Results 9,281-9,300 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Services (8 Oct 2013)

Leo Varadkar: My Department and the National Transport Authority are working with Iarnród Éireann to increase the efficiency and attractiveness of existing rail services. The Government continues to provide substantial Exchequer investment in the rail network despite the significant financial challenges.  In the past two years a total of almost €385 million...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Services (8 Oct 2013)

Leo Varadkar: Officials in my Department maintain regular contact with their counterparts in the Department for Regional Development in Belfast regarding railway infrastructure issues. For example officials from both administrations met on a number of occasions to discuss the Trans European Network (Ten-T) and Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) Regulations during the period when both Regulations were...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: EU Funding (8 Oct 2013)

Leo Varadkar: Under the Trans European Network–Transport (Ten-T) 2007-2013, €9.4m has been allocated for expenditure on the Planning & Design phase of the Tunnel element of the DART Underground programme. Three applications relating to the rail network were submitted by my Department this year under the Ten-T 2012 Calls. I understand that the application in respect of the Studies...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sports Funding (8 Oct 2013)

Leo Varadkar: Sport makes a significant contribution to the economy and is an important driver of growth and employment. The sport sector's contribution to the economy includes sports tourism, ticket sales, subscriptions and the cost of playing sport, together with the purchase of sports equipment and an economic value of time given by volunteers.    The "Assessment of Economic Impact of...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Tolls (8 Oct 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 630 and 631 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects Expenditure (8 Oct 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: Capital Programme Expenditure (8 Oct 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The Government's policy in relation to the funding of capital projects to 2016, including the development of rail and road links, is set out in the "Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2012-16: Medium Term Exchequer Framework". Due to the overall reduction in funding for transport infrastructure the priority to 2016 is to protect investment made to date and...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety Issues (9 Oct 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from local authorities own resources supplemented by State road grants.  The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the local...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: State Properties (9 Oct 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 206 and 208 together. The transport companies under my aegis are the CIÉ group of companies and the Railway Procurement Agency. In the case of these agencies, the disposal of property assets is not subject to any specific authority from the Minister and no requirement is placed on them to consult with stakeholders. In the case of CIÉ, core...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport Issues (9 Oct 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The criteria and procedures upon which State owned transport companies assess the suitability of property for disposal by sale or long term lease is a matter for the agencies themselves. I have forwarded your question to the transport companies for direct reply to you, if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days please contact my private office.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects Issues (9 Oct 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...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects Issues (9 Oct 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...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Sector Staff Issues (9 Oct 2013)

Leo Varadkar: There is currently no targeted redundancy scheme available to staff in my Department.  In the period up to 31st August 2014 seven staff in my Department will reach the retirement age of 65 years.   Under section 9(2)(a) of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2013, staff in my Department who retire by end August 2014 and whose pay has been...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Forthcoming Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council: Discussion with Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (9 Oct 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I am pleased to attend this meeting of the joint committee in advance of the Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council meeting in Luxembourg tomorrow morning. In the course of his presentation to the committee last week the Secretary General of my Department, Mr. Tom O'Mahony, briefed members on developments at European Union level since 2012, including developments in and progress on...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Forthcoming Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council: Discussion with Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (9 Oct 2013)

Leo Varadkar: It is important to make a distinction between care and assistance on the one hand and cash compensation on the other. There is no argument that if someone misses a connection, the airline is responsible for making sure the person can get the next available flight. If the person is delayed for a certain period of time, he or she should be provided with assistance or meals. We have concerns...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Forthcoming Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council: Discussion with Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (9 Oct 2013)

Leo Varadkar: Yes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Forthcoming Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council: Discussion with Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (9 Oct 2013)

Leo Varadkar: This has been raised by Aer Lingus, which has that concern. I met representatives of IATA, the International Air Travel Association, which represents airlines around the world. A point-to-point airline such as Ryanair does not have the same level of concern.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Forthcoming Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council: Discussion with Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (9 Oct 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The railway package has been broken into different aspects. Initially, we are dealing with safety and interoperability. It sets European standards which over time would require us to upgrade our railways. We have tried to avoid committing Ireland to European standards that would be expensive to implement but would not make any sense. One example is the European rail traffic management...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Forthcoming Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council: Discussion with Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (9 Oct 2013)

Leo Varadkar: Not really, but it is not hugely significant.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Forthcoming Transport, Telecommunications and Energy Council: Discussion with Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (9 Oct 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I will defer to Ms Brogan on that point. The plan is to go for greater transparency and to allow the airlines to make their own rules but to ensure that these are transparent and clear to passengers.