Results 1,201-1,220 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (15 Feb 2005)

Martin Cullen: My Department has not received correspondence from the Garda in respect of the condition of the N81. As the Deputy will be aware the National Roads Authority, NRA, and the relevant local authority are responsible for the maintenance and upgrade of the national roads network. I understand that the NRA receive accident reports on an ongoing basis from the Garda in respect of accidents on the...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (15 Feb 2005)

Martin Cullen: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Priority Question No. 93 of today on this matter.

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (15 Feb 2005)

Martin Cullen: The planning, design and implementation of national roads improvement projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority, NRA, and the relevant local authorities concerned — in this case Westmeath County Council. I assume the Deputy is referring to a recent newspaper report comparing the cost of the upgrade of the Kilcock-Kinnegad section of the N4-N6 to the estimated cost of the...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (15 Feb 2005)

Martin Cullen: The West-Link bridge toll agreement, concluded in October 1987 between the then Dublin County Council and NTR, provides that the toll company, NTR plc, has until the expiry of the agreement in the year 2020, the exclusive right to toll traffic using the West-Link bridge. A buy-out of NTR's rights has not been considered having regard to the potential cost involved, the possible implications...

Written Answers — Air Services: Air Services (15 Feb 2005)

Martin Cullen: Both management and unions in the Dublin Airport Authority are continuing their discussions regarding the future of the travel concessions on Aer Lingus flights which are available to certain airport workers. If management and unions cannot reach agreement on the status of the concession travel arrangements, the State's industrial relations machinery is available to assist both sides. I...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (15 Feb 2005)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 114 and 122 together. The provision of median barriers on national roads is a matter for the National Roads Authority, NRA, having regard to best practice in road safety and EU standards for safety barriers of this type. The position generally in regard to the provision of median barriers on national roads is that: median barriers are currently being provided...

Written Answers — Driving Tests: Driving Tests (15 Feb 2005)

Martin Cullen: The authorised number of driver testers, including a chief tester and supervisory testers is 130. This number has not increased since 2002. At present there are 103 permanent driver testers and 19 contract driver testers employed. There are also six former testers who have returned on short term contracts. My Department is in discussions with the Department of Finance with a view to...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (15 Feb 2005)

Martin Cullen: The national roads development programme being implemented by the NRA and local authorities is in line with the principles, and with the transport infrastructure priorities, identified in the national spatial strategy. A key priority of the national roads programme at present is the upgrading of the national primary road network serving the national gateways. Major road projects have been...

Written Answers — Road Signage: Road Signage (15 Feb 2005)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 117, 153, 347 and 364 together. The relevant provisions of the Road Traffic Act 2004 that establish a new system of speed limits based on metric values were commenced on 20 January 2005. The changeover process involved the provision of more than 58,000 traffic signs depicting the application of speed limits across the country. The new traffic signs that were...

Written Answers — Transport Infrastructural Projects: Transport Infrastructural Projects (15 Feb 2005)

Martin Cullen: It is expected that all the projects in the public transport sector, which are being funded under the national development plan, will be completed. Projects completed to date have been done on time and within budget. The very significant Exchequer allocation to my Department in respect of the provision of transport infrastructure clearly demonstrates the Government's strong ongoing commitment...

Written Answers — Regional Airports: Regional Airports (15 Feb 2005)

Martin Cullen: The primary objective of the regional airports measure of the NDP is to provide the airports with financial assistance towards essential infrastructure projects to facilitate continued safe and viable operations. The final round of allocations for the regional airports under the NDP will be announced shortly. The question of providing further funding allocations, following the completion of...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (15 Feb 2005)

Martin Cullen: A key element in improving bus performance has been the provision of quality bus corridors. So far, there are nine QBCs in operation in the Dublin area — Malahide, Lucan, Stillorgan, Finglas, north Clondalkin, Rathfarnham, Tallaght, Swords and Blanchardstown. It is proposed to complete a number of projects in the course of 2005, accounting for a total of about 40 km in length. However, the...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (15 Feb 2005)

Martin Cullen: I assume the Deputy is referring to the concept of a Dublin outer orbital route. Both the strategic planning guidelines for the greater Dublin area 1999 and the DTO's, Platform for Change 2000, identified a possible need for a Dublin outer orbital route linking Drogheda-Navan-Naas. More recently the regional planning guidelines, RPG, for the greater Dublin area 2004 also provide for the...

Written Answers — Toll Charges: Toll Charges (15 Feb 2005)

Martin Cullen: I made no request to National Toll Roads to review its decision to increase toll charges at the West Link Bridge. The West-Link toll agreement, approved in principle by Government in October 1984 and concluded in October 1987, provides that the tolls can be increased in line with inflation. The maximum toll that can be charged at West-Link is updated each year by reference to the consumer...

Written Answers — Regional Airports: Regional Airports (15 Feb 2005)

Martin Cullen: The programme for Government provides for the continued support of the six regional airports including Knock Airport and my Department provides a range of financial mechanisms in support of this objective. Knock Airport benefits considerably through a range of direct and indirect support mechanisms, namely, capital grant assistance towards essential infrastructural improvements under the BMW...

Written Answers — Light Rail Project: Light Rail Project (15 Feb 2005)

Martin Cullen: I assume the Deputy is referring to the procurement process for the substantive contract for integrated ticketing. A 2002 ministerial order gave the Railway Procurement Agency, RPA, statutory responsibility for the delivery of integrated ticketing. Procurement procedures and processes used in the delivery of integrated ticketing are matters for the RPA. The RPA has advised my Department that...

Written Answers — Driving Tests: Driving Tests (15 Feb 2005)

Martin Cullen: The technical checks, which form part of the driving test with effect from 14 February 2005, are being introduced to meet our obligations under EU Directive 2000/56/EC on driver licensing. The technical checks involve candidates being asked to explain how she-he might carry out three out of a number of checks on the vehicle. If, for example, a person is asked to show how oil levels should be...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (15 Feb 2005)

Martin Cullen: Last year CIE applied for a fares increase for 2005 for each of the operating companies averaging 8%. Following a detailed examination of the application and the financial position of each of the companies, I agreed to a fare increase which would yield a 3.5% increase in revenue to CIE. This in effect meant that most Bus Átha Cliath fares increased by 5 cent or 10 cent and a range of...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (15 Feb 2005)

Martin Cullen: The national development plan, NDP, and the national spatial strategy, NSS, provide the strategic framework for the national roads development programme and together with the Economic and Social Infrastructure Operational Programme, ESIOP, sets out the overall development strategy and main priorities to be pursued. The detailed programming of the work involved and the allocation of funding to...

Written Answers — Parking Regulations: Parking Regulations (15 Feb 2005)

Martin Cullen: The offence of illegally parking in a disabled persons' parking bay currently comes within the scope of the on-the-spot fines system. The amount of the on-the-spot fine applicable to this offence is €19, which is the level that applies to the majority of parking offences. Where a person does not pay the on-the-spot fine and is subsequently convicted in court of the said offence he or she is...