Results 7,041-7,060 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety (13 Jul 2016)

Shane Ross: ​I understand that TII issued a reply to the Deputy regarding PQ 16721/16 on 7 July 2016.  A copy of the reply is attached.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Swimming Pool Programme Applications (14 Jul 2016)

Shane Ross: ​In response to a Ministerial representation received from Kildare County Council, a reply issued to Kildare County Council on 30 June reconfirming that their submission was invalid.  Kildare County Council were aware of the title requirements at the time of their expression of interest in the Local Authority Swimming Pool Programme and that they...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Dublin Bus Services (14 Jul 2016)

Shane Ross: ​The issue raised is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) in conjunction with Dublin Bus and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply.  Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Vehicle Clamping (14 Jul 2016)

Shane Ross: I propose to take Questions Nos. 256 to 260, inclusive, together. As the Deputy knows, the Vehicle Clamping Act was enacted in May 2015. The Act conferred the responsibilities of regulating vehicle clamping upon the National Transport Authority (NTA). This conferral of additional responsibilities resulted in a requirement for allocation of additional  resources to the NTA in order...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (14 Jul 2016)

Shane Ross: As Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme.  The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects (including the N20 at Buttevant) is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (formerly known the NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2015 in conjunction with Cork...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (14 Jul 2016)

Shane Ross: Irish driver licensing law operates within a framework of EU law which sets a number of requirements in relation to the issuing of driving licences. Driving licences issued by one Member State are inter-exchangeable between EU States.  An Irish licence holder, living temporarily in another EU country can renew their existing licence by post, without returning to Ireland to appear in...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Local Improvement Scheme Funding (14 Jul 2016)

Shane Ross: ​As I outlined in my reply to the Deputy in PQ No. 852 (Ref. 12810/16) on 31 May 2016 the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) remains in place.  This Scheme provides funding for private roads and laneways, the maintenance and improvement of which is, in the first instance, a matter for the relevant landowner.  While the LIS does not have a ring-fenced allocation in 2016,...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Transport Authority (14 Jul 2016)

Shane Ross: My predecessor approved the Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area 2016 - 2035 on 24 February 2016 pursuant to section 12(13) of the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008. Section 13(1) of the Act requires the National Transport Authority (NTA) to then prepare an integrated implementation plan which must be submitted for Ministerial approval within 9 months of the approval of the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (14 Jul 2016)

Shane Ross: ​The organisation, financial compensation and award of public transport service contracts is governed by EU law, known as Regulation 1370/2007.  Relevant provisions of the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008 (as amended) provide the necessary Irish perspective to this overarching EU framework and section 52 of the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008 provides the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (14 Jul 2016)

Shane Ross: ​Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann receive Exchequer funding in respect of public service obligation (PSO) services. PSO services are public transport services provided in the general interest that another commercial operator would not assume or would not assume to the same extent or under the same conditions without reward. Exchequer funding is made available to the NTA to allocate...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Funding (14 Jul 2016)

Shane Ross: My Department does not borrow funds. Its gross expenditure provision for 2016 of over €1.7bn is derived solely from our allocation under Vote 31 of the Revised Estimates for Public Services.  A large portion of the funding is allocated to Agencies and Public Bodies under my remit.  I have forwarded the Deputy's question to those individual bodies for...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Driver Licence Applications (14 Jul 2016)

Shane Ross: I thank both Senators for raising this very important topic. I thank Senator Burke for his kind words. I seem to be spending more time in this House during my period as Minister than I did when I was a Member. I hope to come back to the Chamber as frequently as necessary.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Driver Licence Applications (14 Jul 2016)

Shane Ross: I thank the Cathaoirleach. I hope he will. I am sympathetic, as both Senators will know, to the difficulties caused by the closure of the post offices throughout rural Ireland. I was well aware of that during the period of the previous Government. I have not lost those sympathies but this is a subject I have to address in light of the circumstances in which we find ourselves and what has...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Driver Licence Applications (14 Jul 2016)

Shane Ross: I do not disagree with a great deal of what Senator Burke has had to say. Let us remember there is a contract that goes out to tender. I would encourage the post office network, as he would, to tender.

Priority Questions: Road Safety (19 Jul 2016)

Shane Ross: On a point of order, has the first question lapsed?

Priority Questions: Road Safety (19 Jul 2016)

Shane Ross: The Road Safety Strategy 2013-20 includes a review of the existing legislation to control the re-introduction of written-off vehicles which are no longer suitable for use on public roads and to control the repair and re-use of vehicles written off for financial purposes. The Road Safety Authority, RSA, carried out a public consultation on the issue, following which draft provisions were...

Priority Questions: Road Safety (19 Jul 2016)

Shane Ross: I thank the Deputy. She will see from my reply that I share her sense of urgency. This matter was not covered by the Road Traffic Bill when it was dealt with in the Seanad originally. The drafting and legal problems to which I referred and the complexities that were discovered in the solution pertaining to the Road Safety Authority were immediately addressed. The amendments are being...

Priority Questions: Road Safety (19 Jul 2016)

Shane Ross: I ask the Deputy to accept my bona fides in this matter. The moment I discovered the urgency of this problem, which was due to what I saw on "Prime Time", I addressed it. I asked my Department to have legislation drafted and to hurry it up. That was done. It was not going to be ready at any stage by the end of July but it will be slotted into a Bill that is ready to come to the House in a...

Priority Questions: Tourism Industry (19 Jul 2016)

Shane Ross: ​​Great Britain has consistently been Ireland's most important source market for visits to Ireland, with just over 3.5 million visits in 2015. This represented 41% of our total overseas visits. CSO figures for the period January to May 2016 show further strong performance from this market, with growth in visit numbers of over 15.7% when compared with the...

Priority Questions: Tourism Industry (19 Jul 2016)

Shane Ross: Tourism Ireland decided to hold a review the moment the result of the Brexit referendum was known. That was a review to discuss and decide how to target new and developing tourist markets. The terms of reference for this review are being finalised now. It must be remembered that the referendum was only a couple of weeks ago, and it would be crazy to have a knee-jerk reaction. The new...