Results 3,461-3,480 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Written Answers — Rail Services: Rail Services (17 Dec 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 103 and 106 together. An average 10% fares increase was recently approved for Irish Rail, Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann to cover cost increases in fuel earlier this year, labour, other general costs and also taking into account the overall financial position of the CIE companies. The fares increase was granted subject to the implementation of a package of...

Written Answers — Park and Ride Facilities: Park and Ride Facilities (17 Dec 2008)

Noel Dempsey: My Department supports park and ride as having a role to play in encouraging commuters to switch to public transport. The provision of dedicated park and ride facilities at railway stations is a matter for Irish Rail, and at Luas and proposed Metro sites it is a matter for the RPA. Local authorities also have a role in providing commuter park and ride facilities. In the Greater Dublin Area,...

Written Answers — Light Rail Project: Light Rail Project (17 Dec 2008)

Noel Dempsey: Provision will be made in the 2009 grant allocations to facilitate significant progress in the planning and design of Metro West. The RPA intends to submit an application for a railway order for the project by the end of 2009. The start and completion dates of Transport 21 projects, which have not yet commenced, will be determined by the outcome of the statutory approval and procurement...

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

Noel Dempsey: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Priority Dáil Question No. 62, which I answered earlier today.

Written Answers — Light Rail Projects: Light Rail Projects (17 Dec 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) lodged their application for a railway order for Metro North with An Bord Pleanála on 18th September last. Subject to the grant of an enforceable railway order, preparatory works such as utility diversions will commence in 2009. Good progress is also being made in planning work for the DART underground (Interconnector) and Irish Rail has set itself a...

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

Noel Dempsey: It is my intention to establish the Dublin Transport Authority as early as possible in 2009 once I am satisfied that it has the financial and staffing resources necessary to enable it discharge effectively the functions assigned to it by the Oireachtas under the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008. Discussions are currently taking place between my Department and the Department of Finance on...

Written Answers — Taxi Regulations: Taxi Regulations (17 Dec 2008)

Noel Dempsey: Under the Taxi Regulation Act 2003, the Commission for Taxi Regulation is the independent public body responsible for the development and maintenance of the regulatory framework for the control and operation, including licensing, of taxis, hackneys, limousines and their drivers. However, the Commission does not have any remit or statutory power under the Taxi Regulation Act in relation to...

Written Answers — Air Services: Air Services (17 Dec 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The State's nominated directors on the Board of Aer Lingus are mandated to ensure that all future decisions of the company that have significant implications for wider Government, aviation or regional development policies are considered at Board level. The mandate specifically states that the possible decisions concerned would include decisions on proposals with significant local or national...

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

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 122 and 123 together. A smart card for public transport services in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) is available on Luas services. In recent months all buses in the Dublin Bus fleet have been fitted with smart card validators and smart cards are now in use on these buses in respect of a number of ticket products such as annual and monthly bus tickets, annual and...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (17 Dec 2008)

Noel Dempsey: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in respect of the national roads programme element of Transport 21. The implementation of individual national road projects, including the Dublin Port Tunnel, as well as the responsibility to secure the provision of a safe and efficient network of national roads, are matters for the National Roads Authority (NRA)...

Written Answers — Parking Regulations: Parking Regulations (17 Dec 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The Road Traffic (Traffic and Parking) Regulations 1997 to 2006 are currently being reviewed and updated in my Department. Road authorities have power under the 1997 regulations to prohibit the parking of large vehicles on a public road, at either a particular location on a public road or in a particular zone. The road authority parking regulations can be enforced by the Garda Síochána and...

Written Answers — End-of-Life Vehicles: End-of-Life Vehicles (17 Dec 2008)

Noel Dempsey: With the assistance of data made available voluntarily by the insurance industry the Department, following analysis against the 2.5 million active vehicles on the National Vehicle and Driver File (NVDF) has written to the registered owners of 1,117 vehicles which the records indicate may still be in use on public roads. All of the data provided by insurers has now been analysed and follow up...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (17 Dec 2008)

Noel Dempsey: Under the Roads Act, 1993, the maintenance of roads, including winter maintenance, is a statutory function of each individual road authority. This work is funded out of each authority's own resources, supplemented in the case of regional and local roads by discretionary and block grants allocated annually by my Department. In the case of national roads, funding for maintenance, which...

Written Answers — Air Services: Air Services (17 Dec 2008)

Noel Dempsey: Following its initial announcement on 1 December, Ryanair has posted a detailed offer to Aer Lingus shareholders on 15 December. In accordance with the Takeover Rules, the Board of the Company must set out a detailed response within 14 days following the release of the detailed offer so that shareholders can make a decision on the acceptance of the offer or otherwise. Of course the Deputy...

Written Answers — Air Services: Air Services (17 Dec 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The Government recognises the importance of competition in the Irish aviation sector. The policy, as set out in my Department's current statement of strategy, is to promote regular, safe, cost effective and competitive air services linking the country and key business and tourism markets. The priority, from an Irish economy perspective, is to maintain the highest possible levels of...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (17 Dec 2008)

Noel Dempsey: Ireland's aviation policy, as set out in my Department's current Statement of Strategy is to promote regular, safe, cost effective and competitive air services linking the country and key business and tourism markets. The priority, from an Irish economy perspective, is to maintain the highest possible levels of connectivity between Ireland and key markets around the world. The Air Travel Tax...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (17 Dec 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The provision of rail links in County Donegal does not form part of Transport 21, though I am aware that a Donegal County Council led steering group is considering undertaking a feasibility study on possible rail links to Donegal. The commissioning and funding of the study is a matter for the organizations and agencies participating in the steering group. I will consider, in conjunction...

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

Noel Dempsey: There have been nine instances of equipment being reported lost, missing or stolen from my Department in the past twelve months. These instances included five laptops and four Blackberries. Of these, four laptops and one Blackberry were subsequently recovered. One laptop and three Blackberries are still missing. I have been assured by my officials that each incident has been investigated...

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

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 278 and 279 together. The costs of accommodation and other expenses including meals for Departmental staff who are travelling at home, or abroad, are met from within the rates for subsistence expenses which are authorized from time to time by the Minister for Finance. As such a specific figure is not available for accommodation costs. In relation to procuring...

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

Noel Dempsey: My Department owns 171 servers, which have a total capacity of 23 Terabytes. In relation to agencies under the aegis of my Department, the administration of their computer systems is an operational matter for them.