Results 30,761-30,780 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Road Traffic Bill 2013: Second Stage [Private Members] (22 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I welcome the opportunity to address this Bill and thank Deputy Timmy Dooley for raising some very important issues through this proposed legislation. The area of road safety is one in which there has been always cross-party support and there is no disagreement on our overall objectives, as the Deputy stated. Collisions on the roads lead to unnecessary deaths and serious and sometimes...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Community Involvement Scheme (21 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: In February 2013, a circular issued from my Department to local authorities inviting applications for funding under a pilot Community Involvement Scheme (CIS).  €10.6m has been allocated over 2 years (including 2014) for work to be undertaken at 377 locations with over 240kms of roads to be improved.  I have not yet decided whether to initiate a new round of the CIS in...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Haulage Industry Regulation (21 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The Road Traffic (Construction and Use of Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulations, 2008  provide that with effect from November 1st 2013 the maximum operating height for all vehicles in Ireland is 4.65 metres unless otherwise permitted by law.   The enforcement of road traffic legislation, including legislation relating to vehicle heights, is the responsibility of An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licence Data (21 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The choice of locations for the front offices of the National Driver Licensing Service (NDLS) is a matter for the Road Safety Authority (RSA), and I have no role in it.  However, I do note that when locations were being considered,  there was a generally agreed principle of making the service available within 50 kilometres to 95% of the population, and I understand that this...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Appointments to State Boards (21 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I announced new procedures for appointment to boards on Friday 8th April 2011 and all appointments from that date have followed these procedures. They include an open invitation for expressions of  interest in serving on the board of any of the agencies under the remit of my Department.  This invitation was renewed on 31 January 2013. Details of all...

Seanad: Adjournment Debate: Mountain Rescue Service (20 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The mountain rescue team engages with the Coast Guard, which is part of my Department. To the best of my knowledge, we do not have any particular role in monitoring MRI.

Seanad: Adjournment Debate: Mountain Rescue Service (20 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I do not know the answer to that question for sure but to the best of my knowledge we do not. The Coast Guard's only role is to administer this grant. I do not have a budget line or statutory responsibility for this. The budget we do have is very tight and the priority at the moment is to renovate one coast guard station a year. Unfortunately, it is not possible to take on the capital...

Seanad: Adjournment Debate: Mountain Rescue Service (20 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Senator for raising this matter. Mountain rescue is a 24/7 voluntary emergency support service provided by 12 mountain rescue teams located in various regions throughout the county. These teams come together as a co-operative association under an organisation called Mountain Rescue Ireland, MRI, which was founded in 1965. At the local level, each team also develops its own...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Mountain Rescue Teams (20 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I would like to congratulate Dublin and Wicklow and Glen of Imaal  Mountain Rescue Teams on reaching such an important milestone of 100 rescues in a single year and to acknowledge the important role that Mountain Rescue Teams  play in assisting people who get into difficulty on our hills and mountains.   Responsibility for the coordination of mountain rescue rests with An...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Network (20 Nov 2013)

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 Council....

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driving Licence Issues (20 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: Driver licensing is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority (RSA), and I cannot comment on individual cases.   As a matter of policy, there was a change to driver licensing law as of 13 November 1989.  Prior to that date, there was one category of licence covering both a car and the drawing of a trailer with a car.  From that date there were two separate...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Services (20 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The issue raised is a matter for Iarnród Éireann and I have referred 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: Departmental Bodies Data (20 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy will find a list of all agencies under the remit of my Department's website . Full details of board membership are also listed as are details of the approved level of board fees payable.  The fees actually paid by agencies are set out in the annual accounts of the relevant agency. In the case of commercial agencies, fees are paid by the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (19 Nov 2013)

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 each local...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Improvement Schemes (19 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The Local Improvements Scheme provided funding for road and laneways that council's have not taken in charge.  However, the maintenance and improvement of these roads is, in the first instance, a matter for the relevant landowner.    As indicated to all local authorities in January 2013, the local improvement scheme was reinstated but with no separate...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Éireann Services (19 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The scheduling and timetabling of buses is an operational matter for Bus Éireann in conjunction with the National Transport Authority (NTA) and not one in which my Department has any role.  I have forwarded your question to both the company and 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: Road Safety (19 Nov 2013)

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.  Noting the above position,...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety (19 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 727 and 728 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Services (19 Nov 2013)

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: Road Projects (19 Nov 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The planning, design and implementation of individual national roads are matters for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.  As regards regional and local roads, the improvement and maintenance of those roads, in its area, is a statutory function of each road authority in accordance with the provisions...