Results 2,621-2,640 of 9,563 for speaker:Jack Chambers

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rail Network (22 Jun 2023)

Jack Chambers: Thankfully, because of the management of the economy and the fact that we are running budgetary surpluses, we have the opportunity to invest in line with our enormous ambition for capital investment in rail infrastructure and other areas. We are ambitious. We have to do that in a strategic way. The rail review will provide an opportunity for that. A significant milestone in the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Transport Authority (22 Jun 2023)

Jack Chambers: This question may have been submitted prior to last week's public meeting at which it was agreed, as we can now confirm, that funding of €280,000 is being provided to Tipperary County Council to allow this project to proceed to the next stage of development, which is known as phase 3 - preliminary design. I know the Deputy will welcome that decision. I thank him and other local...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Transport Authority (22 Jun 2023)

Jack Chambers: I thank the Deputy. As he has said, there is a long history to this. Having been down there last week - the Deputy was there as well - I understand it is important from a road safety perspective that we see progress on the preliminary design work and hopefully a planning application after it. It is in the interests of providing safe active travel for the community in Ardfinnan that there...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Transport Authority (22 Jun 2023)

Jack Chambers: We are at a point in progress that was not there two weeks ago, as the Deputy is aware. Thanks to the strong advocacy of all public representatives and the community council, we are now in a position to develop that preliminary design. There has to be a process around design and planning for every aspect of public infrastructure. I am sure the NTA and the council will be able to provide...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rail Network (22 Jun 2023)

Jack Chambers: Two things are happening, as I said in the previous response. The draft all-island rail review will be published in July for the purposes of environmental assessment and is to be finalised in the autumn. Separately, we will be commencing a review of our national ports policy. We will be publishing an issues paper on that in the coming weeks which will set out the trajectory on capacity for...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rail Network (22 Jun 2023)

Jack Chambers: The draft review will be published for environmental assessment in the coming weeks. We will welcome everyone's engagement on it. There is a lot of commentary about Dublin Port and being able to move it at the flick of a switch or turn it into a strategic zone for housing. It plays a hugely important role in our economy. Given the trade and logistics network that has evolved over decades,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rail Network (22 Jun 2023)

Jack Chambers: There is a huge range of activity occurring across the rail network to improve rail transport for passengers with a variety of projects set for delivery over the next few years. In the short term we will see a new station opening at Kishogue on the Kildare line late this year; new rail carriages entering into service next year through the addition of 41 new carriages to the intercity fleet;...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rail Network (22 Jun 2023)

Jack Chambers: The next iteration in terms of decision-making will be the all-island strategic rail review. It will inform the development and decision-making of inter-urban and inter-regional rail across the island over the coming decades. It provides the strategic backdrop to rail investment in our region that the Jaspers review noted was lacking when considering phases 2 and 3 of the corridor. The...

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

Jack Chambers: As the Deputy will be aware, the National Development Plan 2000–2006 first identified PPPs as a mechanism to facilitate the delivery of an extensive roads programme. There are now eight PPP toll roads in the State. These eight roads were constructed and are now operated and maintained under long-term contracts with Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII. Revenue generated by these...

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

Jack Chambers: As I have said, the setting of tolls is a statutory function for TII and in those contracts there was a connection between toll increases and the CPI. The Deputy mentioned a few services that relate to the maintenance of our national roads and motorways, but asset renewal is a key part of that and probably one of the biggest cost implications for both public roads and roads that have a toll,...

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

Jack Chambers: I acknowledge the impact of the increased tolls on motorists and families. That is why we deferred the increase for six months. We have a vast motorway network that was developed through PPPs. People can be critical of them. Neither I or the Deputy were in the House at the time. To be fair, at the time they delivered an infrastructural outcome that has helped connect Ireland and built...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rail Network (22 Jun 2023)

Jack Chambers: The rail freight market in Ireland is open. Currently, a commercial arm of Iarnród Éireann is active in the sector. While the rail freight industry has declined in Ireland in recent decades, there are clear opportunities for growth, as demonstrated by the success of the existing Ballina corridor. Since Brexit, trade patterns between Ireland and continental Europe have shifted...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Policy (22 Jun 2023)

Jack Chambers: The Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Programme was launched in March 2021 with the aim of supporting walking, scooting and cycling to primary and post-primary schools, and creating safer walking and cycling routes within communities, through the provision of infrastructure interventions. This should help alleviate congestion at school gates and increase the number of students who walk or cycle to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Parking Provision (22 Jun 2023)

Jack Chambers: daa has statutory responsibility to operate, manage and develop Dublin and Cork Airports, including car parking at the airports. I can advise the Deputy that my officials and I engage regularly with the daa. In recent engagements I have stressed the importance of Dublin and Cork Airports engaging with all parts of the airport community in relation to preparedness for Summer 2023. The...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Dublin Airport Authority (22 Jun 2023)

Jack Chambers: As the deputy will be aware, daa has the statutory responsibility to operate, manage and develop Dublin Airport, including all infrastructure required to support connectivity. Within this statutory mandate, daa is expected to work in support of the Government’s aviation policy as articulated in the National Aviation Policy published in 2015. daa must also have regard to wider...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aviation Industry (22 Jun 2023)

Jack Chambers: I am aware of a recent international report which reports an increase in the use of private/business aviation across Europe in recent years including in Ireland. The environmental impact of private jet use was discussed recently at the EU Council of Transport Ministers meeting. As aviation is inherently international and measures to address the environmental impacts of aviation are...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (22 Jun 2023)

Jack Chambers: The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for all aspects of the National Driving Test service. I have therefore referred the question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days. As the Deputy notes, following a review of the capacity of the driver testing service to meet demand by...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety (22 Jun 2023)

Jack Chambers: The Road Traffic (Control of Traffic) Regulations 2006 allow road authorities to restrict or prohibit certain non-passenger vehicles, including heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), from entering specified roads within specified periods. These regulations form the basis of the 5-axle HGV ban in operation in Dublin City and in a number of other urban centres. Following engagement with An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Ports Policy (22 Jun 2023)

Jack Chambers: My colleague, Minister Ryan, had a number of engagements with all the port companies including Waterford Port throughout the COVID crisis and my predecessor, Minister of State, Hildegarde Naughton, visited the Port of Waterford in September 2022. I intend to visit Waterford Port and engage with the company over the summer period. Officials from my department also have regular...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (22 Jun 2023)

Jack Chambers: I propose to take Questions Nos. 176 and 177 together. The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for all aspects of the National Driving Test service. This includes test applications and scheduling matters. Neither I nor my Department have the power to intervene in individual cases. I believe that the Authority operates a fair and transparent appointment scheduling...