Results 19,041-19,060 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid-19 Pandemic (9 Jun 2020)

Shane Ross: Since the beginning of the Covid-19 health emergency, the Government has been clear that continued operation of the public transport sector is important and designated public transport as an “essential service” during the Covid-19 emergency, recognising the importance of keeping the system running especially for carrying essential workers and other passengers making necessary...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sports Organisations (9 Jun 2020)

Shane Ross: I am acutely aware of the difficulties and challenges facing sporting organisations and clubs, including the League of Ireland. A COVID-19 Sports Monitoring Group, chaired at Ministerial level, has been established to engage directly with the sporting bodies. Four meetings of this Group have been held to date. The Football Association of Ireland has participated in all of these meetings. A...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Reports (9 Jun 2020)

Shane Ross: As the Deputy is aware, Project Ireland 2040committed to conducting an independent review toward evaluating a possible extension of the existing Western Rail Corridor northwards to Tuam (Phase 2) and/or Claremorris (Phase 3). Project Ireland 2040also states that if Government accepts a proposal to extend the route then that extension will be prioritised over the lifetime of the National...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Industry (9 Jun 2020)

Shane Ross: The Tourism Recovery Taskforce was established by Minister of State Brendan Griffin and I on 20 May 2020. The Taskforce have met twice already and plan to meet again on 10 June. The purpose of the Taskforce is to prepare a Tourism Recovery Plan which will include a set of recommendations on how best the Irish tourism sector can adapt and recover in the changed tourism environment as a result...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Projects (9 Jun 2020)

Shane Ross: The Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) is the EU's funding instrument for the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T). Funding under CEF is delivered in the form of grants awarded following competitive calls for proposals. The amount of co-funding awarded varies depending on the criteria for each call, the type of project and the quality of applications. All applications will be assessed and...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (9 Jun 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 statutory responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure, including the provision of bus stops and shelters. Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Driver Licensing Service (9 Jun 2020)

Shane Ross: The RSA is currently working, in consultation with my Department, on plans for the resumption of the range of services and functions for which it is responsible, following the publication of the Government roadmap and, more recently, the National Return to Work Safety Protocol as agreed by employer and trade union representatives. I am pleased to confirm the phased re-opening of the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (9 Jun 2020)

Shane Ross: I am pleased to confirm the phased re-opening of the National Driver Licence Service centres from Monday 8 June, in line with Phase 2 of the Government roadmap for the easing of Covid 19 restrictions and the national return to work safety protocol. The operation of the National Driver Licence Service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority. Further information is...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (9 Jun 2020)

Shane Ross: The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including vehicle licencing arrangements during the present COVID-19 pandemic, is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013. Given the role of the NTA as regulator, I have referred your question to the Authority for direct reply to you. Please advise my private...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Taxi Licences (9 Jun 2020)

Shane Ross: The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including vehicle licencing arrangements during the present COVID-19 pandemic, is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013. Given the role of the NTA as regulator, I have referred your question to the Authority for direct reply to you. Please advise my private...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (9 Jun 2020)

Shane Ross: As Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. Once funding arrangements have been put in place with TransportInfrastructure Ireland (TII), under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 the planning, design and construction of individual national roads is a matter for TII in conjunction with the local...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Driver Licensing Service (9 Jun 2020)

Shane Ross: The safety of the public is of paramount importance at this time and as in all aspects of the Covid-19 crisis my Department continues to be guided by National Public Health Emergency Team and the relevant national experts in relation to the resumption of services. I am pleased to confirm the phased re-opening of the National Driver Licence Service centres from Monday 8 June, in line with...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (9 Jun 2020)

Shane Ross: Since the beginning of the Covid-19 health emergency, the Government has been clear that continued operation of the public transport sector is important and designated public transport as an “essential service” during the Covid-19 emergency, recognising the importance of keeping the system running especially for carrying essential workers and other passengers making necessary...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (9 Jun 2020)

Shane Ross: Since the beginning of the Covid-19 health emergency, the Government has been clear that continued operation of the public transport sector is important and designated public transport as an “essential service” during the Covid-19 emergency, recognising the importance of keeping the system running especially for carrying essential workers and other passengers making necessary...

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development: Statements (Resumed) (10 Jun 2020)

Shane Ross: Within the framework established by the Climate Action and Low-Carbon Development Act, I am addressing the House to make the annual transport climate transition statement for 2019. It is clear that climate change remains one of our greatest challenges, and at 20% of Ireland's greenhouse gas emissions, transport has a significant role to play in our decarbonisation effort. While transport...

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development: Statements (Resumed) (10 Jun 2020)

Shane Ross: The Deputy is quite right about transport being a great challenge and the need to get people out of their cars. That is our objective. The Deputy will have seen the numbers for public transport. The numbers using rail and bus have increased immensely in recent years. The problem until recently was capacity. There has been an immense increase, however. That has been actually a success of...

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development: Statements (Resumed) (10 Jun 2020)

Shane Ross: I have that down for a written response. I will get the Deputy an update on it.

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development: Statements (Resumed) (10 Jun 2020)

Shane Ross: I will start with the Shannon issue. Deputy Wynne said that four weeks is too long. Most task forces set up by my predecessors have taken approximately four years. This one is urgent. We have a group of 14 people who are the main stakeholders and we will always get people complaining, as Deputy MacSharry did, about being left out. That always happens but we have people representing...

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development: Statements (Resumed) (10 Jun 2020)

Shane Ross: I apologise to Deputy Ó Broin.

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development: Statements (Resumed) (10 Jun 2020)

Shane Ross: The Deputy made certain statements, most of which I agree with. If one said some years ago electric vehicles, EVs, were the business, one was probably a lone voice. Those of us who are saying it now are probably also lone voices, to some extent. There is a large number of non-believers out there. I was one myself for a short period, even when I was in this job, because we were set some...