Results 2,741-2,760 of 9,052 for speaker:Hildegarde Naughton

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Transport (14 Jun 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: Examples of upcoming Connecting Ireland routes include: the 978 from Belmullet to Castlebar, supported by Local Link Mayo; the 880 from Naas to Carlow, involving timetable changes; the 183 from Arklow to Sallins, supported by Local Link Carlow Kilkenny Wicklow; the 419A from Clifden to Roundstone to Casla, supported by Local Link Galway; the 419B, serving Carrowroe, Ballinrobe and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Aviation Industry (14 Jun 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: Before Covid-19, officials in my Department had commenced scoping work on a new national aviation policy. Unfortunately, that work has been on hold since 2020 for obvious reasons, that is, due to a focus on the detrimental impact of the pandemic. While we can now see the evidence that the recovery is under way, focus and resources have been diverted towards other objectives, including the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Aviation Industry (14 Jun 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: As for our current policy, the levers I have are through the regional airports programme. Under that programme, which runs from 2021 to 2025, €11.6 million in capital and operational supports was provided in 2021 alone to eligible airports, that is, Ireland West Airport Knock, Kerry Airport and Donegal Airport. There is also support for the public service obligation, PSO, services...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Aviation Industry (14 Jun 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: To give an idea of the policy areas that were identified in the scoping exercise in 2020, the themes included: international context and connectivity; safety and security; infrastructure, operations and enterprise; and sustainability and climate. Aspects for consideration included defining optimal connectivity and looking at how to shape a future direction for both State and regional...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Dublin Airport Authority (14 Jun 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: I will raise those issues with the DAA, in particular special assistance. Workers' pay is an operational matter for the DAA. I met SIPTU representatives recently and conveyed my appreciation for passenger-facing staff, in particular, who are under huge pressure in the airport. They have been managing queues, clearing people through security, helping to board passengers and working in...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Dublin Airport Authority (14 Jun 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: We all want functioning State airports in Dublin and elsewhere. Part of the pressure is the understaffing in the airport and the shortage of labour, something which is hitting every sector. Since recruitment efforts were redoubled in March of this year, Dublin Airport has seen a significant interest in advertised positions. I understand it received more than 5,000 applications. At our...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Transport (14 Jun 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: The overarching aim of the Connecting Ireland rural mobility plan is to develop an accessible, integrated and sustainable network of public transport services in rural and regional areas nationwide. In budget 2022, I was delighted to secure an allocation of €5.6 million to progress, develop and begin delivery of this important plan. To keep this momentum going, I will be working...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Transport (14 Jun 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: The business case for Connecting Ireland is still under scrutiny within the Department. It will then have to be sent to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for its review. After that process, the business case then has to go to Government for approval due to the scale of the investment envisaged, which is very ambitious. It would be premature to discuss the possible cost of...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Transport Policy (14 Jun 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: I am taking this question on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan. Throughout the pandemic and more recently, the Government and the NTA have been actively engaged in ensuring appropriate and timely measures are in place to support the taxi sector in addressing the challenges it faces. I recognise that rising fuel costs are a significant challenge for all sectors. As the Deputy is...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Transport Policy (14 Jun 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: On the ten-year rule, the NTA extended vehicle age limits several times during the pandemic, with standard age limits for taxis and hackneys now waived through to the end of 2022, thereby ensuring no operator exits the industry simply because of the need to replace a vehicle. These extensions of vehicle age limits were emergency measures in recognition of the challenges faced during the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Transport Policy (14 Jun 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: Of the 18,946 SPSV vehicles in the fleet in 2021, a total of 16,134 vehicles, which is equivalent to 85% of the fleet, were less than ten years old. A total of 2,359 vehicles were between ten and 15 years old, which represented 12.5% of the entire fleet. Approximately half of those, or 6.7%, were availing of the Covid-19 extension on the maximum permissible age. They were mainly taxis....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Dublin Airport Authority (14 Jun 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: I thank the Deputy for this question and the opportunity to update the House on the current situation at Dublin Airport. We can all agree that the passenger experience at Dublin Airport recently has fallen far short of the service that passengers should expect at our largest State airport. The DAA, as we all know, has the statutory responsibility to operate and manage Dublin Airport,...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Electric Vehicles (14 Jun 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: I have noted the recent publication from the Parliamentary Budget Office, An Overview of Ireland’s Electric Vehicle Incentivesand a Comparison With International Peers, to which the Deputy referred. Electric vehicles (EVs) are the most prominent transport mitigation measure in the 2021 Climate Action Plan. Ireland has set an ambitious target of 945,000 EVs on our roads by 2030. This...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Heritage Sites (14 Jun 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: I would like to thank the Deputy for this question. As the Deputy will be aware, Shannon Group informed the Department in Summer 2020 that it was necessary to consider a comprehensive and radical adjustment to its structure to secure the long-term future of the Shannon Heritage business and its employees. A number of challenges had arisen, including the lack of expertise in the Group for...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Policy (14 Jun 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: My Department published the Five Cities Demand Management Studyin December 2021. The purpose of the Study is to identify transport demand drivers in Dublin, Cork, Waterford, Limerick, and Galway, and to assess the impact and suitability of an array of different demand management measures for each city. The Study focused on addressing four main challenges facing our cities: decarbonisation,...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Dublin Airport Authority (14 Jun 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 72, 81 and 127 together. As the Deputy will be aware daa has the statutory responsibility to operate and manage Dublin Airport including all the operations associated with security screening at the Airport.  Following the unacceptable level of service experienced by passengers on Sunday, 29 May, I...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (14 Jun 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: The Renewable Fuels for Transport Policy Statement signals a switch from the current bioethanol blend in petrol from 5% to 10% in petrol by 2023, subject to supporting legislation. This will achieve the Climate Action Plan’s commitment to increase the level of bioethanol blended into petrol in advance of the target date set out in that strategy. This would also be in step with the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Test (14 Jun 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: I want to firstly clarify to the Deputy that the operation and oversight of the National Car Testing Service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority. Neither I as Minister for Transport, nor my department, have a direct role in operational matters, including the demand management process for test appointments. However, I am very aware of the serious challenges that the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Airport Security (14 Jun 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: In order to safeguard civil aviation against acts of unlawful interference, daa applies security controls at Dublin Airport in accordance with the Irish National Civil Aviation Security Programme and EU Regulation 300/2008. The security controls to be applied are included in its Airport Security Programme which is approved by the Irish Aviation Authority. Inspections and testing of these...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Electric Vehicles (14 Jun 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: Climate change is one of the biggest challenges we face.  The transport sector, which accounts for about a fifth of our overall carbon emissions, must play a pivotal role in the national decarbonisation effort. I am committed to placing Ireland on the right track to achieve zero-emission mobility by at least 2050. Our public transport operators are central to this goal, leading by...