Results 15,681-15,700 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Airport Security (12 Feb 2019)

Shane Ross: I propose to take Questions Nos. 61 and 66 together. Aviation security is a priority area at national and EU level which is under constant review and scrutiny in response to new intelligence on threats and risks. Ireland is obliged to play its part in the international effort to make flying as secure and safe as possible. If we aspire to be a highly connected nation, it is essential...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Airport Security (12 Feb 2019)

Shane Ross: The Deputy seems to be under the impression that airport police and Revenue officials are being treated differently from members of the Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces - that they are being excluded from the security clearance that it is available. I reassure her that this is not the case. Airport police and Revenue officials are fully background checked in accordance with...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Airport Security (12 Feb 2019)

Shane Ross: I am afraid I am obliged and inclined to accept the advice of the IAA and the NCASC on matters of security. That is the position I must take. Rather than taking the Deputy's advice, I must take theirs.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Dublin Bus Fleet (12 Feb 2019)

Shane Ross: The Deputy is aware that Project Ireland 2040 commits to ending the purchase of diesel-only buses from July 2019 for all our urban bus fleets. This is an important commitment and one which we all are looking forward to commencing as part of this year’s PSO bus purchase programme by the NTA. Of course we all know that this move alone it is not enough and that we need a fundamental...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Dublin Bus Fleet (12 Feb 2019)

Shane Ross: I thought the Deputy would take exactly the opposite view. I thought he would find it really welcome that bus trials are ongoing and that we are moving to the era of diesel-electric vehicles. The NTA is beginning a tender process for the purchase of diesel-electric hybrid buses. I thought the Deputy would welcome this. Double-deck buses have an optimal life of about 12 years and the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Dublin Bus Fleet (12 Feb 2019)

Shane Ross: We are sticking to the timetable we set out, which is that we will have the last diesel-only buses this year. That itself is a target we have met.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rail Services (12 Feb 2019)

Shane Ross: I propose to take Questions Nos. 63, 660 and 663 together. Project Ireland 2040states that the priority funding objective in relation to mainline rail is the maintenance and renewal of the existing network so that it continues to provide a safe and reliable infrastructure that enables the provision of quality rail services for passengers across the country. This means ensuring steady state...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rail Services (12 Feb 2019)

Shane Ross: That is our target and the basic aim of the commitments we have made for the expansion of both Luas and DART services. The increased use of the Phoenix Park tunnel for Kildare line services must be dear to Deputy Durkan's heart and we will certainly pursue that further in the years to come. We will try to meet the requirement to reduce congestion, to which many Deputies have referred this...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Brexit Preparations (12 Feb 2019)

Shane Ross: I met my French counterpart, Minister Elisabeth Borne, on Brexit matters in Dublin on 23 November 2018. I highlighted the importance of transport connectivity and Ireland’s concerns in particular in relation to the continued use of the UK landbridge when the UK leaves the EU. We discussed also the potential implications for ports both in Ireland and in France given the levels of trade...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Railway Stations (12 Feb 2019)

Shane Ross: As 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. The issues raised by the Deputy about problems with passenger lifts at some train stations are operational matters for Iarnród Éireann. That said, I am concerned that the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport Fares (12 Feb 2019)

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 the statutory responsibility for the regulation of fares in relation to public passenger transport services. The NTA also has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public transport services by way...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (12 Feb 2019)

Shane Ross: Under the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008 it is a statutory function of the National Transport Authority (NTA) to determine the appropriate mix of directly awarded and competitively tendered bus services. Arising from this, the NTA undertook a number of competitive procurement processes in 2017 and selected Go-Ahead as the preferred bidder in the competition to operate 24 routes (23...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rural Transport Programme (12 Feb 2019)

Shane Ross: I met the Chair and a delegation from the Rural Transport Network (RTN) last year. In advance of the meeting, the RTN forwarded a paper containing a number of proposals including those referred to by the Deputy. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public transport passenger services nationally. It also has a statutory remit...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Services (12 Feb 2019)

Shane Ross: As 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. The issues raised are operational matters for Iarnród Éireann and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aviation Industry Regulations (12 Feb 2019)

Shane Ross: As the Deputy is aware from my previous reply in December, the Government has approved a proposal to separate the Irish Aviation Authority’s air navigation service provision functions from its aviation safety and security regulatory functions, and merge these regulatory functions with the Commission for Aviation Regulation. The objective is to have a single aviation regulator...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Private Partnerships (12 Feb 2019)

Shane Ross: The National Development Plan 2018-2027 provides that the potential use of Private Public Partnerships for large scale infrastructure investment should continue to be assessed, where appropriate. Within the capital budget available to it, Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) is responsible (in accordance with the Roads Acts 1993-2015) for the planning, design, and construction of all...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Services Provision (12 Feb 2019)

Shane Ross: The Deputy is aware that the National Transport Authority (NTA) has a statutory responsibility for the development and implementation of a Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Areaand such a Strategywas approved and published in 2016. As part of its development, a detailed analysis of the “Navan Corridor” was conducted and is indeed available to view on the NTA’s...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Brexit Supports (12 Feb 2019)

Shane Ross: I propose to take Questions Nos. 73 and 74 together. I share the concerns of the Deputy in relation to the potential adverse effects of Brexit on the Border region. The Government remains firmly of the view that the best and only way to ensure an orderly withdrawal and protect the Good Friday Agreement is to ratify the Withdrawal Agreement, agreed between the EU and the British...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Cycling Facilities Provision (12 Feb 2019)

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 planning and development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area, including cycling and walking infrastructure. Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Taxi Licences (12 Feb 2019)

Shane Ross: Under the Taxi Regulation Act 2013, the National Transport Authority (NTA) is responsible for regulating the small public service vehicles (SPSV) sector. This sector encompasses taxis, hackneys and limousine services, and the regulatory framework applies to the vehicles, the drivers, and the services to the travelling public that they provide. The overall objective of the legislation and...