Results 201-220 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Written Answers — Taxi Regulations: Taxi Regulations (16 Nov 2010)

Noel Dempsey: I understand that the Commission for Taxi Regulation's new reform programme seeks to achieve a 10% target of wheelchair accessible taxis and hackneys. Since June 2010 new Small Public Service Vehicle licences are issued only in respect of wheelchair accessible vehicles and a new category of wheelchair accessible hackney was introduced. As part of its statutory remit the National Transport...

Written Answers — Rail Accidents: Rail Accidents (16 Nov 2010)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 65 and 73 together. The Railway Safety Commission is the independent statutory body charged with responsibility for ensuring implementation of recommendations made to Iarnród Éireann by the Rail Accident Investigation Unit, which is the independent body responsible for accident investigations. I wrote to the Chairman of Córas Iompair Éireann on 17 August...

Written Answers — Light Rail Project: Light Rail Project (16 Nov 2010)

Noel Dempsey: Responsibility for the implementation of Metro North transferred to the National Transport Authority on the 1st December 2009. Prior to the establishment of the NTA €127.2 million was made available by my Department to the RPA for expenditure on Metro North. This expenditure is broken down as follows: €million RPA Project Management & Development 64.9 Land & Property Acquisition...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (16 Nov 2010)

Noel Dempsey: It is the responsibility of the Railway Safety Commission to take the necessary measures to ensure that Railway Accident Investigation Unit recommendations are implemented. The recommendation referred to by the Deputy is an operational matter for Córas Iompair Éireann to address under the overall supervision of the Railway Safety Commission and I have no specific function in relation to the...

Written Answers — Learner Drivers: Learner Drivers (16 Nov 2010)

Noel Dempsey: In September 2010 the Road Safety Authority (RSA) launched proposals for the introduction of a graduated driver licensing (GDL) scheme. I endorsed these proposals before their launch and am committed to seeing them implemented. The GDL is made up of a total of nine proposals, one of which is compulsory basic training for learner drivers. A number of the proposals, including the requirement...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (16 Nov 2010)

Noel Dempsey: 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 those roads are funded from local authorities own resources and are supplemented by State road grants. In January 2010, my Department carried out a review of the transport response to the severe...

Written Answers — Transport Projects: Transport Projects (16 Nov 2010)

Noel Dempsey: Since 1st December 2009, public transport projects in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) come under the remit of the National Transport Authority (NTA). I understand that Iarnród Éireann have a number of programmes underway which are expected to be completed by the end of 2011 including the Car Parking Expansion and the Platform Renewal Programmes. The Elimination of Speed Restrictions project...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (16 Nov 2010)

Noel Dempsey: Having regard to normal expenditure patterns which typically entail a disproportionately high level of spending by the Department and more particularly its agencies in the final months of the year I expect that the overall net expenditure outcome will be very close to the allocation.

Written Answers — Air Services: Air Services (16 Nov 2010)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 74, 81 and 85 together. As you are aware, the Kerry to Dublin air service is operated under the current Public Service Obligation (PSO) contracts for services linking Dublin Airport with the regional airports at Derry, Donegal, Sligo, Ireland West Airport Knock, Galway and Kerry Airports. These contracts run from July 2008 to July 2011. Ryanair were awarded...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (16 Nov 2010)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 75 and 77 together. It is not planned to abolish the CIE Holding Company. The CIE Holding Company provides central services for the whole CIE Group. These include services such as IT, legal, insurance, property management, management of the pension schemes and human resources management. Strategic direction, control and overall co-ordination is provided by...

Written Answers — Commercial Seaports: Commercial Seaports (16 Nov 2010)

Noel Dempsey: The Central Statistics Office publishes a comprehensive annual report entitled "Statistics of Port Traffic". This report lists 21 commercial seaports in the State and also provides details such as all goods exported and imported through those ports. The report is available on the website of the Central Statistics Office, www.cso.ie The Ports Policy Statement, published in 2005, is the...

Written Answers — Transport Projects: Transport Projects (16 Nov 2010)

Noel Dempsey: The review of Infrastructure Investment Priorities 2010 – 2016, which was published in July this year by the Department of Finance, gives indicative capital allocations for my Department for 2011 and subsequent years. The priorities for future investment in transport are set out in the Review. The final capital funding allocation for my Department for 2011 will be determined as part of the...

Written Answers — Clamping Industry: Clamping Industry (16 Nov 2010)

Noel Dempsey: Clamping of vehicles on private land goes beyond the remit of my Department and I have no proposals to regulate it.

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (16 Nov 2010)

Noel Dempsey: The Government's Smarter Travel policy, launched by me in February 2009, provides that all public transport providers will prepare a plan for fleet replacement based on the most sustainable vehicle and fuel type. The EU adapted the Clean Vehicles Directive 2009/33 on 23 April 2009. This Directive aims to stimulate the market for clean and energy-efficient road transport vehicles by ensuring...

Written Answers — Travel Trade Regulation: Travel Trade Regulation (16 Nov 2010)

Noel Dempsey: As the Deputy will be aware, in 2008 I requested the Commission for Aviation Regulation to undertake a review of travel trade licensing and bonding regulations. The review by CAR concluded that any reduction in the level of the bond required by travel agents would increase the likelihood of further calls on the Travel Protection Fund (TPF), which has been called upon following a number of...

Written Answers — Search and Rescue Service: Search and Rescue Service (16 Nov 2010)

Noel Dempsey: In March this year, my Department was involved in concluding the Irish National Maritime Search and Rescue (SAR) Framework in line with current international best practice. The National Maritime SAR Framework sets out the arrangements whereby responsible parties work together to provide effective and efficient maritime and aeronautical SAR services. The Framework has been prepared both to...

Written Answers — Penalty Points System: Penalty Points System (16 Nov 2010)

Noel Dempsey: Bilateral arrangements between the UK and Ireland, under Article 15.4 of the 1998 EU Convention on driving disqualifications, came into operation on 28th January 2010. These arrangements relate to disqualifications arising from a range of traffic offences. Now that the mutual recognition of driving disqualifications is in place, a project plan will be developed to pursue the mutual...

Written Answers — National Car Test: National Car Test (16 Nov 2010)

Noel Dempsey: Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006 (Conferral of Functions) Order 2006 (S.I. No. 477 of 2006) vehicle testing arrangements are matters for the Road Safety Authority (RSA). There is regular and ongoing contact between the Road Safety Authority and my Department in regard to the National Car Testing (NCT) Service. My Department receives reports from time to time in relation to the...

Written Answers — Transport Plans: Transport Plans (16 Nov 2010)

Noel Dempsey: I take it that the Deputy is referring to issues raised by some retailers in the context of the bid submitted to my Department by Dundalk Town Council as part of the Smarter Travel Areas Competition. As no decision has yet been announced in relation to that competition it would not be appropriate for me to comment on any of the applications.

Written Answers — Taxi Regulations: Taxi Regulations (16 Nov 2010)

Noel Dempsey: I am conscious of the challenges facing the taxi industry and, indeed, all sectors of society in the current difficult economic circumstances. However as the deputy will be aware the Commission for Taxi Regulation is the independent public body responsible for taxi regulation under the Taxi Regulation Act 2003, which includes the day-to-day regulation of the taxi industry. In the...