Results 3,421-3,440 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (18 Dec 2008)

Noel Dempsey: My Department has been discussing with the Department of Finance the application of measures announced by the Minister for Finance in the recent budget to reduce payroll costs across the public service. As part of these discussions this Department has identified a number of priority vacancies which it considers essential to fill at this time, and the two Departments are currently exploring...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (18 Dec 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I refer the Deputy to the response to PQ number 46117/08 of 16th December 2008. The position remains unchanged.

Written Answers — Departmental Strategy Statements: Departmental Strategy Statements (18 Dec 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 168 to 173, inclusive, and 180 together. The issues raised by the Deputy have been identified in the Report of the Organisational Review Programme as areas that need to be addressed. In response to the findings of the ORP my Department has prepared an action plan that was published with the Report and includes the actions that are intended to address the...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (18 Dec 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 174, 175 and 181 together. I believe my Department has a very good working relationship with its agencies and that arrangements for access to and sharing of information between the Department and its agencies are working well. However, in order to further enhance this relationship, I wrote to the Chairpersons of the State agencies under my remit last month...

Written Answers — Departmental Communications: Departmental Communications (18 Dec 2008)

Noel Dempsey: My Department, along with the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, and the local authorities around the country, has long recognised the importance of integrating transport, spatial and land use policies. Good lines of communication at several levels are obviously essential to ensure that this happens. I am satisfied that such communications are currently in place. My...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (18 Dec 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The Press Office in my Department comprises of four staff. The Press Office is responsible for the management and dissemination of information to the media. A press cutting service is provided by one officer assigned on a part time basis and assisted by two others on a part time rota basis. Media monitoring services relate to the daily review of media sources and the occasional purchase of...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (18 Dec 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I can advise the Deputy that 42 internal audit reports have been completed by my Department's Internal Audit Unit since 2004, details of which are appended to this reply. I am advised that no disciplinary action has been taken against any employee of my Department as a consequence of a recommendation contained in an Internal Audit Report. APPENDIX Completed Audit Reports 2004-2008 2004 Roads...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (18 Dec 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The performance management and development system has been implemented in my Department, with the fully integrated performance development model linking the process to the awarding of increments, higher scale posts and promotion posts operating from 1 January 2007. A Competency Framework has been developed for staff and a performance management and development system calendar set out for...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (18 Dec 2008)

Noel Dempsey: My Department received a proposal from Dublin Bus for revised services on Route 37 on 1st May 2008. Following an examination of the proposal, which included consultation with Dublin Bus, my Department deemed that the proposal would give rise to competition with an existing licensed service. Accordingly, my Department advised Dublin Bus on 9th June, 2008 that an application in accordance with...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (18 Dec 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I understand from Iarnród Éireann that discussions are ongoing with the relevant local authorities on the removal of level crossings on the Maynooth line.

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (18 Dec 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I understand from Iarnród Éireann that a feasibility study for a Shannon Rail Link was completed in February 2007 and was made widely available through the Steering Group overseeing the study which included representatives of local authorities and local development interests, including the Shannon Rail Partnership.

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (18 Dec 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The Report of the Expert Working Group on the Western Rail Corridor (chaired by Mr. Pat McCann) is available on my Department's website. Other reports, including Limerick-Galway Service Development — Business Case and the Audit of Business Case for re-introduction Ennis to Athenry, relating to the Western Rail Corridor are also available on my Department's website. I understand that the...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (18 Dec 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The information requested by the Deputy is contained in the following table. Consultant Year Cost Report Status of Report € Fitzpatrick Associates 2006 59,532 Discussion Paper on Rural Public Transport Published IBM 2006 72650 IT Strategy Project for theDepartment of Transport IBM delivered a 3-year strategy, which was adopted by the Management Board. Change Management Training...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (18 Dec 2008)

Noel Dempsey: Since 1997 Dublin Bus has purchased 1,295 new buses. 718 of these buses were funded, partially and/or fully, by the Exchequer. Details of this funding are set out in the following table: Year Amount of Funding Fully funded or partially funded bus purchases €m 1999 27.11 150 2000 16.82 118 2001 11.74 45 2002 14.79 53 2003 — 32* 2004 — — 2005 5.25 20 2006 24.56 100 2007...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (18 Dec 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The 2009 Exchequer subvention to CIÉ will be €313.279 million, an increase of 1.5% on the 2008 figure. During the course of the Estimates discussions, my Department had discussions with the Department of Finance and with CIÉ in relation to the overall financial position of the CIÉ operating companies, Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann. The Chairman and Chief Executive of...

Written Answers — Light Rail Project: Light Rail Project (18 Dec 2008)

Noel Dempsey: Metro North is being delivered as a Public Private Partnership (PPP). In January of this year, the Government approved the funding structure for the Metro North PPP, including an Exchequer provision for advance works ahead of the main PPP contract and a capital contribution during construction. Good progress is being made in the delivery of Metro North. The Railway Procurement Agency (RPA)...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (18 Dec 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I approved, on the 3rd December, an average 10% increase in CIE fares.

Written Answers — Departmental Accommodation: Departmental Accommodation (17 Dec 2008)

Noel Dempsey: My Department was established in 2002 and since then it has experienced significant functional and staffing change that has contributed to the present situation whereby the Department's staffing complement of approximately 450 Dublin-based staff is dispersed in six locations. This level of dispersal has posed considerable operational difficulties in the delivery of a satisfactory standard...

Written Answers — Customer Service Surveys: Customer Service Surveys (17 Dec 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The results of the Customer Surveys for 2003 and 2005/2006 are accessible under the 'Other Information' link on my Department's website. We are currently updating our Customer Charter and Action Plan, which will apply for the period 2009-2011. A customer service survey will be carried out early in 2009 as part of this exercise and the results will be published. While the 2003 Customer Service...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (17 Dec 2008)

Noel Dempsey: Bus services in Co Cork are provided largely by Bus Éireann. The company has a fleet of 164 buses in Co Cork. Of these, 116 are wheelchair accessible which represents over 70% of the fleet and, as older buses are replaced, all new urban buses are required to be wheelchair accessible. In fact, all bus services in Cork city are operated with low floor buses. My Department's Sectoral Plan...