Results 7,601-7,620 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (13 Nov 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The statutory power to levy tolls on national roads, to make toll bye-laws and to enter into toll agreements with private investors in respect of national roads is vested in the National Roads Authority (NRA) under Part V of the Roads Act 1993 (as amended by the Planning and Development Act 2000 and the Roads Act 2007). Section 61 of the Roads Act provides that the NRA may make toll bye-laws...

Written Answers — Taxi Regulations: Taxi Regulations (13 Nov 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The Taxi Regulation Act 2003 established the Commission for Taxi Regulation as an independent public body responsible for the development and maintenance of the regulatory framework for the control and operation, including licensing, of taxis, hackneys, limousines and their drivers. Under the 2003 Act the Commission may make regulations in relation to the licensing, ownership, control and...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (13 Nov 2008)

Noel Dempsey: 10 Departmental and 40 Road Safety Authority staff were decentralised to Loughrea in July, 2007, a total of 50 staff. Of these, 10 staff relocated from Dublin in the following grades: 2 Assistant Principal Officers, 5 Transport Officers, 1 Higher Executive Officer,1 Executive Officer and 1 Staff Officer. 62 posts were also decentralised to Ballina. Of these, 8 staff relocated from Dublin in...

Written Answers — Rural Transport: Rural Transport (18 Nov 2008)

Noel Dempsey: Pobal administers the Rural Transport Programme (RTP) on behalf of my Department and is working with 37 individual rural transport groups around the country to expand it on a phased basis in response to local public transport service needs and having regard to the availability of resources. A list of RTP groups is available on the Pobal website at www.pobal.ie. The RTP is being expanded with...

Written Answers — Noise Pollution: Noise Pollution (18 Nov 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The position is that no regulations have been made under Section 77 of the Roads Act 1993 in relation to road traffic noise. This provision of the 1993 Act has effectively been replaced by the Environmental Noise Regulations 2006, which were made by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage & Local Government giving effect to EU Directive 2002/49/EC. Under the Regulations, noise mapping...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (18 Nov 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I understand from Iarnród Éireann that they intend to open the Dunboyne rail line in mid 2010.

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (18 Nov 2008)

Noel Dempsey: Issues relating to tolls on national roads are in the first instance a matter for the NRA. The statutory power to levy tolls on national roads, to make toll bye-laws and to enter into toll agreements with private investors in respect of national roads is vested in the NRA under Part V of the Roads Act, 1993 (as amended by the Planning and Development Act 2000 and the Roads Act 2007).

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (18 Nov 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I am aware of the privately produced document to which the Deputy refers. All such documents are, of course, considered in the development of transport proposals. In the Meath and surrounding areas, Transport 21, the Government's ten-year financial framework for investment in transport infrastructure, provides for a number of important projects, including the M3 and the Navan rail line,...

Written Answers — Benchmarking Awards: Benchmarking Awards (18 Nov 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The benchmarking process agreed under the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness in 2000 provides for public service jobs to be compared with their counterparts in the private sector. The process would take account of the level of services offered to the general public which have improved as a consequence of the public service modernisation programme.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (18 Nov 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The average number of sick days taken by staff in my Department over the last 3 years is as follows: 2006 — 15 days; 2007 — 22 days; 2008 (to date) — 9 days. Excluding long-term illness, the figures read as follows: 2006 — 11 days; 2007 — 14 days; 2008 (to date) — 7 days.

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (18 Nov 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 — Job Protection: Job Protection (19 Nov 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The Company in question is a private company licensed to provide passenger bus services in County Donegal under the Road Transport Act, 1932 and cross border bus passenger services under Council Regulation (EEC) No 684/92. It is unfortunate that a long established transport company is facing financial difficulties. However, it would be inappropriate for me as Minister for Transport to get...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (19 Nov 2008)

Noel Dempsey: As already stated in my answer to Question numbers 28 and 33 on 1 October last and in further question answered on 4 November, the Finance Act 2008 provides for the removal of excise duty reliefs in the bus sector with effect from 1 November 2008. Since this is in line with our EU obligations, there is no power to restore the scheme.

Written Answers — Fuel Duty: Fuel Duty (19 Nov 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The Coach Tourism and Transport Council submitted to my Department proposals for an alternative to the fuel duty scheme. The Finance Act 2008 provided for the removal of excise duty reliefs in the bus sector with effect from 1 November 2008. Since this is in line with our EU obligations, there is no power to restore the scheme or a scheme along similar lines.

Written Answers — Regional Airports: Regional Airports (20 Nov 2008)

Noel Dempsey: Grant aid paid in each of the last 5 years in respect of Ireland West Airport Knock (IWAK) is as follows: Capital grants Operational subvention € € 2003 2,030,996 400,000 2004 0 400,000 2005 321,218 400,000 2006 529,365 0 2007 699,465 0 Prior to 2006, capital grant funding at the regional airports was made available under the National Development Plan 2000 to 2006. From 2007...

Written Answers — Regional Airports: Regional Airports (20 Nov 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The question of priorities for funding in respect of Waterford and the other regional airports in 2009 is under consideration at present. I would hope to be in a position to respond in the near future.

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (20 Nov 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The Deputy will be aware that a company that holds a bus route licence in respect of a public bus passenger service between Cork and Galway ceased to operate that service with effect from 3rd November 2008. Since it received notification of that cessation, my Department has been in regular contact with the company in question for the purpose of facilitating the possible re-instatement of the...

Written Answers — Dublin Transport Authority: Dublin Transport Authority (20 Nov 2008)

Noel Dempsey: It is my intention to establish the Dublin Transport Authority as early as possible in 2009 once I am satisfied that it has the financial and staffing resources necessary to enable it discharge effectively the functions assigned to it by the Oireachtas under the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008. Discussions are currently taking place between my Department and the Department of Finance on...

Written Answers — State Airports: State Airports (25 Nov 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 288, 290 and 295 together. The State Airports Act, 2004 provides the framework for the establishment of Shannon and Cork as independent airports. Under the Act, both the Minister for Finance and I will have to be satisfied as to the state of operational and financial readiness of the three airports before any vesting of assets can take place. I have already...

Written Answers — Rural Transport Services: Rural Transport Services (25 Nov 2008)

Noel Dempsey: Pobal administers the Rural Transport Programme (RTP) on behalf of my Department and is working with 37 individual rural transport groups around the country, including groups in County Roscommon, to expand it on a phased basis in response to local public transport service needs and having regard to the availability of resources. A list of RTP groups is available on the Pobal website at...