Results 7,161-7,180 of 9,184 for speaker:Jack Chambers

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Active Travel (18 Oct 2023)

Jack Chambers: I thank the Deputy and I acknowledge his local experience and feedback relating the active travel scheme. The Department of Transport has responsibility for the provision of funding and setting of policy in relation to transport issues, including active travel. The National Transport Authority, NTA, has responsibility for the allocation of funding to projects at local authority level and...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Active Travel (18 Oct 2023)

Jack Chambers: I will try. I thank Deputy Lahart and I hear what he is saying clearly. Feedback from local communities and stakeholder engagement is of fundamental importance to get community buy-in, with public representatives here in the Oireachtas, councillors and the wider public. I will reflect this in the context of the wider active travel programme we are seeking to roll out. I have...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Taxi Regulations (18 Oct 2023)

Jack Chambers: I thank Deputy McAuliffe for raising this matter. The regulation of the small public service vehicle, SPSV, industry, including enforcement and compliance in the sector, is a matter for the independent transport regulator, the NTA, under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013 and Public Transport Act 2016. Neither the Minister, Deputy Ryan, nor I, have a role in the day-to-day...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Taxi Regulations (18 Oct 2023)

Jack Chambers: I appreciate the points made and the engagement by the Deputy. In the past number of weeks alone, I have met some taxi drivers, as we have discussed ourselves, and am happy to engage directly with others. There needs to be a strong level of engagement by the State with the representatives. I am certainly willing to engage with them and we can organise that. As I have said, before...

Driving Test Waiting Times: Motion [Private Members] (18 Oct 2023)

Jack Chambers: I thank all of the Deputies for the opportunity to update the House on the national driver testing service. As they have said, it is an issue for many people in urban and rural Ireland, in particular young people who have not been able to get a test. I acknowledge that and do not dispute the concerns they have set out. There is wide agreement that it is essential that the public has access...

Driving Test Waiting Times: Motion [Private Members] (18 Oct 2023)

Jack Chambers: There is a new subhead.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (17 Oct 2023)

Jack Chambers: Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility forthe National Driving Test service. This includes test applications, scheduling matters and the data regarding waiting list times. I have therefore referred the Deputy's question to the Authority for direct reply on the specific information requested. I would ask the Deputy to contact my...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety (17 Oct 2023)

Jack Chambers: Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has responsibility for the promotion of public awareness of road safety and of measures, including the advancement of education, relating to the promotion of the safe use of roads. The Department is of the view that the wearing protective clothing such as of helmets and high visibility clothing is better achieved by...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (17 Oct 2023)

Jack Chambers: Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the National Driver Testing Service. The specific information requested is held by the RSA. Therefore, I have referred to the RSA for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days. On the broader issue of delays,...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety (17 Oct 2023)

Jack Chambers: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 and in line with the National Development Plan (NDP), the operation and management of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. This is...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety Authority (17 Oct 2023)

Jack Chambers: Appointments to State Boards under the aegis of my Department are made in line with the Government Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards. In relation to board of the Road Safety Authority, a vacancy arose in December 2022 following a resignation and a further board member’s term expired in August 2023. In June 2023 the Public Appointments Service launched a campaign for...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (17 Oct 2023)

Jack Chambers: Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the National Driver Testing Service. Consequently, neither I nor my Department have powers to intervene in aspects of service delivery, including scheduling matters. I have referred the Deputy's question to the RSA for consideration and direct response on the specific issues...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (17 Oct 2023)

Jack Chambers: Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for all aspects of the National Driving Test service. The current national waiting time is currently 28 weeks, which far exceeds the agreed service level waiting time for invitation to test of 10 weeks. The service has been under significant pressure to meet unprecedented demand, which...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (17 Oct 2023)

Jack Chambers: Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the National Driver Testing Service. This includes the deployment of driver testing staff. As such, the first part of the question regarding the Cavan test centre is being referred to the RSA for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Pension Provisions (17 Oct 2023)

Jack Chambers: I propose to take Questions Nos. 151 and 152 together. From 1 May 2023 responsibility for past pensionable remuneration for all Irish Aviation Authority (“IAA”) staff, transferred from the IAA to AirNav Ireland. In line with the Rules of the Pension Plan any increases to pensions in payment are at the discretion of AirNav Ireland. In this regard, the Board of AirNav...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (17 Oct 2023)

Jack Chambers: Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the National Driver Testing Service. Consequently, information on applicants is held by the RSA and neither I nor my Department have the power to intervene in individual cases. I have referred the Deputy's question to the RSA for direct response on the specific case raised. I would...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Scéimeanna Teanga (17 Oct 2023)

Jack Chambers: Faoi iamh, mar áis don Teachta, tá cóip de na coinníollacha a bhaineann le Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge de chuid mo Roinne.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety (18 Oct 2023)

Jack Chambers: The Road Traffic (Control of Traffic) Regulations 2006 allow road authorities to restrict or prohibit certain non-passenger vehicles, including heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), from entering specified roads during specified periods. These regulations form the basis of the 5-axle HGV ban in operation in Dublin City and in a number of other locations. Following engagement with An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (18 Oct 2023)

Jack Chambers: Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the National Driver Testing Service. Employee/employer relations between the RSA and driver testers are therefore an issue for the RSA in the first instance. Neither I, nor my officials, are party to RSA recruitment and employee contractual matters. The letter referred to was...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety (19 Oct 2023)

Jack Chambers: Under Section 56 of the Road Traffic Act, 1961, motor insurance is required to drive a mechanically propelled vehicle in a public place. Individuals may purchase a motor insurance policy from any of the insurance companies that operate in Ireland. The type of cover and the terms and conditions of products are a matter to be agreed between the individual and the insurance company. This is a...