Results 33,261-33,280 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Sport and Recreational Development: Sport and Recreational Development (3 Jul 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The Irish Sports Council (ISC), which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body responsible for the promotion, development and co-ordination of sport, including the High Performance programme. 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. The subject matter of this...

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

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 121, 131, 141 and 709 together. The introduction of a plastic, credit-card style, driving licence from January 2013 is a requirement under EU legislation, and Ireland is on course to introduce it on time. Following from a decision of this Government in May of 2011, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) was given responsibility for this project. At the same time,...

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

Leo Varadkar: The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) is a commercial semi-state body established under the Irish Aviation Authority Act 1993 and has two main functions, firstly the provision of air traffic management and related services in Irish controlled airspace, and, secondly, the regulation of safety in the civil aviation industry in Ireland. These functions are inherently of an operational nature as...

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

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 125, 732 and 734 together. The Action Plan for Jobs 2012 is designed to have 100,000 more people in work by 2016 and 2 million people in work by 2020. The net 100,000 jobs over the next five years to 2016 will be created via direct jobs in manufacturing (20,000) and internationally traded services (30,000) plus an additional 50,000 indirect spin?off jobs. A...

Written Answers — Sport and Recreational Development: Sport and Recreational Development (3 Jul 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The Irish Sports Council (ISC), which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body responsible for the promotion, development and co-ordination of sport. This includes statutory responsibility for the recognition of sporting organisations as National Governing Bodies of sport and the allocation of funding to those bodies. The ISC was established on a statutory basis on 1st July, 1999,...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (3 Jul 2012)

Leo Varadkar: Due to the reduction in funding available for transport projects arising from the difficult economic situation, the DART Underground programme has been postponed for consideration in advance of the next capital programme which will cover the period from 2016 onwards. However, DART Underground remains a key element of the overall transport integration strategy as it would deliver a quantum...

Written Answers — Sale of State Assets: Sale of State Assets (3 Jul 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 134, 156, 728 and 729 together. I refer the Deputies to my response to Priority Question 84. These questions relate to Ryanair's proposed takeover bid for Aer Lingus. In an announcement to the Irish Stock Exchange on 19th June, the board of Ryanair announced its intention to make an all cash offer for 100% of the share captial of Aer Lingus. Under the...

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

Leo Varadkar: This Question is in relation to the N22 Ballyvourney to Macroom PPP Scheme. 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...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (3 Jul 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The Action Plan for Jobs 2012 sets out in considerable detail the Government's approach to job creation. It places particular emphasis on tourism as one of the key sectoral areas for the generation of employment. It also recognises the role that infrastructure investment - including in the transport area - plays in underpinning employment growth. My focus as Minister is on successfully...

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

Leo Varadkar: The National Transport Authority (NTA) was established on 1st December 2009. In accordance with the Dublin Transport Authority (DTA) Act 2008, the functions of the NTA include securing the provision of public transport infrastructure projects in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA). Since the start of 2011 the NTA has also administered the Regional Cities and Accessibility Grants programmes on...

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 the recommendations. Once I have...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (3 Jul 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy's question relates to the review by the National Transport Authority (NTA) of the Public Service Obligation bus contracts. The issue raised is a matter for the NTA and I have referred the Deputy's question to the Authority for attention. As the Deputy is aware, the NTA is responsible for, among other things, securing the provision of public bus services. In accordance with the...

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 — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (3 Jul 2012)

Leo Varadkar: Policy making in relation to the terms and conditions, including determination of salary rates, for all public servants including staff in the State agencies under the aegis of my Department is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.

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

Leo Varadkar: This PQ is in relation to PPP road schemes and the N11 Arklow/Rathnew Scheme in particular. 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...

Written Answers — Sports Facilities: Sports Facilities (3 Jul 2012)

Leo Varadkar: Minister of State for Tourism and Sport (Michael Ring TD): In July 2011, the Department invited local authorities to apply for sports capital funding for 'shovel ready projects' with the following projects being of special priority: · MUGA - rubber based games areas to be used typically for 5-a-side soccer, basketball, tennis and volleyball · Mini-pitches – artificial grass...

Written Answers — Job Protection: Job Protection (3 Jul 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 681 and 718 together. The Road Safety Authority (RSA) is responsible for the introduction of the new plastic card driving licence and will also be, from January 2013, the national driver licensing authority. As part of its management of the new system of driver licensing, the RSA proposes to tender for customer interface services to engage with the public. I...

Written Answers — Garda Equipment: Garda Equipment (3 Jul 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The subject matter of this particular question, i.e. the availability of new intoxilysers to an Garda Síochána, is a the responsibility of the Medical Bureau of Road Safety, and I have referred the question to them for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a reply has not been received within ten days.

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (3 Jul 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The compilation of statistics on the number of evidential breath samples tested by the Medical Bureau of Road Safety is the responsibility of the Bureau. I have referred the question to the Bureau for reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a reply has not been received within ten days. I should also add that the number of evidential breath samples for each of the years 2007,...

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

Leo Varadkar: The provision the Deputy is referring to is part of Section 54 of the Road Traffic Act 2010. Section 54 is provided for in Part 5 of the 2010 Act. Part 5, which deals with changes to the penalty points system, and the associated provisions of Part 3, which deal with changes to the fixed charge system, will be commenced when administrative and technical issues have been addressed by the...