Results 1,261-1,280 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

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

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 336 and 346 together. The following table sets out the number of applicants waiting for a driving test at each test centre at 14 February 2005. The average waiting time nationally for a driving test at 14 February 2005 was 30 weeks.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (15 Feb 2005)

Martin Cullen: It is not possible to give a breakdown of the level of key rail expenditure in the west and the eastern seaboard region on the county basis specified in the Deputy's question. The provision of public transport, including rail, is by its nature, a trans-regional business. Much of the public transport investment in the five-year period 2000-04 is spread across both the Border, midlands and west...

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

Martin Cullen: As part of Iarnród Éireann's plans to reshape its loss-making operations, the company has restructured its rail freight operations to refocus on the more profitable elements of rail freight and seek out new business in those areas where the rail mode is best suited to the traffic. I understand from the company that it has had some success in this regard and that its efforts are continuing....

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

Martin Cullen: The allocation and deployment of locomotives is a matter for Iarnród Éireann. The company has assured me that it has sufficient numbers of locomotives in its fleet to provide for the demands of the 2005 sugar beet season. I also understand from the company that it operates a pool of locomotives with Northern Ireland Railways which are used from time to time by both companies. These...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (15 Feb 2005)

Martin Cullen: A working group was established by the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment last year to consider options for how Shannon Development and the Shannon Airport Authority can best contribute to the development of the mid-west region. While consideration has been given to a range of options, no decision has been taken on a possible merger of Shannon Airport Authority and Shannon Development.

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

Martin Cullen: I refer the deputy to my earlier answer to Priority Questions Nos. 91 and 93.

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

Martin Cullen: It is my policy that Iarnród Éireann should remain in the rail freight business and I am aware that the company has made great strides in restructuring this element of its operations. As part of an overall plan to address its difficult financial position, Iarnród Éireann is undertaking a restructuring of its rail freight business. Its strategy is to develop the profitable traffic it...

Written Answers — Airport Development Projects: Airport Development Projects (15 Feb 2005)

Martin Cullen: The zoning of land is a matter for the planning authorities. On the ERM report into public safety zones, I understand that Fingal County Council is fully aware of its contents, having been consulted directly by ERM a number of times as part of ERM's work on the report. The recommendations in ERM's report permit a number of different kinds of new developments up to specific densities in the...

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

Martin Cullen: I understand that in the late 1960s, in the context of drafting a county development plan, a scheme showing restrictions that were considered necessary for the purposes of air safety was forwarded to Clare County Council. I am advised by the Dublin Airport Authority, formerly Aer Rianta, that the scheme took account, inter alia, of possible future extensions of two runways at Shannon Airport,...

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

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 352 and 353 together. The Deputy seems to be referring to early drafts of ERM's report into public safety zones which were sent to the Departments of Transport and the Environment, Heritage and Local Government by ERM. The draft report on Dublin Airport, dating from 2001, and the draft reports on Cork and Shannon, dating from 2002, were amalgamated by ERM and...

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

Martin Cullen: The Dublin Port tunnel, when completed, will have an operational height of 4.65 metres. It is the view of Dublin City Council and the National Roads Authority that the Dublin Port tunnel will facilitate almost all of the HGV traffic using Dublin Port. Two vehicle height surveys of HGVs using Dublin Port — one by the Dublin Port Company and one by the National Institute of Transport and...

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

Martin Cullen: I understand that the Luas system is carrying 300,000 passengers per week. The average Monday to Friday carryings are 50,000 passengers per day. During last December, there were days where passenger numbers exceeded 70,000. Passenger figures on the Luas system are expected to rise during 2005. The Railway Procurement Agency, RPA, and the Dublin Transportation Office are carrying out a...

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

Martin Cullen: The power to determine the locations for the provision of bus stops and termini is vested in the Garda Commissioner under section 85 of the Road Traffic Act 1961. Under that section, the commissioner may issue a direction to a bus operator identifying the specific location of bus stops and termini in respect of any bus route and in that context may determine that certain stops may only be...

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

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 359 and 361 together. The scheduling and timetabling of trains is a day-to-day operational matter for Iarnród Éireann to consider. I understand from the company that some of the 36 new diesel railcars due to come into service at the end of this year will be allocated to the Kildare route to extend all trains to eight-car length. This will improve the...

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

Martin Cullen: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 94.

Written Answers — Dublin Transportation Office: Dublin Transportation Office (15 Feb 2005)

Martin Cullen: I am considering the nominations for the advisory committee of the Dublin Transportation Office, DTO, and hope to finalise and approve the nominations in the near future. It is not my intention to abolish the DTO or remove local representation.

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (16 Feb 2005)

Martin Cullen: In March 2002, the Railway Procurement Agency, RPA, was given statutory responsibility under the Transport (Railway Infrastructure) Act 2001 (Additional Functions) (Integrated Ticketing) Order 2002 for the delivery of an integrated ticketing system. The contactless smartcard-based integrated ticketing system, which will enable a passenger to use a single ticket on one or more scheduled public...

Written Answers — Seachtain na Gaeilge: Seachtain na Gaeilge (16 Feb 2005)

Martin Cullen: My Department is fully committed to the promotion of the Irish language. With regard to the Official Languages Act 2003 this Department is meeting all of its obligations under those parts of the Act commenced to date and will continue to do so. My officials will explore ways of celebrating seachtain na Gaeilge.

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (16 Feb 2005)

Martin Cullen: My Department has recently received a draft of the Air Navigation and Transport (Cape Town Convention) Bill 2005, from the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel. It is my intention to secure Government approval for the text of the Bill and to introduce it in the Oireachtas very shortly. The Cape Town Convention is intended to reduce the risks associated with financing aircraft and will make...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (16 Feb 2005)

Martin Cullen: Last year, my predecessor as Minister for Transport, Deputy Brennan, appointed a working group to carry out an examination of the proposal to re-open the western rail corridor. The group is under the chairmanship of Mr. Pat McCann, group chief executive, Jury's Doyle Hotel Group. The group is comprised of county managers, directors of the regional authorities, representatives of city and...