Results 6,281-6,300 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (25 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 228 and 229 together. I understand that the slipway in question falls within the jurisdiction of Shannon Foynes Port Company. I have passed the Deputy's question to the Company for direct response. In the event of not receiving a response within ten working days, please contact my office again.

Written Answers — Services for People with Disabilities: Services for People with Disabilities (25 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 231 and 234 together. The number and percentage of Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus fleets which are wheelchair accessible is primarily a matter for the companies concerned. However I am advised by Dublin Bus that currently 93% of their fleet is wheelchair accessible. The fleet will be 100% accessible following the entry into service of the next phase of...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (25 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The construction, improvement and maintenance of individual national roads, is a matter for the National Roads Authority under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Noting this I have referred the Deputy's question to the NRA...

Written Answers — Tourism Industry: Tourism Industry (25 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The provision of business supports to individual sectors of the tourism industry is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland. That said, the Irish Pub has long been recognised as one of the most popular tourist attractions, with Irish nightlife voted in the top 10 of the world by Trip Advisor and our pubs voted the best in the world by Lonely Planet. The traditional pub is an attractive...

Written Answers — Tourism Industry: Tourism Industry (25 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The matter raised is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland. I have referred the Deputy's Question to Fáilte Ireland for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

Written Answers — Tourism Industry: Tourism Industry (26 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The matter raised is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland. I have referred the Deputy's Question to Fáilte Ireland for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (26 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The current expenditure for regional and local roads will be reduced significantly over the next few years in light of the current difficult economic climate. Reductions of the magnitude proposed necessitated that some very good and worthwhile projects be curtailed. In making adjustments to the regional and local roads budget the primary aim has been, as far as is possible, to protect...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (26 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is a statutory function of each road authority within its area, in accordance with the provisions of section 13 of the Roads Act, 1993. Works on such roads are a matter for the relevant local authority to be funded from its own resources and may be supplemented by State road grants. Section 13 (10) also outlines the responsibility...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (26 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The Department has a number of civil service staff whose primary function is to provide it with specialist advice in areas such as engineering, sustainability and legal services. I assume, however, that the question refers to non-civil service staff appointed as advisors to Ministers. Three such advisors have been appointed to support me in my role as Minister: a press advisor at €80,051...

Written Answers — Vehicle Testing: Vehicle Testing (26 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: In accordance with SI No. 771 of 2004, section 6, Local Authorities are currently responsible for appointing authorised testers for commercial vehicle testing (commercial vehicle test centres). Therefore, it is a matter for the Local Authority to decide where commercial vehicle test centres are located in their area. The Road Safety Authority (RSA) is currently engaged in the implementation...

Written Answers — Coast Guard Service: Coast Guard Service (31 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: Providing a suitable building for the Irish Coast Guard volunteer unit in Doolin to enable it to operate in a more suitable and efficient manner remains a priority for my Department. Funding to develop Coast Guard station houses, provided to the Department in the Infrastructure and Capital Investment Programme 2012 to 2016, is targeted in the first instance on the provision of a new station...

Written Answers — Year of the Gathering: Year of the Gathering (31 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to answer Questions 672 and 654 together. I presented proposals for "The Gathering 2013" at last October's 2011 Global Irish Economic Forum. Fáilte Ireland is the lead agency for the implementation of The Gathering initiative while Tourism Ireland Limited will have specific responsibility for promoting "The Gathering 2013" in overseas markets. The event is intended to be the...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (31 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 655 and 658 together. As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. Following the establishment of the National Transport Authority (NTA) on December 2009, the implementation and development of infrastructure projects in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), such as Phase 2 of the...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (31 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual national roads are matters for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. The allocation of funding in relation to the construction or...

Written Answers — Driving Instruction: Driving Instruction (31 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I have examined the correspondence provided by the Deputy. The correspondent also wrote to me directly last year on this matter. I consider it essential that a good communications process is in place between the Road Safety Authority and the Approved Driving Instructors (ADIs) in relation to the operation of Essential Driver Training (EDT). I have expressed that view to both the RSA and...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (31 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The current expenditure for regional and local roads will be reduced significantly over the next few years. Cuts of the magnitude proposed necessitated that some very good and worthwhile projects be curtailed. In making adjustments to the regional and local roads budget the primary aim has been, as far as is possible, to protect previous investment in the road network and use the available...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (31 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: My Private Secretary is on the Higher Executive Officer payscale €46,426 - €57,251 and receives an allowance of €19,653 per annum, which is subject to tax. The Secretary General of my Department receives €200,000 per annum and has already taken a voluntary reduction in his salary. Decisions regarding reducing or adjusting salary scales and allowances are dealt with centrally by the...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (31 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The information requested by the Deputy regarding appointments to State Boards is available on my Department's website. Since my Department advertised new procedures for appointments to State boards on Friday 8th April 2011, all appointments from that date have followed these procedures. All Chairpersons whom I have appointed, with the exception of Mr Tom Wall, have appeared before the...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (31 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: Since my appointment as Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in March 2011 seven retired civil servants have been rehired by my Department. Five of these were Radio Officers to fill essential frontline vacancies in the Coast Guard until such time as recruitment processes for replacements could be completed. One Aeronautical Engineer was rehired for the Air Accident Investigation Unit....

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (31 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The current expenditure for regional and local roads will be reduced significantly over the next few years. Cuts of the magnitude proposed necessitated that some very good and worthwhile projects be curtailed including those normally carried out under the Local Improvements Scheme, for which funding has been suspended. In making adjustments to the regional and local roads budget the...