Results 3,241-3,260 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Written Answers — Capital Projects: Capital Projects (17 Feb 2009)

Noel Dempsey: The Exchequer capital allocation for my Department in 2009 was reduced by €182 million as part of the Government's recently agreed expenditure controls and economic strategy. This amount will contribute to overall reductions in capital expenditure and to other measures such as labour-intensive spending on schools building projects and energy-saving measures.

Written Answers — Smarter Travel Policy: Smarter Travel Policy (17 Feb 2009)

Noel Dempsey: My Department instituted its first Workplace Travel Plan in September 2007. Among the measures contained in that Plan were a dedicated website to facilitate staff in lift sharing; provision of bicycles in each office location in Dublin to service inter-office travelling needs and to facilitate those who might wish to sample commuting by bicycle; the establishment of bicycle users and walkers...

Written Answers — Smarter Travel Policy: Smarter Travel Policy (17 Feb 2009)

Noel Dempsey: An Taisce's Green Schools Travel Module was supported, on a pilot basis in the period 2005 to 2007 in the Greater Dublin Area, by the Dublin Transportation Office. €154,909 was paid in 2005, with €295,301 and €187,633 paid in the succeeding years. The pilot programme, which peaked at 50 schools and 20,000 pupils in the Greater Dublin Area in 2007, produced encouraging results with an...

Written Answers — National Development Plan: National Development Plan (17 Feb 2009)

Noel Dempsey: All transport infrastructure projects identified for development under the National Development Plan are proceeding. A number of road and public transport projects have already been completed, others will be completed on or ahead of schedule this year and many more are under construction or at planning. The implementing State agencies have indicated to my Department that there is a general...

Written Answers — National Roads Authority: National Roads Authority (17 Feb 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I met with representatives of all the relevant agencies, including the National Roads Authority (NRA), on 13 February 2008 to discuss Transport 21 issues. In addition, I met with the Chief Executive of the National Roads Authority (NRA) and with senior officials and Board members to discuss a number of policy issues ranging from the Dublin Port Tunnel to the NRA's national roads programme on...

Written Answers — Light Rail Project: Light Rail Project (17 Feb 2009)

Noel Dempsey: As I have indicated previously, pending the establishment of the Dublin Transport Authority, the Dublin City Manager chairs the Dublin Transport 21 Implementation Group which co-ordinates and oversees the investment programme in Dublin. The Group comprises the chief executives of the principal implementing agencies, an Assistant Secretary from my Department, the Fingal County Manager, the...

Written Answers — Dublin Port Company: Dublin Port Company (17 Feb 2009)

Noel Dempsey: The Minister is not answerable to the Dáil in relation to his diary engagements or private meetings.

Written Answers — Cycling Policy: Cycling Policy (17 Feb 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I intend to publish a National Cycle Policy Framework shortly. The Framework will be not only a comprehensive response to current difficulties faced by the cycling community in terms of road priority and safety issues, but will also prove to be a springboard to creating a culture of cycling in Ireland. I will address the overall cost of the new policy framework and the funding to be...

Written Answers — End-of-Life Vehicles: End-of-Life Vehicles (17 Feb 2009)

Noel Dempsey: As I indicated in replies to previous similar questions voluntary arrangements with insurers have been put in place whereby my Department receives regular notifications of write off instances. Since this commenced in June 2008 some 21,427 vehicle write offs have been notified and the relevant records on the NVDF, which contains data on some 2.5 million vehicles, have been updated with this...

Written Answers — Park and Ride Facilities: Park and Ride Facilities (17 Feb 2009)

Noel Dempsey: My Department supports park and ride as having a role to play in encouraging commuters to switch to public transport. The provision of dedicated park and ride facilities at railway stations is a matter for Irish Rail, and at Luas and proposed Metro sites it is a matter for the RPA. Local authorities also have a role in providing commuter park and ride facilities. Good progress has been...

Written Answers — Aviation Policy: Aviation Policy (17 Feb 2009)

Noel Dempsey: The Government's aviation strategy is to facilitate the development of as wide a range as possible of competitive, safe and reliable air services for the benefit of business and tourism. In this context, at the time of the Aer Lingus IPO, the State retained a 25% shareholding in Aer Lingus to protect our strategic interests in a number of ways. Firstly, having a shareholding at this level...

Written Answers — Light Rail Project: Light Rail Project (17 Feb 2009)

Noel Dempsey: Good progress continues to be made on the Metro North project. The Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) has made an application to An Bord Pleanála for a railway order and, subject to the grant of an enforceable railway order, preparatory works such as utility diversions will commence later in the year. The first round of tenders for the Public Private Partnership (PPP) contract are due to be...

Written Answers — Rail Freight Services: Rail Freight Services (17 Feb 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 86 and 87 together. I propose to establish a forum on the movement of goods, as set out in the Smarter Travel policy paper, later this year. My Department is currently undertaking preparatory work on the membership, tasks and timescales for the forum. The forum will address both economic competitiveness and environmental sustainability matters associated...

Written Answers — Taxi Regulations: Taxi Regulations (17 Feb 2009)

Noel Dempsey: Under the Taxi Regulation Act, 2003, the Commission for Taxi Regulation is the independent public body responsible for the development and maintenance of the regulatory framework for the control and operation, including licensing, of taxis, hackneys, limousines and their drivers. However, the Commission does not have any remit or statutory power under the Taxi Regulation Act in relation to...

Written Answers — Private Transport Services: Private Transport Services (17 Feb 2009)

Noel Dempsey: There is no basis for the presumption that the granting of licences for the provision of public bus services to private operators has undermined the public transport system. On the contrary, the presence in the market of over 600 services being provided under licence by private operators contributes significantly to the overall level of transport service available to the public.

Written Answers — Congestion Charges: Congestion Charges (17 Feb 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I will not rule in or out the potential fiscal measures needed to reduce congestion in the Greater Dublin Area. Although I expressed an opinion that congestion charges might ultimately be needed to help free up road space for alternative transport, I am not considering or proposing any specific measures at this point in time. The Government's approach to this issue is set out in Action 11...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (17 Feb 2009)

Noel Dempsey: Some €333,000 has been paid by my Department to consultants for the costs associated with business planning and other aspects of the implementation of the State Airports Act 2004. This work included provision of advice to the Department on the financial and other conditions necessary to facilitate separation, the preparation and evaluation of business plans and on resolution of certain...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (17 Feb 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I understand that the Road Safety Authority is consulting employer and union interests concerning proposals by the European Commission to amend the EU Road Transport Working Time Directive 2002/15. The consultation was placed on the RSA website on 4th February 2009 together with supporting documentation. The Road Safety Authority will be reporting to my Department on the outcome of the...

Written Answers — Light Rail Project: Light Rail Project (17 Feb 2009)

Noel Dempsey: The start and completion dates for projects which are yet to commence construction, including Metro West, Luas Line BX/D and the DART Underground, will be determined in each case by the outcome of public consultation, the statutory planning approval process, the public procurement process and the availability of financial resources. Indicative completion dates for major projects can be found...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (17 Feb 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 94 and 275 together. As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme element of Transport 21. The implementation of individual national road projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Act, 1993 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. My...