Results 13,861-13,880 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Services (3 Jul 2018)

Shane Ross: I propose to take Questions Nos. 455 to 457, inclusive, together. As the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. However, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport. I am concerned, however, to ensure that the necessary arrangements are in place to ensure the safety...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test Waiting Lists (3 Jul 2018)

Shane Ross: I propose to take Questions Nos. 458 and 459 together. The current average wait times for all test centres is available on the Road Safety Authority website at www.rsa.ie. This information is updated weekly. The Authority can provide the number of applicants waiting, and I have referred the question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Reports (3 Jul 2018)

Shane Ross: In 2017 my Department published the The Costs of Congestion - An Analysis of the Greater Dublin Area. The methodology for how these costs were estimated is described in detail in Appendix B of that report, which is available on my Department's website. For ease of reference, I include a link here: . The report focuses specifically on the direct impact, in terms of the monetary cost of...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Greenways Development (3 Jul 2018)

Shane Ross: I plan to publish the Strategy for the Future Development of National and Regional Greenways in the coming month. The Strategy does not propose funding specific Greenways, including the one mentioned or other proposals, rather it sets out the criteria for applications for a funding programme from which successful applicants would be selected. The Strategy will provide a framework for...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test Waiting Lists (3 Jul 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: Road Projects Status (3 Jul 2018)

Shane Ross: The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of the relevant local authority 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. Clare County Council is responsible for implementation of the Shannon Bridge Crossing project,...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Offshore Islands (3 Jul 2018)

Shane Ross: The Marine Survey Office within my Department is the safety regulator for maritime transport in Ireland. One of their key responsibilities is to ensure the safety of all passengers travelling by boat. An assessment of the landing facilities at Inishmurray Island in 2008 deemed the recognised landing on the island to be wholly unsuitable for landing passengers. Therefore no...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Taxi Data (3 Jul 2018)

Shane Ross: As the Deputy is aware, the regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including the licensing of wheelchair accessible taxis and wheelchair accessible hackneys, is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013. Furthermore, it is the NTA who administer the WAV Grant Scheme for the SPSV industry. The set amounts...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects Expenditure (3 Jul 2018)

Shane Ross: Following on from the St Andrew's Agreement, a joint infrastructure investment package was announced in March 2007 by the British and Irish Governments in the context of the re-establishment of the Northern Ireland Executive. Funding of £400 million (sterling) towards the cost of the A5 project was part of that package. During the financial crisis the Government decided to defer...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Regional Road Network (3 Jul 2018)

Shane Ross: The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of the relevant local authority 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 total allocation for regional and local roads in 2018 is €416.8 million and to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport Data (3 Jul 2018)

Shane Ross: Within my Department's overall funding allocation, €5.5m is assigned in 2018 and €29m from 2019-2021 specifically to provide for a Carbon Reduction Programme to fund measures which support decarbonising the transport sector. From within that allocation, funding is sourced for a Green Public Transport Fund established to support the uptake of low carbon, energy efficient...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Dublin Bus Fleet (3 Jul 2018)

Shane Ross: I propose to take Questions Nos. 469 to 471, inclusive, together. According to the most recent (2016) estimates from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), only about 3% of all transport-derived CO2emissions come from bus and coach fleets. Converting these vehicles to low-carbon alternatives will have a limited mitigation impact on Ireland's overall CO2 emissions. It will,...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (3 Jul 2018)

Shane Ross: I propose to take Questions Nos. 472 and 473 together. Specific emissions reductions targets for neither the Dublin Bus nor Bus Eireann fleets to 2020 have been set. As the Deputy is aware, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) estimate that only about 3% of all transport-derived CO2emissions come from the national bus and coach fleets. Converting the public transport bus fleets...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licence Fees (3 Jul 2018)

Shane Ross: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that there is no fee charged for the renewal of a driving licence where the applicant is over the age of 70. There is a requirement for applicants over the age of 70 to provide a medical report and an eyesight test. This is done in the interests of public safety, both of the applicants and of other road users. I have no authority over the costs of eyesight...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Network (3 Jul 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. Noting the above position, I have...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Expenditure (3 Jul 2018)

Shane Ross: Please see below a copy of my Department's monthly expenditure until the end of May 2018. We do not have figures on hand at present for expenditure to the end of June 2018. Jan Feb Mar Apr May €'000 €'000 €'000 €'000 €'000 V31 - TRANSPORT, TOURISM AND SPORT (CURRENT) 60,906 61,370 35,987 66,066 36,339 V31 - GROSS 61,498 61,957 36,449 66,495 36,846...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Light Rail Projects (3 Jul 2018)

Shane Ross: I thank the Senator for raising this issue on which he has been a loud and extremely effective voice. It is a difficult issue because when we embark on projects like this, some communities almost inevitably suffer discomfort or worse. It is partly my job to ensure it is Government policy that the kind of disruption to which the Senator refers, particularly in Ranelagh, is deferred or does...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Light Rail Projects (3 Jul 2018)

Shane Ross: I wish to respond to the subsequent points the Senator has made. I am not averse to meeting residents' groups at all, although I could not obviously meet everybody who has difficulty with every transport project. The public consultation process report is due to be issued later this year. This is primarily a matter for the NTA and it is not primarily a matter for me to interfere with that...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Taxi Regulations (4 Jul 2018)

Shane Ross: In relation to insurance, I am aware that the increases in premium costs of motor insurance in recent years has been a cause for concern for all drivers, including the owners of Small Public Service Vehicles (SPSVs). However, I am happy to note that recent CSO figures show overall motor premiums for the year 2018 as being lower in comparison to those for the previous two years....

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Contracts Data (4 Jul 2018)

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