Results 2,521-2,540 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Written Answers — Transport Projects: Transport Projects (9 Jul 2009)

Noel Dempsey: Transport 21 continues to provide the strategic framework guiding Government investment in transport up to 2015, for Ireland as a whole and in the Greater Dublin Area. The programme aims to expand the capacity of our transport network, and increase use and accessibility. Great progress has been made since the beginning of Transport 21, both nationally and in the GDA, with a number of projects...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (9 Jul 2009)

Noel Dempsey: Over the period 2000–2008 a total of €800m has been paid to Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann in compensation for the public services obligation services, which they provide. In 2009, this will amount to €127m – an increase of over 120% since 2000. Over the same period a total of over €300m in capital investment has been made available to the two bus companies towards the cost of new...

Written Answers — Transport Projects: Transport Projects (9 Jul 2009)

Noel Dempsey: Transport 21 is the capital investment framework under the National Development Plan through which the transport system in Ireland will be developed, over the period 2006 to 2015. This sets out a suite of projects to be completed and I have no plans to include additional projects in the Transport 21 programme. I would also advise the Deputy that the start and completion dates of Transport 21...

Written Answers — Transport Projects: Transport Projects (9 Jul 2009)

Noel Dempsey: The transport implementing agencies have indicated to the Department that there has been a general downward trend in tender prices and in the cost of land purchases in recent times. However, these changes are only of benefit for new projects going to tender or for which notices to treat in respect of the compulsory acquisition of land have not been issued. A very high proportion of the...

Written Answers — Rail Services: Rail Services (9 Jul 2009)

Noel Dempsey: The information sought by the Deputy is a matter for Iarnród Éireann and I have asked the company to update the information that was provided to the Deputy in July 2008.

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (9 Jul 2009)

Noel Dempsey: A Road Traffic Bill, which inter alia provides for a reduction in the Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) levels for drivers, is nearing completion. The Bill takes account of the BAC levels proposed by the Road Safety Authority last year.

Written Answers — State Agencies: State Agencies (9 Jul 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I have recently approved proposals for the amalgamation of the Air Accident Investigation Unit of my Department, the Railway Accident Investigation Unit of the Railway Safety Commission and the Marine Casualty Investigation Board. These proposals entail the early co-location of the three Bodies in discrete office accommodation, and their administrative amalgamation to form an executive...

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (9 Jul 2009)

Noel Dempsey: Arising out of representations received by my Office and as I have indicated at both the Committee and Report Stage debates on the Harbours (Amendment) Bill 2008, my officials are examining the issue of marine pilots' retirement age, as provided for in section 69 of the Harbours Act 1996, in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General. It is my intention to introduce such an...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (9 Jul 2009)

Noel Dempsey: State road grants allocated under the Restoration Improvement Programme in 2008 and 2009 are set out in the following table. County Council 2008 Allocation (€) 2009 Allocation (€) Carlow 2,771,000 1,774,000 Cavan 7,226,000 4,727,000 Clare 9,720,000 6,478,000 Cork 29,500,000 19,542,000 Donegal 15,244,000 9,384,000 Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown 3,065,000 1,661,000 Fingal 3,110,000...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (9 Jul 2009)

Noel Dempsey: The development of the Maynooth line is an essential element of the DART Underground Programme which, along with Metro North, are key projects in the provision of increased capacity on the public transport network, which in turn is an important consideration in determining investment priorities for public transport. The Maynooth line will become a second DART line following the building of...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (9 Jul 2009)

Noel Dempsey: Under Transport 21, my Department has been funding the development of a network of Green Routes in Cork, in line with proposals developed in the Cork Area Strategic Plan (CASP). One of the Green Routes to be developed under the CASP is the Carrigaline/ Ringaskiddy route, and I hope to see this and the remainder of the Green Route programme in Cork completed. In the present year I have...

Written Answers — Ports Review: Ports Review (9 Jul 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I have recently received a final report of the Dublin Port National Development Plan Study for my consideration and it is my intention to publish the findings of this report in the near future. I am not aware of any other Government commissioned reports on the national ports sector. An Bord Pleanála is currently considering a planning application lodged by Dublin Port Company under the...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (9 Jul 2009)

Noel Dempsey: In accordance with section 57 of the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008 it will be a matter for the new Authority, when established, to develop and secure the implementation of a single brand to be used by public transport operators providing services in accordance with public transport services contracts with the Authority in the Greater Dublin Area.

Written Answers — Air Services: Air Services (9 Jul 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I refer the Deputy to my response to Question No. 66 answered on 26th May 2009.

Written Answers — Motor Vehicle Registration: Motor Vehicle Registration (9 Jul 2009)

Noel Dempsey: As I indicated in replies to previous similar questions, voluntary arrangements with insurers have been put in place whereby my Department receives regular notifications of write-off instances. This arrangement commenced in June 2008 and since then some 27,200 vehicle write-offs have been notified and the relevant records on the NVDF, which contains data on some 2.5 million vehicles, have...

Written Answers — Congestion Charges: Congestion Charges (9 Jul 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I will not rule in or out the potential fiscal measures needed to reduce congestion in the Greater Dublin Area. Although I expressed an opinion that congestion charges might ultimately be needed to help free up road space for alternative transport I am not considering or proposing any specific measures at this point in time. The Government's approach to this issue is set out in Action 11 of...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (9 Jul 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I have received a final report of the Dublin Port National Development Plan Study for consideration and it is my intention to publish its findings in the near future. The report will provide an important analysis of the future role of the port. I have no plans to bring forward a green paper on Dublin Port. However, I do propose to initiate a review of the Government's Ports Policy Statement...

Written Answers — Rail Services: Rail Services (9 Jul 2009)

Noel Dempsey: There is substantial ongoing current and capital Exchequer investment in the development and operation of the Irish railway network. Total Exchequer funding allocated to Iarnród Éireann for 2008 amounted to more than €720 million and freight services benefit from this investment also. I propose to establish a forum on the movement of goods as set out in Smarter Travel - A Sustainable...

Written Answers — Rail Services: Rail Services (9 Jul 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 464 and 465 together. The start and completion dates for projects which have not yet commenced construction, including Metro West, the Lucan Luas Line F and the Luas cross city link to Liffey Junction (Line BXD), will be determined as appropriate by the outcome of public consultation, the statutory planning approval process, the public procurement process and...

Written Answers — Rail Services: Rail Services (9 Jul 2009)

Noel Dempsey: Under Transport 21 the Western Rail Corridor is to be reinstated on a phased basis. Phase 1 will see the reinstatement of the line from Ennis to Athenry and is due for completion later this year. Phase 2 will link Athenry to Tuam and Phase 3 will see the reopening of the line from Tuam to Claremorris. Further studies are planned for later in 2009 to determine up to date costings of phases 2...