Results 5,401-5,420 of 32,593 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

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

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 261 and 262 together. The issues raised are matters for the National Transport Authority (NTA) in conjunction with the transport providers and I have forwarded the Deputy's questions to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.

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

Paschal Donohoe: With the development in recent years of the major interurban roads programme and improvements to the rail network providing domestic connectivity, regional airports are now being viewed as being important because of the level of international connectivity they bring to a region for the tourism and business sectors. That connectivity, which is primarily European...

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

Paschal Donohoe: The evaluation of transport infrastructure investment, including how best to fund the provision of infrastructure, is a constant process within my Department and its agencies. This work is a vital aspect of ensuring value for money is achieved. As an aid to developing capital investment plans, work on an evidence-based framework to guide key...

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

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 265 and 266 together. CSO overseas tourism figures for 2014 show that there were over 7.6 million overseas visits to Ireland, an increase of 9% on 2013 and the fourth successive year of growth. Figures for early part of 2015 show this strong performance continuing with good growth being recorded in visit numbers and revenue from all of our main...

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

Paschal Donohoe: The Irish Sports Council, which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for the promotion, development and co-ordination of sport, including the allocation of funding for the National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGBs) which includes the Football Association of Ireland. As this question is a matter for the Irish Sports Council, I have referred it to the...

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

Paschal Donohoe: A full response to the representations has been issued from my office this week.

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

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 269 and 270 together. The National Transport Authority (NTA) have been carrying out technical reviews of all the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) public transport projects, including those for the Airport-Swords corridor, and I am awaiting delivery of their report and recommendations.  The NTA  anticipate delivering this work by the end of...

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

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy will be aware I launched Ireland's first automated red light camera system at the Blackhall Place-Benburb Street junction in Dublin 7 on 4 June. The new system will see motorists who break the red traffic lights and put themselves, and passengers and drivers of passing Luas trams at huge risk, automatically receive three penalty points for commission of the offence. The matter...

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

Paschal Donohoe: As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and the overall funding of public transport. Responsibity for the development of public transport infrastructure and services  in the Greater Dublin Area, including the updrading of DART trains, is a function of the National Transport Authority (NTA). Noting this I have referred the Deputy's...

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

Paschal Donohoe: ​The safety and security of drivers and  passengers including arrangements to deal with anti-social behaviour on Dublin Bus is a matter for Dublin Bus in conjunction, as appropriate, with the Garda Síochána and I have forwarded the Deputy's Question to Dublin Bus for direct reply.  Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within...

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

Paschal Donohoe: I propose to take Questions Nos. 274 and 275 together.​ The Irish Sports Council, which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for the promotion, development and co-ordination of sport, including the allocation of funding for the National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGBs). This includes funding to the Football Association of Ireland. ...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Transport Council: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (17 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: It feels like only a moment since I saw some of the members, and it is. It is good to be back at the committee to answer members' questions. I am very pleased to appear before the committee to discuss the outcome of the Transport Council in Luxemburg on 11 June. I attended the meeting and represented our country and our interests at the session. I will go through the main agenda items and...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Transport Council: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (17 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Deputy for his points. He is correct that we want a compensation programme that encourages airlines to continue to do their best to get people to destinations on time. The original proposal from the Commission on a threshold of five hours and above strikes the right balance and we support it. We share a common analysis on the railway package. We do not have the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Transport Council: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (17 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I will begin with the Deputy's last question about the general views regarding PSO funding across Europe. It would be fair to say that virtually all member states understand the role PSO funding can play in meeting transport needs, as there is wide acceptance that the private market will not deliver all the transport needs that societies have. The diversity of views, however, is with regard...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Transport Council: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (17 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: With regard to the road and rail freight points Senator Mooney has put to me, I will begin by dealing with the point about the upgrade of the roads to which he refers. We are constantly working on that to try to make an increase in the funding available for the upgrading of our existing road network. I accept that, due to the cutbacks in maintenance in recent years, many parts of our road...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Transport Council: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (17 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I assure the Senator that there is no question of the interest in anything being left on the back burner. There is a fire burning brightly under many priorities and projects people and communities want to progress. In terms of the challenge facing me, Irish Rail is looking to progress rail opportunities. The National Roads Authority has very good road projects, not to mention our bus...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Transport Council: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (17 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: It is, and to give an example of the interplay we now face, I know that the plant to which the Chairman referred has a number of specific needs which we can address at another point but if we look at the development taking place in our timber industry and the changes now taking place in agricultural communities due to the abolition of milk quotas, all of those have profound and direct...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Transport Council: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (17 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: l will begin with Deputy O'Donovan's question as to current EU funding. I have provided letters of support for a number of projects across the country and these are now with the European Commission and are being considered. On his point about how we support ports and the need for a single Department to have responsibility for ports, the Taoiseach will decide the structure of the Government...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Transport Council: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (17 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I understand the Deputy's argument although I am not sure I would agree with it because there is so much in each of the areas to which the Deputy refers. For example, there is so much complexity and law in the area of the foreshore issue that in my view it is best left in the Department with expertise in the area. Similarly, areas relating to marine development clearly sit better within the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Transport Council: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (17 Jun 2015)

Paschal Donohoe: I can answer that question. The reason is that the European Union has a definition of what is the core transport network and we apply for it. The reason it is different for the UK is because of its different population densities and size. I work to influence the definitions but once the definitions are set it means that different countries can apply for funding in different ways.