Results 29,601-29,620 of 32,961 for speaker:Paschal Donohoe

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Road Safety (1 Oct 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I wish to make three points in response to the Deputy's questions. The first is that under our legal arrangements and constitutional order, it is a matter for the courts to make a disqualification order preventing a person from validly holding a driver's licence for a period of time. The second point concerns the number of people currently disqualified on the existing statutory basis. Some...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Road Safety (1 Oct 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: If the families are present, I will meet them briefly after this debate and will also arrange a proper meeting at a time that is convenient for them to discuss the matter further. On the track record of the country in regard to road safety, this and previous Governments have focused on dealing with the horrendous loss of life on the roads. I would point to the setting up of the Road Safety...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Transport Services (1 Oct 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: This is the second time this morning that the Deputy has described me as right-wing or hawkish in my actions or statements.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Transport Services (1 Oct 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I am not interested in implementing a policy based on being right-wing. I am interested in implementing the right policy, which is to put in place a mechanism regarding 10% of the bus routes with the sole objective of improving choice to passengers. As the Deputy is aware, under EU law we will be obliged to meet requirements regarding workers who will be affected by it. A series of rounds...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Transport Provision (1 Oct 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Deputy for his wishes and I, too, look forward to working with him. The National Transport Authority, NTA, has responsibility for the implementation and development of infrastructure projects in the greater Dublin area, such as the Luas light rail projects. The NTA is undertaking a technical consultancy study, entitled the Fingal-north Dublin transport study, to assess...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Transport Provision (1 Oct 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I am well aware of the need for improved public transport in that part of the city. As the Deputy knows, because his constituency is in the area, the population forecast for the region and the development already taking place indicate that public transport is needed now and that the need will grow in years to come. I am well aware of the social impact and economic cost of failing to provide...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Transport Provision (1 Oct 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: Our priority with the funding available is to maintain the infrastructure we have, including roads, and put our money into making them as safe and efficient as possible. The future outlook is that, with the population growth we expect to see, particularly on the north side of the city, and the economic development taking place in that area, there will be a need for enhanced public transport...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Transport Services (1 Oct 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I thank the Deputy for his good wishes. I look forward to working with him, Deputy Ellis and Deputy Halligan both here in the Chamber and in the relevant Oireachtas committees during the time ahead. Irish Rail management, SIPTU and the NBRU recently engaged in further discussions with the Labour Relations Commission to avoid further disruption and damage to Irish Rail’s business. I...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Transport Services (1 Oct 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I am also informed-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Transport Services (1 Oct 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I wish to make one brief point in response to the final point the Deputy put to me. I know that Dublin City Council is working with Dublin Bus to identify particular issues in bus transport, and perhaps I can go into that in more detail with the Deputy.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Transport Services (1 Oct 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: I am very much aware of the experience with transport in the London area and the role of Transport for London in that regard. I am very committed to the continued development of a high-quality bus service for the city of Dublin and well beyond that through Bus Éireann and through the role of private bus operators. That is why, in the Dublin area at the moment, Dublin Bus is undertaking...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Roads Maintenance Funding (1 Oct 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads (including public footpaths) 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...

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

Paschal Donohoe: No decision has been taken as to the timing for delivery of DART Underground.  The PPP was cancelled and the overall project postponed in 2010.  The Railway Order for DART  Underground is valid until 2024  but a  High Court Judgement earlier this year  has  ruled that the period for serving Notices to Treat for the purpose of compulsory...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (1 Oct 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: As the Deputy will know, there is a key distinction in EU policy on emissions between those covered by the Emissions Trading Scheme, which I will refer to as the ETS, and those not covered by the ETS.    Transport, excluding commercial airlines, forms part of the non-ETS sector along with households, energy, and agriculture.  In the non-ETS sector, it is the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety Strategy (1 Oct 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: The Speed Limits Review Report was completed and published in November 2013 to reform the speed limit system and ensure that speed limits in Ireland are both safe and sensible. The Report is available on my Department’s website and my Department is now working with the NRA, local authorities, the Gardaí, and the Road Safety Authority to implement its recommendations. Much...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Dublin Bus Services (1 Oct 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: The National Transport Authority (NTA)  is responsible for the contracting of public passenger transport services as set out in the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008.  The current public service contract between Dublin Bus and the NTA extends until December of this year.  The NTA intends to enter into a subsequent contract with Dublin Bus for the period up to December...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Community Involvement Scheme (1 Oct 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads  in its area, is a statutory function of each road authority.  Works on such roads are a matter for the relevant local authority to be funded from its own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the local authority.   ...

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

Paschal Donohoe: Since the judicial review decision last year quashing consent for the construction of two sections of the A5 the Department for Regional Development has been reviewing and updating the Environmental Statement for the scheme, the draft Vesting Order and the draft Direction Order. That Department has put three of the proposed four environmental impact reports out to public consultation and...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Greenway Development (1 Oct 2014)

Paschal Donohoe: The development of greenways in Ireland is a relatively new phenomena but support for this type of infrastructure has gained considerable traction in recent years particularly with the success of projects like the Great Western Greenway. To date, the majority of greenways or trails have been established on a 'permissive access' basis.  This means that the landowner -...

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

Paschal Donohoe: As I explained to the Deputy in my response to the earlier Parliamentary Question No. 1732, the Road Safety Authority has statutory responsibility of the operation, oversight, development, quality assurance and delivery of vehicle testing arrangements.  The Authority, in turn, has put in place stringent quality assurance and audit processes to oversee all aspects of...