Results 2,241-2,260 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Road Projects Status (22 May 2019)

Shane Ross: I would like to explain that as Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding of the national roads programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2015, the planning, design and construction stages of individual national road projects are matters for Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, in conjunction with the local authorities...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Road Projects Status (22 May 2019)

Shane Ross: I take the point Deputy Ellis has made, of which the Government is well aware. These schemes are of critical importance to this isolated north-west Border region. It is important in meeting the challenges and opportunities of Brexit, enabling regional growth and in the context of developing a city region encompassing Derry, Letterkenny and Strabane. The project will significantly improve...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Road Projects Status (22 May 2019)

Shane Ross: I understand the concerns of Deputies Ellis and Doherty for the communities. They have every opportunity to make their views known, and I presume that the new council will not be reticent in expressing its opinion. I will outline for the Deputy the expected construction timetable for all three schemes to which he refers. A project identified as a priority in the TEN-T study should take...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Road Projects Status (22 May 2019)

Shane Ross: I will give the Deputy an estimate of costs. The estimated cost to the Exchequer for planning in the period from 2018 to 2022 is €6 million. The estimated working cost of the project is €400 million, broken down into three lots of €115 million, €99 million and €186 million.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Road Safety (22 May 2019)

Shane Ross: As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to roads. The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects on national roads are matters for TII under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2015 in conjunction with the relevant local authority. Regional and local roads are a matter for each respective local...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rail Services Provision (22 May 2019)

Shane Ross: As I said, the fleet manufacturing contract will be awarded in the second quarter of next year. The Deputy fully realises there is obviously a time lag between ordering and delivery and he could not expect anything else. In the longer term, we are also committed to funding a new national train control centre and I expect to shortly seek Government approval for that project in line with the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rail Services Provision (22 May 2019)

Shane Ross: Delivery will probably be during 2023, not 2024.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Driver Licences (22 May 2019)

Shane Ross: When the Deputy prefaces his remarks to me with "To be fair", I get very worried because I am not used to it. As the Deputy is aware, historically, Ireland has not issued driving licences to asylum seekers.  The Supreme Court ruling last year stating that asylum seekers may work while awaiting the outcome of their asylum applications has no direct relevance to driver...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Driver Licences (22 May 2019)

Shane Ross: Ireland has taken the view, up to now, that asylum seekers are not "normally resident" here. Germany takes the view that they are. What the Deputy is asking me to do is to change that view. I am sympathetic to what he says and I am particularly sympathetic to the fact many of these asylum seekers have skills that are necessary and they want to stay here, and getting a driving licence would...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Driver Licences (22 May 2019)

Shane Ross: Verification may be, practically speaking, impossible in some cases.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Driver Licences (22 May 2019)

Shane Ross: I am sorry, it is quite a complicated issue.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Driver Licences (22 May 2019)

Shane Ross: It is quite complex. I apologise.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Driver Licences (22 May 2019)

Shane Ross: I would like this to come to a conclusion as well. The Deputy has led the charge on this, which should be acknowledged. I accept it has not been as speedy as we would have wished. Part of that is because it is complex and it involves EU regulations and several Departments. It is regarded as a redefinition of standards which we have already set. I replied to the Minister, Deputy...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Bus Services (22 May 2019)

Shane Ross: I share the Deputy's concerns for the residents; every Member does. There are genuine concerns for those who are going to lose part of their gardens. They have justifiable grievances. Unfortunately, one cannot make radical changes in transport without sometimes causing difficulties for a few people. That is the reality, which we deeply regret. As the Deputy will be aware, the residents...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Bus Services (22 May 2019)

Shane Ross: -----overview map of their road showing the potential impact on their property, and an offer to meet on a one-to-one basis. Details of public information sessions were announced at the launch and advertised in national and local newspapers. Information is also available on the BusConnects website.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rail Services Provision (22 May 2019)

Shane Ross: I thank the Deputy for his question and his interest in this issue. We are all aware that the number of people choosing to make rail part of their daily commute has increased in recent years. Last year, there were 48 million passenger journeys on the heavy rail network, an increase of approximately 5.5% as compared to the number in 2017. To provide some context to that growth, as recently...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rail Services Provision (22 May 2019)

Shane Ross: The time and date are matters for the NTA. The Deputy knows that as well as I do. I can outline for him, however, what the policy is and the timeframe generally. If, however, he thinks I am going to give a time and date and dictate to the NTA today, he should realise I will not do that. In the longer term, and as part of the DART expansion programme generally, there is a need to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Transport (22 May 2019)

Shane Ross: I do not disagree with much of what the Deputy has said. I agree that climate change is an important topic. He and others are welcome to make an input to public consultations as they arise, but also if we have a further stakeholders' forum. That is a useful subject. I do not accept what the Deputy said about privatisation. Nothing has been sold. Since I came to office, this has come...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Bus Services (22 May 2019)

Shane Ross: I thank the Deputy for providing the opportunity to talk about BusConnects. The Deputy is aware of the fundamental importance of PSO bus services in addressing congestion and contributing to tackling our climate action challenge. The PSO bus network is the backbone of the public transport system. Last year, over two thirds of the approximately 266 million passenger journeys on...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Bus Services (22 May 2019)

Shane Ross: I thank the Deputy for his general support for BusConnects. Fianna Fáil has warmly welcomed the principle of it as something that is necessary. The party has also applauded quality bus corridors, which formed the second part of the Deputy's question, and I think we can unite behind that. There have certainly been hiccups and high-profile difficulties in the route changes proposed,...