Results 7,981-8,000 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

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

Leo Varadkar: The previous Government gave a commitment to co-fund the construction of the A5 in Northern Ireland.  However, it made no provision to meet the costs of the A5 post-2012 in either the Four Year Plan or the Infrastructure Investment Priorities Plan 2010 to 2016.  Given that £400 million sterling would be required between 2013 and 2016 and given the current state of the...

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

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 699 and 700 together. The Local Improvements Scheme provided funding for private roads.  However, the maintenance and improvement of these roads is, in the first instance, a matter for the relevant landowner.  Given that the priority in using scarce resources in the current difficult economic climate is to maintain public roads it...

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

Leo Varadkar: I understand that the EuroVelo routes were identified in 2005 on a European wide basis by the Eurovelo organisation. It outlined long distance routes that had been flagged at a national level that could contribute significantly to cycling tourism in Europe, but not necessarily with any commitment to deliver the routes. With regard to the Atlantic Coast Route concept, whilst there...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Appointments to State Boards (22 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The new procedures advertised by my Department on Friday, 8 April 2011 involved an open invitation to members of the public to submit expressions of interest in serving on the board of any of the agencies operating under my aegis.  I stated clearly at the time that, given the importance of ensuring the right mix of skills and experience on every board,...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: Road Safety (22 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Senator for raising this matter and giving me the opportunity to address it in the House. As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in regard to the national roads programme. The construction, improvement and maintenance of individual national roads are statutory matters for the National Roads Authority, NRA, under the...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: State Airports (22 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: As the Senator will be aware, the Government decided in November to proceed with the separation of Shannon Airport from the Dublin Airport Authority, DAA, and to merge the airport with a restructured Shannon Development to form a new integrated Shannon entity in public ownership, "NewCo". This will grant Shannon Airport the freedom to determine its own future in the best interests of the...

Seanad: Adjournment Matters: State Airports (22 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: All I can add is that Ireland West Airport Knock is a regional airport and is extremely important to Connacht and the north west but from a national point of view it accounts for only about 2% of air traffic to Ireland. If it was not a regional airport it would not be eligible for "opex" or "capex" funding or State aid. If it was a strategic airport, such as Dublin Airport which accounts...

Leaders' Questions (23 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: Westminster salaries.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Maintenance (23 Jan 2013)

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. Within its capital budget, the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driving Licences (23 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 251 and 252 together. I am aware of concerns raised by those involved in the photo ID business in relation to the new driver licence regime.   The Government decided in 2011 to centralise driver licence provision, following an examination of the options for driver licensing which found that a centralised system would offer enhanced security...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety (23 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006 (Conferral of Functions) Order 2006 (S.I. No. 477 of 2006) the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has responsibility for the promotion of public awareness of road safety and measures including the advancement of education, relating to the promotion of the safe use of roads, including co-operation with local authorities and other persons in this...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driving Licences (23 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I recently revised the fee structure for driver licences, the first time this has been done since 1989.   The new fee structure takes account of the fact that there was no increase since 1989 – which has left the driver licensing service underfunded – and also takes account of EU legislation regarding categories and periods of licence, which came into effect from 19...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driving Licences (24 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The number of persons that currently hold full driving licences is 2,413,936 and the number of drivers that have licences to pull a small trailer behind a car is 799,282. New regulations in relation to driver licences came into effect on 19 January 2013.  These Regulations changed the weight limits associated with towing trailers but will not apply to people...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Safety (24 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I understand from enquiries I have made with the Railway Safety Commission (RSC) that the numbers of suicides that have occurred on the Irish rail network since the year 2000 are as follows: Year         &# xa0;         &# xa0;         No of...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sports Capital Programme (24 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The club referred to by the Deputy applied for a grant under the 2012 Sports Capital Programme.  When the 2012 Programme was advertised, my Department issued a guide to filling out the application form which clearly set out the Department’s minimum requirements that applicants had to meet to be considered for funding.  Unfortunately, this application did not meet these...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (24 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: This is a matter for Dublin Bus in conjunction with the National Transport Authority (NTA) 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: Ministerial Meetings (24 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: Neither I nor any of my officials have  met with any representatives of the tobacco industry in the last six months.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Cycling Facilities (24 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: My Department has provided significant investment for cycling routes, including in the Midlands. The most recent National Cycle Network funding scheme allocated funding for routes along the R420 in Offaly and along the Royal Canal in Westmeath.  The latter in particular builds on extensive previous funding for route development along the Canal in...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Roads Authority (24 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: As Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme.  The maintenance of national roads, including provision for adverse weather conditions, is a matter for the NRA under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. In addition the NRA co-ordinates the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Traffic Legislation (29 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: Given the unprecedented progress in road safety in recent years, I find it difficult to respond to a proposal that would undermine so much of that achievement.  For the seventh year in a row, the number of people killed on Irish roads has dropped.  In 2012, the loss of life was the lowest ever recorded. The on-going effort to reduce the tragedy of road deaths is working...