Results 13,341-13,360 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Topical Issue Debate: Driver Test Waiting Lists (15 May 2018)

Shane Ross: I will refer the Deputy's comments to the RSA and ask is there any case for that at all. I suspect that the RSA will respond by saying that the efforts it is making at present are adequate. I note that Cork is high up on the list of average waiting times. At 16 weeks, it stands in ninth or tenth position in a fairly long list. It is well above the average waiting time. I will ask the RSA...

Topical Issue Debate: Dublin Bus (15 May 2018)

Shane Ross: As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding of public transport. However, I am not involved in the operation of public transport companies, including their branding. The NTA has statutory responsibility to secure the development and implementation of a single public transport brand under section 5 of the Dublin Transport Authority Act...

Topical Issue Debate: Dublin Bus (15 May 2018)

Shane Ross: I do not have much more to say to the Deputy because I have made it quite clear that this is a matter for the NTA and not for me. He spoke about micromanaging Dublin Bus but I will not be micromanaging Dublin Bus. It would be absurd to suggest I do so.

Topical Issue Debate: Dublin Bus (15 May 2018)

Shane Ross: It is totally contradictory to suggest I intervene at a higher level. I am not going to do so. The Deputy is perfectly entitled to fight this particular battle and I am perfectly willing to allow the NTA to do the job I have entrusted it to do. That is why we appoint its people. I do not get involved in the day-to-day business for a very good reason - if I did so, Deputy Lahart would be...

Topical Issue Debate: Dublin Bus (15 May 2018)

Shane Ross: The Deputy would ask why we had the NTA at all. On the question of privatisation, we have made it absolutely clear that 10% is where we are and 10% is where we wish to stay. For the Deputy to come to the House and use scare tactics about us privatising a lot more is misleading, though I will not say it is dishonest. We have made it quite clear we are not on a privatisation path for Dublin...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Brexit Issues (15 May 2018)

Shane Ross: Contingency planning in relation to Brexit at both a national and an EU level is focused on three areas: preparing for a no-deal scenario or so-called “disorderly Brexit”; preparing for a transition period based on the “status quo”; and preparing for the future EU-UK relationship. The European Commission is also contingency planning on this basis and in the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Motor Tax Rates (15 May 2018)

Shane Ross: I propose to take Questions Nos. 487 to 490 together. Motor tax taken out on a half-yearly and quarterly basis is charged at 55.5% and 28.25% of the annual rate respectively. Each half-yearly and quarterly renewal of motor tax requires the same administrative procedure as the annual renewal process. Any consideration of abolition or re-balancing of the charge for non-annual discs must take...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Contracts Data (15 May 2018)

Shane Ross: The information requested by the Deputy is available on my Department's website at the following link:-external-services The information is updated twice yearly. The first six months of 2018 will be published later in the year.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network Expansion (15 May 2018)

Shane Ross: The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area. This includes the planned works in preparation for the proposed electrification of the Maynooth commuter train service. Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred your question to the NTA for reply. Please...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licence Renewals (15 May 2018)

Shane Ross: At the time to which the Deputy refers, driving licensing was the responsibility of the local authorities. As this function has since been transferred to the Road Safety Authority, I have referred the question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response is not received within 10 days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network Expansion (15 May 2018)

Shane Ross: Currently there are no plans to extend the rail network from County Sligo to County Donegal. Building on the recommendations in the recent Public Investment Management Assessment study and the findings set out in the Rail Review 2016, a continuing key priority for investment in transport under the NDP is to protect the quality of and the investment already made in the existing national...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network Expansion (15 May 2018)

Shane Ross: As the Deputy is aware, the National Transport Authority's (NTA) 'Transport Strategy for the GDA 2016-2035' proposes implementation of the overall DART Expansion Programme. As outlined in the recently published National Development Plan (NDP), the DART Expansion Programme is a series of projects that will create a full metropolitan area DART network for Dublin with all of the lines linked...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Policy (15 May 2018)

Shane Ross: The Western Rail Corridor was originally included under the Transport 21 Initiative and was to be developed in Three Phases. Phase 1 involved the reopening of the 36 mile stretch of railway line between Ennis and Athenry and this is part of the TEN-T comprehensive network. This line was opened to the public in March 2010. Exchequer funding of €106.5 million was approved for Phase 1....

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (15 May 2018)

Shane Ross: This is a matter for the Road Safety Authority. I have referred the question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response is not received within 10 days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Disabled Drivers Permits (15 May 2018)

Shane Ross: The disabled parking scheme is operated on behalf of my Department by the Disabled Drivers Association of Ireland (DDAI) and the Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA), who are empowered to issue disabled parking permits. As Minister, I have responsibility for the regulations under which the scheme operates but details on the status of any individual application can only be addressed by the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Consultancy Contracts Expenditure (15 May 2018)

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 development and implementation of public transport in the Greater Dublin Area including the development of a metro scheme. The recently published National Development Plan (NDP),...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sports Capital Programme Applications (15 May 2018)

Shane Ross: My Department is in ongoing correspondence with our legal advisors in the Chief State Solicitor’s Office in relation to the 2015 Sports Capital grant allocated to the organisation referred to by the Deputy. While a deed of covenant and a deed of charge is in place to protect the State's investment in the facility, this needs to be updated to take account of the 2015 grant and to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Staff Data (15 May 2018)

Shane Ross: Cross-Departmental cooperation on North/South matters is overseen within my Department by the Tourism Marketing & Impact Assessment Unit and is supported by 1 Principal Officer, 2 Assistant Principals and 1 Higher Executive Officer led by the relevant Assistant Secretary. Responsibility rests within this unit as it also deals with oversight of Tourism Ireland, the only North South...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Improvement Schemes (15 May 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, the assessment...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Network (15 May 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, the assessment...