Results 3,221-3,240 of 6,809 for speaker:Darren O'Rourke

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Motorway Toll Charges: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (29 Nov 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: Okay. It is the M4 and the M1. Is that right?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Motorway Toll Charges: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (29 Nov 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: There is an argument that the PPP model is not a good one. There are arguments in its favour, including that it is off-balance sheet and becomes the responsibility of the private sector. However, the other perspective is that we pay more in the long term and there are significant returns. No one will argue against funding the essential maintenance of our road network. Debt repayment is an...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Motorway Toll Charges: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (29 Nov 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: Okay.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Motorway Toll Charges: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (29 Nov 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: That is on the M4.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Motorway Toll Charges: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (29 Nov 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: Will Mr. Masterson speak to the point of the cost of a PPP versus the cost of the State managing these projects? People are frustrated with having to pay tolls and there are geographical variations. My family in Kells pays two tolls and as many people must, those going from north Meath to south Dublin will pay six tolls on a daily basis. It is a significant cost.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Motorway Toll Charges: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (29 Nov 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I am not suggesting otherwise.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Motorway Toll Charges: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (29 Nov 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: The M50 has not been a good experience for the Irish taxpayer.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Motorway Toll Charges: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (29 Nov 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: How many times has it been paid for?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Motorway Toll Charges: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (29 Nov 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: How much did it cost to build? How much were the builders paid and how much is being paid on a daily basis? It was bought out in 2010 for €1.15 billion. Is that correct?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Motorway Toll Charges: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (29 Nov 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: No one is arguing that point.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Motorway Toll Charges: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (29 Nov 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I refer to the cost of building it. It is made of physical materials and is maintained with physical materials and labour. It has been paid for and a return has been made by the people who built it over a number of years. The State then bought it out at significant expense and taxpayers continue to pay into it through tolls on a daily basis.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Motorway Toll Charges: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (29 Nov 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: The Minister of State said in the Dáil Chamber a few minutes ago that she can confirm the Department of Transport has been directed to develop options that might allow for the suspension of planned toll increases until the end of June 2023. However, she noted that the toll contracts are complicated and further discussions with all relevant parties, including TII, are needed. That is a...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Motorway Toll Charges: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (29 Nov 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: We would be further down the road if we had made these decisions on 1 September when this was initially seen. If, as I have picked up from comments made by Ministers and through the media, the Minister for Transport and the Department comes to the TII to say they are providing €12.5 million for the shortfall, can the TII make that happen between now and 1 January?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Motorway Toll Charges: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (29 Nov 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I have to leave after this exchange but hopefully I can come back later on. Could the witnesses outline the process?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Motorway Toll Charges: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (29 Nov 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: More people might use the roads.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Motorway Toll Charges: Transport Infrastructure Ireland (29 Nov 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: As for the meetings on 15 December and 16 December, which meetings are they?

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Test (24 Nov 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: 159. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the rationale behind the decision to reduce qualifying criteria from QQI6 to QQI5 for NCT testers; when this decision was made; if a risk or quality impact assessment was conducted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58504/22]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Tolls (24 Nov 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: 168. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a list of toll road contracts; the date that each contract was signed; the date that each contract expired in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58635/22]

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Tolls (24 Nov 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: 169. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the estimated amount in compensation that each toll road operator would be entitled to (details supplied) in view of his remarks that toll operators would be entitled to compensation if toll charges did not increase in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [58636/22]

Transport in Galway and Other Areas: Motion [Private Members] (23 Nov 2022)

Darren O'Rourke: I welcome the motion and I thank the Independent Group. It chimes very well with the demands regarding the environment and climate and the needs of communities to deliver sustainable transport with a particular focus on public and active travel. There is growing recognition that we need system change rather than to push on individual behaviours. We need a scale of change that we have not...