Results 33,821-33,840 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (13 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 662 and 663 together. 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...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (13 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The implementation of individual national road projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993-2007, in conjunction with the relevant local authorities concerned. In particular, the statutory power to levy tolls...

Written Answers — Stadium Projects: Stadium Projects (13 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 665 and 693 together. At its meeting on 21 June 2011, the Government approved my proposals for the development of the National Sports Campus at Abbotstown/Blanchardstown on an incremental basis. I have asked the Campus Authority to continue to pursue the policy of developing elements of the Development Control Plan in partnership with the GAA, FAI, IRFU and...

Written Answers — Sports Capital Programme: Sports Capital Programme (13 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I recently announced that I will be advertising two new rounds of the Sports Capital Programme between now and 2016. I am currently making the necessary arrangements with a view to launching the next round of the SCP shortly. Once these necessary arrangements are in place I will make the relevant announcement.

Written Answers — Tourism Promotion: Tourism Promotion (13 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 667 and 668 together. The Government recognises the contribution that the tourism sector can make to Ireland's economic recovery. With that in mind, the Government's jobs Initiative last year introduced a number of measures specifically designed to stimulate the sector and improve the sector's international competitiveness. These included a reduction in the...

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

Leo Varadkar: Many of the initiatives in relation to improving road safety are contained in the Road Safety Strategy 2007 - 2012. The Strategy identifies a number of Actions, and the bodies responsible for their implementation, that will contribute to safer roads. The core objective of the Strategy is to reduce road deaths to 60 fatalities per million of population by 2012, thereby bringing Ireland in...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (13 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 670 and 671 together. Transport is one of the areas of co-operation under the North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) process. Regular meetings of the Transport Sectoral Council are held, where transport issues, including investment, are discussed. The next Transport Sectoral is due to take place on 20th April 2012. In relation to the A5 cross-border roads...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (13 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The programme for the funding of capital projects to 2016 is set out in the Medium Term Exchequer Framework 2012-16. Due to the overall reduction in funding for transport infrastructure the priority to 2016 is to protect investment made to date and to maintain safety standards. The limited funding available over and above this priority will only be provided for projects which are...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (13 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: In April 2011, I announced new procedures for appointments to boards of State Bodies under the remit of my Department which are designed to widen the pool of suitable candidates for consideration for vacancies as they arise; to bring a real opportunity for suitably qualified and experienced people to shape the policy and direction of the Bodies; and to bring a new impetus and freshness of...

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

Leo Varadkar: In light of the ongoing severe economic conditions facing the country, it is Government policy that there is a need for leadership to be shown by those who hold high office across the public sector in relation to pay restraint within the sector, including the application of the pay caps announced by Government in June of last year. These included a general pay ceiling of €200,000 for future...

Written Answers — Driving Licences: Driving Licences (13 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: Under EU law, Ireland is required to introduce a plastic card format of driving licence by 19 January 2013. My Department decided that the transition to a plastic card licence provided an opportunity to review the way in which driving licences are issued. Consultants were engaged to examine the options, and recommended a transition from the present system, under which licences are issued by...

Written Answers — Ports Sector: Ports Sector (13 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I see two principal aspects to my relationship with the ports sector. Firstly and most importantly given the crucial importance of ports to the traffic of goods and people into and out of this island, it is to ensure that we have a ports sector which can facilitate this traffic in as efficient and competitive manner as possible. This is essential...

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

Leo Varadkar: The Government has decided, in the context of its plans for the Rationalisation of State Agencies, that the Irish Aviation Authority and the Commission for Aviation Regulation should be merged. My Department is in consultation with the agencies involved and is examining the measures, including legislation, needed to implement such a merger.

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

Leo Varadkar: The proposed amalgamation of the National Roads Authority and the Railway Procurement Agency is in line with proposals in the Programme for Government to reduce the number of State agencies and this commitment was reaffirmed under the Government's Public Service Reform Plan, which was announced on 17 November 2011. A number of options relating to the restructuring of NRA and RPA are...

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

Leo Varadkar: As part of the Public Service Reform Plan published last November, the Government decided to review the role of Shannon Development in relation to its tourism functions and possible merger of those functions with Fáilte Ireland. I have asked Fáilte Ireland - in consultation with Shannon Development - to commission an independent review of Shannon Development's tourism role. The review is...

Written Answers — Public Sector Staff: Public Sector Staff (13 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I am providing information for my Department's staff who worked in Shannon, Co. Clare. In this regard, four members of staff retired between 1 January 2010 and 29 February 2012 which is known as the "grace period". I have asked the State agencies under the aegis of my Department to provide the Deputy with the information requested. If you do not receive a reply from the agencies within ten...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (13 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The current and capital expenditure for regional and local roads will be reduced significantly over the next few years. In making adjustments to the regional and local roads budget the primary aim has been, and will continue to be, as far as is possible, to protect previous investment in the road network and use the available funding to maintain and restore public roads, including those in...

Written Answers — Road Signage: Road Signage (13 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads, including the provision of road signage, in its area, is a statutory function of each road authority in accordance with the provisions of section 13 of the Roads Act, 1993. Works on such roads are a matter for the relevant local authority to be funded from its own resources supplemented by State road grants. The provision of road...

Written Answers — Penalty Points: Penalty Points (13 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: It is my Department's intention to retrospectively associate penalty points accumulated by the holders of non-Irish driving licences with the records of the National Vehicle and Driver File (NVDF) and any driver who has accumulated twelve penalty points will be disqualified from driving. The Deputy will appreciate that it is essential that this task must be carried out with extreme care to...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (13 Mar 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 690 and 691 together. The information requested by the Deputy in relation to regional and local roads funding provided to Cavan County Council and Monaghan County Council in 2010, 2011 & 2012 is available in the Dáil library.