Results 3,041-3,060 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Written Answers — Air Services: Air Services (2 Apr 2009)

Noel Dempsey: The air services market in the European Community was fully liberalised in 1992. The operation of the market is governed by common rules which were recently updated and are set out in a European Regulation (No. 1008/2008). This Regulation entered into force in November last year and has direct application in all Member States. Under the common rules set out in the EU Regulation airlines...

Written Answers — Transport 21: Transport 21 (2 Apr 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 32, 120 and 121 together. Transport 21 continues to provide the strategic framework guiding Government investment in national roads and public transport up to 2015. A number of road and public transport projects have already been completed, others will be completed this year and many are under construction or at planning. My priorities for investment in...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (2 Apr 2009)

Noel Dempsey: The start and completion dates for projects which are yet to commence construction, including Metro West, Luas Line BX/D, Lucan Luas, phases two and three of the western rail corridor and the DART underground, will be determined as appropriate by the outcome of public consultation, the statutory planning approval process, the public procurement process and the funding available during the...

Written Answers — Air Services: Air Services (2 Apr 2009)

Noel Dempsey: Statutory responsibility for regulation of the travel trade rests with the Commission for Aviation Regulation. As the existing legislative framework for the regulation of the travel trade has been in existence since 1982 in May last year I asked the Commission for Aviation Regulation, to undertake a comprehensive review of the travel trade legislation. The purpose of the review was to assess...

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (2 Apr 2009)

Noel Dempsey: The scheme is an important measure which highlights the Government's commitment to creating a culture of cycling in Ireland. It will, in conjunction with other measures that I will be announcing shortly, contribute to the achievement of my vision of increasing the modal share enjoyed by cycling to 10% of all journeys by 2020. I am pleased to confirm that the Cycle to Work scheme has recently...

Written Answers — National Walking Policy: National Walking Policy (2 Apr 2009)

Noel Dempsey: The commitment to deliver a National Walking Policy is contained in one of 49 actions in Smarter Travel, A Sustainable Transport Future. Given the range of issues to be addressed in the new Smarter Travel policy, I expect that progress on the walking policy in 2009 will focus on researching best practice and identifying the issues so that we are in a better position to publish a policy in...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (2 Apr 2009)

Noel Dempsey: Local authorities were advised by my Department on 23 February that, in order to enable the Government to have maximum discretion in future allocations, the Department of Finance was reviewing the current level of contractual commitments in respect of Exchequer capital expenditure. Local authorities were advised that, as a temporary measure, they may not enter into new contractual commitments...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (2 Apr 2009)

Noel Dempsey: The production of CO2 emissions projections is a matter for the Environmental Protection Agency. The latest such data available to my Department was published by the Agency in March 2009. At that time, average transport CO2 emissions for the 2008 to 2012 period were projected by the Agency to be in the region of 14.4 million tonnes. For 2015 and 2020, the projections were in the region of...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (2 Apr 2009)

Noel Dempsey: Good progress continues to be made on the Metro North Project. The first round of tenders for the Public Private Partnership contract were submitted to the Railway Procurement (RPA) on 27th February 2009. These tenders are now being evaluated by the RPA. The Oral Hearing before An Bórd Pleanála on the railway order application for Metro North commenced yesterday and the Board has...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (2 Apr 2009)

Noel Dempsey: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme element of Transport 21. The construction, improvement and maintenance of individual national roads is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Act 1993 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. More particularly, the statutory power to...

Written Answers — National Cycling Policy: National Cycling Policy (2 Apr 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I intend to publish a National Cycle Policy Framework, which will act as a springboard to creating a culture of cycling in Ireland, shortly. I do not accept that there has been undue delay in publication of what will be a comprehensive framework.

Written Answers — Light Rail Projects: Light Rail Projects (2 Apr 2009)

Noel Dempsey: In our Programme for Government of 2007 we made a commitment to conduct feasibility studies into Luas-type light rail systems in Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford, and to have these completed within two years. I subsequently asked the local authorities in these cities, which have responsibility for these studies, to see that the feasibility of Bus Rapid Transit systems was simultaneously...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (2 Apr 2009)

Noel Dempsey: The reopening of closed railway lines is a matter for Iarnród Éireann in the first instance. The re-opening of the Athlone-Mullingar rail line was not identified as a priority in the Strategic Rail Review and is not provided for in Transport 21.

Written Answers — Budget Submissions: Budget Submissions (2 Apr 2009)

Noel Dempsey: The information sought by the Deputy is currently under consideration by Government as part of the deliberative process in preparation for the Supplementary Budget. It would therefore be inappropriate for me to comment in advance of the budget.

Written Answers — Air Services: Air Services (2 Apr 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 53, 56 and 125 together. As a truly global industry, the airline industry and the aviation sector more generally are particularly vulnerable in the current global economic downturn. In the context of our national aviation policy, my priorities are to maintain the highest possible levels of connectivity between Ireland and key markets around the world to...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (2 Apr 2009)

Noel Dempsey: The National Roads Authority has not been directed to stop all capital spending on roads projects. The total capital allocation to the National Roads Authority (NRA) for its national roads investment programme for 2009 is €1.44 billion. All but approximately €50 million of this is already contractually committed and the projects, for which this funding has been provided, will proceed as...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (2 Apr 2009)

Noel Dempsey: In line with Transport 21, the work programme for the National Roads Authority for the next two years remains focused on the completion of the inter-urban motorway and dual carriageway network and the completion of the M50 upgrade by 2010. Funding for these projects is already contractually committed and will ensure that the Government's objectives under T21 will be achieved. Sanction has...

Written Answers — Transport Costs: Transport Costs (2 Apr 2009)

Noel Dempsey: My Department has no direct control of transport costs in general but keeps under review costs arising from the services provided through our agencies.

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (2 Apr 2009)

Noel Dempsey: As the Deputy will be aware, as Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in respect of the national roads programme element of Transport 21. The construction, improvement and maintenance of individual national roads is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Act 1993 in conjunction with the relevant local authorities. In 2007, the...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (2 Apr 2009)

Noel Dempsey: Local authorities were advised by my Department on 23 February that, in order to enable the Government to have maximum discretion in future allocations, the Department of Finance was reviewing the current level of contractual commitments in respect of Exchequer capital expenditure. Local authorities were advised that, as a temporary measure, they may not enter into new contractual commitments...