Results 3,261-3,280 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

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

Noel Dempsey: The Smarter Travel Policy is a long-term vision that stretches from 2009 to 2020 and is estimated to cost, over its lifetime, €4.5 billion. The action period of 12 years is very ambitious. The wide-ranging nature of the individual issues and the fact that the change needed will be incremental year-on-year means that it is not possible to assign precise deadlines to each action. The...

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

Noel Dempsey: Action 12 of my Department's sustainable transport policy document Smarter Travel, which I launched recently, refers inter alia to completing and acting on feasibility studies into Bus Rapid Transit systems and/or Light Rail systems in Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford. These studies derive from a commitment which we made in the 2007 Programme for Government, to carry out feasibility...

Written Answers — Public Private Partnerships: Public Private Partnerships (17 Feb 2009)

Noel Dempsey: 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, including Public Private Partnership (PPP) schemes, is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Act 1993, in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. In...

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

Noel Dempsey: Transport 21 provides for the re-opening of the Western Rail Corridor on a phased basis in the period to 2015. Work on the line between Ennis and Athenry commenced in 2007 and services are due to commence between Ennis and Athenry in the autumn of this year. Planning and design work on phases 2 (Athenry — Tuam) and 3 (Tuam — Claremorris) is a matter for Iarnród Éireann as part of its...

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

Noel Dempsey: Action 44 of the new smarter travel policy framework, which I launched recently, outlines the Government's aim to establish and support a national competition to deliver outstanding examples of sustainable travel towns and rural areas. It is my intention to pursue this initiative in 2009 and it will be an opportunity for local authorities to identify and put forward examples of transport...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (17 Feb 2009)

Noel Dempsey: Reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector requires an integrated approach across all areas of transport supply and demand. The Smarter Travel policy sets out such an approach, and will ensure that the transport sector, including bus services, makes a meaningful contribution to Ireland's commitments on greenhouse gas emissions. I do not see the present financial difficulties...

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (17 Feb 2009)

Noel Dempsey: The chairman of Dublin Port Company announced his resignation from the post on 29 January 2009. The chairman's resignation leaves a vacancy on the board to be filled. Before filling such a vacancy, section 30 of the Harbours Act 1996 provides for consultation with a number of bodies. Various bodies including the Chambers of Commerce of Ireland, IBEC and ICTU have been invited to submit...

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

Noel Dempsey: As the Deputy will be aware, as Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in respect of the national roads programme element of Transport 21. The implementation of individual national road projects, such as the Leinster Orbital Route or the Eastern Bypass, is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Act 1993 in conjunction with the...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (17 Feb 2009)

Noel Dempsey: The production of CO2 emissions projections is a matter for the Environmental Protection Agency. The latest such data available to my Department was published by the Agency on 16 September 2008. At that time transport CO2 emissions for 2010 were projected by the Agency to be in the region of 15 million tonnes. For 2015 and 2020, the projections were in the region of 16 and 17 million tonnes...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (17 Feb 2009)

Noel Dempsey: The Government has recently approved the General Scheme of the Public Transport Regulation Bill which contains proposals for a new bus licensing regime which will replace the Road Transport Act 1932 and the provisions of the Transport Act 1958 that relate to the provision of bus services by the State bus companies. In accordance with the Programme for Government commitment, the proposed...

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

Noel Dempsey: The commitment to deliver a National Walking Policy is contained in one of 49 actions in the Smarter Travel, A Sustainable Transport Future, which is the new Government policy on transport. I launched the policy last week and it covers the period 2009 to 2020. It will take some time to implement the incremental change necessary to meet the Government's targets. The National Walking Policy...

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (17 Feb 2009)

Noel Dempsey: Galway Harbour Company has been developing a plan to build a new port for a number of years, which would involve relocating from the existing docks. My Department has liaised closely with the company throughout this period. The company has not as yet submitted a planning application for the project. However, I understand that the evolving plans are currently on public display in the harbour...

Written Answers — State Airports: State Airports (17 Feb 2009)

Noel Dempsey: I have no proposals to dispose of any of the three State Airports.

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

Noel Dempsey: The Road Transport Act 1932 provides the legislative basis for entry to the public transport market by private bus operators. In accordance with this legislation, private operators are licensed to operate coach and bus services within the State. Bus services provided by Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus are not subject to the provisions of the 1932 Act. However, both Companies are required by...

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 — Rail Network: Rail Network (17 Feb 2009)

Noel Dempsey: The second phase of the re-opening of the rail line to Navan is included in the current National Development Plan 2007-2013. Iarnród Éireann completed a scoping study for phase 2 in December 2007 in which they examined nine routes and concluded that the project was economically viable. Iarnród Éireann is currently undertaking a feasibility study on the two alternative routes identified in...

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (17 Feb 2009)

Noel Dempsey: In 2008, I represented the Government in Australia. My Press Advisor and Private Secretary travelled with me. Details of the cost: Hotel costs: €6,625.53 Flight costs: €25,639.79 Car hire: €3,982.99 VIP Service: €181.49 Subsistence: €1,700 Gifts: €135 There are no details available for this year. The following is the itinerary for Minister for Transport Deputy Noel Dempsey on his...

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

Noel Dempsey: 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, including safety and related matters, is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Act, 1993 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned, and where appropriate...

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

Noel Dempsey: Transport 21 sets out the investments to take place in extending the rail network to enhance the range of railway services available to commuters in the period up to 2015. While there will be significant developments on the Kildare line, a rail link to Naas does not form part of the investment programme. The Dublin Transport Office is currently preparing a new transportation strategy for the...

Written Answers — State Airports: State Airports (17 Feb 2009)

Noel Dempsey: Airport charges at Dublin airport are subject to independent regulation by the Commission for Aviation Regulation with a view to ensuring that charges are maintained at competitive levels. While other airports are not subject to regulation, in setting charges all airports have to take account of the highly competitive nature of the aviation market in order to attract and retain airlines.