Results 32,401-32,420 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Éireann Ticketing (16 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: This is a matter for Bus Éireann in conjunction, as appropriate, with the National Transport Authority.  I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply.  I ask him to advise my private office if he does not receive a reply within ten working days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Appointments to State Boards (16 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1162 and 1164 to 1166, inclusive, together. Full details of state board appointments are available on the Department's website ( ) as are the fee levels approved by Government for each agency.   Details of the actual fees paid to a director in any year are available from the annual report of the relevant agency. Details are also...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: State Bodies (16 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: CIÉ and its subsidiaries, including Bus Éireann, account for the discharge of their functions in their annual reports and accounts which are placed before the Oireachtas, annual reports by the Chairman of CIÉ certifying compliance with Code of Practice requirements, regular appearances before Oireachtas Committees, and annual audit of accounts by independent...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Cycle Facilities (16 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: Planning for the proposed Dublin-Galway cycle route is currently being carried out by my Department, aided by the National Roads Authority and National Transport Authority.  The National Transport Authority is responsible for the provision of cycling infrastructure in the Greater Dublin Area and is therefore proceeding with the planning of the Dublin City Centre to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driving Licence Renewals (16 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I approved the increase in driver licence fees with effect from 1 January 2013. The changes represent the first increase in these fees since 1989 and will result in the driver licence service being less reliant on the Exchequer in the future. From 1 January, a person will pay €55 for a ten-year licence, €35 for a three year licence and €25 for a one-year...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Promotion (16 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take questions 1170 and 1172 together. According to the latest CSO figures for January to November 2012, overall visit numbers to Ireland from overseas are on par with visit numbers in 2011.  However, our visit numbers from Britain continue to be affected by the slow pace of economic recovery and weak consumer confidence in that market, with overall trips from...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (16 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: This is a matter for the private operator concerned in conjunction with the National Transport Authority (NTA).  I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA 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: Tourism Promotion (16 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: The matter raised is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland.  I have referred the Deputy's Question to Fáilte Ireland 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: Sports Capital Programme (16 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: Under some previous rounds of the Sports Capital Programme, extra "top-up" funding was allocated to grantees in designated disadvantaged areas.  This funding was provided by the Department with responsibility for CLAR and RAPID programmes - currently the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. No such funding was allocated by that...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (16 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: This is a matter for CIÉ and its subsidiary companies.  The Deputy should note that both Dublin Bus and Irish Rail already have bye-laws in place where the prohibition of feet on seats is stated.  Bus Éireann also intends to adopt bye-laws which will also have a similar prohibition.  Bye-laws are also in place in respect of Luas operations that may be used to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Ministerial Meetings (16 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: Since coming to office, I and senior officials of my Department have already had a number of meetings and engagements with the Chairman and managament of Ireland West Airport Knock.  As regards a meeting with the Board of the Airport, arrangements have been made for the Taoiseach and myself to meet the Board  in the coming weeks.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Air Services (16 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: As the Deputy is aware, the Government decided in November to proceed with the separation of Shannon Airport from the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) and to merge it with a restructured Shannon Development to form a new integrated Shannon entity in public ownership. The Order specifying the date of separation of Shannon Airport from the DAA was executed last month following its approval...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sale of State Assets (16 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I have no plans in relation to the sale of Rosslare Port. However, I have recently appointed consultants, Indecon, to undertake a strategic review of the current and future role of Rosslare Port. The consultants have been asked to assess the port’s current commercial and operational efficiency and advise as to whether the port is maximising its potential and make...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Funding (16 Jan 2013)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1180 and 1181 together. Details of the funding arrangements for activities under the aegis of my Department, including allocations to specific statutory and non-statutory bodies, are set out in the Annual Estimates volumes that are available on the appropriate websites. My Department runs two grant programmes: The Sports Capital Programme and the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sale of Aer Lingus (20 Dec 2012)

Leo Varadkar: This question concerns the Government's shareholding in Aer Lingus. A Steering Group has been established to examine the potential options for the disposal of the State's shareholding in Aer Lingus and the issues that may need to be addressed in the context of the disposal of this shareholding. The Steering Group is chaired by my Department and comprises representatives...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Regional Airports (20 Dec 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 26 and 45 together. Plans for the development of the privately-owned regional airports, including Knock Airport, are a matter for the management of those airports. However, both I and officials of my Department have met with the Chairman and senior management of Knock airport on a number of occasions over the past six months regarding their future plans for...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (20 Dec 2012)

Leo Varadkar: As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. In the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), funding for the implementation and development of public transport infrastructure projects, such as the installation of wi-fi on both buses and trains, is provided by my Department to the National Transport Authority (NTA) for...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Proposed Legislation (20 Dec 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The Government approved the General Scheme of the new Road Traffic Bill for formal drafting on 11 December 2012. The next step is for the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel to examine the General Scheme in consultation with my officials, with a view to producing a formal draft of the Bill. The General Scheme has been published on my Department's website. It is in the nature of such...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: EU Funding (20 Dec 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) was published by the Commission on 19 October 2011. The CEF forms part of the Multi Annual Financial Framework for 2014 to 2020 and the proposed Regulation sets out how €50bn funding will be used to invest in transport, energy and telecoms infrastructures and networks over that time period. The Annex to the Regulation...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Improvement Schemes (20 Dec 2012)

Leo Varadkar: As Minister for Transport, Tourism & 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. Generally, in relation to the...