Results 981-1,000 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (2 Nov 2004)

Martin Cullen: Under the decentralisation programme Bus Éireann headquarters posts are to be relocated to Mitchelstown. That position remains unchanged. To date, 86 posts suitable for decentralisation have been identified by the company. Whether existing employees move to fill these posts is a voluntary decision for those involved. To date no employee has indicated a wish to move and this clearly presents...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (2 Nov 2004)

Martin Cullen: The National Roads Authority is currently undertaking the largest road building programme in the history of the State, made possible by record levels of Exchequer funding supplemented by private investment in respect of public private partnership schemes. Good progress is being made in the implementation of the programme. Over the period since 2000, 45 projects — 310 km. — have been...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (2 Nov 2004)

Martin Cullen: I understand that the Railway Procurement Agency and Connex are availing of every opportunity through the media and in direct meetings with community groups to remind people of all safety aspects of light rail operating in city streets. Consultation is also taking place between the RPA, Connex and the Garda Síochána on how to encourage motorists to respect red lights and other road...

Written Answers — Light Rail Project: Light Rail Project (2 Nov 2004)

Martin Cullen: The further development of the Luas network is the responsibility of the Railway Procurement Agency. The RPA is at present advancing plans for extensions of Luas to the Dublin Docklands and Cherrywood. These plans are based on private sector funding, captured through development levies from developers who own land along a proposed route. I understand from the RPA that good progress is being...

Written Answers — Infrastructural Projects: Infrastructural Projects (2 Nov 2004)

Martin Cullen: Iarnród Éireann recently submitted to my Department a strategy document that sets out the business case for the development of a greater Dublin integrated rail network. The proposal to construct an interconnector rail tunnel between Heuston Station and the docklands is a part of the plan. My Department is in the process of evaluating the business case at present. The current position in...

Written Answers — Traffic Management: Traffic Management (2 Nov 2004)

Martin Cullen: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 112, to which I replied earlier today.

Written Answers — Traffic Management: Traffic Management (2 Nov 2004)

Martin Cullen: I wish to ensure that as many practical measures as possible are taken to improve the movement of buses on the road network and thereby reduce journey times and congestion. In that regard, my Department is engaged in discussions with Bus Éireann, Dublin Bus, Dublin Transportation Office, the quality bus network project office and the National Roads Authority regarding the use of the hard...

Written Answers — Airport Development Projects: Airport Development Projects (2 Nov 2004)

Martin Cullen: Under the regional airports measure of the National Development Plan 2000-2006, funding has been made available towards infrastructural works and upgrades in facilities to maintain continued safe and viable operation of the six regional airports in Kerry, Waterford, Galway, Sligo, Knock, and Donegal. The programme is being implemented under two separate rounds, the first covering the period...

Written Answers — Taxi Hardship Panel: Taxi Hardship Panel (2 Nov 2004)

Martin Cullen: The taxi hardship panel was an independent three-person panel established in February 2002 to report in general terms on the nature and extent of extreme personal financial hardship that may have been experienced by individual taxi licence holders arising from loss of income as a direct result of the liberalisation of the taxi licensing regime, including an estimate of the numbers of...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (2 Nov 2004)

Martin Cullen: I understand that the opening of a rail line between Sallins and Tullow does not form part of Iarnród Éireann's medium-term strategic plan for the development of the rail network. The strategic rail review, conducted on behalf of my Department in 2003 to advise on the approach to be taken to rail development in the country over the next 20 years did not include the provision of services on...

Written Answers — Driving Instructor Register: Driving Instructor Register (2 Nov 2004)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 341, 342, 350, 351 and 359 together. I refer the Deputies to my reply to Question No. 154 on Thursday, 14 October, 2004. Proposals being developed by my Department for the regulation and quality assurance of driving instruction will involve a test of the competence of individual instructors. A working group comprising representatives of my Department and of...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (2 Nov 2004)

Martin Cullen: Talks on the reform of public transport between officials in my Department and the CIE unions, under an independent chair appointed by the Labour Relations Commission, were adjourned in mid-September. I am reviewing the developments which have taken place during these talks and the technical work which has been undertaken by my Department on the reform programme. I am also consulting with...

Written Answers — Disabled Drivers: Disabled Drivers (2 Nov 2004)

Martin Cullen: The Road Traffic (Traffic and Parking) Regulations 1997 empower local authorities, the Irish Wheelchair Association and the Disabled Drivers' Association, to grant a disabled person's parking permit where they are satisfied that the applicant is suffering from a disability that prevents him or her from walking or causes undue hardship to the person in walking. The qualifying criterion is...

Written Answers — Toll Revenues: Toll Revenues (2 Nov 2004)

Martin Cullen: The State's share of the West-Link gross toll revenue, also referred to as the licence fee, in each of the years 2001-03 is set out as follows. The licence fee payable in a year is based on the previous year's traffic volumes and is paid in May of the following year. Consequently the licence fee payable for 2004 is not as yet available. 2001 €9,219,706; 2002 €7,584,901; 2003...

Written Answers — Air Accident Investigations: Air Accident Investigations (2 Nov 2004)

Martin Cullen: The following is a list of all accidents and incidents, as such events are defined in SI 205 of 1997, which occurred at or near Weston Aerodrome, Lucan, County Dublin, since October 1999 and which were reported to the air accident investigation unit of my Department. The Deputy may note that the reports of these events that are of a serious nature can be found on the web site of the air...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (2 Nov 2004)

Martin Cullen: My Department has an internal audit unit, which is currently staffed by three officers. Officers assigned to the unit receive appropriate education and training for the performance of their duties. The unit also has access to consultancy support in carrying out its functions.

Written Answers — Driving Instructor Register: Driving Instructor Register (2 Nov 2004)

Martin Cullen: It is assumed the person concerned is a member of the voluntary driving instructor register of Ireland, DIR. I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 154 of Thursday 14 October, 2004 which sets out the position in regard to existing driving instructors in the context of the proposed regulation of driving instruction.

Written Answers — Rail Services: Rail Services (2 Nov 2004)

Martin Cullen: I am informed by Irish Rail that it has no immediate plans to re-open the Mullingar to Athlone railway line. The strategic rail review, commissioned by my Department in 2003, recommended the re-opening of the line as a long-term proposal. The recently published regional planning guidelines for the Midlands Regional Authority also adverted to the strategic rail review conclusions. The...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (2 Nov 2004)

Martin Cullen: The national development plan covers the period 2000 to 2006 and while the mid-term review of the plan indicated a lower than expected spend in the BMW region, Irish Rail has, since then, commenced or planned a number of projects in the region. The network resignalling project that originally included Sligo has been extended to include Westport and Ballina. As well as the upgrade of a number...

Written Answers — Cycle Facilities: Cycle Facilities (2 Nov 2004)

Martin Cullen: The provision of cycle ways and cycle parking is, in the first instance, a matter for the relevant local authorities. My Department does, however, support the commitment to cycling in the programme for Government, and provides funding to local authorities in the greater Dublin area through the Dublin Transportation Office traffic management grants scheme. The total investment in cycling...