Results 10,741-10,760 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (15 May 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The National Transport Authority (NTA)  which has statutory responsibility for developing public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA)  is currently undertaking a technical consultancy to assess the long-term rail transport requirements of the North Dublin/Fingal corridor, extending from Finglas to Malahide and including Dublin Airport and Swords. ...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects Status (15 May 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 22 and 49 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: Ports Policy (15 May 2014)

Leo Varadkar: As the Deputy is aware, I published a new National Ports Policy in March 2013 which seeks to recognise the importance of all of our ports while acknowledging the differences between them and their particular roles in national, regional and local economies and communities. The policy categorises the State owned ports into - Ports of National Significance (Tier 1): Dublin, Cork and Shannon -...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Air Services Provision (15 May 2014)

Leo Varadkar: A major consideration for the Government in its decision to separate Shannon airport from the DAA was the serious decline of passenger traffic at the airport over recent years. Shannon airport was loss making from 2008 to 2012 and passenger numbers plummeted by over 60% from a peak in 2007 of 3.62 million to 1.39 million in 2012.  A consistent decline on this scale was always going to be...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Air Services Provision (15 May 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 25 and 27 together. These questions relate to the application by Norwegian Air International to the US authorities for a foreign air carrier permit to operate flights into the US. Norwegian Air International (NAI) was granted an Air Operator Certificate (AOC) and an Operating licence by the Irish Aviation Authority and the Commission for Aviation...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Roads Maintenance (15 May 2014)

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 selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is a matter for each local...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Community Involvement Scheme (15 May 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 28 and 36 together. Local authorities were issued with a circular on 1 April this year inviting applications for funding under the Community Involvement Scheme with a deadline of 2 May 2014. My Department recently received applications from 25 county councils for funding under this scheme of grants.  All of these applications are...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Funding (15 May 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The Coast Guard, which is a division of the Irish Maritime Administration in my Department, administers mountain rescue grants in two parts; to individual mountain rescue teams and to the co-ordinating body Mountain Rescue Ireland, which is an all-island body. Despite the constraints on public finance these payments have not reduced in my tenure as...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Industry (15 May 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The approved Tourism Ireland Business Plan for 2014 targets growth in visitor numbers to Ireland of 4% this year and growth in associated visitor revenue of 7%.  Priority overseas markets will again be the United States, Great Britain, Germany and France, which together deliver almost three-quarters of all our overseas visitors but promotions will also...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Traffic Offences (15 May 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The Criminal Justice Working Group was established in March on foot of a recommendation in the Garda Inspectorate Report on the Fixed Charge Processing System.  The Group is jointly chaired by my Department and the Department of Justice and Equality and comprises representatives of all relevant Departments and agencies involved in the area of road traffic legislation. To date, the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects Status (15 May 2014)

Leo Varadkar: At the most recent North South Ministerial Council Transport Sectoral meeting on 16th April 2014, the Council noted that following the Court judicial review ruling on 8th April 2013, work was progressing on an Appropriate Assessment process to address impacts of the A5 scheme on all designated environmental areas and to propose mitigation and that the completed reports would be subject...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Improvement Schemes (15 May 2014)

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 selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is a matter for each local...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Services (15 May 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Unfortunately, CIÉ is in a difficult financial situation and is dependent on continued bank funding. Cost saving measures have already been agreed in Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus and savings need to be made in Irish Rail. Despite the introduction of a number of cost reduction measures, Irish Rail has incurred accumulated losses of over €147m in the past six...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sporting Events (15 May 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Last November the Government considered a Memorandum on the discussions and analysis to date on a potential bid to host the Rugby World Cup in 2023. While the Memorandum identified a number of challenges, the great potential of the event is also clear and I believe that hosting the Rugby World Cup on a cross-border basis in 2023 would be a great opportunity for Northern...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Light Rail Projects Status (15 May 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The National Transport Authority (NTA) which has responsibility  for the implementation and development of infrastructure projects in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), including the Luas Cross City project, reports regularly to my  Department on the progress of this project. The current position is that the project is progressing to agreed timelines and the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Industry (15 May 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I am aware that the company referred to is looking at the scope to develop a tourism element of their business. Following contacts with my Office, the company was advised to contact the Tourism Agencies in the first instance. I understand the agencies were subsequently contacted on the proposals and are liaising directly with Evercam.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (15 May 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I have instructed the National Transport Authority (NTA) to update the existing 2010 business case for DART Underground. I made this request as a result of the recent High Court Judgement on the DART Underground Railway Order which ruled that the period for serving Notices to Treat for the purpose of compulsory purchase of property under the Order should be 18 months rather than the 7...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aviation Policy (15 May 2014)

Leo Varadkar: This question relates to the development of a new National Aviation Policy. Following a consultation process over the last year I intend to publish a draft National Aviation Policy for Ireland next week. This will be available on my Department’s website . The consultation process covered all elements of aviation policy and the draft National Aviation Policy takes account of the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme (15 May 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I refer the Deputy to my answer to Priority Question No. 1 on this matter.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Transport Authority (15 May 2014)

Leo Varadkar: In accordance with section 13 of the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008, I approved the draft Integrated Implementation Plan for the period 2013 to 2018. The Plan was also the subject of a public consultation conducted by the National Transport Authority in August/September 2013.  The plan as approved was published on 3rd April 2014 and a copy is...