Results 17,121-17,140 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Accessibility of Public Transport for People with Disabilities: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (26 Jun 2019)

Shane Ross: I agree with much of Senator Dolan's contribution and it is particularly telling that he said transport is a daily grind for people with disabilities. It is a very fair point and we should bear in mind the obstacles and difficulties that disabled people have to endure. They can be difficult to relate to unless they are repeated again and again, ensuring that the people who make decisions...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Accessibility of Public Transport for People with Disabilities: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (26 Jun 2019)

Shane Ross: I understand what the Senator is saying, but the evidence we have seen is that progress is being made in the implementation of the recommendations made by the committee. It is mainly up to the NTA, but on the whole I see real progress. Deputy Catherine Murphy has been good enough to say things are better now than they were 20 years ago. Many of us were probably slow to realise the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Accessibility of Public Transport for People with Disabilities: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (26 Jun 2019)

Shane Ross: I will take up the matter with the Department of Justice and Equality to see what happens. Is it that Department's responsibility?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Accessibility of Public Transport for People with Disabilities: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (26 Jun 2019)

Shane Ross: I will ask what the position is. If it is behind, it is not right.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Accessibility of Public Transport for People with Disabilities: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (26 Jun 2019)

Shane Ross: That is not right. It should not be behind. I will find out why.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Accessibility of Public Transport for People with Disabilities: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (26 Jun 2019)

Shane Ross: That is fine.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Accessibility of Public Transport for People with Disabilities: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (26 Jun 2019)

Shane Ross: However, it is a little behind. One of the big holes is that private sector operators do not have to meet the same criteria. That is being acted on and there is to be a public consultation process. The NTA is examining the matter, with a view to coming back with proposals. It is unacceptable that the private sector is operating in a regime that is cavalier.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Accessibility of Public Transport for People with Disabilities: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (26 Jun 2019)

Shane Ross: Sure.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Accessibility of Public Transport for People with Disabilities: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (26 Jun 2019)

Shane Ross: That is my view. It is a cavalier attitude. I know that there are difficulties, but it is not acceptable. However, there is movement. The public service obligation, PSO, buses which are serviced by the private sector are accessible, but the others are not. The NTA is moving towards a public consultation process on the matter, with a view to coming forward with proposals which will go...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Accessibility of Public Transport for People with Disabilities: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (26 Jun 2019)

Shane Ross: Can the Senator repeat that question?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Accessibility of Public Transport for People with Disabilities: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (26 Jun 2019)

Shane Ross: All those questions are pretty detailed so if the Senator will allow it, I will revert to him. I will get the answers to the questions. I do not know about the €5 charge, I will check up with Irish Rail about that and the priority seating issue to see how that is happening. On powered wheelchairs, the NTA says it is arranging an inspection of one of these single-deck bus types in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Accessibility of Public Transport for People with Disabilities: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (26 Jun 2019)

Shane Ross: The Oireachtas disability group will be an ongoing engagement and it will be a useful group because it maintains awareness and is held at a high level.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Accessibility of Public Transport for People with Disabilities: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (26 Jun 2019)

Shane Ross: The Secretaries General of all Departments attended, which is a high level. It included the Secretary General of my Department and that will continue and we will encourage it. I thank the Senator for his remarks about the board. They are a conscience and a reminder. From what I have heard, it is working and it would be useful if other Departments followed this example. It is something...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Accessibility of Public Transport for People with Disabilities: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (26 Jun 2019)

Shane Ross: Yes, the Senator can take that as a given.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Accessibility of Public Transport for People with Disabilities: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (26 Jun 2019)

Shane Ross: Yes, that is funded by the NTA.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Accessibility of Public Transport for People with Disabilities: Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (26 Jun 2019)

Shane Ross: Before we conclude, I mention that I have an update on the recommendations the committee made. It is for my own use but it gives the status of those recommendations and outlines what has been achieved. I would be happy to make that available to the committee or to Senator Dolan. It goes through the recommendations in a thorough way and I see no reason why members should not have it as...

Climate Action Plan to Tackle Climate Breakdown: Statements (Resumed) (27 Jun 2019)

Shane Ross: It is fair to say that everyone in the House acknowledges the scale of the climate change challenge facing Ireland and the level of transformation required if we are to see a meaningful decrease in greenhouse gas emissions. That challenge needed a step up in ambition and renewed determination across Government and society to tackle climate disruption. The climate action plan gives us this...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Park and Ride Facilities (27 Jun 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) is responsible for the development and implementation of public transport and sustainable transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) , including the provision of Park and Ride facilities. Noting the NTA's...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Improvement Schemes (27 Jun 2019)

Shane Ross: I propose to take Questions Nos. 225 and 226 together. The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads (RLR) is the statutory responsibility of each 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 initial selection and prioritisation of...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Dublin Bus Fleet (27 Jun 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 public transport infrastructure, including the purchase of buses for the PSO bus fleets. In terms of policy, my Department has funded trials of various different technologies for low...