Results 31,681-31,700 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Transport Costs (15 May 2013)

Leo Varadkar: Deputy Dooley raises two valid issues. Regarding motor tax on heavy goods vehicles, people who have trucks and lorries pay motor tax, and so they should. Heavy vehicles do much damage to roads, so it is appropriate that they contribute to the cost of them as everyone else does. The Irish Road Haulage Association has suggested we move to the model used in Britain, whereby one pays on a...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Transport Provision (15 May 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I remind the Deputy that while Sinn Féin's alternative budget did propose additional funding in a number of areas, it did not propose any additional funding for public transport. I can only conclude from that, therefore, that the Deputy supports the levels of subvention that the Government is currently giving to the CIE companies. If a privatisation agenda is being pursued by this...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Transport Provision (15 May 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I really do not buy Deputy Dooley's point. His proposal to cut the free travel scheme and take another €3 million off CIE and over €1 million off Bus Éireann was made in December 2012, which was after the announcement that CIE was in serious financial trouble and required a bailout of €36 million. Therefore, even after the Deputy knew all that, and it had been in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Transport Provision (15 May 2013)

Leo Varadkar: We have to bear in mind that the money for a subvention comes from people's taxes. Taxes have gone up dramatically and people really cannot afford many more tax hikes. That is the truth of it. If the Deputy wants the subvention to go back up to record levels - even higher than in the boom - then one needs to have record taxes. People cannot afford very many more tax hikes, or fare hikes,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Transport Provision (15 May 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I would be happy to.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Transport Costs (15 May 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The Forfás Cost of doing Business in Ireland 2012 report identifies the key components in transport competitiveness as fuel costs, distance from markets, competition and efficiency in the provision of transport services. My Department has no direct control over many of these issues but keeps under close review costs arising from the services provided through our agencies....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Transport Provision (15 May 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 and 2 together. These questions are about the viability of the CIE group. In the three years from 2009 to 2011, CIE as a group suffered a total loss of €137 million after exceptional items. Clearly, this level of loss cannot be sustained and must be addressed. While progress has been made over recent years in reducing costs and headcount, these...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Transport Provision (15 May 2013)

Leo Varadkar: Lest there be any confusion, it is not Government policy to privatise any of the CIE companies; nor was it proposed to do so by my party in opposition. The issue of allowing more private licences for bus operators is a different one, but is not pertinent at present. It is something to be considered in due course. I have no difficulty with doing a strategic review, but Deputy Dooley knows...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport Provision (15 May 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Priority Question Nos. 1 and 2 which I answered earlier.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Costs (15 May 2013)

Leo Varadkar: As the Deputy will be aware, shipping costs are subject to myriad of factors. In particular, they are subject to external global factors such as fuel costs and currency fluctuations. The steady rise in fuel prices has impacted negatively on the shipping industry. In 2011 alone, oil prices rose sharply with bunker prices spiking by 40% over the course of the year. In 2012 oil prices...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Free Travel Scheme Administration (15 May 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The question relates to the review of the operation of the Department of Social Protection's free travel scheme. With regard to the review, an Inter Departmental Working Group was established  last year to carry out a review of the operation of the current Free Travel Scheme.  The purpose of this review is to examine and report on the current operation and future development of the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Penalty Point System (15 May 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 88 together. The work on the mutual recognition of penalty points is focused on the four road traffic offences of speeding, drink/drug driving, non - wearing of seatbelts and using a mobile phone while driving.  A detailed timetable for the process was agreed last October at a meeting of the North South Ministerial...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Improvement Schemes (15 May 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 21, 65, 78 and 83 together. These relate to the A5 road project. The Government's commitment to the A5 project, as outlined at the North South Ministerial Council in November 2011 remains in place. At that NSMC plenary session it was noted that the Irish Government would provide £25 million in 2015 and in 2016 towards the A5 road project. ...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Light Rail Projects Status (15 May 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 36 together. Following agreement with the Department of Finance, which takes the lead role on EIB matters, engagement has commenced with the EIB regarding a loan for Luas Cross City. The National Transport Authority, which is the sanctioning authority for the project, is taking the lead role in providing the detailed information and data required by...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Light Rail Projects Status (15 May 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 24 and 31 together. These questions relate to the Cross City Luas project. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the development of public transport infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area, including the proposed Luas Cross City line. This line is a priority project under the Government's five-year capital...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Maintenance (15 May 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 local...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Regional Airports (15 May 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 28, 41 and 64 together. These questions deal with Ireland West Airport Knock and I would like to thank the Deputies for raising this subject and for affording me the opportunity to update the House on developments. As Deputies will be aware, the Ireland West Airport Knock (IWAK) Study Group was established following a meeting of the Airport Board with the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sale of State Assets (15 May 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy's question relates to the sale of State assets. The State's 25.1% shareholding in Aer Lingus is the only asset within my remit identified for possible sale under the State Assets Disposal Programme. The Government's decision in February 2012 was to seek to sell the shareholding when market conditions are favourable and on terms and at a price that are acceptable to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Bodies (15 May 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 32 and 61 together. Budgetary or other measures set by my Department for a State Body under the Department’s responsibility would, where relevant, be reflected in the business and financial planning or strategic planning processes of the body concerned. My Department has regular meetings with each State Body. Such meetings would discuss a range of...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sports Facilities Provision (15 May 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The primary aim of the National Sports Campus is to provide state-of the-art facilities for Irish sports men and women to train and prepare for competition at the highest level.  A lot of progress has been made since its foundation, including the National Aquatic Centre, the Institute of Sport and the FAI Headquarters. I am very pleased to say that a significant...