Results 6,141-6,160 of 9,471 for speaker:Hildegarde Naughton

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Parking Provision (1 Jun 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: Disabled parking bays on public roads and in local authority car parks are a limited resource that must be managed in such a way as to ensure that they are available for those for whom they are essential.  Anyone parking in one of these specially designated spaces without holding a valid permit is taking a space away from someone who genuinely needs it and depriving that person of access...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Post Office Network (2 Jun 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: An Post is a commercial State body with a mandate to act commercially. It has statutory responsibility for the State’s postal service and the post office network. Decisions relating to the network, including those in relation to the size, distribution and future of the network are operational matters for the Board and management of the company. An Post will continue to actively seek...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Post Office Network (2 Jun 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: I propose to take Question Nos. 113, 115 and 142 together. The report of the Interdepartmental Group, which was established to, inter alia, examine the feasibility of additional Government services being contracted through An Post and the Post Office Network was noted by Government on 31 May and the report will be published shortly. None of the Departments or agencies...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Post Office Network (2 Jun 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: An Post is a commercial State body with a mandate to act commercially. It has statutory responsibility for the State’s postal service and the post office network. Decisions relating to the network, including those in relation to the size, distribution and future of the network are operational matters for the Board and management of the company. An Post will continue to actively seek...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Maritime Safety (2 Jun 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: There are currently 210 VHF radio licences and 60 call signs and maritime mobile service identity numbers (MMSI) in-hand for all vessel types including recreational craft. The Mercantile Marine Office are processing these applications and expects a processing time of four weeks per application.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Traffic Accidents (2 Jun 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: The Road Safety Authority (RSA) is responsible for compiling road traffic collision statistics and for conducting research into this and other road safety related matters. I have therefore referred this question to the RSA for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.   

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Ports Policy (2 Jun 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: A port capacity study is currently underway and is due for completion shortly.  Upon its finalisation a full review of National Ports Policy will commence later this year which will look at the overall ports policy framework. As I informed the Deputy towards the end of 2021, given Ireland’s increased ambition in the area of Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) and pending a review of...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Airport Security (2 Jun 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: The passenger experience at Dublin Airport is currently falling far short of the service expected by Government at our largest State airport.  The daa has the statutory responsibility to operate and manage Dublin Airport including all the operations associated with security screening at the Airport. I am acutely aware that the excessively long queues and wait times experienced by...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Transport Policy (14 Jun 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: I am taking this question on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan. Throughout the pandemic and more recently, the Government and the NTA have been actively engaged in ensuring appropriate and timely measures are in place to support the taxi sector in addressing the challenges it faces. I recognise that rising fuel costs are a significant challenge for all sectors. As the Deputy is...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Transport Policy (14 Jun 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: On the ten-year rule, the NTA extended vehicle age limits several times during the pandemic, with standard age limits for taxis and hackneys now waived through to the end of 2022, thereby ensuring no operator exits the industry simply because of the need to replace a vehicle. These extensions of vehicle age limits were emergency measures in recognition of the challenges faced during the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Transport Policy (14 Jun 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: Of the 18,946 SPSV vehicles in the fleet in 2021, a total of 16,134 vehicles, which is equivalent to 85% of the fleet, were less than ten years old. A total of 2,359 vehicles were between ten and 15 years old, which represented 12.5% of the entire fleet. Approximately half of those, or 6.7%, were availing of the Covid-19 extension on the maximum permissible age. They were mainly taxis....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Dublin Airport Authority (14 Jun 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: I thank the Deputy for this question and the opportunity to update the House on the current situation at Dublin Airport. We can all agree that the passenger experience at Dublin Airport recently has fallen far short of the service that passengers should expect at our largest State airport. The DAA, as we all know, has the statutory responsibility to operate and manage Dublin Airport,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Dublin Airport Authority (14 Jun 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: I will raise those issues with the DAA, in particular special assistance. Workers' pay is an operational matter for the DAA. I met SIPTU representatives recently and conveyed my appreciation for passenger-facing staff, in particular, who are under huge pressure in the airport. They have been managing queues, clearing people through security, helping to board passengers and working in...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Dublin Airport Authority (14 Jun 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: We all want functioning State airports in Dublin and elsewhere. Part of the pressure is the understaffing in the airport and the shortage of labour, something which is hitting every sector. Since recruitment efforts were redoubled in March of this year, Dublin Airport has seen a significant interest in advertised positions. I understand it received more than 5,000 applications. At our...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Transport (14 Jun 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: The overarching aim of the Connecting Ireland rural mobility plan is to develop an accessible, integrated and sustainable network of public transport services in rural and regional areas nationwide. In budget 2022, I was delighted to secure an allocation of €5.6 million to progress, develop and begin delivery of this important plan. To keep this momentum going, I will be working...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Transport (14 Jun 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: The business case for Connecting Ireland is still under scrutiny within the Department. It will then have to be sent to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for its review. After that process, the business case then has to go to Government for approval due to the scale of the investment envisaged, which is very ambitious. It would be premature to discuss the possible cost of...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Transport (14 Jun 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: Examples of upcoming Connecting Ireland routes include: the 978 from Belmullet to Castlebar, supported by Local Link Mayo; the 880 from Naas to Carlow, involving timetable changes; the 183 from Arklow to Sallins, supported by Local Link Carlow Kilkenny Wicklow; the 419A from Clifden to Roundstone to Casla, supported by Local Link Galway; the 419B, serving Carrowroe, Ballinrobe and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Aviation Industry (14 Jun 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: Before Covid-19, officials in my Department had commenced scoping work on a new national aviation policy. Unfortunately, that work has been on hold since 2020 for obvious reasons, that is, due to a focus on the detrimental impact of the pandemic. While we can now see the evidence that the recovery is under way, focus and resources have been diverted towards other objectives, including the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Aviation Industry (14 Jun 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: As for our current policy, the levers I have are through the regional airports programme. Under that programme, which runs from 2021 to 2025, €11.6 million in capital and operational supports was provided in 2021 alone to eligible airports, that is, Ireland West Airport Knock, Kerry Airport and Donegal Airport. There is also support for the public service obligation, PSO, services...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Aviation Industry (14 Jun 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: To give an idea of the policy areas that were identified in the scoping exercise in 2020, the themes included: international context and connectivity; safety and security; infrastructure, operations and enterprise; and sustainability and climate. Aspects for consideration included defining optimal connectivity and looking at how to shape a future direction for both State and regional...