Results 31,701-31,720 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

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

Leo Varadkar: I have no plans to amend Part 2 of the Public Transport Regulation Act 2009.

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

Leo Varadkar: Tourism was specifically identified in the Good Friday Agreement as one of the key areas for North/South cooperation and consequently is one in which the North/South Ministerial Council (NSMC) meets in Sectoral format. The Council meets to make decisions on common policies and approaches in the area of tourism, including decisions on policies and actions to be implemented by Tourism...

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

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 37 and 89 together. The new national driver licensing system under the Road Safety Authority (RSA) involves three outsourced elements, overseen by a 'specialist unit' based in the RSA headquarters in Ballina.  The three outsourced elements are: a card production facility, a front office for engaging with the customer, and a back office to process...

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

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 38, 47, 60 and 73 together. In February this year, my Department launched a pilot Community Involvement Scheme which will be based on private contributions towards works on local and regional roads within the range of 20% to 50% depending on the amount and nature of the community contribution.  This enables works to be carried out on less...

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

Leo Varadkar: Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company operates a defined benefit pension scheme. As is common across the broader State commercial sector, the State commercial port companies, including Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company, traditionally offered their employees membership of defined benefit pension schemes. All port companies have now closed their defined benefit schemes to new...

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

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 40, 46 and 48 together. Figures published by the CSO show that there were over 6.5 million overseas visits to Ireland in 2012 representing a minor increase (0.2%) on the 2011 total. It should be noted that the number of core tourism visits grew strongly with holiday trips up by 3.8% and business trips up by 7.7% compared to 2011....

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

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 42 and 69 together. The published Revised Estimates Volume (REV) for 2013 outlines the resourcing details on a Programme Level for both the Department and the Agencies under its aegis as set out in the table below.  As my Department are currently engaged in discussions with the individual Agencies on their respective Employment Control...

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

Leo Varadkar: This question relates to the development of a new civil aviation policy. A consultation paper on the development of a new civil aviation policy was published on my Department's website on 1 March this year inviting submissions from stakeholders and interested parties by 30 June 2013.  Following receipt of submissions a draft National Aviation Policy Statement will be issued...

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

Leo Varadkar: The matter raised is an operational one for Fáilte Ireland. I have referred the Deputy's Question to the agency 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: Disused Railway Land (15 May 2013)

Leo Varadkar: This is an operational matter for CIÉ 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 Safety Statistics (15 May 2013)

Leo Varadkar: According to the Revised Estimates Volume (REV) for the Public Service for 2012, published by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and available on that Department's website, the funding allocated to the Road Safety Authority for 2012 was €13,885,000.  The REV did not provide an allocation for capital funding for the Road Safety Authority in 2012. ...

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

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 52 and 80 together. I recently launched the Road Safety Strategy 2013 - 2020, which has full Government approval.  The Strategy, which builds on the success of previous strategies, contains 144 actions to be implemented over its lifetime.  Without taking the emphasis off reducing road fatalities, it also focuses on...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company (15 May 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The publication of a new National Ports Policy in March 2013 represents an important change in approach towards the Government’s management of ports as important assets and provides an overarching vision for the future development of the sector. The Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company has been designated as a port of regional significance and will be transferred to local authority...

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

Leo Varadkar: I assume that the Government task force referred to by the Deputy is the Ministerial Committee on Road Safety. This Committee met recently, soon after the publication of the Road Safety Strategy 2013 - 2020.  The meeting discussed the current trends in road fatalities. While I am very concerned at the current trend in road fatalities, it is too early in the...

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

Leo Varadkar: My Department’s role in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of national policy. It is not involved in the administration of tourism-related funding programmes or in support to specific tourism sectors, which are the responsibility of Fáilte Ireland. Fáilte Ireland administer the Tourism Capital Investment Programme, which provides support for...

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

Leo Varadkar: I refer the Deputy to Priority Question No 4 for answer today Wednesday, 15th May 2013 which set out my position on this matter.

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

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 59 and 82 together. 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 prioritization of...

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

Leo Varadkar: As the Deputy will be aware, commencing a review of tourism policy is one of my Departmental Priorities for 2013. In this regard, I intend to publish a consultation document this summer to seek the views of all interested stakeholders and consumers. Following the review, involving a period of analysis and consultation, I plan to issue a specific, overarching tourism policy...

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

Leo Varadkar: I announced last year that I had established a Group, comprising all relevant stakeholders, to carry out a review of speed limits in the country.  This Group, which is chaired by my Department, includes representatives from the local authorities, the Automobile Association, An Garda Síochána, the Road Safety Authority, the National Roads Authority as well as the...

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

Leo Varadkar: My Department’s role in relation to tourism lies primarily in the area of national policy.  It is not involved in the administration of tourism-related funding programmes or in support to specific tourism sectors, which are the responsibility of Fáilte Ireland.  Accordingly, I have referred the Deputy's question to Fáilte Ireland for further...