Results 33,881-33,900 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Ministerial Transport: Ministerial Transport (28 Feb 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The information requested by the Deputy is as follows: Month Mileage (Kms) Amount € Minister Varadkar Jan 2012 4,680 2,764 Dec 2011 4,657 1,325 Nov 2011 5,750 ...

Written Answers — Tourism Industry: Tourism Industry (28 Feb 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The Government's 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 new growth incentive scheme by the Dublin Airport Authority; and · more...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (28 Feb 2012)

Leo Varadkar: No expenditure was incurred by my Department in respect of entertainment expenses for me as Minister or for my colleagues Minister of State Kelly and Minister of State Ring since our appointment in March 2011. No expenditure was incurred for entertainment expenses for senior civil servants in the calendar year of 2011.

Written Answers — Rail Stations: Rail Stations (28 Feb 2012)

Leo Varadkar: As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. Following the establishment of the National Transport Authority (NTA) on December 2009, the implementation and development of infrastructure projects in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), such as Kishogue train station, comes under the remit of the NTA. The...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (28 Feb 2012)

Leo Varadkar: As I have said in the two previous replies on this matter, the TEN-T Regulation and Connecting Europe Facility are European Commission proposals. Before the publication in October last of its proposals, the European Commission engaged in consultations with all the Member States including Ireland. Based on the European Commission's own analysis and criteria - as set out in the TEN-T proposal...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (28 Feb 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 781 and 792 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 — Road Network: Road Network (28 Feb 2012)

Leo Varadkar: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual national roads are matters for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (28 Feb 2012)

Leo Varadkar: Part 5 of the Road Traffic Act 2010 and the associated provisions of Part 3, which deal with changes to the fixed charge system, will be commenced when the necessary administrative and technical arrangements are in place to allow its effective implementation. My Department, the Courts Service and the Garda are progressing work in this regard in order to commence the relevant sections of the...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (28 Feb 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The proposal referred to by the Deputy is a proposal of the European Commission. However, my and my Department's understanding is that it refers to Shannon Foynes Port which would be consistent with the revised version of the maps of the Core and Comprehensive Networks published under the associated proposal for a TENT Regulation.

Written Answers — Driving Tests: Driving Tests (28 Feb 2012)

Leo Varadkar: Last year, I introduced Regulations to make it compulsory for learner drivers to undertake lessons before sitting the driving tests. This system, known as Essential Driver Training (EDT), is one of nine measures which together will add up to a Graduated Driver Licensing System (GDLS) for Ireland. While I am aware that a number of Approved Driving Instructors (ADIs) have registered...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (28 Feb 2012)

Leo Varadkar: While current legislation permits local authorities to clamp vehicles in public places, either directly or by contract with a clamping company, there is no legislation covering clamping on private property. In line with the commitment in the Programme for Government to regulate the vehicle clamping industry, I have presented a discussion document to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (28 Feb 2012)

Leo Varadkar: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual national roads are matters for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Noting this, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NRA...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (28 Feb 2012)

Leo Varadkar: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual national roads are matters for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Noting this, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NRA...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (28 Feb 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I am advised that in December 2011, Galway City Councillors requested the officials of Galway City Council to arrange presentations on bus services in Galway City. As the National Transport Authority (NTA) had recently undertaken and completed a review of the bus services in the city, the NTA and the City Council officials decided that it would be appropriate that the NTA would present the...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Accidents: Road Traffic Accidents (28 Feb 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The Road Traffic (Lighting of Vehicles) Regulations 1963 (S.I. No. 189 of 1963) prescribe the lamps and reflectors which vehicles are required to have fitted and the circumstances and the manner in which lamps are to be used in a public place. The Regulations do not require fog lamps to be fitted on motor vehicles. However, where they are fitted, they may be used only in fog or while snow is...

Written Answers — Departmental Advertising: Departmental Advertising (28 Feb 2012)

Leo Varadkar: There were no advertisements placed in national newspapers for job vacancies in my Department in the past twelve months, and therefore, no new entrants recruited from the process. With regard to agencies under the aegis of my Department this is a matter for the agencies themselves. I have, however, forwarded the Deputy's question to the various State agencies under my Department's aegis. If...

Written Answers — Ministerial Transport: Ministerial Transport (28 Feb 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The information requested by the Deputy is set out as follows. From 1st January to 8th March 2011, my two predecessors as Minister for Transport did not incur any costs in relation to flights. During this period the two Ministers were provided with a Ministerial car and a Garda driver the cost and provision of which was not the responsibility of the Department of Transport. For the...

Written Answers — Search and Rescue Service: Search and Rescue Service (23 Feb 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The cost for the recent search and retrieval mission in Union Hall was in the region of €250,000. This cost covers helicopter flying hours, volunteer incident allowances and fuel costs and the attendance of an incident manager. The costs are estimated as not all relevant claims have been processed to date. It should be noted that about 30% of these costs would have been incurred as a matter...

Written Answers — Stadium Projects: Stadium Projects (23 Feb 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 227, 231 and 232 together. The National Sports Campus Development Authority Act, 2006, provides for the establishment of the National Sports Campus Development Authority (NSCDA), which succeeds Campus and Stadium Ireland Development Limited (CSID) in function and responsibility and continues the role of overseeing, planning and developing a National Sports...

Written Answers — Freedom of Information: Freedom of Information (23 Feb 2012)

Leo Varadkar: In 2011 there were 87 Freedom of Information requests received in my Department. In 7 cases the decision maker sought search and retrieval fees. All but one were fully processed and decisions issued with records to the requesters. The remaining request was not processed to decision stage due to the requester not paying the deposit for search and retrieval. The maximum fee that was sought was...