Results 5,581-5,600 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Written Answers — Conflicts of Interest: Conflicts of Interest (21 Nov 2007)

Noel Dempsey: None of the Advisers appointed by me since I took up my appointment as Minister has declared a conflict of interest to date. Furthermore, my Department has no record of any conflict of interest declaration made by any of the Advisers appointed by previous Ministers assigned to my Department in the past five years.

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (21 Nov 2007)

Noel Dempsey: In relation to the matter of private consultants engaged by agencies this is a matter for the agencies themselves. The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the Department is contained in the following tables. Division Consultancy Firm Reason Cost Marine Survey Office Phoenix Safety To draft health and safety strategy required by Statute to produce €10,698.13 Marine Survey...

Written Answers — Complaints Procedures: Complaints Procedures (21 Nov 2007)

Noel Dempsey: Under its customer services arrangements the Department of Transport is pleased to receive from the public complaints, comments and observations relating to any aspect of its remit. The normal procedure is to refer such matters to the relevant division of the Department or, where appropriate, to the agency concerned to address the issue. Departmental divisions also receive from time to time...

Written Answers — Departmental Advertising: Departmental Advertising (21 Nov 2007)

Noel Dempsey: The approximate amount spent by my Department on advertising that includes public information notices and official notices in newspapers each year since June 2002 up to 9/11/2007 is outlined below. Year Amount paid (in Print Media) 2002 €8,192.03 (Ads) €4,723.07 (Govt. Notices) 2003 €36,410.65 (Ads) €24,038.31 (Govt. Notices) 2004 €68,209.60 (Ads) €20,441.04 (Govt....

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (21 Nov 2007)

Noel Dempsey: My Department is very conscious of the need to control unnecessary costs and achieve value for money. In this respect a detailed spend analysis was carried out recently by the Department in the context of the development of a Corporate Procurement Plan. The plan, which will be launched shortly, is being introduced to deliver strategic procurement practice and annual efficiency dividends. In...

Written Answers — Water Sports Vehicles: Water Sports Vehicles (21 Nov 2007)

Noel Dempsey: The Mercantile Marine Act 1955 sets out the requirements for registering vessels in Ireland. Irish owned vessels over 15 net tons are required to be registered under the Act. However, for vessels under 15 net tons, registration is voluntary and owners may register such a craft if they so wish. Small leisure craft would fall into this category. The 1955 Act and the system of registration in...

Written Answers — Search and Rescue Services: Search and Rescue Services (22 Nov 2007)

Noel Dempsey: The negotiations to acquire a site for a Station House for the Doolin Unit, mentioned in reply to Question No. 121 of 5 July 2007, are continuing and the Unit continues to avail of temporary accommodation provided in 2006. Given the very lengthy difficulty in acquiring a suitable site for the Doolin Unit Station House, which I must emphasize is due to factors outside of my control, the Coast...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (22 Nov 2007)

Noel Dempsey: The number of new boards, agencies, bodies, commissions and offices, which have been established in the past 10 years under the remit of my Department is 22. The number of new boards, agencies, bodies, commissions and offices, which have been abolished in the past 10 years under the remit of my Department is 4.

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (27 Nov 2007)

Noel Dempsey: The improvement and maintenance of non-national roads in its area is a matter for each individual road authority to be funded from its own resources supplemented by State road grants. Specific grants for the improvement and maintenance of tertiary county roads were not allocated to local authorities in 2007. Works on such roads may, at the discretion of the local authority, be funded on foot...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (27 Nov 2007)

Noel Dempsey: The grants allocated under the Local Improvements Scheme to Cork County Council in 2006 and 2007 were €1,889,115 and €2,365,465 respectively. The Community Involvement in Road Works Scheme is a voluntary scheme for works on non-national public roads. Specific grants are not allocated to local authorities for the Scheme. However, local authorities may reserve a portion of their...

Written Answers — State Airports: State Airports (27 Nov 2007)

Noel Dempsey: The State Airports Act, 2004 provides the framework for the establishment of Shannon and Cork as independent airports. Under the Act, both the Minister for Finance and I will have to be satisfied as to the state of operational and financial readiness of the three airports before any vesting of assets can take place. Shannon Airport Authority recently submitted its draft business plan to the...

Written Answers — Air Services: Air Services (27 Nov 2007)

Noel Dempsey: It is understood that Shannon Airport is making every effort to ensure that year-round transatlantic services are maintained. I would be confident that the Airport Authority, with the continued support of business and tourism interests in the region, can respond to the challenges and opportunities presented by Open Skies. Experience has shown that the liberalisation of aviation markets...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (27 Nov 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 279 and 295 together. I refer the Deputies to the Minister for Finance's reply to Question No. 64 which he answered on 22nd November 2007.

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (27 Nov 2007)

Noel Dempsey: Commuting by private car is growing in Ireland and our economic success and growing population has contributed to the increase in transport demand. One such area relates to school travel. Figures from the 2006 Census indicates that the percentage of primary school children being driven to school by car has risen to 55% in 2006 compared to 27.7% in 1991. The Transport 21 investment programme...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (27 Nov 2007)

Noel Dempsey: The Road Safety Strategy 2007 to 2012 identifies the need to legislate for and introduce a reduction in the legal Blood Alcohol Level (BAC) for drivers, but does not specify what that level should be. I am awaiting the advice of the Road Safety Authority (RSA) on the matter, and am aware that the RSA has sought the advice of its Policy Advisory Panel and expects that recommendations will be...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (27 Nov 2007)

Noel Dempsey: As Minister for Transport I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme element of Transport 21. The planning design and implementation of individual national road projects (including the allocation of funding) is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under sections 17 and 19 of the Roads Act, 1993 in conjunction with the relevant...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (27 Nov 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 283 to 285, inclusive, together. The information requested by the Deputy available to my Department is currently being collated and will be forwarded to the Deputy in the coming days. The Road Transport Act, 1932 as amended, provides the statutory basis for regulating the provision of public bus services by private bus operators. The Act provides for the...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (27 Nov 2007)

Noel Dempsey: As of 31 October 2007 there are 456.82 staff employed in my Department. This is a whole time equivalent (wte) figure and all staff included are permanent employees. There were 10 temporary staff employed in my Department as of 31 October 2007. All these staff are on contract. The functions of the Department of Transport changed following the Government election in 2002 and this led to...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (27 Nov 2007)

Noel Dempsey: The total amount spent by my Department in 2004, 2005, 2006 and to date in 2007 for air travel, business class flights and first class flights is as follows: Year Economy Business First Class Total â'¬ â'¬ â'¬ â'¬ 2004 77,462 183,644 261,106 2005 121,119 73,161 5,721 252,001 2006 133,899 113,044 246,943 2007 119,523 121,337 2,133 242,992

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (27 Nov 2007)

Noel Dempsey: The total amount spent by my Department on couriered documents, registered post and standard post to date in 2007 is as follows: â'¬ Standard 99,009 Registered 1,317 Couriered 33,751