Results 7,121-7,140 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I have limited time which I am sharing.

National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2008)

Noel Dempsey: If the Deputy wants to do his sums, he has plenty of time to work it out during what they call the holidays. The NDP is the basis for continued investment in our economic infrastructure in the years ahead. Investment in key transport infrastructure remains a priority. Now more than ever, we must ensure we achieve value for money across all areas on public activity, including expenditure in...

National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2008)

Noel Dempsey: Before the Deputy says anything else, I wish to make a point that I may not get another opportunity to make. It is not political and I will write to him if he wants me to. We are in the middle of a procurement process for metro north. Bidders have submitted bids and must finalise bids before the end of the year. Casting doubts on the future of metro north in this House could give rise to...

National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I did not touch it. This is money we brought forward but which we cannot spend because we have not acquired the properties. In addition, some property we intend to purchase now costs less than it did because of the downturn in property prices. In respect of 2009 the Government has decided that payroll costs must be cut by 3% by the end of the year. The payroll savings will be achieved...

National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2008)

Noel Dempsey: We opened Ireland up, educated a highly skilled workforce, attracted billions in inward investment and encouraged the entrepreneurship of Irish people to flourish. Deputy Broughan would like to hear what else I have to say on this but I will give way to my colleague, Deputy O'Rourke, and send Deputy Broughan a copy of the speech.

Written Answers — Airport Development Projects: Airport Development Projects (10 Jul 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 238 to 240, inclusive, together. The Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) operates under a clear commercial mandate and its capital investment programme, including Terminal Two and the proposed new parallel runway, is entirely funded from its own internal resources. Proposals in relation to the development of Dublin Airport are, in the first instance, a matter for...

Written Answers — Park and Ride Facilities: Park and Ride Facilities (10 Jul 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The Programme for Government contains a commitment to provide park and ride services in all appropriate locations. The provision of car parking at railway stations is a matter for Iarnród Éireann in conjunction with local authorities. I understand that Iarnród Éireann have begun a network-wide programme of expanding existing or developing new car parks, with the assistance of Exchequer...

Written Answers — Motor Fuels: Motor Fuels (10 Jul 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The EU Energy Tax Directive incorporated special derogations which allowed specific excise duty reliefs to be applied in a number of Member States below the EU minimum duty rate. In the case of public transport services under my responsibility, these derogations included reduced rates to apply to fuel used for scheduled bus services. Scheduled bus services comprise bus passenger services...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (10 Jul 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The €34 billion provided for Transport 21 comprises €26 billion from the Exchequer and €8 billion from Public Private Partnerships. A total of €18 billion is provided for national roads and €16 billion for the development of public transport. Of the €16 billion provided for public transport, an indicative allocation of approximately €13.5 billion relate to rail projects...

Written Answers — Light Rail Project: Light Rail Project (10 Jul 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 248 and 274 together. The Programme for Government includes a commitment to carry out feasibility studies into Luas-style Light Rail Transport (LRT) systems in Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford within two years. I have since asked that these studies should simultaneously include consideration of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). The feasibility of LRT and/or BRT in...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (10 Jul 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I would like to advise the Deputy that my Department has not blocked any proposal from Dublin Bus for changes to its Route 37 bus service. Following an initial examination of the proposal from Dublin Bus for changes to its Route 37 service, my Department, taking into consideration the existing transport services on and along the route in question, consulted with the Dublin Bus regarding the...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (10 Jul 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The information requested by the Deputy is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (10 Jul 2008)

Noel Dempsey: My Department provides no funding under LEADER programmes.

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (10 Jul 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The planning and design of railway upgrade works is a matter for Iarnród Éireann. I am informed by Iarnród Éireann that the current position regarding the removal of level crossings on the Maynooth line is that the discussions with the local authorities with a view to formulating joint proposals to facilitate the closures, including the necessary road and bridge works, are ongoing and...

Written Answers — Rural Transport Services: Rural Transport Services (10 Jul 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 255 and 264 together. 2008 is the first full year of operation for the Rural Transport Programme (RTP). The Programme, which was launched in February 2007, is putting the former pilot Rural Transport Initiative on a mainstreamed basis with significantly increased funding and is providing for additional services together with expanded area coverage. Pobal,...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (10 Jul 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Questions Nos. 307 and 308 on 1 July.

Written Answers — Rail Accidents: Rail Accidents (10 Jul 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The procedures for investigating railway accidents are determined by the EU Safety Directive as transposed into Irish law by the Railway Safety Act 2005 and the European Communities (Railway Safety) Regulations 2008. Where an accident occurs, it will be investigated by the Railway Accident Investigation Unit, a functionally independent unit of the Railway Safety Commission. The...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (10 Jul 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The planning and implementation of public transport infrastructure upgrade projects is a matter for the implementing agencies. I understand from Iarnród Éireann that it intends to commence work on the Clonsilla/Dunboyne section of the Navan Rail Link and the City Centre and Maynooth line re-signalling projects within the next 12 months. The Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) was granted a...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (10 Jul 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 259, 271 and 286 together. At the launch of Transport 21, the Government identified the programmes and projects in the national roads, public transport and regional airport sectors that it wished to see prioritised for implementation in the ten-year period from 2006-2015 within an overall capital provision of €34 billion. That objective has not changed....

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (10 Jul 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 260 and 294 together. The savings to be made in my Department's budget in 2008 are: €1.844 million in respect of consultancies, advertising and public relations costs across the Department and the agencies under the aegis of the Department; €114,000 in payroll costs; €133,000 in the Administrative Budget of the Department; €156,000 in the budgets of...