Results 32,121-32,140 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driving Licences (21 Feb 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The Government decided in 2011 to centralise driver licence provision, following an examination of the options for driver licensing which found that a centralised system would offer enhanced security and consistency, and be more efficient and cost-effective. The Road Safety Authority (Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness) Act 2012 provides for the RSA, not the NRA, to become the central driver...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Statistics (21 Feb 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The matters raised are operational matters for Fáilte Ireland.  I have referred the Deputy's questions to Fáilte Ireland for direct reply.  Please contact my private office if a reply is not received with ten working days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Anti-Social Behaviour (21 Feb 2013)

Leo Varadkar: This is an operational matter for Irish Rail and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. The Deputy should advise my private office if he does not receive a reply within ten working days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Test (21 Feb 2013)

Leo Varadkar: At the present time, cars are legally required to undergo a National Car Test four years after the date of registration. Further tests are required after six years, eight years and ten years. From June 2011, cars older than ten years old are required to undergo annual tests. I have no plans to alter this approach.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sports Capital Programme (21 Feb 2013)

Leo Varadkar: No decision has been taken on the timing of the next round of the Sports Capital Programme.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety (21 Feb 2013)

Leo Varadkar: 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 capital budget, the assessment...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Dublin Airport Authority (21 Feb 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The matter raised by the Deputy regarding the Dublin Airport Authority's (DAA) contracts of employment falls within the operational and management responsibilities of DAA and I have referred the question to the company for direct reply. I ask the Deputy to contact my office if a reply has not been received within ten working days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rural Transport (21 Feb 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 275 and 276 together.  There are no plans to abolish the Rural Transport Programme, RTP. On the contrary the aim is to strengthen the programme by ensuring a more efficient delivery structure, by maximising integration with other state transport services and by making  the programme a sustainable part of the public transport system. This is in...

Topical Issue Debate: Services for People with Disabilities (20 Feb 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I certainly note the Deputy's comments and his sincerity and concern for the case. I do not know Aaron, and even if I did it probably would not be right for me to comment on an individual case in the House for reasons the Deputy understands. I will ensure the record and the briefing notes I have been given are passed on to the relevant Ministers and I will ask them to take a personal...

Topical Issue Debate: Road Traffic Offences (20 Feb 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy raised two issues, the first of which relates to a driver leaving the scene of a collision and the second which relates to sentencing. On the first issue, I am open to the suggestion of making leaving the scene of a collision an indictable rather than summary offence. However, a complication arises in terms of proportionality. I would need to study the matter further and to seek...

Topical Issue Debate: Services for People with Disabilities (20 Feb 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Deputy Ó Caoláin for raising this issue, which I am taking on behalf of the Ministers of State, Deputies Kathleen Lynch and Alex White, who are out of Dublin on official business. As the Deputy will be aware, current Government policy advocates a mainstreaming approach to the provision of services and supports for people with disabilities, including those with autism,...

Topical Issue Debate: Road Traffic Offences (20 Feb 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue. We have made considerable advances in improving safety on our roads in recent years. Both 2011 and last year witnessed the lowest recorded number of road fatalities on Irish roads since records began back in 1959. Indeed, last year was the seventh consecutive year that the number of road fatalities fell. However, the number of...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Voluntary Severance Programmes (20 Feb 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 258 and 262 together.   The approval and  implementation of the voluntary severance programme referred to by the Deputy is an operational matter for Dublin Port Company and one in which I have no function. However, I am informed by the Company that in July 2012 the Board approved a voluntary severance programme which offers five...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Improvement Schemes (20 Feb 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 259 and 263 together. As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The maintenance of individual national roads is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.  Noting this, I have...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bridge Projects (20 Feb 2013)

Leo Varadkar: Firstly I would like to explain that the improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads, in its area, is a statutory function of each road authority in accordance with the provisions of section 13 of the Roads Act, 1993.  Louth County Council and its project partners submitted the Narrow Water Bridge project for Interreg IVA funding and the project was approved for...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Promotion (20 Feb 2013)

Leo Varadkar: While no official statistics are available on visits from Londoners to Ireland, and it would not be feasible to collect such micro data to a sufficiently robust standard, the Central Statistics Office recently reported 2,774,200 visits from Great Britain to Ireland in 2012. With regard to the cost of advertising campaigns undertaken last year, this is an...

Topical Issue Debate: Road Maintenance (19 Feb 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Deputy for the opportunity to address this issue. The House will be aware that the issue of the maintenance and upkeep of regional and local roads was the subject of oral questions earlier today and I dealt with many of the issues and circumstances surrounding this issue then. As with any debate on the matter of the roads network, be they regional, local or national, the House...

Topical Issue Debate: Road Maintenance (19 Feb 2013)

Leo Varadkar: Also, local authorities will probably get more flexibility in how they can use funding under the different headings.

Topical Issue Debate: Road Maintenance (19 Feb 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The short answer to the Deputy's question is "Yes". I would be very supportive of a scheme that would allow people who are currently unemployed to be taken on by local authorities to do outdoor work. I know the Minister for Social Protection and the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government have done some work on that already and certainly my Department stands ready and...

Other Questions: Road Safety Statistics (19 Feb 2013)

Leo Varadkar: A lot of questions have been asked and I will try to respond to as many as I can. A number of them are for the Minister for Justice and Equality and I do not wish to answer questions on his behalf. I will be liaising with the Minister for Justice and Equality on the road safety strategy, which will be signed off by the whole Government, not just my Department. We have a Cabinet...