Results 11,981-12,000 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Ports Policy (16 Jan 2018)

Shane Ross: I most recently met with the UK Government's Secretary of State for Transport, Chris Grayling on the margins of the Transport Council in Brussels on 5th December 2017.  The issue raised by the Deputy was not examined in our discussion. The Deputy will be aware that Rosslare Europort is unique among the State owned ports as it is not a commercial company...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Electric Vehicles (16 Jan 2018)

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 December 2017 there were 6,605 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: Road Projects (16 Jan 2018)

Shane Ross: 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 Transport Infrastructure Ireland under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.  Within its capital budget,...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Service Obligation Data (16 Jan 2018)

Shane Ross: Since 2010 there is no subvention paid directly by my Department for public transport services. The award of Public Service Obligation (PSO) contracts falls under the independent statutory remit of the National Transport Authority (NTA), which has direct responsibility for this area along with the routes covered and therefore I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply....

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Cycling Facilities Funding (16 Jan 2018)

Shane Ross: Since 2009 my Department has directly funded "active travel" measures, including improved cycling infrastructure, throughout Ireland under a number of programmes including the Smarter Travel Areas, Active Travel Towns and National Cycle Network programmes.  This investment in sustainable transport involves many projects that benefit cycling, but some analysis is...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Expenditure (16 Jan 2018)

Shane Ross: As indicated to the Deputy in PQ 51363/17 in November 2017, road improvement and maintenance (including footways and footpaths) together with traffic management measures within its area of responsibility is the statutory responsibility of each local authority funded by its own resources supplemented by grant funding.  The Department does not, therefore, hold the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Communications (16 Jan 2018)

Shane Ross: My Department welcomes input from citizens and taxpayers. We regularly receive correspondence from people within the State and, indeed, as we deal with Transport and Tourism issues we often receive correspondence from outside the State. We take this interest from the public at large seriously and we have procedures in place, like all Government Departments, to ensure such contact is...

Topical Issue Debate: Public Transport Initiatives (17 Jan 2018)

Shane Ross: I thank the Deputy for giving me the opportunity to address this important issue in the House. I certainly do not give the impression that Dublin is the only place in which there is a chronic traffic problem and public transport need. That is not the case. I acknowledge and recognise the needs of Cork which should be addressed. They need to be and will be addressed, funds permitting. My...

Topical Issue Debate: Public Transport Initiatives (17 Jan 2018)

Shane Ross: I would like to answer the Deputy's question as directly as possible. It is desirable. The Deputy is looking for public transport solutions in Cork city which will include light rail and bus rapid transit. I will say unequivocally that they are not ruled out. I do not want to make commitments. The Deputy knows it is foolish to make commitments under the financial constraints with which...

Topical Issue Debate: Road Safety (17 Jan 2018)

Shane Ross: I thank the Deputy for raising the matter of this road, which I suspect I am as familiar with as he is, and particularly the difficulty which he is encountering in representing it. I feel that what he is saying represents me as much as anybody else and maybe with more eloquence than I have done so far when I have made representations about this myself. As Minister for Transport, Tourism and...

Topical Issue Debate: Road Safety (17 Jan 2018)

Shane Ross: I may disappoint the Deputy in some ways. I take his point about Fassaroe and the 3,000 houses, which is important. He will, however, have to understand that the competing demands are overwhelming sometimes and it is difficult. I cannot just come to the House and say, "Yes, you are going jump the queue". This morning, I met a delegation from Meath, which raised similar problems. This is...

Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill 2017: Second Stage (Resumed) (17 Jan 2018)

Shane Ross: I thank everybody who contributed to the debate not only tonight, but on previous nights. In some cases, they were extremely constructive. The debate has been marked this evening by a lack of willingness to address the issue and a complete lack of recognition of the fact that the Bill is about one thing and one thing only, which is saving lives. It is not about Garda enforcement, speeding,...

Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill 2017: Second Stage (Resumed) (17 Jan 2018)

Shane Ross: I will yield to no one in the attention I have given to rural Ireland since I came into the Department. The Deputy referenced one trip to Tipperary. How many trips have I made?

Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill 2017: Second Stage (Resumed) (17 Jan 2018)

Shane Ross: At least three. I have visited Deputy Collin's constituency and I have been to Galway, which Deputy Grealish represents. I have been everywhere I have been asked to go and I will continue to do that. There is no absolutely impetus, direction or interest on my part in attacking rural Ireland-----

Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill 2017: Second Stage (Resumed) (17 Jan 2018)

Shane Ross: I am as certain now as I was at the start of the debate that there is agreement on the danger posed by drink-driving and agreement on the need to tackle it firmly in our laws, even if we do not always agree on how best to tackle it. I would like to thank those who have supported this very important proposal to strengthen the law on drink-driving. I know there are those who still argue...

Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill 2017: Second Stage (Resumed) (17 Jan 2018)

Shane Ross: The issue of people not returning their driving licences when they are disqualified was raised by Deputies Broughan, Eugene Murphy and Troy. Drivers who are disqualified are required by law to return their licences and the fact that very few do is completely unacceptable. However, the real problem is not disqualified drivers failing to return their licences; it is disqualified drivers who...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Test (17 Jan 2018)

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: Vehicle Registration (17 Jan 2018)

Shane Ross: The decision to use IRL as an identification mark on car license plates as compared to an equivalent abbreviation of Éire was agreed by Ireland as a participant at the United Nations Convention on Road Traffic in Geneva in 1949. It was subsequently ratified on 31 May 1962.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Traffic Calming Measures (17 Jan 2018)

Shane Ross: While the Road Traffic Act 2004 sets default speed limits for various categories of roads, elected members of local authorities have statutory responsibility for deciding on and making appropriate Special Speed Limit bye-laws for local roads within their administrative area. To assist local authorities in the application of Special Speed Limits, my Department's updated Guidelines for...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety (17 Jan 2018)

Shane Ross: I propose to take Questions Nos. 181 to 183, inclusive, and 185 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 Transport Infrastructure Ireland under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with...