Results 8,421-8,440 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driving Licences (31 Jan 2017)

Shane Ross: ​As I explained in the response to which the Deputy refers, negotiations on arrangements for exchange of driving licences are handled on behalf of the State by the Road Safety Authority (RSA). I understand from the RSA that an agreement with British Columbia is very close to being finalised.  However, it is not possible at this point to give a...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Disability Services Provision (31 Jan 2017)

Shane Ross: ​I would like to thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. An accessible public transport system is of fundamental importance and improved access is one of the statutory objectives of the National Transport Authority. Accessibility features are built into all new public transport infrastructure projects and vehicles from the design stage and newer systems such as the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Search and Rescue Service Provision (31 Jan 2017)

Shane Ross: The Irish Coast Guard as a division of my Department has the delegated responsibility for maritime Search and Rescue. The Coast Guard provides maritime Search and Rescue through its three Rescue Co-ordination Centres, and dedicated search and rescue units. These Search and Rescue Units are comprised of the Search and Rescue helicopters and Coast Guard Volunteer Units.  Search and...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Improvement Schemes (31 Jan 2017)

Shane Ross: ​As you know the improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads, such as the R704 Listern road widening scheme, is the statutory responsibility of Kilkenny County Council, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from the Council's own resources supplemented by State road grants.  ...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Improvement Schemes (31 Jan 2017)

Shane Ross: ​While I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme, the construction, improvement and maintenance of individual national roads (including the junction of the N3 and the L7031 at Murmod Cross, Virginia, Co. Cavan), is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the local...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Motor Insurance Regulation (31 Jan 2017)

Shane Ross: The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including licensing of wheelchair accessible vehicles, under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013. On the issue of the cost of motor insurance, as I advised the Deputy in reply to his Question No. 279 on 19th January...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Funding (31 Jan 2017)

Shane Ross: ​I have no function in relation to funding for this scheme. My Department understands from Tipperary County Council that funding was sought for the most recent phase of this project under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme which is operated under the aegis of the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Olympic Council of Ireland (31 Jan 2017)

Shane Ross: At the request of Judge Carroll Moran, an extension to end March 2017 has been granted for the completion of this Inquiry. No interim report has been received and none is expected in advance of the expected presentation of the final report at end March 2017. Subject to consideration of any legal issues arising, it is envisaged that the report will be published shortly thereafter.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Éireann (31 Jan 2017)

Shane Ross: As the Deputy is aware, Bus Éireann is developing plans to address its financial position.  The company is currently loss-making and these losses are not sustainable. The Company's difficulties stem from its commercial Expressway services which are not subsidised by the taxpayer and operate in competition  with other non-subsidised operators. During the course of 2016 Bus...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Traffic Legislation (31 Jan 2017)

Shane Ross: EU Council Decisions 2008/615/JHA and 2008/616/JHA, commonly referred to as the 'Prüm Decisions', relate to measures on the stepping up of cross-border cooperation, particularly in combatting terrorism and cross-border crime. The Decisions include conditions and procedures for the automated exchange of DNA, fingerprint and vehicle registration data, with the latter falling within the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Severe Weather Events Expenditure (31 Jan 2017)

Shane Ross: I propose to take Questions Nos. 727 and 728 together. Following receipt of initial estimates from local authorities of the cost of storm damage repairs, it was decided in January 2016 to allocate €106m to assist in the repair of storm and flood damage to transport infrastructure.  The figure of €106 million comprised €8 million for repairs to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Improvement Schemes (31 Jan 2017)

Shane Ross: The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads in its area is a statutory function of a local 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 projects to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Roads Maintenance Funding (31 Jan 2017)

Shane Ross: Details of the 2017 regional and local road grant allocations to each local authority are available in the allocations booklet lodged in the Dáil Library.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Invasive Plant Species (31 Jan 2017)

Shane Ross: ​My Department is participating in a joint initiative with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) to map and treat the invasive plant species Japanese Knotweed. This involves a rolling programme led by TII.   The amounts which will be allocated to different local authorities in 2017 is still under consideration in conjunction with TII.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Network (31 Jan 2017)

Shane Ross: An allocation of €700,000 has been provided to Limerick Council in 2017 for repairs to Thomond Bridge. Approval from my Department would not be required in respect of any memorial plaque which Limerick Council may wish to provide at Thomond Bridge. However, I appreciate that the local authority may wish to erect a plaque to commemorate the two brave men who perished and...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Staff Data (31 Jan 2017)

Shane Ross: ​As at 31 December, 2016 there were 116 Clerical Officers (103.93 full time equivalent) and 11 Staff Officers (9.3 full time equivalent) in my Department. I have asked the non-commercial agencies under the aegis of my Department to provide the Deputy with the information requested in respect of their organisations. If you do not receive a reply from the agencies...

Roads Funding: Motion [Private Members] (1 Feb 2017)

Shane Ross: I am hoping to share time with Deputy Moran.

Roads Funding: Motion [Private Members] (1 Feb 2017)

Shane Ross: However, I am not quite sure whether he has got the right time for this debate.

Roads Funding: Motion [Private Members] (1 Feb 2017)

Shane Ross: Okay. I thank the Rural Alliance for tabling this motion. In particular, I thank Deputies Michael Harty, Mattie McGrath and Michael Collins for spending some time in my office last week in coming to an agreed motion, which was extremely helpful. I will try to respond in kind. I also thank Deputy Mattie McGrath for promising me a meeting in Tipperary some months ago to see the roads. He...

Roads Funding: Motion [Private Members] (1 Feb 2017)

Shane Ross: I will certainly go to other areas and will, of course, go back to Tipperary. I would like to start by acknowledging the major impact on the maintenance and improvement of our national, regional and local road network of the funding cutbacks from 2008 associated with the financial crisis. The size of the road network at around 99,000 kilometres made the impact all the more severe. That...