Results 11,441-11,460 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Railway Stations (7 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1073 to 1075, inclusive, together. The issues raised are matters for the National Transport Authority (NTA) in conjunction with Iarnród Éireann and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within 10 working days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (7 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport.  The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the procurement of the bus fleet for PSO services. The procurement of buses for Dublin Bus' and Bus Éireann’s commercial services as well as private bus fleets is a matter...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Service Obligation Data (7 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: As the Deputy is aware in Budget 2018, I secured an 8% increase in the overall Exchequer funding available for PSO services throughout the country. This means that in 2018 over €285 million will be allocated via the National Transport Authority (NTA) to support the continued delivery of these socially necessary but financially unviable services that have grown in recent years. As...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Service Obligation Data (7 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: My Department provides Current funding for the Rural Transport Programme (RTP) to the National Transport Authority (NTA) which has national responsibility for integrated local and rural transport, including, since 2012, management of the RTP. In July of this year the NTA published the current figures in respect of the RTP for the years 2007 to 2016 in its Statistical...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Service Vehicles (7 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including the licensing of vehicles within this sector, is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013. I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within 10...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Parking Charges (7 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: In 2015, my Department published the Strategic Investment Framework for Land Transport.  As part of the extensive preparatory work for this publication, 21 background papers were produced and one of these estimated the steady state funding requirement for our transport network, as detailed by the Deputy.  For ease of reference, I include those estimates below.  Table 1:...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Parking Charges (7 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1081 and 1082 together. On 1 October, the National Transport Authority (NTA) assumed its responsibilities as the regulator of vehicle clamping activities in both statutory and non-statutory (privately-owned) clamping places throughout the State. Under the Vehicle Clamping Act 2015 the setting of a clamp release fee for clamping activities occurring in...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Test (7 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: As the Deputy knows, I am absolutely committed to do everything I can as Minister to ensure road safety.  That is why I am determined that Ireland complies with latest EU directives on testing vehicles for their roadworthiness – not just because of our obligations under EU law.  However, it is important that we do that in a practical and enforceable way. At my...

Topical Issue Debate: Industrial Relations (8 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: I thank the Deputies for raising this truly Topical Issue. I share their disappointment that we have seen a second day of strike action at Iarnród Éireann but I am pleased, as I am sure they are, that both sides have accepted an invitation from the Labour Court to attend talks tomorrow morning. Deputies know I have consistently stated that difficult matters like these can only be...

Topical Issue Debate: Industrial Relations (8 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: It is an important issue and I do not want to trivialise it in any way. To answer Deputy Munster's criticism concerning the stakeholders' forum, I would say that nobody wants to hold the stakeholders' forum more than I do. The proof of the pudding will be in the eating. I answered this question, but it was asked again and so I have to repeat the answer. The stakeholders' forum will take place.

Topical Issue Debate: Industrial Relations (8 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: If the Deputy wants to take up my time with interruptions she is welcome to do so. I have only one minute and 24 seconds to answer the question, so please let me answer.

Topical Issue Debate: Industrial Relations (8 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: I have not picked up the telephone because we wrote to all stakeholders and trade unions. They came in and we had a very good meeting. We are awaiting their submissions. I do not want to go ahead with a stakeholders' forum without their consent to the agenda because we do not want them to say that they did not agree to it. We want a consensus on the agenda. We will get it. We will hold...

Topical Issue Debate: Industrial Relations (8 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: I understand the point that Deputy Smith makes about the threat of insolvency. I am not making that threat at all. The fact is that Iarnród Éireann is on the brink of insolvency. In answer to the Deputy's question about subventions, about Europe and her comment that Ireland is far behind, l will point out some very salient facts. Between 2008 and 2016 the taxpayer has made over...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rural Transport Services (8 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: My Department provides funding for the Rural Transport Programme (RTP) to the National Transport Authority (NTA). The NTA has national responsibility for integrated local and rural transport, including, since 2012, management of the RTP. In light of the NTA's responsibilities in this matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Tolls (8 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: As Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy in relation to roads. More specifically, the statutory powers to levy tolls on national roads as well as regional and local roads, to make toll bye-laws and to enter into toll agreements with private investors are vested in TII (for national roads) and each local authority (for regional and...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Policy (8 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including the regulatory framework for licensing of limousines, is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013. I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within 10 working days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Signage (9 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme.  The planning, design and operation of individual roads  is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.  TII has, therefore, overall...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Invasive Plant Species (9 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: 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: Ports Traffic (9 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: The Central Statistics Office publish Statistics of Port Traffic on their website cso.ie. . Figures for 2017 will not be available on this website until the 2nd Quarter of 2018.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Ports Traffic (9 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: The Deputy is aware that Rosslare Europort is unique among the State owned ports as it is not a company operating under the Harbours Acts, but is instead operated as a division of Iarnród Éireann. I have therefore forwarded the Deputy's questions to Iarnród Éireann for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten...