Results 7,621-7,640 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (13 Nov 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The issues raised are matters for the National Transport Authority (NTA) and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply.  Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Tolls (13 Nov 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I take it the Deputy is referring to the proposals by the United Kingdom Minister for Transport to introduce charges for road use.  I am aware of this, and in particular of the HGV Road User Levy Bill.  It is a matter for any State to introduce road use charges if it wishes, and this is an important option in relation to funding of roads infrastructure, which can benefit both...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Commercial Vehicle Testing Centres (13 Nov 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The subject matter of this question is the responsibility of the Road Safety Authority and I have referred the question to them for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a reply has not been received within ten days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety (13 Nov 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 681 and 682 together. The appointment of road safety officers is essentially a matter for each local authority. Under Action 16 of the current Road Safety Strategy, each local authority is required to appoint a full time Road Safety Office to promote road safety. However, in the current economic climate, it is accepted that all local authorities may not be...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: State Agencies (13 Nov 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The information requested by the Deputy is a matter for the agencies themselves.  I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the various State agencies under my Department's aegis for their response. If the Deputy does not receive a reply from the agencies within ten working days, please advise my private office.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Taxi Regulations (13 Nov 2012)

Leo Varadkar: As proposed in the Taxi Regulation Review Report, it is envisaged that there will be a prohibition on the transfer of small public service vehicle (SPSV) licences. The underlying principle for this proposal is that a licence should determine a person's suitability to carry out a function and it should have no monetary value or be traded on the open...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Local Authority Services (13 Nov 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I have no function in this matter.  Pedestrianisation is a matter for the local authority in its administrative area. The  assessment of the outcome of pedestrianisation in any individual case would similarly be a matter for the local authority concerned.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Promotion (13 Nov 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The matter raised is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland.  I have referred the Deputy's question to Fáilte Ireland for direct reply.  Please contact my private office if a reply is not received within ten working days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (13 Nov 2012)

Leo Varadkar: This is a matter for Bus Éireann and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply.  Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sports Capital Programme (13 Nov 2012)

Leo Varadkar: My Department has received over 2,170 applications for funding under the 2012 Sports Capital Programme.  This is the largest number of applications ever received under the Programme. Departmental officials are processing all applications and this process will take some time due to the volume of applications received.  I expect to be able to announce the list of successful...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Improvement Schemes (13 Nov 2012)

Leo Varadkar: As Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme.  The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Noting the above position, I have...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Promotion (13 Nov 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The matter raised is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland.  I have referred the Deputy's question to Fáilte Ireland for direct reply.  Please contact my private office if a reply is not received within ten working days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Sector Staff (13 Nov 2012)

Leo Varadkar: In 2010 the Department conducted an online consultation survey with all staff for ideas and contributions on cost saving mechanisms and effective and efficient processes within the Department.  A total of 138 individual suggestions were submitted as part of this process. Of these, 37 are directly related to existing actions incorporated in the Department’s Public Service Agreement...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Pension Provisions (13 Nov 2012)

Leo Varadkar: With the exception of details in respect of the small number of staff whose pensions are being funded directly by the Exchequer, funding details for semi-State  pension schemes are available in the Annual Reports and Accounts of the relevant agencies, copies of which are normally available from the Dail Library or the relevant website.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Improvement Schemes (14 Nov 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads in its area, is a statutory function of each road authority in accordance with the provisions of section 13 of the Roads Act, 1993.  Works on such roads are a matter for the relevant local authority to be funded from its own resources supplemented by State road grants. I understand that following an inspection by Meath County...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Airport Development Projects (14 Nov 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 280, 281 and 283 together. As the Deputy will be aware following the Government decision in principle to separate Shannon Airport from the Dublin Airport Authority and merge it in a new entity with a restructured Shannon Development, a Steering Group of senior officials from five key Departments was established to bring forward proposals for the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Railway Stations (14 Nov 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The issue raised is an operational matter for Irish Rail in conjunction with the National Transport Authority. I have referred the Deputy's question to Irish Rail for direct reply.  Please inform my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Sector Reform (14 Nov 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 355 of 8 November 2012. The position regarding the abolition or amalgamation of State Bodies under the remit of my Department remains the same. In relation to the savings and cost of this programme it is not possible to quantify the potential savings/cost from rationalisation until the detailed arrangements in...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Traffic Management (14 Nov 2012)

Leo Varadkar: A proposal to allow for turning left on a red light in the absence of oncoming traffic was examined by my Department and the Road Safety Authority (RSA) in recent years. After careful consideration, the RSA recommended against the proposal on the grounds that it would cause confusion among motorists and pedestrians regarding the absoluteness of the red traffic light.  It was also likely...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Staff Promotions (14 Nov 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The total number of promotions and assignments made in my Department since 2009 to the grades listed by the Deputy is 11.  In 2009, there were three promotions to Executive Officer and one to Staff Officer.  In 2010, there were four promotions to Principal Officer Standard Scale and three assignees to Principal Officer Higher Scale. There have been no promotions to date...