Results 6,921-6,940 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (29 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: Deputy Fitzpatrick asked about the local improvement scheme, which I know is important to people, in particular those outside Dublin. Local roads have gone into disrepair and there has been a lack of funding for the repairs. This is a matter of great disappointment to many Deputies. As the committee is probably aware, it is now being given support in the programme for Government. While...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (29 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: I will do that at some stage. There is additional funding promised in the programme for Government for green ways. This is a project and a concept that is reasonably new to me but I find it extremely attractive. They are not just environmentally attractive. They can also bring in tourists as well as be attractive from a sport and clean living perspective. We should embrace and encourage...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (29 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: As Deputy Catherine Murphy has to go at 10.30 a.m., I will take her questions first. Deputy Catherine Murphy spoke of the relationship between roads and public transport. The 2016 breakdown shows a 43% spend on roads and a 35% spend on public transport. The answer to the Deputy's question, of course, is that both of them need a great deal more funding. I certainly would be open to ideas...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (29 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: By the end of the capital plan it is intended that public transport and roads should be virtually in equilibrium. The relationship should be changed by 2022. It will be moving in the direction the Deputy suggests. The Leap card is spectacularly successful. It is a fantastic achievement. I do not have the figures in front of me but there has been a massive increase in the past year. We...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (29 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: We discussed this already. I will provide Deputy Munster with more specific figures after the meeting. The overall figure for accessibility for bus stops, rail improvements and an accessible bus fleet has improved quite a lot. It is within the public transport safety and development infrastructure figure. It has increased substantially, from €135 million to €207 million. ...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (29 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: Deputy Munster received an answer to this specific question from the NTA yesterday. I have the reply here. I will revert to her. I have only just read it. I am quite happy to contact the NTA on her behalf if she wants me to do so and if it is appropriate. I have not had time to read the reply. On a general level, we had an exchange about this in the Dáil. I do not want to refer...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (29 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: I will deal with Deputy O'Keeffe's questions first. The Cork to Limerick motorway, the M20, is not off the agenda, as I suspect the Deputy knows but it is hugely expensive project. I think it is in the region of €860 million, which would take up a pretty good whack of the capital budget. I know it is necessary and it will almost certainly be included in the mid-term review next...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (29 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: On the breakdown on drink driving, that report contains a great deal of information. I can get the Deputy a copy as it gives a good breakdown. The only problem is that it is not up-to-date as it is for 2012. However, we will provide the Deputy with more information and breakdown if he wishes. It is a pretty staggering discovery that drink driving is creeping back in. We thought there had...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (29 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: That would be pleasant. Your idea, Chairman, is to turn really narrow roads into cycle routes. Would they be exclusively cycle routes?

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (29 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: It is a good idea. I will ask my Department to look at it. We have also addressed the N20 Cork-Limerick link, which Deputy O'Keeffe mentioned. Was the question on the N22 answered?

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (29 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: I absolutely agree that the insurance situation is bad. It is not my Department's responsibility, but we should take a more active interest in it. I had a meeting with all the stakeholders in the road safety and roads areas earlier this week and we agreed that we would engage with Insurance Ireland as this requires further investigation. We will engage with Insurance Ireland at a senior...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (29 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: Yes, I ducked that.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (29 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: We can certainly consider that. Perhaps they could identify the need to the local council first. Obviously, this is a new idea; it is a good idea. I am not qualified to say whether it would work, what it would cost or the like, but it appears to be fresh idea. We will consider it without hesitation. On the road safety issues, apparently the Department, through the RSA, is working at EU...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (29 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: Deputy Troy made a fair point when he raised the issue of whether we should borrow money. We already are in various areas. We have borrowed €150 million already to fund the Luas cross-city project, which is a fair amount. The Department is quite aggressive and quite happy to do that. It is also looking to the European Investment Bank, EIB, in respect of the DART underground project....

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (29 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: At €95 million, or 5% of the overall Vote, the maritime programme provides primarily for the operating costs of the Irish Coast Guard, the bulk of which relate to the search and rescue, SAR, helicopter service. The allocation also part funds the Commissioners of Irish Lights and the building and renovation programme for Irish Coast Guard stations. The Irish Coast Guard requires a...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (29 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: The date of transfer is 1 September.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (29 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: We will come back to the Deputy on the question of inspections.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (29 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: Can the Deputy repeat the second question?

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (29 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: This is the slowest one but it will be completed in a reasonably short time.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (29 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: I think so.