Results 18,741-18,760 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Toll Data (20 May 2020)

Shane Ross: 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 operation and management of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Matters relating...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Electric Vehicles (20 May 2020)

Shane Ross: As the Deputy is aware, my officials carried out a public consultation on whether or not to legislate for or regulate the use of powered personal transporters (PPTs) over a two month period late last year. In excess of 500 submissions were received, all of which were carefully considered. These submissions, in conjunction with independent research into the regulation and use of these vehicles...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Electric Vehicles (20 May 2020)

Shane Ross: Powered personal transporters, or PPTs, are classed as mechanically propelled vehicles, the use of which requires a licence, tax and appropriate insurance in accordance with Section 3 of the Road Traffic Act 1961. As PPTs do not fall under any existing vehicle category, it is not currently possible to tax and insure them and there is no licence category for them. Therefore their use is...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (20 May 2020)

Shane Ross: At the outset, I should clarify that my Department’s role in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of developing national tourism policy and our tourism agencies (Tourism Ireland and Fáilte Ireland) deal with the implementation of this policy. This is of course a concerning time for everyone involved in the tourism sector, including those who benefit from the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Taxi Licences (20 May 2020)

Shane Ross: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1094 and 1095 together. The Government has put in place a range of measures to assist businesses during the current COVID-19 pandemic, including a waiver of commercial rates and the COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme. Self-employed owner operators of SPSVs may also avail of the COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment of €350 a week. I recognise...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (20 May 2020)

Shane Ross: The National Transport Authority, as the regulatory body for the small public service vehicle (SPSV) sector, has published information for the SPSV industry which includes guidelines, based on the latest available public health advice, on how to keep vehicles clean to reduce the spread of COVID-19. This document is available on the NTA's website. I have also referred your question to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid-19 Pandemic (20 May 2020)

Shane Ross: The Government has been clear that continued operation of the public transport sector is important, and it has been designated among the essential services that are to carry on. I would like to thank operators and staff for their continued dedication to providing this vital service in such challenging times. A number of measures have been introduced across the system, guided by public...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Contracts (20 May 2020)

Shane Ross: The Department had published details of expenditure on all on external services (including consultancy) for the period 2013-2018 on its website.  Details of expenditure on external services (including consultancy) for 2019 is attached (see Professional Services) in the link below.  The OGP Public Procurement Guidelines (January 2019) ())set out best practice in relation to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Motor Tax (27 May 2020)

Shane Ross: The online motor tax service, www.motortax.ie, through which 77% of all motor tax applications were transacted last year, continues to operate. Motor tax offices are also continuing to process postal applications in the various offices around the country. It is not possible, at this stage, to give a definitive date for the opening of public counters in motor tax offices, which will be a...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Industry (27 May 2020)

Shane Ross: Tourism is one of the most directly affected sectors in the current crisis. The impact of COVID-19 on tourism globally has been overwhelming and immediate with unprecedented consequences for Ireland’s tourism sector. Since late February, Minister Griffin and I, along with my Department officials have engaged with industry with a view to understanding the challenges facing the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Motor Tax (27 May 2020)

Shane Ross: In relation to refunds, the relevant legislation provides for a refund of motor tax in certain limited circumstances, where: - a vehicle has been scrapped or destroyed; - a vehicle has been permanently exported; - a vehicle has been stolen and has not been recovered by the owner; - a vehicle in respect of which a tax disc has been taken out has not been used in apublic place at any time...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid-19 Pandemic (27 May 2020)

Shane Ross: In recognition of the economic, social and logistical importance of the overall transport sector, Government designated it among the essential services to continue during the Covid-19 health emergency. Public transport, including the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, remains an important service for those it has continued to carry, including essential workers and those making...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid-19 Pandemic (27 May 2020)

Shane Ross: The Government-approved Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business, and its specific phasing, is based on public health advice. Compliance with the various requirements attaching to each phase of the Roadmap is essential to ensure continued progress against the COVID-19 pandemic. The Roadmap differentiates between outdoor and indoor sporting activity. Subject to compliance with the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid-19 Pandemic (27 May 2020)

Shane Ross: The Government has been clear that continued operation of the public transport sector is important, and it has been designated among the essential services that have continued to operate during the pandemic. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has been working with all transport operators to ensure service continuity, and in this they continue to be guided by the public health advice,...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid-19 Pandemic (27 May 2020)

Shane Ross: As you are no doubt aware, the Department of Health is the lead Government Department in relation to public health matters, including COVID-19 and also measures taken at ports and airports in relation to arriving passengers. Measures to protect public health are decided by the National Emergency Public Health Team (NPHET) within the Department of Health, and my Department and its agencies...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Consumer Rights (27 May 2020)

Shane Ross: I am aware of difficulties across the travel sector in relation to refunds to customers and that in some instances travel companies such as travel agents may be offering vouchers or similar in respect to refund claims from customers for travel services impacted by the COVID-19 crisis, including school tours. The EU law is clear relating to refunds for package holidays. Under the EU...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Driver Licensing Service (27 May 2020)

Shane Ross: As Minister, I have no power to intervene in individual cases. I understand that the individual to whom the Deputy refers had a learner permit which expired in 2015, and due to the passage of time is required to begin the process again, by taking a driver theory test. As with other services, driver theory tests are currently suspended. Although the contractor is making plans to clear...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (27 May 2020)

Shane Ross: Due to the closure of services provided by the Road Safety Authority (RSA) as a result of the Covid-19 outbreak, I took measures to extend the validity of number of documents, including the learner permit. Any learner permits which were due to expire from 1 March 2020 to 30 June 2020 inclusive have had their period of validity extended by 4 months. The RSA is currently working, in...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Ministerial Meetings (27 May 2020)

Shane Ross: I had one such formal meeting, with the Chairperson and the Chief Executive of Bus Éireann on 14 May 2020. I am regularly briefed by my Department about matters in all the companies, and my Department has frequent engagement with them on both a scheduled and ad hoc basis.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Cycling Facilities Data (27 May 2020)

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 responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure, including cycling infrastructure. Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for...