Results 7,941-7,960 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (16 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The allocation of the additional subvention of €36 million in 2012 to the CIE companies is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) and I have referred the matter to the NTA for direct reply.  I ask the Deputy to advise my private office if he does not receive a reply within 10 working days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Industrial Disputes (16 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: Industrial relations issues at Bus Éireann are the responsibility of the company.  I understand that following discussions at the Labour Relation Commission on Friday, 11 January, matters have been referred to the Labour Court.  I want to record my thanks to the Labour Relations Commission and Labour Court for their work on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Éireann Ticketing (16 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: This is a matter for Bus Éireann in conjunction, as appropriate, with the National Transport Authority.  I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply.  I ask him to advise my private office if he does not receive a reply within ten working days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Appointments to State Boards (16 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1162 and 1164 to 1166, inclusive, together. Full details of state board appointments are available on the Department's website ( ) as are the fee levels approved by Government for each agency.   Details of the actual fees paid to a director in any year are available from the annual report of the relevant agency. Details are also...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: State Bodies (16 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: CIÉ and its subsidiaries, including Bus Éireann, account for the discharge of their functions in their annual reports and accounts which are placed before the Oireachtas, annual reports by the Chairman of CIÉ certifying compliance with Code of Practice requirements, regular appearances before Oireachtas Committees, and annual audit of accounts by independent...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Cycle Facilities (16 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: Planning for the proposed Dublin-Galway cycle route is currently being carried out by my Department, aided by the National Roads Authority and National Transport Authority.  The National Transport Authority is responsible for the provision of cycling infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area and is therefore proceeding with the planning of the Dublin City Centre to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driving Licence Renewals (16 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I approved the increase in driver licence fees with effect from 1 January 2013. The changes represent the first increase in these fees since 1989 and will result in the driver licence service being less reliant on the Exchequer in the future. From 1 January, a person will pay €55 for a ten-year licence, €35 for a three year licence and €25 for a one-year...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Promotion (16 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take questions 1170 and 1172 together. According to the latest CSO figures for January to November 2012, overall visit numbers to Ireland from overseas are on par with visit numbers in 2011.  However, our visit numbers from Britain continue to be affected by the slow pace of economic recovery and weak consumer confidence in that market, with overall trips from...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (16 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: This is a matter for the private operator concerned in conjunction with the National Transport Authority (NTA).  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: Tourism Promotion (16 Jan 2013)

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 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 (16 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: Under some previous rounds of the Sports Capital Programme, extra "top-up" funding was allocated to grantees in designated disadvantaged areas.  This funding was provided by the Department with responsibility for CLAR and RAPID programmes - currently the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. No such funding was allocated by that...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (16 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: This is a matter for CIÉ and its subsidiary companies.  The Deputy should note that both Dublin Bus and Irish Rail already have bye-laws in place where the prohibition of feet on seats is stated.  Bus Éireann also intends to adopt bye-laws which will also have a similar prohibition.  Bye-laws are also in place in respect of Luas operations that may be used to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Ministerial Meetings (16 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: Since coming to office, I and senior officials of my Department have already had a number of meetings and engagements with the Chairman and managament of Ireland West Airport Knock.  As regards a meeting with the Board of the Airport, arrangements have been made for the Taoiseach and myself to meet the Board  in the coming weeks.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Air Services (16 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: As the Deputy is aware, the Government decided in November to proceed with the separation of Shannon Airport from the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) and to merge it with a restructured Shannon Development to form a new integrated Shannon entity in public ownership. The Order specifying the date of separation of Shannon Airport from the DAA was executed last month following its approval...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sale of State Assets (16 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I have no plans in relation to the sale of Rosslare Port. However, I have recently appointed consultants, Indecon, to undertake a strategic review of the current and future role of Rosslare Port. The consultants have been asked to assess the port’s current commercial and operational efficiency and advise as to whether the port is maximising its potential and make...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Funding (16 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1180 and 1181 together. Details of the funding arrangements for activities under the aegis of my Department, including allocations to specific statutory and non-statutory bodies, are set out in the Annual Estimates volumes that are available on the appropriate websites. My Department runs two grant programmes: The Sports Capital Programme and the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Improvement Schemes (17 Jan 2013)

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.  The initial selection and prioritisation of works to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Staff Redeployment (17 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The Department currently has two internal requests for transfer to other locations and the number of transfers that took place in 2012 are as set out in the following table:    Number County From County To 6 Dublin Dublin 4 Dublin Kildare 2 Clare Limerick 1 Clare Clare 1 Kerry Cork I forwarded your request to the agencies under my aegis.  If...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Promotion (22 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The matter raised is an operational one for Tourism Ireland Limited as the body responsible for promoting the island of Ireland as a visitor destination overseas. I have referred the Deputy's Question to Tourism Ireland 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: Driving Licence Renewals (22 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: As and from 12th January 2013, the Road Safety Authority has become the national driver licensing authority and has responsibility for all aspects of the service. Since 2010, driver licence application forms have required the provision of a PPSN. I understand that the purpose of requesting a PPSN is to provide a unique individual indicator for the individual in dealings with the State on a...