Results 34,021-34,040 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Coast Guard Service: Coast Guard Service (31 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: Providing a suitable building for the Irish Coast Guard volunteer unit in Doolin to enable it to operate in a more suitable and efficient manner remains a priority for my Department. Funding to develop Coast Guard station houses, provided to the Department in the Infrastructure and Capital Investment Programme 2012 to 2016, is targeted in the first instance on the provision of a new station...

Written Answers — Year of the Gathering: Year of the Gathering (31 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to answer Questions 672 and 654 together. I presented proposals for "The Gathering 2013" at last October's 2011 Global Irish Economic Forum. Fáilte Ireland is the lead agency for the implementation of The Gathering initiative while Tourism Ireland Limited will have specific responsibility for promoting "The Gathering 2013" in overseas markets. The event is intended to be the...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (31 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 655 and 658 together. 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 Phase 2 of the...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (31 Jan 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. The allocation of funding in relation to the construction or...

Written Answers — Driving Instruction: Driving Instruction (31 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I have examined the correspondence provided by the Deputy. The correspondent also wrote to me directly last year on this matter. I consider it essential that a good communications process is in place between the Road Safety Authority and the Approved Driving Instructors (ADIs) in relation to the operation of Essential Driver Training (EDT). I have expressed that view to both the RSA and...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (31 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The current expenditure for regional and local roads will be reduced significantly over the next few years. Cuts of the magnitude proposed necessitated that some very good and worthwhile projects be curtailed. In making adjustments to the regional and local roads budget the primary aim has been, as far as is possible, to protect previous investment in the road network and use the available...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (31 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: My Private Secretary is on the Higher Executive Officer payscale €46,426 - €57,251 and receives an allowance of €19,653 per annum, which is subject to tax. The Secretary General of my Department receives €200,000 per annum and has already taken a voluntary reduction in his salary. Decisions regarding reducing or adjusting salary scales and allowances are dealt with centrally by the...

Written Answers — Appointments to State Boards: Appointments to State Boards (31 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The information requested by the Deputy regarding appointments to State Boards is available on my Department's website. Since my Department advertised new procedures for appointments to State boards on Friday 8th April 2011, all appointments from that date have followed these procedures. All Chairpersons whom I have appointed, with the exception of Mr Tom Wall, have appeared before the...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (31 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: Since my appointment as Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in March 2011 seven retired civil servants have been rehired by my Department. Five of these were Radio Officers to fill essential frontline vacancies in the Coast Guard until such time as recruitment processes for replacements could be completed. One Aeronautical Engineer was rehired for the Air Accident Investigation Unit....

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (31 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The current expenditure for regional and local roads will be reduced significantly over the next few years. Cuts of the magnitude proposed necessitated that some very good and worthwhile projects be curtailed including those normally carried out under the Local Improvements Scheme, for which funding has been suspended. In making adjustments to the regional and local roads budget the...

Written Answers — Motorway Service Areas: Motorway Service Areas (31 Jan 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. The allocation of funding in relation to the construction or...

Written Answers — Parking Charges: Parking Charges (31 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 668 and 671 together. 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. The...

Written Answers — Event Management Companies: Event Management Companies (31 Jan 2012)

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

Written Answers — Sports Funding: Sports Funding (31 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The provision of funding to National Governing Bodies of Sport and to individual sportspersons is a matter for the Irish Sports Council. 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 — Ferry Services: Ferry Services (31 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: I am aware of the proposals from the information that the promoters of the proposed ferry link have submitted to me recently. This is an entirely private sector venture and it should be noted that it is not the practice of my Department to subsidise ferry routes, nor are there any funds available to my Department for this purpose. I understand that a lot of preparatory work has been put into...

Written Answers — Ferry Services: Ferry Services (31 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (known as the MARPOL Convention) is the main international convention covering prevention of pollution of the marine environment by ships from operational or accidental causes. The MARPOL Convention entered into force in 1983 and has been provided for in national legislation. Ireland is a party to the Convention and is...

Written Answers — European Council Meetings: European Council Meetings (31 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: Within my remit, there are three Council formations of relevance: Transport, Telecoms and Energy (TTE) Council; Competitiveness Council (which deals with tourism-related issues from time to time); and Education, Youth, Culture and Sport (EYCS) Council. Insofar as the TTE Council is concerned, I have attended all 4 Transport Councils since I became Minister in March 2011. Details of attendance...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (31 Jan 2012)

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

Written Answers — Driver Training: Driver Training (31 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: Essential Driver Training (EDT), which I introduced last April, requires learner car drivers to undertake a course of compulsory lessons before taking the driving test. EDT is one of nine components in the development of a Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) system for Ireland. Taken together, these components will contribute significantly to the quality of driving on our roads, and so to road...

Written Answers — Rail Services: Rail Services (31 Jan 2012)

Leo Varadkar: The issue raised is a matter for Iarnród Éireann. 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.