Results 11,121-11,140 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Vehicle Registration (10 Oct 2017)

Shane Ross: As the Deputy is aware, tax policy generally and tax incentives, such as VRT relief, are matters for the Minister for Finance. The Government is very supportive of the transition of the car fleet to zero emissions technology, especially electric vehicles (EVs).  My Department and the Department of Communications, Climate Action and the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Electric Vehicles (10 Oct 2017)

Shane Ross: The  information requested by the Deputy is not collected in the format sought; however, the following relevant information has been extracted from the National Vehicle File. As of the 31st of September there were 6,536 vehicles registered under the 'State Owned, Emergency Vehicles and Rescue Vehicles' tax classification. The Deputy should note that this definition...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Test Fees (10 Oct 2017)

Shane Ross: The operation of the National Car Test is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority, and I have no role in individual cases.  I have therefore referred the question to the Authority for direct reply.  I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Promotion (10 Oct 2017)

Shane Ross: I welcome the overall growth in visit numbers to Ireland in the first eight months of 2017. However, the persistent decline in the numbers visiting from Great Britain continues to be a concern. The fall in the value of sterling against the euro following the Brexit vote in the UK has been the primary factor in this. Tourism Ireland is responsible for marketing Ireland as...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Services (10 Oct 2017)

Shane Ross: The issue raised is a matter for Iarnród Éireann and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the Company for direct reply.  Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Airlines Regulations (10 Oct 2017)

Shane Ross: Since Ryanair announced that it had made a commercial decision to cancel or suspend flights on a number of routes across it European-wide network, officials from my Department have been in regular contact with all the relevant entities including Ryanair, the Commission for Aviation Regulation (CAR) and the Irish Aviation Authority. I have also been in direct contact with the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety (10 Oct 2017)

Shane Ross: The Ministerial Committee on Road Safety, which I chair, brings together the major stakeholders in working to make our roads safer, including my colleague the Minister for Justice, an Garda Síochána, the Attorney General, the Road Safety Authority, Transport Ireland Infrastructure, the Health and Safety Authority, the Department of Health, the Medical Bureau for Road Safety and...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Traffic Legislation (10 Oct 2017)

Shane Ross: The Bill referred to by the Deputy is now entitled the Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill 2017, and was published on 17 July of this year. I regard this Bill as a significant measure to address an anomaly in the drink driving legislation so that all drivers who are detected driving over our existing legal limits, who opt not to have their cases heard in court, will receive a mandatory...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Reports (10 Oct 2017)

Shane Ross: The Criminal Justice Fixed Charge Processing Group, jointly chaired by my Department and the Department of Justice and Equality, includes officials from both Departments and representatives from the Road Safety Authority, an Garda Síochána, the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Attorney General's Office, the Revenue Commissioners and the Courts Service. ...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects Expenditure (10 Oct 2017)

Shane Ross: Proposals to deliver an upgraded route linking Dundalk to Sligo, taking in Cavan, involve linking elements of the national road network and regional roads along as direct a route as possible. Essentially the route involves upgrade/realignment works on the regional routes from Dundalk to Cavan and on national routes from Cavan to Sligo. The latter would involve a route that passes through...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network Expansion (10 Oct 2017)

Shane Ross: I propose to take Questions Nos. 572 and 573 together. The Programme for Partnership Government includes a commitment to provide for an independent costing and review of the Western Rail Corridor Phase Two between Athenry and Claremorris for passenger and freight use. The role of heavy rail in Ireland's transport sector is currently under review. The National Transport Authority...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Greenways Development (10 Oct 2017)

Shane Ross: The extension of the Great Southern Trail to Tralee is a matter for Kerry County Council. Accordingly, the Council would be better placed to update the Deputy on progress. I understand that Limerick County Council is also working on improving the quality of the Great Southern Trail and is also seeking to extend the route to Limerick City. The Deputy may be aware that my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Lobbying Data (10 Oct 2017)

Shane Ross: Since the commencement of the Lobbying Act 2015 from 1 September 2015, all lobbyists who come under the Act are required to register and to provide information regularly about their lobbying activities. The Deputy can access details of such activities at the following website In relation to the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill in particular, which is currently before Seanad Eireann, this...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (10 Oct 2017)

Shane Ross: I propose to take Questions Nos. 577 and 596 to 599, inclusive, 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 operation of individual road projects is a matter for the Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Greenways Development (10 Oct 2017)

Shane Ross: The Strategic Investment Framework recommended the development of a new rail policy and last year the National Transport Authority (NTA) and Iarnród Éireann published the Rail Review Report 2016 on which the NTA held a public consultation. Over 300 submissions were received by the NTA in response to that consultation process which have now all been examined. The NTA submitted a...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rural Transport Programme Data (10 Oct 2017)

Shane Ross: In recognition of the value and benefit of rural transport to many communities, the Programme for a Partnership Government undertakes to examine how best to improve integration of services in the rural bus network within regions, and proposed that a report about this should be provided to the relevant Oireachtas Committee. Work on this matter is still underway, so such a report has not yet...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Network (10 Oct 2017)

Shane Ross: Given its role in relation to national roads TII's input is taken into account in drafting capital expenditure programmes but TII does not have a policy role in relation to regional and local roads. As Minister, therefore, I have to take an overview of overall Departmental policy not alone regarding the national, regional and local road network but across all the sectors for which the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Network (10 Oct 2017)

Shane Ross: I propose to take Questions Nos. 581 to 583, inclusive, together. As the Deputy is aware, the Capital Plan sets out transport investment priorities to 2022. The decisions on the transport elements of the Capital Plan were framed by the conclusions reached in my Department’s Strategic Investment Framework for Land Transport. Based on the findings in that report it is envisaged that...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Brexit Issues (10 Oct 2017)

Shane Ross: Since the UK voted to leave the EU, my department has been fully engaged in evaluating the ensuing risks for tourism and, together with the tourism agencies, working to address those risks. The department's analysis of the situation was greatly assisted by the All-Island sectorial meeting I hosted with the industry in January which examined the impact of Brexit on the tourism and hospitality...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Promotion (10 Oct 2017)

Shane Ross: The Government's Tourism Policy Statement "People, Place and Policy – Growing Tourism to 2025" was launched in March 2015. The main targets contained in the Tourism Policy Statement, to be achieved by 2025, are as follows: - Overseas tourism revenue to increase to €5 billion net of inflation, compared to €3.5 billion in 2014; - Overseas visits to Ireland to...