Results 31,241-31,260 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Coastal Protection (18 Sep 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I have been informed by the Coast Guard that at about 0800 on 20 August 2013, the vessel concerned went aground on the Bray Bank (an extension of the Kish Bank) off the Dublin/Wicklow coastline.  There was no pollution reported from the vessel, but as a precaution, the Coast Guard boarded the vessel and sounded the tanks to check their integrity and it was found there was no threat to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driving Licence Issues (18 Sep 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1647 and 1650 together. The Road Safety Authority (RSA), which is the body responsible for negotiating mutual exchange relationships on driving licences with other jurisdictions, is engaging with the provincial authorities in Canada on this matter.  Canada, as the Deputy may be aware, issues driver licences at provincial rather than national...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Services (18 Sep 2013)

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) on December 2009, the implementation and development of infrastructure projects in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), such as the opening of new rail lines, comes under the remit of...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: State Airports (18 Sep 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The matter raised by the Deputy in relation to weighing scales at Dublin Airport falls within the operational responsibilities of the Dublin Airport Authority and I have no function in the matter. I have referred the question to the company for direct reply.  I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a reply has not been received within ten working...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Industry Issues (18 Sep 2013)

Leo Varadkar: As the Deputy will appreciate, the rules governing the scheduling of the school holiday periods is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Education and Skills.  In this regard, I am informed that individual schools may use discretionary days, where available, to determine the precise start and end of the school year having regard to the overall requirement of a minimum...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Ports Development (18 Sep 2013)

Leo Varadkar: Dublin Port Company is the State's most important port and National Ports Policy designates it as a Port of National Significance (Tier 1). The continued commercial development of the Company is a key strategic objective of ports policy.   In February 2012 Dublin Port Company published its masterplan. The plan outlines a number of development scenarios and future...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Haulage Industry Cabotage Regulations (18 Sep 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The enforcement of cabotage legislation is a matter for the Road Safety Authority and the Garda Síochána. I believe that the enforcement authorities have investigated this matter and have put in place a new procedure to ensure that international haulage operators are checked to verify that they are compliant with cabotage regulations.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rural Transport Programme Issues (18 Sep 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for implementing the restructuring of the Rural Transport Programme (RTP) announced by me on 9 July 2013.  The purpose of the restructuring of the RTP is to protect the provision of rural transport services into the future. I am advised by the NTA that during the restructuring of the RTP, the priority is to ensure the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Search and Rescue Service (18 Sep 2013)

Leo Varadkar: No discussions with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution in relation to the requirement of Clogherhead Coast Guard Unit for a D Class Boat have taken place as the position pertaining to the  Search and Rescue services for the Clogherhead area remain  as outlined in my detailed reply to the Deputy on 17 July 2013.   The Coast Guard Services of my Department will continue...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Coast Guard Services (18 Sep 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1656 and 1657 together. The number of Station Officer and Radio Officer Grade III employed in the Irish Coast Guard for the years from 2009 to date are as set out in Table 1 below.  As previously advised, notwithstanding the public services recruitment embargo, my Department is actively managing to maintain the required...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: State Airports (18 Sep 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The Ireland West Airport Knock (IWAK) Study Group was established, under the Chairmanship of Deputy John O'Mahony, following a meeting of the Airport Board with the Taoiseach,  Minister of State Ring and I. The Study Group members were nominated and agreed following discussions between the airport and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.   The...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Air Traffic Control Services (18 Sep 2013)

Leo Varadkar: Under the provisions of the Irish Aviation Authority Act 1993, the IAA is empowered to decide the extent to which it should operate and manage terminal navigation services at any of the three State airports, including Cork Airport. Accordingly, as I have no statutory function in relation to this matter I have referred the Deputy's question to the IAA for direct reply. Please...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aviation Issues (18 Sep 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The issue raised by the Deputy, the licensing conditions of aerodromes, is a matter for the Irish Aviation Authority, an agency within my remit. The Irish Aviation Authority is not a public body within the meaning of the Freedom of Information Acts. I have referred the Deputy's quesiton to the Authority for direct reply.  Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety Strategy (18 Sep 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The Road Safety Strategy 2013 - 2020 was introduced in March 2013. The Deputy's Question relates to Actions 75 and 90 of that Strategy. The completion date for both these Actions is the fourth quarter of 2014.    The Road Safety Authority (RSA) is responsible for reporting progress on Actions in the 2013 - 2020 Strategy. Under Action 110 of the Strategy the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety Issues (18 Sep 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The Road Traffic Act 2004 established default speed limits that apply to defined categories of roads and which can only be changed by local authorities through the making of special speed limit bye-laws.   Section 9 of that Act sets out the range of Special Speed Limits that may be set by such authorities through such bye-laws.    Statutory responsibility...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Capital Programme Expenditure (18 Sep 2013)

Leo Varadkar: Details of the relevant capital projects funded by my Department are as follows: Sustainable Transport Project Name Location County Grant Amount (€) Status Funding Initiative 2012 Cork County Council Bandon; Fermoy; Kinsale; Youghal Cork 60,000 completed Active Travel Towns Development of Walking and Cycling Strategies 2012 2013 Cork to Kinsale Specialist structural...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sporting Events (18 Sep 2013)

Leo Varadkar: WRTTTT00300 type: 7 --> I am fully supportive of the concept of hosting the Rugby World Cup in Ireland. The IRFU has presented a feasibility study, which they commissioned, to my Department on the potential for hosting the tournament. The findings of that study and potential next steps are currently being considered. In March of this year, the GAA Congress approved a motion which would allow...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects Issues (18 Sep 2013)

Leo Varadkar: WRTTTT00500 type: 7 --> 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...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety Issues (18 Sep 2013)

Leo Varadkar: WRTTTT00700 type: 7 --> The Road Traffic Act 2004 established default speed limits that apply to defined categories of roads and which can only be changed by local authorities through the making of special speed limit bye-laws. Section 9 of that Act sets out the range of Special Speed Limits that may be set by such authorities through such bye-laws. Statutory responsibility for setting...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Improvement Schemes (18 Sep 2013)

Leo Varadkar: WRTTTT00900 type: 7 --> 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...