Results 33,381-33,400 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (19 Jun 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The National Transport Authority (NTA) is responsible for the licensing of Public Bus Passenger Services and the PSO contract with Bus Éireann for bus services. I have referred the Deputy's letter to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days. The promotion of tourism in Ireland's regions, including County Laois, is a...

Written Answers — Public Sector Pay: Public Sector Pay (19 Jun 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The supply of information relating to salary scales and claims in relation to the remuneration of the CEO and staff is a matter of the National Transport Authority (NTA). I have forwarded your question to the NTA and please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (19 Jun 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 709 and 710 together. The details sought on consultancy and legal expenditure by my Department are available on my Department's website at http://www.dttas.ie/feature.aspx?id=82. The State Claims Agency (SCA) manages personal injury cases on behalf of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport and other Government Departments. I have requested the SCA...

Written Answers — State Agencies: State Agencies (19 Jun 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The matter raised is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland. I have referred the Deputy's Question to those agencies for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

Written Answers — Tourism Promotion: Tourism Promotion (19 Jun 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The Government recognises the vital contribution of tourism to employment, economic activity and foreign revenue earnings. Over €143 million is being provided in the Tourism Services budget of my Department to support tourism in 2012 across a range of activities including overseas and domestic marketing, investment in tourism product and vital business supports to develop tourism across...

Written Answers — Driver Safety: Driver Safety (19 Jun 2012)

Leo Varadkar: Under section 38 of the Road Traffic Act 1994, the power to introduce traffic calming measures, including ramps, rests with local authorities. Before doing so they are required to consult with An Garda Síochána and to advertise the proposed measures so that interested parties may make submissions regarding them. In the case of national roads they must also receive the consent of the...

Written Answers — State Airports: State Airports (19 Jun 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I have no statutory function in relation to this issue. It is a matter for the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA). Accordingly, I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the DAA and have asked them to reply to the Deputy . Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

Written Answers — Public Sector Pay: Public Sector Pay (19 Jun 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies requires the disclosure of CEO remuneration in the annual report and accounts of the State Bodies. Galway Harbour Company's Annual Report and Accounts for 2011 has been approved and will be published in the coming months after it is laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas, as required by the Harbours Act. However, I can inform the...

Written Answers — Ports Sector: Ports Sector (19 Jun 2012)

Leo Varadkar: With the exception of two ports, all State Port Chief Executive Officer contracts are for a defined term. On the retirement of the CEO of New Ross Port Company in July 2009 that role was, with the approval of the then Minister and the Minister for Finance, added into the existing permanent contract of the Harbour Master. With respect to Drogheda Port Company, I understand from the company...

Written Answers — Road Project Contracts: Road Project Contracts (19 Jun 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 718 and 719 together. As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the roads programme. The implementation of individual national road projects, including service areas, is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Act, 1993 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. More...

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (19 Jun 2012)

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

Written Answers — EU Funding: EU Funding (19 Jun 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The Government itself has not applied for funding under the TENT Programme (2007-2013) given the nature of the programme. However, a number of state agencies have sought and been approved funding for single projects or as part of transnational consortia since the programme commenced in 2007. The single largest project is the DART Underground / Dublin Interconnector project which was...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (19 Jun 2012)

Leo Varadkar: Following the capital review carried out across all Departments in 2011, the Infrastructure and Capital Investment 2012 - 2016: Medium Term Exchequer Framework published in November of that year sets out funding for transport capital projects for the period 2012 – 2016. This revised investment framework is a critical element of the Government strategy for achieving fiscal stability....

Written Answers — Rail Services: Rail Services (19 Jun 2012)

Leo Varadkar: As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. Matters relating to the deployment of rolling stock are day-to-day operational issues for Iarnrod Eireann and I have no function in such matters. Noting this I have referred the Deputy's question to Iarnrod Eireann for direct reply. Please advise my private...

Written Answers — Tourism Capital Programme: Tourism Capital Programme (19 Jun 2012)

Leo Varadkar: My Department's role in tourism lies primarily in the area of national policy and it does not have a budget for the purchase of historic or other properties. Fáilte Ireland operates the tourism capital investment programme, which provides support for the development, by third parties in the public or private sector, of certain categories of visitor attractions, visitor activities, and...

Written Answers — National Car Test: National Car Test (19 Jun 2012)

Leo Varadkar: EU Directive 2009/40/EC requires that cars undergo a roadworthiness test when they are four years old and every two years thereafter. Member States are also allowed to test more frequently and an annual NCT for cars ten years and older commenced with effect from 1 June 2011. In accordance with the directive, under the Road Traffic (National Car Test) Regulations 2009 (S.I. No. 567 of 2009),...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (19 Jun 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 730 and 731 together. The gross annual salary payable to the grades identified in the question are set out in the table. The Secretary General's salary is €200,000 after the deduction of a voluntary waiver which he has made. Officers are entitled to claim delegates allowance for attendance at meetings abroad. The Aeronautical Officer posts attract a 24...

Written Answers — State Agencies: State Agencies (19 Jun 2012)

Leo Varadkar: Since my appointment as Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, six public bodies have been merged or abolished. No new ones have been established. The merger of Dublin Tourism with its parent body - Fáilte Ireland - is now complete, while Coaching Ireland has been subsumed into the Irish Sports Council. Dundalk Port Company was merged with Dublin Port Company on 12 July 2011. Tralee...

Written Answers — Cycle Facilities: Cycle Facilities (19 Jun 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The Government is committed to examining the feasibility of public bike schemes in the regional cities, as set out in the programme for Government. Given the potential for public bike schemes to enhance the city centres and provide a great boost to the cycling culture developing in the cities, I have tasked the National Transport Authority (NTA) with investigating the potential for extending...

Written Answers — Driving Licences: Driving Licences (19 Jun 2012)

Leo Varadkar: While I have responsibility for the policy aspects of driver licensing, the cost of medical tests is outside my remit. As far as the cost of obtaining a driving licence is concerned, there is no fee chargeable for those renewing their licence over the age of 70. There are sound and internationally recognised reasons for requiring regular eye and medical test for older drivers, as has been...