Results 5,421-5,440 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

State Airports (6 Jul 2011)

Leo Varadkar: The airports should first make contact on their own behalf and have probably already done so. In Sligo, airport authorities should talk to the Coast Guard and the search and rescue helicopter contractor. They should also have discussions with the local authorities, as the two authorities own the airport. Officials at Galway should have discussions with the airlines, particularly Aer Arann,...

Road Network (6 Jul 2011)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy's question relates to the roads funding to be allocated to County Wexford in the next three years. As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding under the national roads programme. The construction, improvement and maintenance of national primary and national secondary roads are matters for the National Roads Authority, under...

Road Network (6 Jul 2011)

Leo Varadkar: I do not have total control over the NRA. Similarly, I do not have control over the local authorities which take the lead in planning new road projects. I appoint the board of the NRA and provide funding for it in the context of the overall Government budget. I can also issue policy directions to it, although I have not done so to date. However, I will be in a position to do so after the...

Road Network (6 Jul 2011)

Leo Varadkar: I agree that there was over-specification. If one examines the files, one will find much of it was politically driven by politicians and Ministers who decided a motorway was needed, even though a dual carriageway might have done. Many State companies were put under pressure by the previous Government to build bigger and greater things than were necessary. I do not share that kind of "if...

Air Services (6 Jul 2011)

Leo Varadkar: In line with the commitments in the programme for Government, the Government announced a three-pronged strategy to encourage in-bound tourism as part of the jobs initiative. The first element is the proposed suspension of the air travel tax, the second is a new growth incentive scheme which has been introduced by the Dublin Airport Authority applying to all of the three airports under its...

Air Services (6 Jul 2011)

Leo Varadkar: The tax remains in place. The order has not been signed. In the jobs initiative it was pencilled in for 1 July. That date has passed because I have not been comfortable in advising the Minister for Finance that the responses have been sufficient. There are meetings ongoing with the airlines. There will be another meeting on Monday next. I hope in the next few weeks to be in a position...

Air Services (6 Jul 2011)

Leo Varadkar: The discussions are ongoing. They certainly have not yet concluded. The real issue arises around the schedules for the winter and for next spring. It is in the next few weeks that the airlines will determine their schedules for the winter. What they do will be the best test of whether they have responded not what they say. In the event that it does not go ahead for the winter schedules,...

Public Transport (6 Jul 2011)

Leo Varadkar: As the Deputy will be aware, I do not have an operational role in Dublin Bus. As such, a meeting would be more appropriate with the management of Dublin Bus rather than with me and I am happy facilitate that for the group. I generally support Dublin Bus efforts to achieve greater efficiency and effectiveness under the Network Direct programme. The Deloitte report on the cost and efficiency...

Public Transport (6 Jul 2011)

Leo Varadkar: I have read the Deloitte report. I acknowledge that the subvention for Dublin Bus is lower than that for other European cities but they are not in the financial position in which this country finds itself where we must cut spending significantly. Certainly, if Deputy Boyd Barrett's policies were pursued, by sending the IMF home and pulling out of the bailout, we would probably have to close...

Public Transport (6 Jul 2011)

Leo Varadkar: It is about efficiency. We are in a situation whereby Dublin Bus must do more with less not simply because of a cut in Government funding, but because of a fall in the number of passengers as well. The numbers are down significantly because of the success of the Luas. This programme is about using the resources more efficiently and delivering services in that way. Essentially, this is...

Public Transport (6 Jul 2011)

Leo Varadkar: Were it not for the money coming from the EU and the IMF we would have to balance the budget this year.

Public Transport (6 Jul 2011)

Leo Varadkar: We would have to reduce the deficit to zero in one year. Can the Deputy imagine the effect of that on bus services? The only bus and train services in the country would be those which turn a profit, of which there is virtually none. That would be the effect of the Deputy's policies.

Cycle Facilities (6 Jul 2011)

Leo Varadkar: The Westport to Achill cycle and walking route also known as the great western greenway has indeed been a great success. Mayo County Council was responsible for initially identifying the route, investigating the feasibility of the route and for the actual delivery of the route. Phase 1 of the project was completed in April 2010, and phases 2 and 3 are expected to be opened by the end of...

Cycle Facilities (6 Jul 2011)

Leo Varadkar: I welcome the Deputy's suggestion. We are willing to do that and I have indicated as much in my reply. However, I am keen to avoid spending hundreds of thousands or even millions of euro on feasibility studies and plans for projects which cannot be paid for or brought through to fruition. I would rather deliver one project and make it happen than carry out studies or consultancy reports on...

Cycle Facilities (6 Jul 2011)

Leo Varadkar: It is paid for already.

Cycle Facilities (6 Jul 2011)

Leo Varadkar: In respect of the great western greenway it is important to acknowledge the council's work and especially the co-operation of the landowners and farmers which is essential if one is trying to do a project such as this. The key thing at the end of any feasibility study is the cost. In the case of the great western greenway, the cost was €1.4 million for phase 1 and €1.75 million for...

Road Safety (6 Jul 2011)

Leo Varadkar: Following a competitive tender, the contract for the provision of the national car test service, NCTS, was awarded by the Road Safety Authority to Applus for a ten–year period from 2010 to 2019 and it assumed responsibility for the provision of a national car testing service on 4 January 2010. The contract requires the company to meet a number of specific performance standards in a wide...

Road Safety (6 Jul 2011)

Leo Varadkar: While I must double-check the position on the Deputy's last question, it is standard practice in most public service contracts of this nature to have such a break clause in the case of failure by a party to uphold its side of the contract. In respect of the first year of the contract, the performance of the company was assessed over the course of the year. This has changed and from this...

Road Safety (6 Jul 2011)

Leo Varadkar: One point I should have mentioned in my previous reply to Deputy Keating is that performance was measured at 92% which was ahead of the target of 90%. The issue of people receiving notice of renewal has come up several times and was mentioned in committee recently. Consequently, I have undertaken to make contact with the Road Safety Authority and the company to ascertain whether a system...

Tourism Promotion (6 Jul 2011)

Leo Varadkar: Fáilte Ireland was established under the National Tourism Development Authority Act 2003, following the amalgamation of Bord Fáilte Éireann and CERT. Its primary functions are the development of quality tourism product, domestic tourism marketing, tourism standards, enterprise support, capability building and human resource development for the tourism industry. In December 1998, the...