Results 5,981-6,000 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Written Answers — Regional Airports: Regional Airports (5 Feb 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 118, 134, 169 and 174 together. 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. I have no...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (5 Feb 2008)

Noel Dempsey: My objective in relation to public transport fares is, taking account of underlying cost factors and inflation, to secure a good balance between anticipated revenues, cost control and compensation for loss making services by way of Exchequer subvention. This approach is intended to make public transport an attractive option for the travelling public and to ensure that the public transport...

Written Answers — Transport 21: Transport 21 (5 Feb 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 120 and 167 together. At the launch of Transport 21, the Government identified the projects in the national roads, public transport and regional airports sectors that it wished to see prioritised for development in the ten-year period from 2006 to 2015 and provided indicative completion dates for the major projects contained. Significant progress has been made...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (5 Feb 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos 121, 122, 130 and 141 together. The Road Traffic Acts currently provide for the offence of driving while using a false driving licence. The offence comes under section 38 of the Road Traffic Act 1961 and relates to driving without a licence. Drivers detected by the gardaí in such circumstances can be summonsed to appear before the courts and on conviction face...

Written Answers — Light Rail Project: Light Rail Project (5 Feb 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 123, 139 and 347 together. Transport 21 provides for the construction of the Interconnector tunnel by 2015. The project is proceeding and the detailed planning and design of the project is being undertaken by Iarnród Éireann. The Company expects to submit an application for a Railway Order to An Bord Pleanála in early 2009. The acceleration of the...

Written Answers — Coast Guard Service: Coast Guard Service (5 Feb 2008)

Noel Dempsey: It is my intention that the Irish Coast Guard and Maritime Administration will be strengthened on an ongoing basis over the coming years. My ambition is to put in place a service that will fully meet the needs of this country well in the 21st century. The recent decisions have been taken to reflect the future optimal configuration of co-ordination centres whilst ensuring that the detailed...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (5 Feb 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to takes Questions Nos. 125 and 129 together. This issue of a setting a specific blood alcohol level for learner drivers was one of a number of proposals made to me in February last year by the Road Safety Authority (RSA), in the context of the introduction of a Scheme of Graduated Driving Licensing (GDL). I took the decision at the time that the best and most practical approach was...

Written Answers — Light Rail Project: Light Rail Project (5 Feb 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The Agreed Programme for Government foresees feasibility studies being completed within two years into LUAS-style light rail systems in Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford. My Department has agreed with the Limerick local authorities that the terms of reference for the proposed Limerick Planning, Land Use and Transportation Study will include an examination of the feasibility of introducing...

Written Answers — Rural Transport Services: Rural Transport Services (5 Feb 2008)

Noel Dempsey: â'¬9 million was provided by my Department for the Rural Transport Programme (RTP) in 2007. Funding is also available to the RTP from the Department of Social and Family Affairs in respect of the Free Travel Scheme and from other sources that support the initiative. Thirty-four community transport groups around the country are being funded under the programme and I understand from Pobal,...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (5 Feb 2008)

Noel Dempsey: Following representations received from various bodies, including PARC, my Department has consulted the Office of the Attorney General as to how current legislation can be achieved to achieve compulsory roadside testing for intoxicants of drivers involved in serious collisions. The current position is that a member of An Garda Síochána may require a driver involved in a collision to...

Written Answers — Light Rail Project: Light Rail Project (5 Feb 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The extension of the existing Luas Green Line from Sandyford southwards to Cherrywood will be designed to light rail standards but, as with the existing line, appropriate provision will be made for its subsequent upgrade to Metro when required. This is in line with long-standing Government policy. The Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) are currently carrying out initial preliminary planning...

Written Answers — Transport Policy: Transport Policy (5 Feb 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 132 and 357 together. I am committed to full consultation with not only agencies and stakeholders but also the general public in the preparation of a Sustainable Travel and Transport Action Plan. In this respect I intend to publish an issues document and launch a consultation process this month. It is intended that the Plan itself will be agreed by...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (5 Feb 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 133 and 135 together. The Agreed Programme for Government includes a commitment to expediting the establishment of a statutory Dublin Transport Authority. The principal functions of the proposed Authority are set out in the Programme for Government and will include: strategic transport planning; procurement of public transport infrastructure; procurement of...

Written Answers — Carbon Emissions: Carbon Emissions (5 Feb 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The tabular statement below is compiled from non-authenticated CO2 emission data on the National Vehicle and Driver File (NVDF) for currently taxed private cars registered as new since May 2004 when collection of CO2 data for such vehicles commenced. A total of 1,882,901 private cars were currently taxed at 31 December, 2007 and this statement covers 525,273 (28%) of that total. The data has...

Written Answers — Air Services: Air Services (5 Feb 2008)

Noel Dempsey: My Department had discussions recently with the EU Commission about air connectivity from the West of Ireland and in particular about the possible imposition of a Public Service Obligation (PSO) on the Shannon-Heathrow route. The Commission's position, as clarified as a result of those discussions, is that the relevant Regulation is an exception to the general rule of free provision of air...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (5 Feb 2008)

Noel Dempsey: It is not the case that my Department instructed Dublin Bus to reduce the number of buses servicing the Route 25X route to Lucan on foot of a complaint from a private bus operator. My Department has made no demand on Dublin Bus to cease any of its authorised services. The initiation or alteration of a bus service by Dublin Bus is subject to compliance with the requirement of giving advance...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (5 Feb 2008)

Noel Dempsey: There is substantial ongoing current and capital Exchequer funding in the development and operation of the railway network. Total Exchequer funding allocated to Iarnród Éireann for 2008 amounts to more than €720 million. While I have no proposals to introduce a rail freight subsidy on a per tonne basis for materials transferred from road freight to rail freight, the potential to expand...

Written Answers — Carbon Emissions: Carbon Emissions (5 Feb 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 142 and 175 together. The growth in emissions from transport is an indication of the economic success and growth in population in Ireland. Ireland has a single target under the Kyoto Protocol and individual targets are not set for each sector. Nevertheless, the National Climate Change Strategy projects emissions from the transport sector to grow as per the...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (5 Feb 2008)

Noel Dempsey: In March 2002 the Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) was given statutory responsibility for the delivery of an integrated ticketing scheme under S.I. No. 84 of 2002. The total payments by the Exchequer on the integrated ticketing scheme since March 2002 is €12.5 million.

Written Answers — Driving Tests: Driving Tests (5 Feb 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 144 and 181 together. Responsibility for driver testing and licensing was transferred to the Road Safety Authority (RSA) under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006 (Conferral of Functions) Order 2006. The arrangements in relation to testing, numbers of candidates and licences are therefore a matter for the RSA.