Results 34,361-34,380 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (10 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads, 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 initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (10 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: The issue raised is an operational matter for Iarnród Éireann. I have referred the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. He should inform my private office if he does not receive a reply within ten working days.

Written Answers — Road Haulage Licences: Road Haulage Licences (10 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: In general, a Road Haulage Operator's Licence is required if a firm is itself actually carrying goods for hire or reward in large heavy goods vehicles belonging to that firm. If an Individual or company is acting as an agent or representative, but are not themselves in the business of carrying goods for hire or reward in their own vehicles, then they are not obliged to have a licence. There...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (9 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: In accordance with the commitment in the Programme for Government to explore the benefit to the public transport passenger of more diverse bus service provision, I am examining the options available. The Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008 enabled the granting of contracts for public service obligation (PSO) services on a direct award basis to Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann in...

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (9 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 19 and 33 together. The situation regarding employment in Dun Laoghaire harbour remains unchanged since my response to the Deputy's oral PQ on the matter on 29 September last. Stena Line, as an independent commercial company, has taken a decision to introduce greater efficiencies and reduce their overall operating overheads. The number of passengers and cars...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (9 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: I welcome the Smarter Transport Bill 2011 which the Deputy recently published. The Bill makes provision for local authorities to make bye laws for the provision and use of charging bays on public roads for electrically powered and plug-in hybrid vehicles and for the control and regulation of parking by car club vehicles on public roads. I believe the Deputy's Bill is important as it will, if...

Written Answers — Dormant Accounts Fund: Dormant Accounts Fund (9 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: The funding referred to by the Deputy relates to funding provided through the Dormant Accounts Fund for the appointment of Sports Inclusion Disability Officers (SIDOs) in Local Sports Partnerships. The Department of Environment, Community and Local Government has overall responsibility for dormant accounts spending. The funding through my Department was an element of a larger set of...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (9 Nov 2011)

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. Within its capital budget, the assessment and...

Written Answers — Tourism Promotion: Tourism Promotion (9 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: As the Deputy may be aware, Fáilte Ireland earlier this year allocated €2.7 million to Trinity College to develop a new setting for the Book of Kells exhibition within the grounds of the college. The proposal is to improve the overall visitor experience of the attraction including redesigned layout, increased space as well as the interpretation of the exhibition. The exhibition featured...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (9 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: Fáilte Ireland was established under the National Tourism Development Authority Act 2003 to encourage, promote and support tourism. Its primary functions are the development of quality tourism product, domestic tourism marketing, tourism standards, enterprise support, capability building and human resource development for the tourism industry. Tourism Ireland is accountable to the North...

Written Answers — Clamping Industry: Clamping Industry (9 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: I am aware of a range of issues which have been raised by members of the public regarding difficulties they have encountered with elements of the private clamping industry. 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 specifically covering clamping on private property....

Written Answers — Information and Communications Technology: Information and Communications Technology (9 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: The provision of information to tourists including through facilities such as mobile internet devices is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland. I am aware, for example, that this Summer, Fáilte Ireland launched a free Discover Ireland app for Apple and Android mobile operating systems. For further information, I have referred the Deputy's Question to Fáilte Ireland for direct reply....

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (9 Nov 2011)

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 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. I have no function in relation to the...

Written Answers — Inland Waterways: Inland Waterways (9 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: As the Deputy may be aware, the Ulster Canal project is being progressed by Waterways Ireland, which is the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Jimmy Deenihan T.D. He is liaising with his Northern Ireland counterpart, the Minister for Culture, Arts and Leisure on this project. I have had no role in the development of the project to date but I...

Written Answers — Job Creation: Job Creation (9 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: My Department does not directly audit the employment in the transport and tourism sectors but does keep under review the statistics which are available. According to the most recent CSO Quarterly National Household Survey, the numbers employed in the "transportation and storage" sector stood at around 95,000 in Quarter 2 of 2011. An estimate of all jobs in the tourism and hospitality...

Written Answers — Tourism Promotion: Tourism Promotion (9 Nov 2011)

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

Written Answers — Economic Competitiveness: Economic Competitiveness (9 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 38, 201 and 202 together. I am in regular contact with stakeholders in the tourism sector which keeps me advised of issues of concern to the industry. Recent statistics show Ireland in the second most favourable position from the top of a league table across the EU measuring the annual percentage change in harmonised CPI for restaurants and hotels to August...

Written Answers — North South Co-operation: North South Co-operation (9 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: Tourism was identified in the Good Friday Agreement as one of the key areas for North/South cooperation, and consequently it is one of the sectors on which the North/South Ministerial Council meets in Sectoral format. The Council meets in this format in order to make decisions on common policies and approaches in the area of tourism. It also takes decisions on policies and actions to be...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (9 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: The Road Traffic Act 2004 establishes default speed limits that apply to defined categories of roads and which can only be changed by county and city councils through the making of special speed limit bye-laws. Section 9 of the 2004 Act sets out the range of special speed limits that may be applied by local authorities through bye-laws. In accordance with Actions identified in the Road...

Written Answers — Ferry Services: Ferry Services (9 Nov 2011)

Leo Varadkar: As I previously advised the Deputy on 13 October 2011, and again on 25 October, neither my Department nor any of its agencies has any function in respect of, or finance for, the provision or subsidisation of ferry services on this or any other route. It is not the practice of my Department to subsidise loss-making ferry services nor are there any funds available to my Department for this...