Results 2,061-2,080 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Ulster Canal Restoration Project (26 Jun 2019)

Shane Ross: In July 2007, the North South Ministerial Council agreed to a proposal to restore a 13km section of the Ulster Canal from Upper Lough Erne to Clones. This project is important for the border region with potential to stimulate economic activity, giving a much needed boost to job creation and with the growth in water based tourism helping to attract significant numbers of visitors to the area....

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 thank the committee for the invitation to report on the implementation of the committee’s recommendations in its report, Accessibility of Public Transport for People with Disabilities. It is important to me that this report, informed in particular by the experiences shared by those with lived experience of disability, is not left to gather dust. The spotlight given to, along with...

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 have no reason to believe that any of the programmes, aspirations or actions I have outlined today will be in any way delayed and I have had no indications from anywhere else that they will be delayed either. They are too important to be delayed. Much of it is not to do with money but with changing public attitudes and other matters which are not necessarily costly but are very important....

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 thank the Senator for his remarks. Without appearing to flatter him or any other members of the committee too much, the role played by the committee is very helpful in increasing public awareness and in making others, including me, accountable for what is happening. The members are responsible for the fact that there has been a giant step forward, not just in funding but in public...

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: What fleet is the Deputy talking about?

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.

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 Deputy asked about the tender process for the DART fleet. It has not yet commenced, but it is in train. The specification is being developed. I do not know exactly what the start date is, but I can find out.

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.

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: Certainly. I understand what is meant by "platform interface" is the automatic ramp to ensure everything is at the same 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 NTA is looking actively at how the issue of wheelchair accessible vehicles in rural areas can be addressed. It is under examination, but I will certainly make sure it is brought to its attention that the Deputy has raised it because it is probably one of the issues that will be addressed urgently, although it has not actually got down to doing it. It is one of the three things that it...

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 Deputy raised a point about space.

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: They have to wait.

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 believe 50% of the Dublin Bus fleet has space for a wheelchair and a buggy. There is room for both. There is a retrofit programme in place, but obviously it is still a problem. Improvements have been made and there is space for a buggy and a wheelchair, but it has come to my attention that there are occasions on which people cannot get on board. I agree that it is something we have to...

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 said, perhaps before the Deputy came in, the funding for the accessibility retrofit programme will increase from €4 million in 2018 to €7 million this year, €7 million next year and €10 million in the following year. That means the allocation between 2019 and 2021 will have trebled from €9 million to €27.8 million. That has been used for...

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: We can get information from the NTA, which manages the retrofit programme. The legacy infrastructure relates to the many stations on the rail network that date from the 19th century and that were not accessible for people with disabilities. Under the accessibility retrofit programme these stations are progressively being made accessible. Some of them are Victorian and a fair amount is...

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 I stop?

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 Deputy need not worry; next time. The works are due to be completed at the end of June. Surveys and designs are being developed for wheelchair-accessible stops at Ballyshannon and Sligo bus stations.

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: It is at proposal stage, as far as I know. Nothing is built there yet. It is not a building anyway.

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: It is a centre; it will be nearly all kind of-----

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 new manager will address that.