Results 5,581-5,600 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (2 Nov 2006)

Martin Cullen: It is long-standing Government policy to recommend and promote the wearing of cycle helmets by all cyclists and it has been the view that this is best achieved by way of encouragement and education rather than by pursuing a punitive approach to the issue particularly having regard to the large numbers of children and young people who cycle. As a consequence of the Road Safety Authority Act...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (2 Nov 2006)

Martin Cullen: Significant progress has been made in recent years in the introduction of wheelchair accessible buses to the Bus Éireann fleet. Since the year 2000, all buses purchased by the company for urban services are low floor, wheelchair accessible. That purchasing policy will continue as the bus fleet is replaced and expanded over time. I recently announced that Exchequer funding of up to €50...

Written Answers — School Transport: School Transport (2 Nov 2006)

Martin Cullen: I understand that the Department of Education and Science, in conjunction with Bus Éireann, initiated a School Bus Flashing Lights pilot scheme in Ennis in January 2005 and proposed the extension of the pilot initiative to other areas. Consideration of the creation of a road traffic requirement of the kind suggested by the Deputy will be informed by the outcome and evaluation of these pilot...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (2 Nov 2006)

Martin Cullen: The management of road traffic at level crossings is a matter for the relevant local authorities in conjunction with Iarnród Éireann. The upgrading of railway infrastructure and associated roads is also a matter in the first instance for Iarnród Éireann and local authorities and, in the case of national roads, the NRA. I understand that the upgrading of level crossings on the Maynooth...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (2 Nov 2006)

Martin Cullen: Provision for the capital costs of the Cork Commuter Services Project, including for the development of the Glounthane to Midleton railway line, was incorporated into the multi-annual estimates for Transport 21 when it was announced last November. This provision was made on the basis of costings prepared by consultants on behalf of Iarnród Éireann as part of the cost-benefit analysis for...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (2 Nov 2006)

Martin Cullen: The provision of bus stops and shelters in the greater Dublin area is a matter for the local authorities in that area, in consultation with the Garda Síochána and transport service providers.

Written Answers — Rail Services: Rail Services (2 Nov 2006)

Martin Cullen: This is a day-to-day operational matter for the companies concerned and not one in which I have any role.

Written Answers — Rail Services: Rail Services (2 Nov 2006)

Martin Cullen: I understand from Iarnród Éireann that it expects that passenger numbers on its DART and commuter services in the Dublin area will reach 32.8 million in 2007, an increase of 20% on 2005.

Written Answers — Air Services: Air Services (2 Nov 2006)

Martin Cullen: In the EU there is an open skies policy in which airlines are free to operate what routes they choose, including domestic routes, provided they satisfy the necessary requirements. The provision of scheduled air services between the major towns and cities in Ireland is essentially a matter for airlines, if they consider there would be a demand for a particular service on a particular route....

Written Answers — Air Services: Air Services (2 Nov 2006)

Martin Cullen: The air transport market in the EU has been fully liberalized and consequently fully competitive since 1992 with an open skies policy in which airlines are free to operate what routes they choose. This has provided an environment for increased competition, giving low cost carriers access to the market to the ultimate benefit of the consumer. In June 2006 the EU concluded a multilateral...

Written Answers — Air Services: Air Services (2 Nov 2006)

Martin Cullen: The Irish aviation sector plays a vital role in our continuing economic development and is a critical feature of the growth in tourism and trade. Aviation is particularly important for us because we are an island nation. The key objectives of Irish Aviation policy and the strategies being pursued to achieve those objectives are set out in my Department's Statement of Strategy 2005-2007...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (7 Nov 2006)

Martin Cullen: The offence of obscuring or making a registration plate non-distinguishable is provided for in regulations, entitled Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing) Regulations 1992, made by the Office of the Revenue Commissioners under section 141 of the Finance Act 1992. Enforcement of the regulations is a matter for the Garda Síochána. I do not have a role in such matters.

Written Answers — Taxi Regulations: Taxi Regulations (7 Nov 2006)

Martin Cullen: Decisions regarding the location and operation of taxi ranks on public roads are matters for consideration by the relevant local authority. Under section 84 of the Road Traffic Act 1961, as substituted by section 15 of the Road Traffic Act 2002, a local authority is empowered to make bye-laws in respect of any specified area in its functional area appointing the places at which taxis may...

Written Answers — Air Services: Air Services (7 Nov 2006)

Martin Cullen: The EU US Open Skies deal was discussed at the Transport Council on 12 October 2006. The Council underlined the importance it attaches to the conclusion of the EU US air transport agreement. It reaffirmed its unanimous satisfaction with the text of the draft agreement negotiated in November, 2005 but regretted the further delay in the US rule-making procedure relating to the ownership and...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (7 Nov 2006)

Martin Cullen: I have no function in relation to the rates of Value Added Tax or Vehicle Registration Tax applied to motor vehicles or their parts and accordingly, my Department has not had any meetings with the Department of Finance or other stakeholders about this particular issue.

Written Answers — Driving Tests: Driving Tests (7 Nov 2006)

Martin Cullen: The number of applications received for the most recent Driving Tester recruitment campaign was 4276. There were a total of 18 persons placed on a panel, from which 11 persons have been appointed on a two-year contract basis. The number of driver testers to be appointed in the next six months is a matter for the Road Safety Authority.

Written Answers — Driving Tests: Driving Tests (7 Nov 2006)

Martin Cullen: Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006 (Conferral of Functions) Order 2006 (S.I. No. 477 of 2006) the Road Safety Authority has responsibility for the oversight of the operation of the driver licensing system including the preparation of proposals for draft regulatory provisions relating to driver licensing and testing. At my request the Road Safety Authority has been examining the driver...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (7 Nov 2006)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 398 and 399 together. Transport 21 sets out the Government's transport capital investment priorities for the ten-year period 2006 to 2015 and is likely to form a significant part of the transport component of the forthcoming National Development Plan 2007-2013. It has been designed to address the role of transport in supporting balanced regional development...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (7 Nov 2006)

Martin Cullen: The Government Road Safety Strategy 2004-2006 sets a primary target of a 25% reduction in road collision fatalities by the end of 2006 over the average annual number of fatalities in the 1998-2003 period. This was always an ambitious target and one that required the continued commitment to a strategic, integrated approach by all of the road safety agencies. A major independent review of the...

Written Answers — Departmental Properties: Departmental Properties (7 Nov 2006)

Martin Cullen: My Department has one vacant building at present. The Dundalk Driving Test Centre, Old Clearance Centre, Newry Road, Dundalk, was vacated in February 2006 due to health and safety problems with infestation. Any security arrangements for this building are a matter for the Office of Public Works.