Results 35,141-35,160 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Written Answers — Driving Licences: Driving Licences (19 May 2011)

Leo Varadkar: Current rules require that a person applying for a first learner permit for car and motorbike category must submit an eyesight report. In addition, everyone over 70 years of age must submit a medical report which incorporates an eyesight test. Those licence applicants who suffer from serious eyesight diseases, including diplopia, defective binocular vision or serious loss of visual field...

Written Answers — Regional Airports: Regional Airports (19 May 2011)

Leo Varadkar: I fully recognise the value of Galway Airport in terms of the numbers employed directly and indirectly at the Airport and the role that it has played in the economic development of the region. However, I do not accept that it generates more revenue for the State than it receives. Passengers using an alternative airport will spend much the same amount of money on air fares and other...

Written Answers — Vehicle Registration: Vehicle Registration (19 May 2011)

Leo Varadkar: I am informed by my Department that the registered owner of a vehicle at the address in question made an application for a duplicate vehicle registration certificate to the local motor tax office on 14 April 2011. Under the Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing) (Amendment) Regulations 1992 (S.I. No. 385/1992) an application for a duplicate vehicle registration certificate must be made...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (18 May 2011)

Leo Varadkar: Any proposal by Dublin Bus to vary passenger fares requires the approval of the National Transport Authority as part of its independent statutory mandate and the exercise of its powers to enter into public service contracts with the company. I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if there is no reply within ten working days.

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (18 May 2011)

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 under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Within its capital budget, the assessment and prioritisation of...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (18 May 2011)

Leo Varadkar: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme . The construction, improvement and maintenance of individual national roads, including the provision of servic areas, is a matter for the National Roads Authority under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 . Within its capital budget, it is a matter for the NRA to assess and...

Written Answers — Port Development: Port Development (18 May 2011)

Leo Varadkar: The current recession has inevitably had a negative impact on the finances of all the State port companies. Dundalk Port Company, being one of the smallest ports, has been badly hit. From a high of 221 ships in 2006, only 64 ships entered the port in 2010, and the figures for 2011 show no signs of improvement. Earlier this year, an independent business review of the company was carried out....

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (18 May 2011)

Leo Varadkar: 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 on December 2009, the implementation and development of infrastructure projects in the Greater Dublin Area, such as Hansfield train station, comes under the remit of the NTA. The legislative basis...

Written Answers — Ministerial Meetings: Ministerial Meetings (18 May 2011)

Leo Varadkar: I have not received any request to meet the individual or organisation referred to by the Deputy. The Minister of State, Deputy Michael Ring, who has responsibility for sport, and my officials are of course available to meet this organisation should it seek such a meeting.

Air Services (17 May 2011)

Leo Varadkar: I thank Deputies McLoughlin and Coffey for raising this matter. The Deputies will be aware that I am faced with dealing with the lack of funding available for the regional airports programme for 2011 and for future years, following the reductions made by the previous Government. At the same time, some of the regional airports are becoming more dependent on Exchequer support as the cost of...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (17 May 2011)

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 delivery of the National Car Test. In 2008, the RSA reviewed the car testing specification and, following this review, proposed that a number of new test items be introduced to the National Car Test (NCT). A public consultation process...

Written Answers — Sports Capital Programme: Sports Capital Programme (17 May 2011)

Leo Varadkar: While no new round of the Sports Capital Programme has been advertised since 2008, the Programme is still very active with €33m being provided in the Estimates to fund the programme for 2011. No decision has been made about the timing of further rounds of the Programme.

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (17 May 2011)

Leo Varadkar: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The construction, improvement and maintenance of individual national roads are matters for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with local authorities concerned. In particular, the statutory power to levy tolls on...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (17 May 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 projects to be...

Written Answers — Tourism Industry: Tourism Industry (17 May 2011)

Leo Varadkar: Ireland's four primary overseas tourist markets – Great Britain, North America, Germany and France - deliver almost three quarters of our overseas visitors and will continue to be the primary focus of our overseas marketing efforts in the short term. I recognise however, that new and developing markets such as those referred to by the Deputy present excellent opportunities for Irish...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (17 May 2011)

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

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (17 May 2011)

Leo Varadkar: The matter raised is an operational one for Fáilte Ireland. 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 — Marine Safety: Marine Safety (17 May 2011)

Leo Varadkar: The equipment for the Marine Rescue Sub co-ordination Centre (MRSC) Malin Head was delivered in 2010. To enable the equipment to be installed, it is first necessary to undertake work to link the equipment in each of the three co-ordination centres together, the National Maritime Coordination Centre in Dublin and the MRSCs in Malin and Valentia, and to provide the necessary facilities to...

Written Answers — Marine Safety: Marine Safety (17 May 2011)

Leo Varadkar: My Department undertook, as part of the Croke Park Agreement, to carry out a strategic review of the Irish Coast Guard, including the watch manning system which accounts for the majority of the Coast Guard staff. The Coast Guard review will also take account of efficiencies that may be possible due to the introduction of new technology. Further recruitment from the existing panel will be...

Written Answers — Marine Safety: Marine Safety (17 May 2011)

Leo Varadkar: The Irish Coast Guard chairs a project management group with the Office of Public Works (OPW) to oversee a building programme which commenced in 1998. This programme is to modernise the pre-1900's volunteer Station Houses around the coast, subject to funding. Cleggan Coast Guard Unit is one of a number of Coast Guard units with such a building that have been identified as needing new...