Results 7,141-7,160 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

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

Noel Dempsey: My colleague the Minister for Finance has already stated that the overall response to the increase in fuel prices is, as was adopted at the recent Ecofin and European Council meetings, that distortionary fiscal and other policy interventions should be avoided as they prevent the necessary adjustments by economic agents. Accordingly, I do not envisage any approval from the Department of...

Written Answers — Integrated Ticketing: Integrated Ticketing (10 Jul 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I set out the current status of the Integrated Ticketing Project in my response to Question No. 437 of 8th July 2008. The Integrated Ticketing Project Board was established in July 2006 to deliver the smart card technology required to deliver an integrated smart card ticketing system within an agreed specification, timeline and budget. The initial focus of the project is in the Greater...

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

Noel Dempsey: There is substantial ongoing current and capital Exchequer investment in the development and operation of the railway network. Total Exchequer funding allocated to Iarnród Éireann for 2008 amounts to more than €720 million. In addition to this investment the potential to expand rail freight will be considered as part of the development of the Sustainable Travel and Transport Action...

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

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 265 and 277 together. As Minister for Transport I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme element of Transport 21. As the Deputy is aware, the implementation of individual national road projects, including the M50, is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Act, 1993 in conjunction...

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (10 Jul 2008)

Noel Dempsey: A port capacity study undertaken on the Department's behalf by Fisher Associates in 2006, contained detailed submissions from seven ports regarding increasing unitised capacity. The report concluded, inter alia, that: there is currently significant available capacity for further growth in LoLo traffic at Irish ports; and current available capacity for RoRo traffic also exists, although less...

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (10 Jul 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The information requested by the Deputy is outlined in the following table: 2006 2007 2008 up to 4 July Requests received 92 91 68 Requests Granted 20 11 13 Requests Part Granted 36 28 22 Requests Denied 23 23 20 Requests Withdrawn or handled outside FOI 24 16 1 Requests Transferred to other Bodies 1 0 0 Internal Reviews 10 12 5 Appeals to Information Commissioner 7 6 0 Overturned...

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

Noel Dempsey: Expenditure projections to year-end indicate that a saving is likely in the funding allocation provided for public transport. This arises mainly from the fact that land acquisitions are not proceeding as quickly as originally anticipated at the start of the year. This saving will not have any direct impact on the implementation timetable for public transport projects. I have no plans to...

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

Noel Dempsey: My Department has no notifications on hand from Dublin Bus or applications from private operators for the provision of bus services on the route referred to.

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

Noel Dempsey: The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads in its area is a matter for each individual road authority to be funded from its own resources supplemented by State road grants. Specific grants for the improvement and maintenance of tertiary county roads were not allocated to local authorities in 2007 or 2008. Works on such roads may, at the discretion of the local authority, be...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (10 Jul 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I refer the Deputy to the reply in response to a similar question (Ref No: 23276/08) put down by Deputy Joe Costello on 17th June last. The only change in the position is that write off data relating to other insurers have recently been made available to my Department and the process of validating it against the NVDF is currently underway.

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

Noel Dempsey: As I stated in a response to a similar Question put to me on 17th June last, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme element of Transport 21. The detailed planning, design and implementation of national road projects, including the provision of service areas on or near these routes and their precise locations, is a matter for the...

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

Noel Dempsey: Bus Éireann has informed me that the company's fleet at year-end over the period since 2001 is as set out below. Year 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008* 689 677 679 687 689 677 712 796 Schools 680 671 683 676 652 711 678 677 Total 1,369 1,348 1,362 1,363 1,341 1,388 1,390 1,473 *End of May, 2008.

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

Noel Dempsey: Though specific proposals for the introduction of congestion charging are not being considered at the moment, the National Climate Change Strategy 2007-2012 states that consideration will be given to the potential introduction of fiscal measures, including road pricing or congestion charging, to reduce transport demand, once adequate supply-side infrastructure is in place. Congestion charges...

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

Noel Dempsey: The current rules governing use of bus lanes were established through the Road Traffic (Traffic and Parking) Regulations 1997-1998. Large public service vehicles are permitted to use all bus lanes. Taxis, while being used in the course of work, and pedal cycles are permitted to use with-flow bus lanes. The prohibition on the use of bus lanes does not apply in respect of emergency service...

Written Answers — Road Haulage: Road Haulage (10 Jul 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I met with the Irish Road Haulage Association on 19 June in relation to a number of issues, including increasing global oil prices. After that meeting, I relayed their specific concerns to my Cabinet colleagues and on the need in Ireland for a strong and professional haulage industry. In a positive response to road haulage concerns, an Inter Departmental/Agency Task Force was immediately...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (10 Jul 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The National Vehicle and Driver File (NVDF) contains details, including ownership data, on all 2.5 million registered vehicles and 2.6 million licensed drivers in the country and facilitates the processing of all motor tax and driving licence business from all motor tax outlets nationwide and through internet-based services. The primary function of the NVDF is in supporting motor tax and...

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

Noel Dempsey: The Government remains committed to the implementation of the Metro North project which is a critical element of the Transport 21 strategy to transform the public transport system in the Greater Dublin Area. In January 2008, the Government approved the funding structure for the Metro North PPP, including an Exchequer provision for advance works ahead of the main PPP contract and a capital...

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

Noel Dempsey: Between 1st January, 2007 and 30th June, 2008, my Department received a total of 340 applications from private operators for new routes and a total of 150 applications from private operators to amend existing routes. My Department currently has on hands the following outstanding cases: — 36 applications for new routes (of which 9 are in the Dublin area); 39 applications to amend existing...

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

Noel Dempsey: A number of Transport 21 projects are planned for the period up to 2015, which will have a major impact on Dublin city centre. These include Metro North, DART Interconnector and Luas Line BX/D. Pending the establishment of the Dublin Transport Authority, the Dublin City Manager chairs the Dublin Transport 21 Implementation Group which co-ordinates and oversees the investment programme in...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (10 Jul 2008)

Noel Dempsey: A number of measures relating to transport are included in the National Climate Change Strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These include rebalancing of motor taxes, Mineral Oil Tax Relief for biofuels, modal shift through Transport 21 and the achievement of a 5.75% biofuels blend in fuels by 2010. Further details of the Strategy are available on the website of the Department of the...