Results 8,401-8,420 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Written Answers — Transport 21: Transport 21 (26 May 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 73 and 241 together. Transport 21 continues to provide the strategic framework guiding Government investment in transport up to 2015. Over 60% of the major inter urban roads programme, linking Dublin with Cork, Limerick, Galway, Waterford and the Border with Northern Ireland, has been completed and the remainder is under construction and on target for...

Written Answers — State Airports: State Airports (26 May 2009)

Noel Dempsey: Issues relating to business matters generally and employment levels in particular at the three state airports are day-to-day commercial matters for the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) in which I have no statutory function. The reality is that the world wide economic downturn has had a seriously negative impact on the aviation industry generally and this in turn has severely affected the...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (26 May 2009)

Noel Dempsey: The drafting of a Road Traffic Bill, which inter alia includes measures for the mandatory testing for alcohol of drivers involved in road traffic collisions, is near completion. It is my intention to publish it in this session. The Road Traffic Acts already provide that a member of An Garda Síochána, if of the opinion that a driver is under the influence of an intoxicant or intoxicants to...

Written Answers — Transport 21: Transport 21 (26 May 2009)

Noel Dempsey: In the absence of a new Programme for Government the issue of what projects may or may not be included does not arise.

Written Answers — Taxi Regulations: Taxi Regulations (26 May 2009)

Noel Dempsey: The proposal to transfer the function of small public service vehicle driver licensing from An Garda Sióchána to the Commission for Taxi Regulation will require additional staffing levels in the Commission. It is not envisaged that this proposal will be delayed indefinitely. However, in light of the current moratorium on recruitment in the Public Service, the proposal will need to be...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (26 May 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 79 and 90 together. My most recent meeting with Dublin Bus was on 9 March when I was briefed on the financial position of the company and the arrangements in place for the implementation of the recommendations of the Deloitte report. Operational matters including service rationalisations are a matter for the company. I understand from Dublin Bus that it has...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (26 May 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I refer to the reply by the Minister for Finance to Question Number 157 on 19 May in which he referred to a number of issues that had arisen in relation to the implementation of the scheme in the civil service. Any clarification required in relation to such issues is a matter for the Department of Finance. In relation to the date on which the scheme will become fully operational, the...

Written Answers — Driving Tests: Driving Tests (26 May 2009)

Noel Dempsey: Smarter Travel, the new sustainable transport policy, specifically mentions eco-driving. Action 36 states: We will include a module on efficient driving as part of the rules of the road and national driver test. We will also require that all public authorities ensure that their drivers are trained in efficient driving and that this is part of their job specification. We will ensure that,...

Written Answers — Haulage Licences: Haulage Licences (26 May 2009)

Noel Dempsey: A Road Haulage Operator's Licence is granted under Section 2 of the Road Traffic and Transport Act 2006, and entitles the holder to carry on a road haulage business for hire or reward. The criteria for the grant of a Road Haulage Operator's Licence are set out in Irish and EU legislation. The three criteria that must be met by every applicant are: 1.Good Repute, 2.Professional Competence,...

Written Answers — Cycle Facilities: Cycle Facilities (26 May 2009)

Noel Dempsey: The National Cycle Policy Framework is a long-term vision that stretches from 2009 to 2020. The cost of delivery of the 109 actions that the NCPF envisages is estimated to be in the region of €2.3 billion. The key ambition under NCPF is an increase in the modal share enjoyed by cycling from its current level of around 2% to 10%. I believe that this is an ambitious, yet achievable, target...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (26 May 2009)

Noel Dempsey: The road grant allocations to Cork County Council for regional and local roads in each of the years 2006 – 2009 are set out in the following table. Year €million 2006 52.825 2007 60.726 2008 65.335 2009 43.881

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (26 May 2009)

Noel Dempsey: Action 42 of Smartertravel, the Government's policy framework for a sustainable transport future, provides that local authorities will be empowered to prepare transport plans that will complement their development plans. It is my intention to include proposals relating to transport plans in a Sustainable Travel and Transport Bill, on which preliminary work is underway in my Department, to...

Written Answers — Rights of Seafarers: Rights of Seafarers (26 May 2009)

Noel Dempsey: The mv Defender, IMO Number 6919837, is registered in Cambodia. As a foreign ship entering an Irish port, she is subject to Port State Control inspections carried out in accordance with the Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control. The vessel was detained in Cork on 17th April 2008 following an inspection carried out by marine surveyors from my Department. The inspection...

Written Answers — Taxi Regulations: Taxi Regulations (26 May 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I understand that the Commission for Taxi Regulation, in the context of its follow up to the economic review of the small public service vehicle sector, is reconsidering the options for increasing the availability of wheelchair accessible taxis. I will further consider the Commission's proposals for a subsidy scheme to incentivise the provision of more wheelchair accessible taxis in the light...

Written Answers — Transport 21: Transport 21 (26 May 2009)

Noel Dempsey: A significant number of roads and rail projects are under construction at the present time and the costs involved were set on the award and signing of the associated contracts. Contracts for future projects will be awarded following competitive public procurement processes and costs will be determined by the bids received. The implementing State agencies have indicated to my Department that...

Written Answers — Taxi Regulations: Taxi Regulations (26 May 2009)

Noel Dempsey: As the Deputy will be aware, the Commission for Taxi Regulation has completed a major public consultation exercise on the recent Economic Review of the small public service vehicle sector which addressed, inter alia, a cap or moratorium on the issue of taxi licences which is not allowed under the Taxi Regulation Act, 2003. The Commission is currently engaged in meetings with taxi interests...

Written Answers — Light Rail Project: Light Rail Project (26 May 2009)

Noel Dempsey: Good progress continues to be made on the Metro North Project. The first round of tenders for the Public Private Partnership contract were submitted to the Railway Procurement (RPA) on 27th February 2009 and those tenders are being evaluated by the RPA. The Oral Hearing before An Bórd Pleanála on the railway order application for Metro North commenced on the 1st of April. No enabling works...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (26 May 2009)

Noel Dempsey: Both enforcement of road traffic offences and enforcement levels are matter for the Garda Commissioner. In relation to implementation of the overall Road Safety Strategy, a Cabinet Sub-Committee on Road Safety, which I chair, meets regularly to monitor progress, assess priorities, and identify any difficulties in implementation. Both the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform and the...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (26 May 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I refer the Deputy to my answer to Dáil Question No. 189 answered on 20 May 2009.

Written Answers — Rights of Seafarers: Rights of Seafarers (26 May 2009)

Noel Dempsey: Port State Control inspections onboard foreign flagged ships in Irish ports are carried out under the auspices of the Paris Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on port state control and EU Directives. These inspections are carried out to check for compliance with international law. Ireland will continue to work within the Paris MoU and with the other EU Member States so as to ensure the...