Results 8,001-8,020 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Local Authority Funding (29 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: Road Safety (29 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: An audit of speed limits within its functional area is a matter for each local authority which I am informed is carried out at periodic intervals.  Under the Road Traffic Acts, varying default speed limits have been set for general classes of roads. However, the power to decide the speed limit applying to individual roads within an area rests with the relevant road authority, i.e. City...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Appointments to State Boards (29 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The only existing vacancy on the board of Port of Cork Company is that of Chairperson. With the consent of the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, I intend to nominate a Chairperson designate to this position in the near future. The Chairperson designate will be required to appear before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications to outline...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driving Licences (29 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: There is a very sound rationale for centralising driver licensing, on grounds of efficiency and effectiveness of service as well as improved security.  Legislation passed last year provided for the Road Safety Authority (RSA) to be the national driver licensing authority. I have received some correspondence on the issues referred to by the Deputy.  Contrary to the premise of the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Library Projects (29 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The issue raised is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland.  Accordingly, 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: Rail Services (29 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The National Transport Authority has entered into a Public Service Obligation Contract with Iarnród Éireann for the provision of rail passenger services in Ireland. The NTA reviews Iarnród Éireann’s performance in this regard and publishes quarterly performance reports, which are available on the NTA's website. I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (29 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The matter raised by the Deputy falls within the operational responsibilities of Dublin Airport Authority and I have referred the question to the company for direct reply.  I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a reply has not been received within ten working days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sporting Events (29 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: In line with the Programme for Government, I am generally supportive of the efforts of the State Tourism Agencies and the National Governing Bodies of Sport to attract international sporting events to Ireland where there is a clear tourism benefit. The financial support of such events is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland and is subject to available...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourist Accommodation (29 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I have noted again the concerns expressed regarding the use of booking engines. I understand that over 62% of all international travel reservations are made using the internet and that is why Fáilte Ireland has a suite of supports available to accommodation providers to assist them in using the internet.  The purpose of these supports, which are very popular...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Service Reform Plan Update (29 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I refer the Deputy to the answer to Dáil question number 1133 of the 16th January 2013 which sets out the position in relation to the rationalisation of State Agencies under the aegis of my Department.

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

Leo Varadkar: In 2012, I announced that a review of speed limits would be undertaken and to that end, my Department established a stakeholder group to progress this work. The Automobile Association, An Garda Síochána, the Road Safety Authority, the National Roads Authority, representatives of local authorities and the National Transport Authority accepted my invitation to participate in...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport Issues (29 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The issue raised is an operational matter for Iarnród Éireann.  I have referred the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply.  Please inform my private office if you have not received a reply within ten working days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (29 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: Matters relating to upgrading works at individual level crossings on the rail network are operational day to day matters for Iarnród Éireann. Therefore,  I have referred the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply.  Please inform my private office if you do not receive a reply.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Fuel Rebate Scheme (29 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: Ultimately this is a matter for the Minister for Finance. The 2003 EU Energy Tax Directive incorporated special derogations which allowed specific excise duty reliefs to be applied in a number of Member States below the EU minimum duty rate.  In the case of public transport services, these derogations included reduced rates to apply to fuel used for scheduled bus services. While these...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (30 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport.  Following the establishment of the National Transport Authority (NTA) in December 2009, the implementation and development of infrastructure projects in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), such as the proposed Luas Cross City Line, comes under the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (30 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: In respect of the future provision of bus services the Programme for Government contains a commitment “to establish a Cabinet Sub-Committee on Infrastructure to explore the benefits to the public transport passenger of a more diverse bus service provision”.  In line with this commitment the National Transport Authority (NTA) conducted a non - statutory public consultation...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Garda Equipment (30 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The purchase of evidential breath testing instruments is a matter for the Medical Bureau of Road Safety (MBRS). I have therefore forwarded the question to the MBRS for direct reply.  I would ask the Deputy to contact my Office if no response has been received within ten days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Signage (30 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. Noting the above position, I have...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Promotion (30 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The matter raised is an operational one for Tourism Ireland 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: Departmental Contracts (31 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: Under the provisions of the Road Traffic (Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness) Act 2012, responsibility for driver licensing nationally has been transferred to the Road Safety Authority (RSA).  The new national driver licensing system consists of three outsourced elements: a front office for dealing with customers, a back office to process applications, and a card producer to manufacture...