Results 29,761-29,780 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Programmes (15 Apr 2014)

Leo Varadkar: On 1 April, cross-government work began on the 2014 Comprehensive Expenditure Review and a Review of Capital Expenditure. The process is being led by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. My Department is in the process of developing its input to the Review. A Steering Group led by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform will consider submissions from Departments and...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Air Services Provision (15 Apr 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Air fares charged on Public Service Obligation air services, including the Donegal - Dublin route, are in compliance with the contract signed between my Department and the airline operating the route for the three year period 2011-2014. The current PSO contracts will expire in November this year. It is intended that a new PSO tender competition will be organised...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Airport Charges (15 Apr 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 710 and 711 together. Ireland West Airport Knock (IWAK) and the other regional airports in the State are independent bodies, privately owned or held in trust.  While the State currently makes funding available to them in certain limited circumstances in accordance with relevant EU legislation, they must meet the balance of their operating and...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (10 Apr 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The requirement to take a theory test before getting a learner permit has existed for a long number of years.  In 2011, I introduced the requirement for learner drivers to undertake twelve lessons before sitting a driving test.  These are important measures aimed at improving the quality of driving overall and enhancing driving skills at the earliest stages. The requirement to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects Expenditure (10 Apr 2014)

Leo Varadkar: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and  funding in relation to the national roads programme. The construction, improvement and maintenance of individual national roads, including motorways, is a matter for the National Roads Authority under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.   In particular, the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Dublin Bus Services (10 Apr 2014)

Leo Varadkar: As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. Following the establishment of the National Transport Authority (NTA) in December 2009, the development and implementation of infrastructure projects in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) comes within the remit of the NTA. The acquisition and replacement of PSO...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Wild Atlantic Way Project (10 Apr 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I do not have a role in setting the route of the Wild Atlantic Way. This is a matter for the board and management of Fáilte Ireland.  Accordingly, I have referred the question to the agency for direct reply.  Please contact my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (10 Apr 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I have recently instructed the National Transport  Authority (NTA) to make arrangements to update the existing 2010 business case for DART Underground. I made this request as a result of  a  recent High Court Judgement on the DART Underground Railway Order which ruled that the period for serving Notices to Treat for the purpose of compulsory purchase of property under the Order...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Traffic Offences (10 Apr 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The Road Safety Strategy (RSS) 2013-2020 contains a commitment to extend the fixed charge notice system to cycling offences.   On a point of information, there are no longer 'on the spot' fines for road traffic offences.  The fixed charge notice system replaced on the spot fines under the terms of the Road Traffic Act 2002. My Department is currently working on the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Network (10 Apr 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads, such as the Carrigaline Western Relief Road, in its area, is a statutory function of each road authority in accordance with the provisions of section 13 of the Roads Act, 1993.  Works on such roads are a matter for the relevant local authority to be funded from its own resources supplemented by State road grants.  ...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Éireann Staff (10 Apr 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 230 and 231 together. The issues raised are matters for Bus Éireann and I have forwarded the Deputy's questions to the company for direct reply.  Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Network (10 Apr 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads in its area, is a statutory function of each road authority in accordance with the provisions of section 13 of the Roads Act, 1993.  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 Specific Improvement Grants...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Trans European Transport Network Programme (9 Apr 2014)

Leo Varadkar: A full reply issued to the Deputy on 07 April 2014. The delay in issuing a final reply arose due to the large number of representations I received regarding the new Trans-European Network for Transport (TEN-T) and the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) Regulations 2014-2020, as well as the suggestion of a “Western Arc”. In view of the strong interests in this matter I wanted to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: HGV Road Tax (9 Apr 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I am very aware that the UK HGV road user levy is a cause of considerable concern for Irish HGV operators.  I have had extensive discussions with my UK and Northern Ireland counterparts on the matter and have made representations to the UK authorities to completely exempt certain significant sections of Northern Ireland roads infrastructure from the levy, as it is not possible under...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Haulage Industry Regulation (8 Apr 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I am very aware that the UK HGV road user levy is a cause of considerable concern for Irish hauliers, particularly those operating in border areas.  I have had extensive discussions with my UK and Northern Ireland counterparts on the matter and have made representations to the UK authorities to completely exempt certain significant sections of Northern Ireland roads infrastructure...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Pension Provisions (8 Apr 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Aer Lingus is a publicly listed company.  The remuneration package of the Chief Executive is decided by the remuneration committee and the Board of the company. It is not subject to Government decision.  It would be inappropriate for my Department to seek to take action in this regard. However, the correspondent’s point regarding the contribution to pensions is well made.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Motor Tax Exemptions (8 Apr 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 695 and 696 together. Both the Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU) of my Department and the Irish Coast Guard have vehicles in their possession which are exempt from holding motor tax. The AAIU has two vehicles while the Irish Coast Guard has a fleet of approximately 170 vehicles incorporating tractors, all-terrain vehicles (quads)...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Infrastructure (8 Apr 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The Government's policy in relation to capital infrastructure to 2016, including rail and road investments, is set out in the "Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2012-16: Medium Term Exchequer Framework". The priority is to maintain safety standards and to protect and extract maximum value from existing infrastructure, rather than the development of new transport infrastructure. In...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: State Bodies Mergers (8 Apr 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The legislative vehicle being used to merge the RPA into the NRA (Roads Bill 2014) does not diminish or change the functions of the RPA in any way.  The new NRA/RPA merged entity will retain all the existing functions of both bodies. Funding allocations and work programmes will be based on the priorities set out in the relevant capital plans, currently the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Traffic Legislation (8 Apr 2014)

Leo Varadkar: I am keen to see all sections of the Road Traffic Act 2014 commenced as quickly as possible. In the case of each of the sections which I have yet to commence, there is a certain amount of preparatory work to be done before they can be brought into effect.  I am therefore not in a position at the present time to specify a date on which these remaining sections will be commenced....