Results 18,081-18,100 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Road Projects Status (21 Nov 2019)

Shane Ross: It would be very wrong if the funding changes which happened as a result of the financial crisis were taken as an indication of a lack of enthusiasm for this project on the part of the Government. That enthusiasm has not been diluted in any way. The Deputy knows that because of the financial crisis that hit this country, the Government decided in 2011 that its commitment to provide funding...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Road Projects Status (21 Nov 2019)

Shane Ross: I could go on.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ports Policy (21 Nov 2019)

Shane Ross: I thank Deputy Butler for taking this question on behalf of Deputy Browne, who constantly asks me about this issue and pursues it with a welcome vigour. Rosslare Europort is unique among the State-owned ports as it is not a commercial company operating under the Harbours Acts, but is instead operated on a commercial basis as a division of Iarnród Éireann. Technically, the port...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ports Policy (21 Nov 2019)

Shane Ross: I have some sympathy with what the Deputy says, although I do not think the way the port operates creates any great obstructions. The structure of the port is strange and dates back over 150 years. If Deputy Butler or Deputy Browne has any concrete evidence that that structure is causing problems, I would be happy to ask my officials to examine the matter with a view to introducing...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ports Policy (21 Nov 2019)

Shane Ross: I am not unsympathetic to Deputies who make the case for the south east. Developments in the region are promising and I continue to encourage them in any way I can. The opportunities for Rosslare Port are recognised by the proposed investment of €25 million by Iarnród Éireann. That investment is a vote of confidence in Rosslare Port and its future. Brexit is not a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local Improvement Scheme Funding (21 Nov 2019)

Shane Ross: The decision taken by the Taoiseach while Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport was forced upon him by financial circumstances. I have no doubt that he did not wish to make the decision he did. The Deputy is aware that the LIS is back in existence. The maintenance of roads not taken in charge by local authorities is the responsibility of the relevant landowners. However, section 81...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local Improvement Scheme Funding (21 Nov 2019)

Shane Ross: I understand what the Deputy is seeking. We have a situation which was probably not envisaged some years ago, namely, that another Minister has introduced funding for the LIS. I am open to discussions with the Minister, Deputy Ring, regarding the LIS and how it is being implemented. I must be conscious of the fact that funding for public roads remains below the level needed to achieve...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Local Improvement Scheme Funding (21 Nov 2019)

Shane Ross: The LIS has not gone away. In fact, it has been revived. Since 2017, the Department of Rural and Community Development has allocated significant funds to it. In 2017, €17.539 million was allocated, €20.8 million in 2018 and €10 million so far in 2019, giving a total of €48 million. A very substantial amount of funding has been allocated to the LIS. The Deputy...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Regional Road Network (21 Nov 2019)

Shane Ross: As I indicated in response to a previous question from Deputy MacSharry, the improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on these roads are funded from local authorities' own resources, supplemented by State road grants. Regional and local road...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Regional Road Network (21 Nov 2019)

Shane Ross: I will take what the Deputy has said into account when considering these allocations. The good news obviously is that I anticipate an increase to be announced in January. I cannot make any specific promises about where that money will go, but obviously it is a matter of great importance for the Deputy's area and others. We need to recognise that the size of the national, regional and local...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Transport Authority Staff (21 Nov 2019)

Shane Ross: Okay.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Transport Authority Staff (21 Nov 2019)

Shane Ross: My Department has been working closely with the NTA about strengthening its staffing position so that it is robust and sustainable. It is essential that the NTA is adequately resourced to successfully deliver its pipeline of key strategic infrastructure projects. These are large in scale and ambition, for example, BusConnects, MetroLink and the DART expansion. The NTA is resourced by a mix...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Transport Authority Staff (21 Nov 2019)

Shane Ross: I think what we will do is get back to topic. The NTA has a low number of permanent staff with the biggest increase taking place in 2018 when 114 permanent staff were employed, compared with 91 for each of the previous years. In December 2018, the NTA received delegated sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for 140 permanent staff for 2019, an increase of 26 on the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects Status (21 Nov 2019)

Shane Ross: Firstly, I would like to explain that, as Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme.  However, under the Roads Acts 1993-2015, the planning, design, construction and operation of individual national road projects is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Industry (21 Nov 2019)

Shane Ross: Revenue from overseas visitors to Ireland reached record levels in 2018 and the tourism sector continues to perform strongly this year following 8 consecutive years of growth. Overseas visitor data released by the CSO for the first half of 2019 show that spending in Ireland by overseas visitors was €2,276 million, up 0.3% on the same period in 2018. In Budget 2020, I...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (21 Nov 2019)

Shane Ross: I can confirm to the Deputy that the 41 additional InterCity Railcars recently approved by Government will benefit Northern Line commuters, as well as commuters on the Maynooth and Kildare Lines. As the Deputy is aware Government has approved this project which will provide a 34% increase to capacity across the GDA commuter rail network in advance of the much bigger increases which will...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Traffic Legislation (21 Nov 2019)

Shane Ross: The Road Traffic (Traffic and Parking) (Amendment) Regulations 2019 (Statutory Instrument Number 495 of 2019) builds on the previous legislation in relation to dangerous overtaking.  These regulations divide the offence of dangerous overtaking to make it a separate offence to dangerously overtake a pedal cyclist.  This will specifically target those drivers who put cyclists at risk....

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport Initiatives (21 Nov 2019)

Shane Ross: As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. Under the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008, the National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for promoting the development of an integrated, accessible public transport network. I am aware that the NTA has already responded to the Deputy in...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects Status (21 Nov 2019)

Shane Ross: Firstly, I would like to explain that, as Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme.  Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015, the planning, design, construction and development stages of individual road projects is a matter for (a)  the relevant road authority (i.e....

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rural Transport Programme (21 Nov 2019)

Shane Ross: As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. I do not have responsibility for the day-to-day operations of public transport services.  The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally. It also has...