Results 2,041-2,060 of 2,965 for speaker:Robert Dowds

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources: Fuel Prices (29 Jan 2013)

Robert Dowds: To ask the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources his plans to reduce the amount of oil imported into Ireland. [3863/13]

Public Accounts Committee: National Transport Authority - Financial Statement 2011 (24 Jan 2013)

Robert Dowds: I understand that the CIE group of companies are in a parlous financial state. Can the witnesses comment on that?

Public Accounts Committee: National Transport Authority - Financial Statement 2011 (24 Jan 2013)

Robert Dowds: What about metro west?

Public Accounts Committee: National Transport Authority - Financial Statement 2011 (24 Jan 2013)

Robert Dowds: How much has been spent on the Lucan Luas proposal?

Public Accounts Committee: National Transport Authority - Financial Statement 2011 (24 Jan 2013)

Robert Dowds: Approximately €200 million has been spent on projects that are a long way from delivery.

Public Accounts Committee: National Transport Authority - Financial Statement 2011 (24 Jan 2013)

Robert Dowds: I presume the previous Government made the relevant decisions in regard to progressing the projects.

Public Accounts Committee: National Transport Authority - Financial Statement 2011 (24 Jan 2013)

Robert Dowds: Does Mr. Murphy share my view that we should simply focus on the project that will be most productive in terms of assisting passengers to get from A to B?

Public Accounts Committee: National Transport Authority - Financial Statement 2011 (24 Jan 2013)

Robert Dowds: From the perspective of my own constituency it appears wiser to invest in the interconnector than in metro west, even though both projects would be advantageous to the area. I presume this could be determined on a scientific basis.

Public Accounts Committee: National Transport Authority - Financial Statement 2011 (24 Jan 2013)

Robert Dowds: If I could change direction, an allegation about the management of Bus Éireann was recently brought to my attention. It was alleged that attempts to save money were put onto the drivers even as the same level of top management was maintained. Is there any truth in that allegation? How many senior managers are employed in Bus Éireann and has the figure changed over the last five years?

Public Accounts Committee: National Transport Authority - Financial Statement 2011 (24 Jan 2013)

Robert Dowds: I ask Mr. Murphy to provide that information in writing because it would clarify matters in terms of how management has changed and overall staffing in Bus Éireann over the last five years.

Public Accounts Committee: National Transport Authority - Financial Statement 2011 (24 Jan 2013)

Robert Dowds: Mr. Murphy stated that there are 23,000 taxis in Ireland. How many of these are in Dublin?

Public Accounts Committee: National Transport Authority - Financial Statement 2011 (24 Jan 2013)

Robert Dowds: There was a terrible free-for-all for taxis in the sense that we went from one extreme to another. Previously the availability of licence plates was extremely restricted but this changed to a regime in which almost anybody could get a licence plate or, as the Chairman noted, multiple plates. Is there any evidence to suggest that the number of taxis on the road in Dublin is declining? It...

Public Accounts Committee: National Transport Authority - Financial Statement 2011 (24 Jan 2013)

Robert Dowds: That is welcome provided there are sufficient taxis on the roads. As somebody who favours public transport I agree it should be subsidised, although it should be combined with transport companies that operate as efficiently as possible so that money is not wasted. What percentage of Dublin Bus's revenue comes from subsidy? I would be satisfied with figures for its overall revenue from...

Public Accounts Committee: National Transport Authority - Financial Statement 2011 (24 Jan 2013)

Robert Dowds: Does that mean the actual intake from fares was €105 million?

Public Accounts Committee: National Transport Authority - Financial Statement 2011 (24 Jan 2013)

Robert Dowds: In our current circumstances the subsidy is not going to increase but how would Dublin Bus compare with the level of subsidies provided to transport companies in similarly sized cities overseas, such as Lisbon?

Public Accounts Committee: National Transport Authority - Financial Statement 2011 (24 Jan 2013)

Robert Dowds: I understand and accept that it has to be.

Public Accounts Committee: National Transport Authority - Financial Statement 2011 (24 Jan 2013)

Robert Dowds: As I say, I absolutely accept that. However, sometimes perhaps a minibus might do the job of a train.

Public Accounts Committee: National Transport Authority - Financial Statement 2011 (24 Jan 2013)

Robert Dowds: I entirely accept that public transport will generally operate at a loss, but what about where it is operating at a gross loss? Mr. Murphy may not have the figures on this, but I would be curious to know, for example, what it costs to run the Limerick-to-Athenry line on a yearly basis and how much money the company takes in from customers. My guess is that probably under 5% of the running...

Public Accounts Committee: National Transport Authority - Financial Statement 2011 (24 Jan 2013)

Robert Dowds: Mr. Murphy is stating the subsidy on that route is approaching 95%.

Public Accounts Committee: National Transport Authority - Financial Statement 2011 (24 Jan 2013)

Robert Dowds: I do not want to be misunderstood. For example, I note Deputy O'Donnell made the point that he supports public transport, as do I. It is important that we have a good public transport service. I have no doubt that the Cork-to-Dublin rail line, for example, is also run at a loss, and I would in no sense advocate that it be terminated because it is serving a significant number of people....