Results 3,281-3,300 of 8,928 for speaker:Hildegarde Naughton

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Haulage Industry (19 Jan 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: Chapter V of Regulation 1071/2009 concerns the mutual recognition of certificates and other documents related to the good repute of road transport operators where such certificates or documents are issued by EU Member States. There is no obligation in the Regulation for Member States to issue such certificates. In Ireland, the requirements for good repute are assessed by the Department of...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (19 Jan 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: The referenced licence application has been assigned to the Marine Survey Office and I can assure the Deputy that it will be processed as a matter of priority.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Test (19 Jan 2022)

Hildegarde Naughton: The operation of the National Car Test (NCT) service, including the allocation of resources, is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority. I have therefore referred the question to the Authority for direct reply.  I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (16 Dec 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: The Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, met as recently as 25 November with the advisory committee on SPSVs. It was a valuable opportunity for him to get first-hand information on the issues affecting the industry, as well as an initial assessment of the impact of the latest restrictions brought about by the recent public health advice. This committee brings a broad range of stakeholders,...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (16 Dec 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: The Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, has met with the taxi representatives. They have played a crucial role in the current supports, including the refund of NCT and motor tax and extending the vehicle age. At the start of the pandemic, the industry regulator the National Transport Authority immediately extended age limits for taxis and hackneys and has done so three times. The most recent...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Pension Provisions (16 Dec 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I am taking this on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan. I thank the Deputy for her question and the opportunity to update Deputies on the status of my Department's work on the CIÉ regular wages scheme. As many in the House will be aware, the CIÉ Group has two pension schemes, namely, the regular wages scheme, RWS, and the 1951 superannuation scheme, and issues around the...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Transport Policy (16 Dec 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: As the Deputy knows, Laytown station is outside the short hop zone, which goes north as far as Balbriggan. Such stations have fares that are not well suited for the pay-as-you-go service provided by the Transport for Ireland, TFI, Leap card because cardholders would need to maintain a high minimum balance on their Leap cards before they could use them. The best fare for such intercity...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Transport Policy (16 Dec 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I will relay the Deputy's comments to the Minister. My information is that I understand the Deputy has written to the NTA. The Minister's office has referred the correspondence to the NTA, which wrote to the Deputy on 12 July advising that the position with regard to extending routes D1 and D2 to serve the ecology centre remains the same. They stated-----

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Transport Policy (16 Dec 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I apologise. I will relay the Deputy's comments to the Minister. Unfortunately, he cannot be in the Chamber today for personal reasons.

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (16 Dec 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11, 33 and 48 together. I recognise that the SPSV industry has been badly affected during the Covid-19 pandemic that, for an extended period, brought about an almost complete collapse in passenger demand for taxi and other SPSV services. While recent months saw a welcome return of demand, with the NTA reporting 86% of drivers back at work in October, the...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Transport Policy (16 Dec 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: In March 2021 the Minister and I were delighted to launch the safe routes to school, SRTS, programme which will support active travel infrastructure for selected schools around the country. The programme aims to support walking, scooting and cycling to primary and post-primary schools and to create safer walking and cycling routes within communities. This will help alleviate congestion at...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Transport Policy (16 Dec 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I know the Deputy is very aware of the schools in Limerick that were selected. They are Gaelscoil Sáirséal, St. Nessan’s National School, Scoil Íde, St. Paul's National School, Laurel Hill Coláiste FCJ, An Mhodhscoil, Limerick School Project National School and St. Munchin's College in Corbally. In Tipperary they were Gaelscoil Chluain Meala and Loreto Secondary...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Transport Policy (16 Dec 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: This is a priority for us. At the moment, the six infrastructure officer teams in An Taisce Green Schools are currently working on stage 4 of this process. That is the communication and liaison interventions. The infrastructure officers have now met the majority of round 1 schools to discuss the situation outside those schools, any new information on school locations etc. and possible...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Transport Policy (16 Dec 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: The Minister holds responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. It is the NTA that has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally. The NTA also has national responsibility for integrated local and rural transport, including management of the rural transport programme which operates under the...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rail Network (16 Dec 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: There is a requirement under the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008 that the preparation of a transport strategy for the GDA is carried out. The current strategy was published in 2016. That extends to 2035. The Act requires that the strategy be reviewed every six years in line with the statutory framework. The NTA's transport strategy for the GDA is under review. This is the process...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Haulage Industry (16 Dec 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: We can all acknowledge that transitioning the haulage sector to low or zero carbon will be more challenging than other road transport sectors given the size and weight of trucks and the distances they travel. Ireland’s HGV fleet is particularly reliant on fossil fuels, specifically diesel. Biofuels will help with the transition. The renewable fuels for transport policy statement...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Haulage Industry (16 Dec 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: The ten-year haulage strategy is focusing on a number of issues. Reducing emissions in the sector is one issue. The other issues include how we are dealing with the driver shortage and how to make the profession more attractive. There has been the first phase of a public consultation, with further consultation on the draft strategy next year. Between Covid, Brexit and other challenges...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Haulage Industry (16 Dec 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: At our meeting with the IRHA last week, we discussed issues around fuel prices, the decarbonisation of the HGV sector and the HGV driver shortage. The Minister and I agreed at the meeting to consider a proposal from the IRHA to expand the relief available to hauliers under the diesel rebate scheme, but with a link to the phase-out of older, more polluting vehicles and an overall reduction in...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Driver Licences (16 Dec 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: I hear the Deputy's concerns about trying to expedite this. The February 2022 date will depend on the legal advice and the availability of drafting resources. I take Deputy Moynihan's point regarding the pressure on GPs at the moment. In order to address the social distancing requirements and the additional burdens on our medical services during the pandemic, the requirement for those over...

Ceisteanna (Atógáil) - Questions (Resumed) - Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Driver Licences (16 Dec 2021)

Hildegarde Naughton: My understanding is that regulatory amendments will be required to progress this. This change will not come into force until those regulations are progressed. That will depend on legal advice and the availability of drafting resources. If people have any questions, they can go to the RSA website for updates. This change will not happen until the amended regulations come into force.