Results 33,801-33,820 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Road Improvement Schemes: Road Improvement Schemes (13 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The Local Improvements Scheme provided funding for non-public or private roads. The maintenance and improvement of the roads that this funding would have been used for is, in the first instance, a matter for the relevant landowners and users. The State funding to local authorities is provided under several categories. Local authorities may not transfer funding between these categories...

Written Answers — Road Improvement Schemes: Road Improvement Schemes (13 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: 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 the local authorities concerned. Noting the above position, I have referred...

Written Answers — Railway Stations: Railway Stations (13 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The issue raised is an operational matter for Irish Rail. I have referred the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please inform my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (13 Mar 2012)

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

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (13 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The issue raised is a matter for Dublin Bus. I have referred the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please inform my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (13 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The staff referred to would have been members of the Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme (IASS). Pension entitlements for members, deferred members and pensioners of the IASS are a matter for the Trustees of the scheme to address. I understand the relevant parties are in discussions on this matter, which are being facilitated by the Labour Relations Commission. However, I have no function...

Written Answers — Marine Safety: Marine Safety (13 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 644 to 646, inclusive, together. As the Deputy is aware, there is currently a proposal for a new regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the accelerated phasing in of double hull or equivalent design requirements for single hull oil tankers being negotiated at EU level, COM(2011)566. This proposal is in fact a codification or recast of...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (13 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The issue raised is a matter for the relevant transport providers involved, in conjunction with the National Transport Authority. I have referred the Deputy's question to the National Transport Authority for direct reply. Please inform my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

Written Answers — Services for People with Disabilities: Services for People with Disabilities (13 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The issue raised is a matter for Bus Éireann in conjunction with the National Transport Authority. I have referred the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please inform my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (13 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I have no function in relation to the Aer Lingus pension schemes and therefore have no role in the ongoing discussions between the relevant parties and the Labour Relations Commission. This is a matter for the Trustees of the scheme, the members and the companies involved to address.

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (13 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The Government remains open to the abolition of the Air Travel Tax when conditions are right. The 2011 Jobs Initiative included a three-pronged plan to enhance overseas access and thereby promote inbound tourism through: · abolishing the travel tax conditional on clear commitments by airlines to increase inbound capacity from our source markets; · the introduction of a...

Written Answers — State Airports: State Airports (13 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 651, 673 and 674 together. As the Deputy is aware, following receipt of the Booz Report on the future ownership and operation of Cork and Shannon airports, my Department is currently involved in detailed engagement with all relevant stakeholders on the issues involved. When that process has been concluded, I will then be in position to bring proposals to...

Written Answers — Sale of State Assets: Sale of State Assets (13 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The Government has decided to include its 25% shareholding in Aer Lingus as part of its Disposal of State Assets Programme. The exact time-frame for any sale has not been decided and it will only take place when conditions are favourable and at an acceptable price.

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (13 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: Following the comprehensive review of capital expenditure carried out in 2011 and against the background of new funding realities a decision was taken to defer the Metro North project together with a number of other proposed new projects. The main priority to 2016 is to protect investment made to date and to maintain safety standards. The revised capital programme for transport is set out...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (13 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The Dart Underground PPP was cancelled in December 2010 arising from decisions by the previous Government in the context of the reductions in spending under the then National Recover Plan. I note with interest that this decision was condemned by the Deputy' party at its recent Ard Fheis. Unfortunately DART Underground which was to be procured as a PPP with significant Exchequer support is...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (13 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: Luas Broombridge (BXD) has been included in the Infrastructure and Capital Investment Plan to 2016 on the basis that it will be affordable and will deliver benefits by creating a link between the existing LUAS Red and Green lines, extending the network through the city centre to Grangegorman, Phibsborough and Cabra. It will also integrate with rail services on the Maynooth and Dunboyne lines...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (13 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 656, 661 and 680 together. Under EU law and the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008, as amended, existing public service obligation (PSO) bus services can be procured by the National Transport Authority (NTA) through direct award contracts and any other new subvented services must be procured by way of open tendering. At the expiry of the current 5 year direct...

Written Answers — Vehicle Clamping: Vehicle Clamping (13 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: In line with the commitment in the Programme for Government to regulate the vehicle clamping industry, I presented a discussion document to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Environment, Transport, Culture and the Gaeltacht in December 2011 in which I outlined the issues which I feel need to be addressed in regulating the industry, my proposals on the shape of appropriate legislation and...

Written Answers — State Airports: State Airports (13 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The Commission for Aviation Regulation (CAR) regulates airport charges levied at Dublin Airport since 2001. Airport charges at Cork and Shannon Airports are set by the relevant airport authority while charges at the six regional airports, which are owned and operated independently, are a matter for each airport concerned. Within the limits of the overall price cap, the Dublin Airport...

Written Answers — Regional Airports: Regional Airports (13 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: Since coming to Office, this Government has set very clear policy in relation to future Exchequer support for regional airports. This support is provided under the Regional Airports Programme which includes the Operational Expenditure Subvention (OPEX) Scheme, the Capital Expenditure Grants (CAPEX) Scheme and a Scheme for subventing Public Service Obligations (PSO) air services operating...