Results 12,281-12,300 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (8 Feb 2018)

Shane Ross: The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing or providing public transport infrastructure, including bus stops, bus shelters, bus stations and bus stands. In light of the NTA's responsibilities for the issue raised, I have referred your question to them for direct reply.  Please advise my private office if you don't receive a response within 10...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Bodies Data (8 Feb 2018)

Shane Ross: As the Deputy is aware, following on from a commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government and as further committed to in the latter part of 2017, work is under way in my Department on reviewing public transport policy “to ensure services are sustainable into the future and are meeting the needs of a modern economy”. As part of this review,...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (8 Feb 2018)

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.  Noting the above position, I have...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Freedom of Information Data (8 Feb 2018)

Shane Ross: The information requested by the Deputy in respect of FOIs received by my Department for the years 2013 to 2017 is set out as follows: Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport - FOI Requests received 2013 to 2107 - 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 Total 84 95 242 302 344 Monthly Average 7.0 7.9 20.2 25.2 28.7 My Department does not have data readily available in relation to the average time...

Topical Issue Debate: Bus Éireann Services (13 Feb 2018)

Shane Ross: I thank the Deputy for raising this interesting issue. I am not one who thinks it is a bad idea to bring up certain bus routes in Cork or anywhere in Ireland in the Dáil. I do not think any problem is too small for us to address because it may be a microcosm of what is happening elsewhere. I am grateful to Deputy McGrath for bringing it up, although I may indeed wash my hands of some...

Topical Issue Debate: Bus Éireann Services (13 Feb 2018)

Shane Ross: What the Deputy raises is fair and I have no doubt that what he says is true. The NTA acknowledges there has been an increase in the number of complaints about Bus Éireann services in Cork, particularly since implementation of what it calls the optimisation scheme in early December 2017. It continues to implement measures to further improve service levels and in recent days there have...

Topical Issue Debate: Aviation Industry Regulations (13 Feb 2018)

Shane Ross: I thank the Deputy for raising this question and I am glad that it is being raised in the House, particularly after the briefing given to all of the spokespersons last week. I know that the Deputy will understand it has been a very difficult journey dogged by legal problems for nearly two years which has led us to this conclusion, with which I am happy. It was not easy because there will be...

Topical Issue Debate: Aviation Industry Regulations (13 Feb 2018)

Shane Ross: I think it is unfair, or most unusual, of the Deputy to suggest that a local authority is conflicted in its role with regard to its statutory environmental protection and enforcement responsibilities and wider economic and physical development roles. As the Deputy knows, local authorities already have a wide range of statutorily based regulatory and enforcement functions relating to...

Roads Maintenance: Motion [Private Members] (13 Feb 2018)

Shane Ross: I thank the Deputies for raising what is a very serious and very important topic. I know it is very important to people outside Dublin. I want to address it in a very serious manner. The first indication of that is we have accepted the Fianna Fáil motion tonight. We are not opposing it because we recognise the difficulties. We recognise that we are accountable for what is happening....

Roads Maintenance: Motion [Private Members] (13 Feb 2018)

Shane Ross: The delegation asked to see me about the roads in Meath and I was delighted-----

Roads Maintenance: Motion [Private Members] (13 Feb 2018)

Shane Ross: I was delighted to receive that delegation. I have not been to-----

Roads Maintenance: Motion [Private Members] (13 Feb 2018)

Shane Ross: -----his constituency yet - he is the only one. However, I have received delegations from there and I will go.

Roads Maintenance: Motion [Private Members] (13 Feb 2018)

Shane Ross: However, it is difficult for Ministers to make time to go. If one takes a cross section, I have been to every one of the constituencies of those who are complaining today and I have received a delegation from Deputy Cassells's constituency. Nobody can tell me-----

Roads Maintenance: Motion [Private Members] (13 Feb 2018)

Shane Ross: They cannot tell me I am not taking it seriously. The money is difficult, as the Deputies know.

Roads Maintenance: Motion [Private Members] (13 Feb 2018)

Shane Ross: They know what has happened in recent weeks. Everyone here today knows the importance of the road network in supporting the economic and social fabric of the country. The challenge for Government in recent years was how to address the very real concerns about the condition of the network while operating within severe fiscal constraints and dealing with the many competing demands for limited...

Roads Maintenance: Motion [Private Members] (13 Feb 2018)

Shane Ross: That is fine. It will be in the record.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Roads Maintenance Funding (13 Feb 2018)

Shane Ross: The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of the relevant County or City Council, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from the Council's own resources supplemented by State road grants.  The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Search and Rescue Service Provision (13 Feb 2018)

Shane Ross: Search and Rescue operations may be led by a number of different authorities, depending on the type and severity of incident. The Coast Guard, a division of my Department, is the principal emergency authority for marine search and rescue. The Coast Guard operationally oversees 900 Coast Guard volunteers and has in place a wide range of internal policies to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Motor Tax (13 Feb 2018)

Shane Ross: Cork County Council collects motor tax on behalf of both Cork County and Cork City Council.  A breakdown of receipts between the two authorities is not available.  Total gross motor tax receipts for the two authorities in 2017 were €120,740,205. As well as motor tax receipts, other payments to the Local Government Fund in 2017 included the equivalent to the amount of...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Meetings (13 Feb 2018)

Shane Ross: No; neither I, nor my officials, have met with the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment in relation to any such report.