Results 33,241-33,260 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — National Aquatic Centre: National Aquatic Centre (4 Jul 2012)

Leo Varadkar: My Department has received a copy of the report of the Public Accounts Committee and its contents have been noted. The report does not make any specific recommendations in relation to my Department.

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (4 Jul 2012)

Leo Varadkar: Applications are sought from local authorities for funding of regional and local roads under two grant categories, the Specific Improvement Grants Scheme and the Low Cost Safety Improvements Scheme. The funding sought by Wicklow County Council under these two grant categories in 2012 and the allocation provided is outlined in the following tables. Applications are sought from local...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (4 Jul 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The information requested by the Deputy is being compiled and will be forwarded shortly.

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (3 Jul 2012)

Leo Varadkar: As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding for the national roads programme. The provision of rest and service areas is a statutory matter for the National Roads Authority under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007. The NRA currently provides two types of facilities - rest areas and service areas. The rest areas are the short sections of roadway...

Written Answers — Road Maintenance: Road Maintenance (3 Jul 2012)

Leo Varadkar: While the NRA, in association with the relevant road authorities, is responsible for the national road network, the improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is a statutory function of each road authority in accordance with the provisions of section 13 of the Roads Act, 1993. In the case of the national network the Exchequer provides all the funding while works on regional and...

Written Answers — Tourism Promotion: Tourism Promotion (3 Jul 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy's question relates to the provision of tourist capital funding to Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council in respect of the jetty and safety railings on Dalkey Island. The issue raised by the Deputy, in relation to the repair of the jetty on Dalkey Island, is the responsibility of the relevant local authority. As mentioned in my response to Parliamentary Question 88 earlier, if a...

Written Answers — State Airports: State Airports (3 Jul 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 98, 136 and 145 together. As the Deputies will be aware, following the Government decision in principle on 8th May last to separate Shannon Airport from the Dublin Airport Authority and merge it with a restructured Shannon Development, I have, alongside my colleague the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, established a Steering Group of senior...

Written Answers — Tourism Promotion: Tourism Promotion (3 Jul 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The James Joyce Tower and Museum was operated by Dublin Tourism up to the end of 2011 but is now the responsibility of Fáilte Ireland. Accordingly, I have asked the agency to reply directly to the Deputy. If you do not receive a reply within ten working days, please contact my private office. However, I understand from Fáilte Ireland that the tower and museum was open through Bloomsweek,...

Written Answers — Wild Atlantic Way Project: Wild Atlantic Way Project (3 Jul 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The matter raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland and I have asked the agency to reply directly to the Deputy. If you do not receive a reply within ten working days please contact my private office. However, I am informed by Fáilte Ireland that the first phase of the project is being implemented, at a cost of €1.8m, on a pilot basis in Connemara. Fáilte...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Accidents: Road Traffic Accidents (3 Jul 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 105, 712 and 723 together. The number of road deaths in recent years has decreased due, mainly, to the implementation of the actions contained in the Road Safety Strategy 2007-2012. The core objective of the Strategy was to reduce the number of road fatalities to no greater than 60 fatalities per million population by the end of 2012, an average of 21...

Written Answers — Airport Landing Slots: Airport Landing Slots (3 Jul 2012)

Leo Varadkar: Historically, much connectivity was provided to/from Ireland via Heathrow Airport because routes from Ireland to Heathrow were amongst the earliest to be developed. However, other options are available now with a wide range of connectivity options available through other hubs in Europe and the US and through new hubs in the Gulf Region which now have direct services to/from Ireland. It is...

Written Answers — Equality Issues: Equality Issues (3 Jul 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 107, 113 and 122 together. The Irish Sports Council (ISC), which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body responsible for the promotion, development and coordination of sport. The ISC was established on a statutory basis on 1st July, 1999, and the functions of the Council are outlined in Section 6 of the Irish Sports Council Act 1999. Section 6(e)...

Written Answers — Rail Services: Rail Services (3 Jul 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 108, 128, 144 and 149 together. Following the establishment of the National Transport Authority (NTA) on 1st December 2009, the provision of infrastructure projects in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), such as LUAS BXD, now comes under the remit of the NTA. Luas BXD to Broombridge was designed to be a key element in an overall integrated transport network for...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (3 Jul 2012)

Leo Varadkar: In the period 1st January 2011 to date in 2012, 31 members of staff redeployed out of my Department. This, together with the level of staff retirements has positioned my Department's staff number below its Employment Control Framework target. There are currently two Department staff on the Resource Panel awaiting redeployment. One is on secondment to another organisation and the other is...

Written Answers — The Gathering: The Gathering (3 Jul 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 111, 124, 130, 132, 146 and 704 together. The Gathering Ireland 2013 aims to be the biggest tourism event ever held in Ireland, bringing in 325,000 extra visitors. Every community in Ireland is invited to get involved. Ultimately the Gathering's success will hinge on the participation of the public and in particular the mobilisation of local communities to...

Written Answers — Road Improvement Schemes: Road Improvement Schemes (3 Jul 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The maintenance and improvement of regional and local roads is a statutory function of each road authority in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. The carrying out of works on these roads is a matter for the relevant local authority to be funded from its own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of projects to be...

Written Answers — Penalty Points System: Penalty Points System (3 Jul 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I recently published the Review of the Irish Penalty Points System, which was conducted by my Department. The Review contains recommendations for the adjustment in the level of penalty points for certain road traffic offences. I have asked the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications to examine the Review and provide me with comments on its recommendations. Once I have...

Written Answers — Tourism Promotion: Tourism Promotion (3 Jul 2012)

Leo Varadkar: As the Deputy is aware, I had the opportunity to tour the major sites connected with the 1916 Rising in O'Connell St, Moore St and Parnell St. I did this as a guest of some of the descendants of participants in the Rising. The 1916 Rising was an important event in our history and is of great interest both domestically and internationally. In this context, I asked Fáilte Ireland to carry...

Written Answers — Driving Licences: Driving Licences (3 Jul 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The Road Safety Authority (RSA) is responsible for the introduction of the new plastic card driving licence and will also, from January 2013, be the national driver licensing authority. The new system of driver licensing will require the RSA to tender for customer interface services. I understand from the RSA that they intend to ask tenderers for this service to offer their own proposals...

Written Answers — Tourism Promotion: Tourism Promotion (3 Jul 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The Government recognises that tourism is important to all regions, employing an estimated 180,000 people, many in rural areas. The best way to increase visitors to all regions is to increase overall visitors to the country as a whole. That is why the Government is providing over €143 million to support tourism in 2012 across a range of activities including overseas and domestic marketing,...