Results 33,901-33,920 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (23 Feb 2012)

Leo Varadkar: As previously advised on 14th February 2012 the cost of lump sums, pensions and severance payments for 2011 and anticipated to end February 2012 is set out in Table 1. The severance payments in 2011 were as a result of cessation of employment due to the change in Government. Twenty one staff retired in 2011 and it is anticipated that twenty four staff will retire by 29th February 2012....

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (23 Feb 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy will be aware that the Secretary General of my Department, Mr Tom O'Mahony, addressed this matter at hearings of the Public Accounts Committee on 10 November 2011 and 16 February 2012. Mr O'Mahony provided the Committee with a series of documents including a copy of an internal memo dated 15 February 2005 from an official of the then Department of Arts, Sports and Tourism which...

Written Answers — Cable Car Transport: Cable Car Transport (22 Feb 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The regulation of the Dursey Island cable car and the setting of safety restrictions on its use are the responsibility of Cork County Council. I have referred the Deputy's question to Cork County Council asking that they reply to him directly on the matter.

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (22 Feb 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The 2010 and 2011 regional and local road grant allocation booklets, which include the information the Deputy requires, are available in the Dáil Library.

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (22 Feb 2012)

Leo Varadkar: My Department has not funded any such mainstream projects.

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (22 Feb 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 ten working days.

Written Answers — Driver Licences: Driver Licences (22 Feb 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The driver licensing regime is defined in the Road Traffic (Licensing of Drivers) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 537 of 2006), as amended. The supporting documentation required in conjunction with an application for the issue or renewal of a driving licence is set out in the statutory application form D.401. The currently valid version of this form is defined in the Road Traffic (Licensing of...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (22 Feb 2012)

Leo Varadkar: Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006 (Conferral of Functions) Order 2006 (S.I. No. 477 of 2006) the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has responsibility for the compilation and analysis of road safety collision statistics. I have referred the Deputy's question to the Road Safety Authority for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.

Written Answers — Cycle Facilities: Cycle Facilities (22 Feb 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I have been advised by the Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) that the by-laws referred to by the Deputy were put on public display at their offices in Parkgate Street on 25 May 2011 and remained on display for the 30-day statutory period. The public were notified of the RPA's intention to make the by-laws by way of newspaper notices published on that day. The RPA did not receive any...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (22 Feb 2012)

Leo Varadkar: 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 award contracts for the provision of PSO services with...

Seanad: Harbour Authorities (21 Feb 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The existing policy on regional harbours is as published in the 2005 ports policy statement, namely, that the continued operation of harbours under the Harbours Act 1946 is unsustainable on the grounds of good governance. It proposed that harbours would best achieve their potential through a transfer to local authority ownership or, in the case where harbours had significant commercial...

Seanad: Harbour Authorities (21 Feb 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I thank the Senator for raising the issue and he can be assured I will listen to local views. No rushed decision will be made and the provisions in the legislation on public consultation must be followed. The issue arises because this is the last of 13 harbours and the only one operating under the Harbours Act 1946, which must be repealed sooner rather than later. The Senator mentioned...

State Airports (16 Feb 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy's question relates to the publication of the Booz report on the future ownership and operation of Cork and Shannon airports. As I have advised the Deputy previously, the report contains commercially sensitive information, much of which was provided on a confidential basis. For this reason, it will not be possible to publish the report in full. However, I intend to publish a...

State Airports (16 Feb 2012)

Leo Varadkar: While I appreciate it has been almost 12 months since the Government assumed office, as the Deputy will be aware, Shannon Airport has been in limbo since 2008 when a decision was made to defer taking a decision. The period of limbo commenced in 2008 and I intend to end uncertainty about the airport this year. I appreciate that tourism and employee interests in the region are concerned about...

Road Network (16 Feb 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The Deputy's question relates to the A5 roads project. In 2006 the Government gave a commitment to co-fund the construction of the A5 through Northern Ireland to Derry, thus improving access to Letterkenny and north County Donegal. Until the end of 2011, funding of £19 million was paid by the Government towards the planning of the project. A further £3 million was paid in February 2012...

Road Network (16 Feb 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The A5 road project is not part of the St. Andrews Agreement but one that arose from the agreement.

Road Network (16 Feb 2012)

Leo Varadkar: We have made a commitment to provide €25 million in 2015 and 2016 and that money will be provided. We will review the position if the economic and budgetary circumstances dramatically change before 2015. That is the only context in which we could review the recently published capital investment plan. Things are different in Northern Ireland which has access to very large transfers from...

Road Network (16 Feb 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I agree that upgrading the A5 is important and beneficial, not only for Derry but also for north County Donegal. I am pleased, therefore, that with the help of the British sovereign and taxpayers, the Minister for Regional Development in Northern Ireland, Danny Kennedy, MLA, is able to proceed with construction of sections of the road. Unfortunately, owing to the financial position in which...

Road Network (16 Feb 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads 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 Limerick northern distributor road involves two phases. The first is the...

Road Network (16 Feb 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The purpose of route selection is to allow people to prepare for the future. A route is identified and land is set aside for construction in order that the road can be built in due course. It is not and should not be my role to plan regional roads from No. 44 Kildare Street. It is the role of local authorities, in this case Clare County Council. A planning process is in place. I expect...