Results 4,101-4,120 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (10 Jul 2008)

Noel Dempsey: Expenditure projections to year-end indicate that a saving is likely in the funding allocation provided for public transport. This arises mainly from the fact that land acquisitions are not proceeding as quickly as originally anticipated at the start of the year. This saving will not have any direct impact on the implementation timetable for public transport projects. I have no plans to...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (10 Jul 2008)

Noel Dempsey: My Department has no notifications on hand from Dublin Bus or applications from private operators for the provision of bus services on the route referred to.

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (10 Jul 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads in its area is a matter for each individual road authority to be funded from its own resources supplemented by State road grants. Specific grants for the improvement and maintenance of tertiary county roads were not allocated to local authorities in 2007 or 2008. Works on such roads may, at the discretion of the local authority, be...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (10 Jul 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I refer the Deputy to the reply in response to a similar question (Ref No: 23276/08) put down by Deputy Joe Costello on 17th June last. The only change in the position is that write off data relating to other insurers have recently been made available to my Department and the process of validating it against the NVDF is currently underway.

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (10 Jul 2008)

Noel Dempsey: As I stated in a response to a similar Question put to me on 17th June last, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme element of Transport 21. The detailed planning, design and implementation of national road projects, including the provision of service areas on or near these routes and their precise locations, is a matter for the...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (10 Jul 2008)

Noel Dempsey: Bus Éireann has informed me that the company's fleet at year-end over the period since 2001 is as set out below. Year 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008* 689 677 679 687 689 677 712 796 Schools 680 671 683 676 652 711 678 677 Total 1,369 1,348 1,362 1,363 1,341 1,388 1,390 1,473 *End of May, 2008.

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (10 Jul 2008)

Noel Dempsey: Though specific proposals for the introduction of congestion charging are not being considered at the moment, the National Climate Change Strategy 2007-2012 states that consideration will be given to the potential introduction of fiscal measures, including road pricing or congestion charging, to reduce transport demand, once adequate supply-side infrastructure is in place. Congestion charges...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (10 Jul 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The current rules governing use of bus lanes were established through the Road Traffic (Traffic and Parking) Regulations 1997-1998. Large public service vehicles are permitted to use all bus lanes. Taxis, while being used in the course of work, and pedal cycles are permitted to use with-flow bus lanes. The prohibition on the use of bus lanes does not apply in respect of emergency service...

Written Answers — Road Haulage: Road Haulage (10 Jul 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I met with the Irish Road Haulage Association on 19 June in relation to a number of issues, including increasing global oil prices. After that meeting, I relayed their specific concerns to my Cabinet colleagues and on the need in Ireland for a strong and professional haulage industry. In a positive response to road haulage concerns, an Inter Departmental/Agency Task Force was immediately...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (10 Jul 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The National Vehicle and Driver File (NVDF) contains details, including ownership data, on all 2.5 million registered vehicles and 2.6 million licensed drivers in the country and facilitates the processing of all motor tax and driving licence business from all motor tax outlets nationwide and through internet-based services. The primary function of the NVDF is in supporting motor tax and...

Written Answers — Light Rail Project: Light Rail Project (10 Jul 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The Government remains committed to the implementation of the Metro North project which is a critical element of the Transport 21 strategy to transform the public transport system in the Greater Dublin Area. In January 2008, 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...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (10 Jul 2008)

Noel Dempsey: Between 1st January, 2007 and 30th June, 2008, my Department received a total of 340 applications from private operators for new routes and a total of 150 applications from private operators to amend existing routes. My Department currently has on hands the following outstanding cases: — 36 applications for new routes (of which 9 are in the Dublin area); 39 applications to amend existing...

Written Answers — Light Rail Project: Light Rail Project (10 Jul 2008)

Noel Dempsey: A number of Transport 21 projects are planned for the period up to 2015, which will have a major impact on Dublin city centre. These include Metro North, DART Interconnector and Luas Line BX/D. Pending the establishment of the Dublin Transport Authority, the Dublin City Manager chairs the Dublin Transport 21 Implementation Group which co-ordinates and oversees the investment programme in...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (10 Jul 2008)

Noel Dempsey: A number of measures relating to transport are included in the National Climate Change Strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These include rebalancing of motor taxes, Mineral Oil Tax Relief for biofuels, modal shift through Transport 21 and the achievement of a 5.75% biofuels blend in fuels by 2010. Further details of the Strategy are available on the website of the Department of the...

Written Answers — Ministerial Travel: Ministerial Travel (10 Jul 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The Minister for Transport uses public transport and he has not submitted any claims for reimbursement to the Department of Transport. Similarly, no claims have been submitted by the Minister of State for public transport expenses. Since the new Cabinet was formed this year no payments have been made by the Department of Transport for air travel by the Minister or Minister of State.

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (10 Jul 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The procurement activities of the bodies and agencies operating under the aegis of my Department are a day-to-day operational matter for those bodies/agencies. Each body/agency submits an Annual Report in compliance with the Code of Practice for the Corporate Governance of State Bodies of which compliance with procurement requirements is an integral component. All of the bodies/agencies...

Written Answers — Air Services: Air Services (10 Jul 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) is responsible for safety regulation of the civil aviation industry in Ireland, including the regulation of helicopters. The IAA has informed me that helicopter owners and pilots must operate their helicopters in accordance with S.I. No. 61 of 2006, Irish Aviation Authority (Operations) Order, 2006 and S.I. No. 72 of 2004, Irish Aviation Authority (Rules of...

National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I understand I may be sharing my time with Deputy O'Rourke with the agreement of the House.

National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2008)

Noel Dempsey: It may happen.

National Development Plan: Motion (Resumed) (10 Jul 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I entered this House in 1987. At that stage, the economy was in tatters. Tens of thousands of young people were emigrating, unemployment was 17% or 18%, inflation was through the roof and there appeared to be a very bleak future. The Acting Chairman will remember how the phrase "Will the last person leaving the island switch off the light?" was coined. A Fianna Fáil Government assumed...