Results 10,361-10,380 of 21,042 for speaker:Alan Kelly

Public Accounts Committee: Transport Infrastructure Ireland: Financial Statements 2016 (12 Oct 2017)

Alan Kelly: I am sure the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross, will not close any rail lines. We have to move a certain amount of freight off road. This is a serious issue which is not being addressed. It means we must upgrade and extend our rail network. Foynes is a classic example. I want to ensure the decision making process takes in all of this weight. Our ports are not...

Public Accounts Committee: Transport Infrastructure Ireland: Financial Statements 2016 (12 Oct 2017)

Alan Kelly: No, with regard to projects. I am sure road safety is part of the decision making process.

Public Accounts Committee: Transport Infrastructure Ireland: Financial Statements 2016 (12 Oct 2017)

Alan Kelly: I am delighted these data are maintained. How are the data weighted in TII's decision-making? There are parts of the road network, which the RSA says is often related to bottlenecks etc., where unfortunately there have been many fatalities. Surely this is weighted for significantly in decision-making on small or medium-sized projects. How that does work?

Public Accounts Committee: Transport Infrastructure Ireland: Financial Statements 2016 (12 Oct 2017)

Alan Kelly: That is what I am getting at.

Public Accounts Committee: Transport Infrastructure Ireland: Financial Statements 2016 (12 Oct 2017)

Alan Kelly: When Mr. Nolan forwards the table I asked for at the beginning of my contribution, I am sure we will see a heavy weighting on that. When did the TII last sit down with the RSA to discuss these issues?

Public Accounts Committee: Transport Infrastructure Ireland: Financial Statements 2016 (12 Oct 2017)

Alan Kelly: I am sorry. I am running out of time and I was interrupted. I asked a direct question.

Public Accounts Committee: Transport Infrastructure Ireland: Financial Statements 2016 (12 Oct 2017)

Alan Kelly: I am sorry. When was the last time Mr. Nolan sat down with the RSA?

Public Accounts Committee: Transport Infrastructure Ireland: Financial Statements 2016 (12 Oct 2017)

Alan Kelly: Last year is at least 12 months. Was that early last year?

Public Accounts Committee: Transport Infrastructure Ireland: Financial Statements 2016 (12 Oct 2017)

Alan Kelly: Mr. Nolan might come back to the committee with that. It is probably more like a year and a half ago. What I am trying to get to is it is strange that there are criteria for capital projects planning and there is a heavy weighting for safety but it is a year and a half since he sat down with RSA officials.

Public Accounts Committee: Transport Infrastructure Ireland: Financial Statements 2016 (12 Oct 2017)

Alan Kelly: What two recommendations are at risk because of lack of funding?

Public Accounts Committee: Transport Infrastructure Ireland: Financial Statements 2016 (12 Oct 2017)

Alan Kelly: That is not TII's fault but is it not seriously worrying for the organisation? How many have not been delivered on?

Public Accounts Committee: Transport Infrastructure Ireland: Financial Statements 2016 (12 Oct 2017)

Alan Kelly: So 90 road safety schemes which have been identified as part of the RSA seven-year strategy will not be delivered. People will die on these roads and Mr. Nolan is saying they will die because the TII has not been given the funding for them.

Public Accounts Committee: Transport Infrastructure Ireland: Financial Statements 2016 (12 Oct 2017)

Alan Kelly: That is extraordinary.

Public Accounts Committee: Transport Infrastructure Ireland: Financial Statements 2016 (12 Oct 2017)

Alan Kelly: That is one of the most extraordinary revelations the committee has heard and we have heard many.

Public Accounts Committee: Transport Infrastructure Ireland: Financial Statements 2016 (12 Oct 2017)

Alan Kelly: The TII's national roads maintenance budget is €37 million. I presume that is only a fraction of what the organisation needs.

Public Accounts Committee: Transport Infrastructure Ireland: Financial Statements 2016 (12 Oct 2017)

Alan Kelly: I acknowledge that. It is just about keeping the assets at the level required.

Public Accounts Committee: Transport Infrastructure Ireland: Financial Statements 2016 (12 Oct 2017)

Alan Kelly: The TII is basically at half of what it requires in funding. The budget was €80 million once.

Public Accounts Committee: Transport Infrastructure Ireland: Financial Statements 2016 (12 Oct 2017)

Alan Kelly: I was Minister of State in that Department. The money that goes to local authorities for national roads maintenance comes from the Department. Does it not go through the TII's project reporting system, PRS?

Public Accounts Committee: Transport Infrastructure Ireland: Financial Statements 2016 (12 Oct 2017)

Alan Kelly: It is a pass-through cost. What role has TII regarding the funding?

Public Accounts Committee: Transport Infrastructure Ireland: Financial Statements 2016 (12 Oct 2017)

Alan Kelly: The TII just makes the payments. It does not analyse the funding or anything like that. It goes to local authorities for regional and local roads.