Results 5,361-5,380 of 32,593 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Other Questions: Tourism Promotion (17 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: All this work is actively under way already. We are enjoying a growing tourism relationship with China. This is one of the reasons we introduced a new visa programme along with the United Kingdom. Under the programme, a potential visitor to Ireland from China can use the same visa to go to the United Kingdom and vice versa. VisitBritain and Tourism Ireland are working together and are to...

Other Questions: Tourism Promotion (17 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: All of the work the Deputy calls for is taking place. This is why a mission to China took place last week and why we have had such contact at a senior level between Chinese political figures, Government Ministers and Irish politicians to put in place an arrangement where certain services can be launched. The Deputy knows that for a service to be either launched or maintained, the demand...

Other Questions: Cycling Facilities Provision (17 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: The National Transport Authority, NTA, is the body that is responsible for the delivery of cycling infrastructure in the greater Dublin area in co-operation with the relevant local authorities. I have consulted with the NTA on the Deputy's question. Perhaps she might be able to clarify this for me in the supplementary. I will then revert with the information. The NTA informed me...

Other Questions: Cycling Facilities Provision (17 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I will update the Deputy about the kind of activity that is underway via the NTA in her county and constituency. The NTA is in the process of putting together a town cycle network for Naas with Kildare County Council. This will be provided as part of the Greater Dublin Area Cycle Network Plan. Routes contained in it include the Grand Canal greenway through Sallins with a spur to Naas,...

Other Questions: Cycling Facilities Provision (17 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: From what the NTA has told me, the Grand Canal greenway, which will run through Sallins with a spur to Naas, forms part of the town network map that has been developed for the Naas area between the NTA and Kildare County Council. With the funding that is available, I am trying to progress projects like that. As the Minister of State, Deputy Ring, said in response to an earlier question, we...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Traffic Management (17 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: With the return of economic growth, we must ensure that we have measures in place to deal with the consequent increase in traffic. It is a key objective of transport policy to encourage modal shift away from the car so as to improve economic competitiveness through reduced congestion, particularly in high density urban environments such as Dublin. This also supports climate...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Mitigation Plan (17 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: ​As the Deputy will be aware, the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill creates a statutory obligation to develop a National Mitigation Plan for Ireland.  In anticipation of the legislation, my Department has already commenced work on preparing the transport contribution to the Plan. Furthermore, in keeping with commitments under the Aarhaus...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety Strategy (17 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: The Government Road Safety Strategy 2013-2020 anticipates the introduction, subject to legal advice, of rehabilitation and driving awareness courses as court-based sentencing options for specific offenders (Action No 107, due Q1 2015). I understand that such courses would be broadly similar in style and content to those currently offered by the  Pro-Social Driving Programme...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Network (17 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: ​As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding regarding the national roads programme. 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. With regard to the Osberstown...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: State Airports (17 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: ​The draft National Aviation Policy, which I intend to publish before the summer recess, sets out Government policy in relation to Cork Airport's role as a key tourism and business gateway for its region, making particular reference to the development of key niche markets. In line with the policy, our focus has been on exploiting the opportunity to grow inbound tourists to the Cork...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Improvement Schemes (17 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: ​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 supplemented by State road grants. I am not in a position to provide additional funding to County Meath at present. In...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport Provision (17 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: NBRU and SIPTU difficulties with the tendering of public bus services included a concern that current legislation referred to by the Deputy would compel the National Transport Authority (NTA) to tender the remaining 90% of PSO bus routes, in other words all PSO routes, after the end of 2019 and that it would be impossible for further direct award contracts to be put...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Harbour Authorities (17 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: The drafting of the Harbours Bill, 2015 is complete and I expect to seek Government approval to publish it very shortly. The Bill will provide the legislative basis for one of the National Ports Policy's key recommendations, namely that governance of the designated Ports of Regional Significance should vest in more appropriate local authority led governance structures. As the Deputy is...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Marine Tourism (17 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: My Department's role in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of national policy and it is not involved in the development of regional or sectoral tourism.  This is an operational matter for the board and management of Fáilte Ireland, and I have accordingly referred the question to the agency for direct reply.  Please contact my private office if a response is not...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aer Lingus Sale (17 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: ​As I said in my reply to the Deputy on the 9th June in relation to this issue, an agreed solution was implemented at the start of this year to address the funding difficulties in the Irish Airlines (General Employees) Superannuation Scheme (IASS). This agreed solution is a matter for the Trustee, the companies participating in the scheme, the scheme members and the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Motor Tax Collection (17 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: While the computer systems associated with the National Vehicle and Driver File in my Department facilitate the collection of motor tax, including, in particular through the online motor tax channel, arrangements regarding the payment of motor tax fees are a matter for Department of Environment, Community and Local Government and I have no role in the matter.  ​I have...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aer Lingus Sale (17 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: The Government considers that a sale of the State's minority shareholding to IAG, on the basis of the terms offered, would be the best means of securing and enhancing Ireland's connectivity with the rest of the world and maintaining a vibrant and competitive air transport industry in Ireland.  It would also best serve the interests of the travelling public, Aer Lingus and its employees,...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Arts Promotion (17 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: ​As the Deputy will be aware, Tourism Ireland is the agency with responsibility for the overseas marketing of Ireland as a tourist destination. Decisions on how the arts are used to attract visitors from overseas are matters for Tourism Ireland and these decisions are not subject to my approval.  Accordingly, I have referred the Deputy's question...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Roads Authority Funding (17 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: ​As the Deputy is aware the Government decided in 2010 that future PPP projects would be funded from capital budgets and this means that expenditure related to the current tranche of PPP projects will be drawn from NRA's capital budget together with other calls on that budget. As availability payments are contractual commitments, the onus is on the NRA is manage the balance...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Schemes (17 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: ​The Active Travel Towns Programme (ATT) is designed to achieve modal shift from the car to either walking and/or cycling and to secure greater public transport use through facilitating greater walking and cycling access to public transport. This objective is being achieved in a planned and co-ordinated way in towns around the country. My Department, in conjunction...