Results 2,601-2,620 of 9,563 for speaker:Jack Chambers

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Climate Action Plan (22 Jun 2023)

Jack Chambers: I fully agree. It is very important in all of the investment decisions and change that we are trying to make that we bring people with us. People need clear messaging and awareness of climate action and the other benefits of sustainable mobility, including the benefits to individuals, families, communities and businesses. Achieving a shift to zero or low carbon transfer modes, including...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Bus Services (22 Jun 2023)

Jack Chambers: The National Transport Authority is overseeing the delivery of the BusConnects programme in our five major cities, including Galway, which will be substantially delivered in all five cities by 2030. BusConnects Galway will be a major enhancement to the bus system in Galway, comprising changes to the network, the fleet, ticketing, bus shelters and poles, and the development of bus lanes and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Bus Services (22 Jun 2023)

Jack Chambers: I thank both Deputies for their remarks. Like Deputy Farrell, I welcome the fact there has been progress on a night bus for the city. As the Deputies know, the public consultation closed on 2 June and the redesign will be finalised in the coming months. I will reflect the Deputy's feedback and that of Deputy Ó Cuív on Mervue and the bus stop there. The intention of a network...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rail Network (22 Jun 2023)

Jack Chambers: I appreciate everyone's input on this. In response to Deputy Shanahan, there are tremendous opportunities for regional connectivity, providing strategic growth and opportunities as part of the all-island rail review. In response to Deputy Alan Farrell, the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, has previously outlined the order for battery electric carriages. Across the Government, we are...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Climate Action Plan (22 Jun 2023)

Jack Chambers: I appreciate the opportunity to provide an update on the transport delivery task force as set out in the Climate Action Plan 2023, CAP23. As the Deputy will know, the Government has established six climate delivery task forces in key sectoral areas. Transport's task force is known as the sustainable mobility policy, SMP, leadership group. Of the 15 transport-related work programmes...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Road Projects (22 Jun 2023)

Jack Chambers: As Deputy Martin Kenny knows, the Government is funding this road in 2023. Some €400,000 is being allocated, which is allowing it to progress. The decision the Government made on this road-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Road Projects (22 Jun 2023)

Jack Chambers: No. The decision the Government made on this road was to include it as a key road in the national development plan. The briefing I have received is very clear. It is that the project will assist in the delivery of a high quality road network along the Atlantic corridor, linking Cork, Limerick, Galway and Sligo. It will provide enhanced regional accessibility in the context of Ireland West...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Road Projects (22 Jun 2023)

Jack Chambers: When it comes to the national development plan, the Government decided to include this as a key road.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Road Projects (22 Jun 2023)

Jack Chambers: I again thank both Deputies for their advocacy for this road and for reflecting the concerns of the local community, which I heard myself when I visited Sligo County Council. I can only emphasise that this road is being included in the national development plan. The allocations for all roads are made annually at the end of the year to allow for continuity of funding. The allocation will be...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Road Projects (22 Jun 2023)

Jack Chambers: It is something that will be discussed in the context of my role with responsibility for road safety.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Road Projects (22 Jun 2023)

Jack Chambers: We must make sure that we take into account any concerns relating to road safety in the context of roads investment.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rail Network (22 Jun 2023)

Jack Chambers: I propose to take Questions Nos. 8 and 53 together. As the Deputies may be aware, the all-island strategic rail review is being undertaken in co-operation with the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland. The results of the review will inform the development of the railway sector on the island of Ireland over the coming decades to 2050, in line with net carbon-zero targets in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rail Network (22 Jun 2023)

Jack Chambers: In response to Deputy Shanahan, we support rebalancing and providing opportunities for our regional ports. Rail freight would be an important component of that. Given the overall growth trajectory of the economy and the connection between port capacity and growth in GDP, it is likely that all our ports, including Dublin Port, will have a growth requirement. It is important we look at the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Road Safety (22 Jun 2023)

Jack Chambers: I agree. That has been one of the main issues identified by the Road Safety Authority in the context of the worrying trend whereby we have seen road fatalities increase in three of the last four years. Unfortunately, that trend has continued into 2023. As of 20 June, there have been 83 fatalities on Irish roads, an increase of eight compared with the same day last year. These include 20...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Road Safety (22 Jun 2023)

Jack Chambers: On Deputy Ó Cuív's point, significant data have been compiled by the Road Safety Authority on many of the fatalities and the trends across fatalities. Speed and excess speed are key factors in urban areas in cases where pedestrians or cyclists have lost their lives. The wider review of speed limits is also examining the huge inconsistency between speed limits, as well as excessive...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Road Projects (22 Jun 2023)

Jack Chambers: As I have said previously, once funding arrangements have been put in place with Transport Infrastructure Ireland under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2015, and in line with the national development plan, the planning, design, improvement and upgrading of individual national roads is a matter for TII, in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. TII ultimately delivers the national roads...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Road Projects (22 Jun 2023)

Jack Chambers: I thank Deputy Fitzmaurice. Once funding arrangements have been put in place with Transport Infrastructure Ireland under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2015, and in line with the national development plan, NDP, the planning, design, improvement and upgrading of individual national roads is a matter for TII, in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. TII ultimately delivers the national...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Road Projects (22 Jun 2023)

Jack Chambers: The only decision made has been to allocate funding for 2023. No decision has been made for 2024. That decision will be made later in the year for every national road in the national development plan. I want to give clarity on that. Having met with the council, I know there is a poor safety record on the N17. The Deputy is also correct that this road is important for healthcare, regional...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Road Projects (22 Jun 2023)

Jack Chambers: There are a number of roads around Letterkenny listed in the national development plan, as part of the overall TEN-T network. This proposed project will remove through traffic from a number of towns and villages, which will have positive social and environmental impacts on local residents. Road users will benefit from improved journey time certainty. The project also provides the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Road Safety (22 Jun 2023)

Jack Chambers: As part of action 6 of the Government’s road safety strategy, a review is under way to examine the framework for setting speed limits, including specific consideration of the introduction of a 30 km/h default speed limit in urban areas. The group was established in late 2021 and comprised representatives of the Department of Transport, NTA, TII, local authorities, the RSA and An Garda...