Results 29,281-29,300 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Network (1 Jul 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from local authorities' own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the local...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Services (1 Jul 2014)

Leo Varadkar: As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport.  While the issue of reduced carriages is a matter for Irish Rail in conjunction with the National Transport Authority (NTA), I have previously been in contact with both in relation to this issue. I raised public concerns about overcrowding with the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Search and Rescue Service (1 Jul 2014)

Leo Varadkar: My Department, through the Irish Coast Guard (IRCG), is responsible for the initiation, control and coordination of maritime emergencies in the Irish territorial waters, harbours and coastline. The Coast Guard carries out this function utilising its own assets and declared resources, and regularly provides assistance to the Gardaí across the country. As the Deputy can appreciate,...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Network (1 Jul 2014)

Leo Varadkar: As Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme.  The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Within its capital budget, the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tax Code (1 Jul 2014)

Leo Varadkar: A cross-Departmental working group chaired by my Department has been established, following consultation with my colleague Phil Hogan, Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, to examine the feasibility of introducing an alternative pay-as-you-go road tax scheme for HGVs in Ireland, similar to that recently introduced in the UK, or a broader scheme which...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Test (1 Jul 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006 (Conferral of Functions) Order 2006 (S.I. No. 477 of 2006) the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has responsibility for delivering the National Car Test. Therefore I have forwarded the Deputy’s question to the RSA for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Telecommunications Infrastructure (1 Jul 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The development and implementation of a Road Management System for Ireland is considered to be a high priority to ensure best practice in a number of areas including improved consistency in road licensing and utility permits. Work in that regard is supportive of the Government’s Broadband Strategy as well as the Action Plan for Jobs and is centred on MapRoad (Geographical Information...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Road Projects Status (26 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: As I said in my reply, the priority when it comes to access to the north west, and Donegal in particular, is the A5. People living in Donegal will know why that is a priority. To put it in context, the National Roads Authority's budget peaked at €1.75 billion back in 2007 and fell to €371 million this year. From peak to trough, the cut in the NRA budget has been somewhere in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Road Safety (26 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Road fatalities this year are similar in number to the same period in 2013. I am concerned, in particular, that the number of vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists is very high compared to previous years. The Garda and the Road Safety Authority continue to examine the causes of the collisions that result in deaths and serious injuries on our roads so that greater focus can...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Road Safety (26 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I would be reluctant to describe an increase in one year as a trend. We had a downward trend certainly for seven years, last year there was an increase and this year it is flat. I do not think one move up or down constitutes a trend but, nonetheless, it is important to be vigilant. As the Deputy pointed out, I am glad he was willing to concede that had Fianna Fáil stayed in power...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Road Safety (26 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The number of gardaí peaked in the traffic corps in 2008 and road deaths were much higher in 2008 than they are now. I do not think it is correct to say there is a direct correlation between the number of traffic gardaí and enforcement.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Road Safety (26 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I accept and agree that we would all like to see more Garda enforcement, more gardaí and their equipment upgraded. I have a very good and close working relationship with the new Minister, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald. Only yesterday we jointly met representatives of PARC, who as some of the Members will know, are campaigners on road safety. The Departments and the two Ministers have...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Motor Tax Collection (26 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I established an interdepartmental group last January to assess the implications of introducing a pay-as-you-go road tax system for HGVs, in response to concerns raised by hauliers about the cost of running a haulage operation in Ireland. In particular, the IRHA believes the current motor tax regime is unfair to hauliers with international operations, which have to pay...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Motor Tax Collection (26 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for his comments. The Government’s objective from day one has been to support the haulage industry. It is essential to an island and an exporting economy that we have an efficient and competitive haulage industry that can get our goods to market, as well as transporting imports and other goods around the country. Several measures to support the industry have been...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Road Projects Status (26 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: As I indicated in my response on 15 May to Questions Nos. 22 and 49 from the Deputy, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding of the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects is a matter for the NRA under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007, in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. The scale of the reduction in the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: State Airports (26 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The strategy for Shannon Airport is two-pronged, namely, to develop air services and, second, to develop the landbank, particularly those assets located close to the airport. A great deal of interesting discussion is taking place on the asset base and announcements will be made once decisions are reached. I am confident of progress in this regard. Since Shannon Airport was given its...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: State Airports (26 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I appreciate that the Deputy is a major supporter of Shannon Airport. However, it is one of several airports in the west, including Ireland West Airport at Knock and Kerry, Cork and Donegal airports. They all have an important role to play. It is not the case, as people might have feared, that Shannon and Knock airports cannot both do well. It looks like this could be Knock airport's best...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: State Airports (26 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The Government decided to separate Shannon Airport from the Dublin Airport Authority, DAA, and form a new integrated Shannon entity in public ownership, Shannon Group, comprising the airport and a restructured Shannon Development. The assets, business and employees of the airport were transferred from the DAA to the Shannon Airport Authority, SAA, on 31 December 2012 following approval...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Airport Development Projects (26 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: We are constrained in how we can support regional airports by EU state aid rules and by our own budget, which is capped at €12 million per annum for all of the regional airports. Waterford has received considerable amounts of money in recent years, particularly under the operational expenditure heading, because of the losses it has been making. I am advised that the airport is...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme (26 Jun 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I have discussed some matters with Ryanair in the past week or two but I have not discussed this issue. It has made its position very clear. That may change but its position as of now is that it will oppose it. It thinks that the contribution being asked of the company and, indirectly, of the shareholders is too great. The Deputy will be aware that a vote took place some weeks ago on the...