Results 7,361-7,380 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (21 Sep 2016)

Shane Ross: I thank the Chairman for the opportunity to come in here today for the first dialogue of the session. I want to update the committee on my Department’s budgetary position in 2016 and to hear the committee's views ahead of budget 2017 on funding priorities for the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. With an overall budget allocation of €1.74 billion this year and a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (21 Sep 2016)

Shane Ross: Good morning.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (21 Sep 2016)

Shane Ross: I will start by answering Deputy Fitzpatrick's questions. He asked me if I was satisfied with the amount of funding going to local and regional roads. I am not. It is inadequate. What we are getting for all roads, local or national, is inadequate. We need more, particularly in terms of the figure I quoted in my opening remarks. We will not get up to steady State levels until 2020. That...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (21 Sep 2016)

Shane Ross: The Deputy referred to road improvements. There have been Supplementary Estimates for road improvements every year. The Deputy stated that they were not enough. It is regrettable, but there must be Supplementary Estimates, given that the state of our roads is deteriorating. Some €96 million will be allocated for flooding this year. Road improvement grants have been given. I am...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (21 Sep 2016)

Shane Ross: I have.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (21 Sep 2016)

Shane Ross: The MBRS is going to have to do a certain amount of more work this year because of the introduction of testing for drugs. That measure is to come through in the road traffic Bill that I am reintroducing in the Dáil next week. If it needs additional funding, we are talking about small amounts of money. The running costs of the bureau in 2016 will be €5 million. Certainly, we...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (21 Sep 2016)

Shane Ross: I will deal with the bus strike issue. On disability access, I am very aware that Deputy Munster is extremely persuasive and persistent on the issue. There are several ways to fund transport services. All new buses that we buy are wheelchair friendly. However, there are inadequacies in other areas, of which I am very well aware. We have had exchanges in the Dáil on this issue...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (21 Sep 2016)

Shane Ross: Are you ready for me go, Chairman?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (21 Sep 2016)

Shane Ross: I will deal first with Deputy Catherine Murphy's question about congestion. We are basically looking at the longer term. I cannot say specifically what we are looking for in the subvention. I will not do that, but we are certainly looking for substantial and meaningful increases in that. It would be wrong, and foolish as well, for me to give the Deputy a figure but we are looking for...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (21 Sep 2016)

Shane Ross: I will deal with it when we come to deal with the sports area. I am sure it will be the subject of the first question.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (21 Sep 2016)

Shane Ross: Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe referred to regional roads, a question I think I have answered. I agree with him that the infrastructure is inadequate and we are making big efforts to sort out the matter. On the western corridor, what am I going to deliver? As I am sure the committee knows, the programme for Government includes a commitment to provide for independent costing and a review of a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (21 Sep 2016)

Shane Ross: Perhaps Mr. Mullaney will answer the question on road infrastructure.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (21 Sep 2016)

Shane Ross: It is important that I read this about the rail review. I want to speak about it because I think a lot of people do not know about it. It is a comprehensive document on the future of Irish Rail. On 15 April, the Government considered the findings and conclusions of the strategic framework for land transport and agreed to my publishing the report. The framework, which was based on a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (21 Sep 2016)

Shane Ross: I lost my sheet on Senator Ó Céidigh's questions.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (21 Sep 2016)

Shane Ross: I think that has been sent.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (21 Sep 2016)

Shane Ross: I think Deputy O'Keeffe is referring to the Roughan & O'Donovan report, Weight limits for motor vehicles and trailers in Ireland: Impact and increase in vehicle weight on structures, commissioned by the NRA, which is now TII, in 2011.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (21 Sep 2016)

Shane Ross: I have been advised that the then president of the IRHA, Eoin Gavin, sent a four-page commentary on the report addressed to the then Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in December 2011 stating that the document had been received by the IRHA the previous month. The Deputy might check that up.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (21 Sep 2016)

Shane Ross: I will check it for the Deputy. That is the advice I have just received. I will check it for the Deputy. I agree with Senator Ó Céidigh that the airport connection is a big missing link. The new metro north is obviously the long-term solution for that. It is due to start in 2021 and not finish until 2026 or 2027, which is quite far out. It is in the long-term capital...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (21 Sep 2016)

Shane Ross: The Senator mentioned the boards and I believe we have dealt with that.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (21 Sep 2016)

Shane Ross: I completely agree. I was surprised that the RSA did not do self-evaluation. I asked the question and it does not. I have not asked that question of other boards, which I will do in future. I am not saying public companies are the be-all and end-all but most of them do some sort of self-evaluation. That also has its problems because they know each other too well, but they do it. I asked...