Results 30,501-30,520 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Regional Airports (15 Jan 2014)

Leo Varadkar: As the Deputy may be aware, the current Regional Airports Programme, which includes Ireland West Airport Knock (IWAK), ends in December this year. I have welcomed the recent Study Group Report. Given the current financial position of the regional airports and the contribution that they make to their regional and local economy, it is accepted that they should be given the opportunity beyond...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety Strategy (15 Jan 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The current Road Safety Strategy 2013-2020, which I launched in March 2013, aims to make Ireland one of the safest countries in terms of road deaths in the EU. The new Strategy sets a specific target for 2020 to reduce the number of road deaths to 124 a year (from 162 in 2012) and serious injuries to 330 per year (from 485 in 2012). This drop is necessary to close the gap between Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licence Renewals (15 Jan 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The National Driver Licensing Service (NDLS) is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority (RSA).  I met with the acting CEO of the RSA last month to discuss the difficulties people have experienced, and how the RSA proposed to address them. The RSA acknowledged that there were teething problems when the service opened for business on 29 October 2013.  Some were...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Services (15 Jan 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The issue raised is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA), in conjunction with Iarnród Éireann, and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA 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: Driver Licences (15 Jan 2014)

Leo Varadkar: Ireland operates within the framework of EU driver licensing law as set out in Directive 2006/126/EC, as amended. The Directive states that driving licences for a number of categories of vehicle, including cars (Category B) should normally be for 10 years, although Member States may make this fifteen years.  Member States may reduce the period of validity of licences for...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Services (15 Jan 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The issue raised is a matter for Iarnród Éireann and I have forwarded the Deputy's question 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: Tax Code (15 Jan 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The development of a road charging scheme for HGVs is one of my priorities for 2014.  Following consultation with the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government towards the end of 2013, it was agreed that we would establish a working group to look at the feasibility of introducing a road charging regime for HGVs in Ireland in the medium term. Obviously, the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driving Test Issues (15 Jan 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The subject matter of this question, which is the operation of the National Driver Licensing Service, is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority.  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.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Sector Pensions Issues (15 Jan 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The awarding of added years, either in the context of ill health, retirement or professional added years, is not one in which I, as Minister, have a role.  Rather is an administrative matter governed by circulars issued by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. Therefore I have not signed off any such awards. The information requested by the deputy is set out...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Appointments to State Boards (15 Jan 2014)

Leo Varadkar: All positions were publically advertised in line with government policy.  This was not the practice of the previous government.  While poorly-informed commentary and analysis implies otherwise, the government never suggested that all appointees should have to respond to the public advert.  While over half of my appointees have come through this process, I have also re-appointed...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Internship Scheme Placements (15 Jan 2014)

Leo Varadkar: While my Department did not take on any new JobBridge interns in 2013, three JobBridge internships finished in 2013, having commenced in 2012.

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

Leo Varadkar: The matter raised by the Deputy at Dublin Airport is an operational matter for the Dublin Airport Authority.  Accordingly, I have forwarded the question to the DAA 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: Driver Licence Renewals (15 Jan 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The subject matter of this question, which relates to the operation of the National Driver Licensing Service, is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority.  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.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Railway Stations Issues (15 Jan 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The issue raised is a matter for Iarnród Éireann and I have forwarded the Deputy's question 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: Roads Maintenance Issues (15 Jan 2014)

Leo Varadkar: As Minister for Transport, Tourism and 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 it is a...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Service Obligation Levy Application (15 Jan 2014)

Leo Varadkar: There is no levy.  The Kerry-Dublin Public Service Obligation (PSO) flight is one of only two subsidised air services still supported by my Department. As the Deputy may be aware, the current PSO air services Scheme, which includes the Kerry/Dublin route, ends in November this year. The policy on regional airports post-2014 is currently being developed in my Department and...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licence Applications (15 Jan 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The Road Safety Authority has responsibility for the operation of the National Driver Licensing Service and I have therefore forwarded the question of the waiting times at each of the new driving licence centres 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. With regard to waiting times in...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Transport Operator Licences (15 Jan 2014)

Leo Varadkar: In order to operate such a service, a person will require a Road Passenger Transport Operator Licence issued by my Department's Road Transport Operator Licensing Unit.  In addition, he or she must have a Large Public Service Vehicle Licence issued by An Garda Síochána.  If the service is to operate on a timetable along a fixed route and with predetermined stops for picking...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects Status (15 Jan 2014)

Leo Varadkar: The planning, design and implementation of individual national 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. Noting the above position, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NRA for direct reply.  Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Transport Issues (15 Jan 2014)

Leo Varadkar: There are no new weight regulations being proposed for trailers towed by jeeps or four by four vehicles for the carriage of animals, and the position regarding the maximum weight that such vehicles may tow remains unchanged. The maximum weight which a vehicle may tow is dependent on the towing vehicle's rated towing capacity which is established by the manufacturer and which can be...