park and ride facilities, the relevant local authorities. In relation to park & ride facilities my Department will consider applications...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (26 Sep 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 499 and 500 together. The re-opening of the Clonsilla to Navan line is proposed under Transport 21 in two phases: Clonsilla to Dunboyne/Pace by 2010 and Pace to Navan by 2015. The current position in relation to Phase 1 is that Iarnród Éireann applied to An Bord Pleanála on 7th September 2007 for a Railway Order — the equivalent of planning permission...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (26 Sep 2007)

Noel Dempsey: The provision of services is an operational day-to-day matter for Iarnród Éireann. However, Iarnród Éireann have informed me that its Dublin commuter business is continuing to grow at up to 20% per annum on the northern, western and south-eastern commuter routes and accordingly that the current commuter rolling stock fleet is being fully utilised in the peak periods and allocated to...

Written Answers — Air Accident Investigations: Air Accident Investigations (26 Sep 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I was officially notified of this Serious Incident by the Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU) of my Department on the 21 Aug 2007. Following their initial investigation, the AAIU issued a Preliminary Report on the 21 Sept 2007. This Report outlined the basic facts as known at the time and also contained two Interim Safety Recommendations, which were addressed to the Irish Aviation...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (26 Sep 2007)

Noel Dempsey: Following both a public consultation process and a process of direct consultation with key stakeholders, the Road Safety Authority (RSA), who have responsibility for its preparation, have submitted to me a draft Road Safety Strategy for the period 2007-2012. I intend bringing the Strategy to Government for approval shortly.

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (26 Sep 2007)

Noel Dempsey: As the Deputy is aware, the reopening of the Athlone-Mullingar rail line was not included in Transport 21 as the Strategic Rail Review did not recommended it as a priority project. I understand that the group referred to by the Deputy have had discussions with Iarnród Éireann which has agreed to provide the group with relevant information to enable them to make a submission to the local...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (26 Sep 2007)

Noel Dempsey: The provision of services on the Dublin to Westport line is a matter for Iarnród Éireann. However, I understand that the resignalling works on the Westport and Ballina lines have recently been completed. I have also been informed by the company that they intend to introduce new rolling stock on the service in late 2008 and that this will result in an increase in the daily frequency of...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (26 Sep 2007)

Noel Dempsey: The Road Traffic Act 2006 provides that a driver who receives a fixed charge notice in respect of driving while holding a mobile phone and opts to pay that fixed charge receives 2 penalty points. A person who is convicted of this offence in court receives 4 penalty points. I have no proposals under consideration to pursue legislative amendments to revise that position.

Written Answers — Driving Tests: Driving Tests (26 Sep 2007)

Noel Dempsey: Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006 (Conferral of Functions) Order 2006 (S.I. No 477 of 2006) the Road Safety Authority has now responsibility for the delivery of the driving test and the issuing of certificates of competency. Decisions taken in relation to the provision of new driver testing facilities at any location are operational matters for the Authority and queries in relation to...

Written Answers — Rail Services: Rail Services (26 Sep 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 510 to 512, inclusive, together. The capacity and frequency of services on the Maynooth line have been substantially increased in recent years due to the doubling of the track and the provision of additional rolling stock. The opening of the Docklands station has also benefited passengers on the line with additional services from Clonsilla to Docklands....