Results 4,121-4,140 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Aircraft Noise (Dublin Airport) Regulation Bill 2018: Second Stage (12 Dec 2018)

Shane Ross: I thank the House for the opportunity to introduce the Bill, the main purpose of which is to implement EU Regulation 598/2014, which came into effect in June 2016. This regulation sets out the rules and procedures for managing and monitoring the impact of aircraft at all major European Union airports. The approach set out in the regulation is in line with the so-called "balanced approach"...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Transport Policy (12 Dec 2018)

Shane Ross: As the Deputy is probably aware, in budget 2019 I secured funding of almost €790 million for sustainable mobility measures. This allocation will be invested in public transport infrastructure and services, cycling and walking initiatives and other measures designed to reduce our carbon footprint. The framework for this significantly enhanced level of funding is of course the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Transport Policy (12 Dec 2018)

Shane Ross: I do not expect that the Deputy expects me to agree with that. Of course I do not.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Transport Policy (12 Dec 2018)

Shane Ross: We have made some really significant and environmentally friendly decisions, some of which I have already explained to the Deputy. On electric vehicles, the Deputy is quite right that they have been very disappointing to some extent. Certainly up to this year, they were very disappointing but the Deputy will be aware that the number is now rocketing. Admittedly, this is from a low base but...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Transport Policy (12 Dec 2018)

Shane Ross: The Deputy is correct that we have work to do. We have a lot of catching up to do. I do not make any bones about that. I spelt out in my initial response the plans we have to do what we have to do. I am very confident that major improvements and strides will be made. The Deputy is correct that we have catching up to do but he did not address the large projects to which we are already...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rail Network Expansion (12 Dec 2018)

Shane Ross: I thank the Deputy for the question. I believe it was raised before. I wish the Deputy well in his new venture. I welcome the fact that he has not lost sight of the home base while doing what he has to do. As the Deputy is aware, the Navan corridor, or M3 corridor, is currently served by a commuter rail service that commences at M3 Parkway and serves Dunboyne before continuing through...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Cycling Facilities Funding (12 Dec 2018)

Shane Ross: The figure quoted of €3.65 million, which the Deputies had an answer to already, does not recognise the number of authorities which have committed to applying for greenway funding. I repeat for Deputy Ó Cuív - it would be good if he acknowledged this - that Galway County Council has gone for two, Kerry County Council for three, Donegal County Council for three and Wexford...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Service Obligation Services (12 Dec 2018)

Shane Ross: It is a statutory function of the NTA, under the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008 and EU Regulation 1370/2007, to award PSO contracts and to determine the appropriate mix of directly awarded and competitively tendered PSO services. As I mentioned in an earlier response, the PSO programme represents a significant expenditure of taxpayers' money and has increased by 35% in the past three...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Service Obligation Services (12 Dec 2018)

Shane Ross: I do not have an ideological position on this.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Service Obligation Services (12 Dec 2018)

Shane Ross: It is quite obvious that I do not have an ideological position on this. I keep being accused by Members of having some sort of privatisation agenda. What is happening here is that there has been competitive tendering. Routes have gone out to tender and, as the Deputy will be aware, the incumbent is entitled to bid for those routes. The incumbents bid for those routes. In certain cases,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Service Obligation Services (12 Dec 2018)

Shane Ross: I do not disagree with much of what the Deputy said. Some of it is a matter of language and rhetoric. The passengers and those who have a social need for a transport system need to be protected and preserved. I do not believe that is inconsistent in any way with competitive tendering. Competitive tendering is responding to a need for more passengers having a hunger for more routes and it is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Service Obligation Services (12 Dec 2018)

Shane Ross: The PSO subvention increased in 2016, 2017 and again this year. Over three years, PSO subvention will have increased by 36% in total. That is a projection and it is correct. In 2018, €285 million of Exchequer funds was allocated to support the delivery of these socially necessary but financially unviable services throughout the country.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ports Development (12 Dec 2018)

Shane Ross: It is unfair of the Deputy to say that no preparations are in train. All contingencies are being prepared for in the event of Brexit. It would not be correct to spell all of them out here in public, and I do not believe the Deputy would expect me to do that. However, he can be rest assured that that includes Rosslare Europort and Dublin Port. My Department has been engaging with...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Cycling Facilities Funding (12 Dec 2018)

Shane Ross: I thank the Deputy for his question. There are two separate sources for funding of cycling infrastructure within my Department. The tourism development division provides funding for greenway construction while the public transport investment division provides funding to the National Transport Authority, NTA, for the provision of cycling infrastructure, including greenways, within the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Cycling Facilities Funding (12 Dec 2018)

Shane Ross: I do not know whether the Deputy was listening to my reply-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Cycling Facilities Funding (12 Dec 2018)

Shane Ross: -----but I quoted a figure which I would have thought he and others in this House would greet with a great deal of glee and salute the fact that the Government is making a very large commitment to greenways. The Deputy said derisively that only €3.6 million was allocated this year, but what does he say about the €53 million which is available for greenways from 2019 to 2023?...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Cycling Facilities Funding (12 Dec 2018)

Shane Ross: Greenways in Mayo and Waterford have been a great success.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Cycling Facilities Funding (12 Dec 2018)

Shane Ross: Congratulations. Well done. More power to the Deputy.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Cycling Facilities Funding (12 Dec 2018)

Shane Ross: More power to him on that also.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Trans European Transport Network Programme (12 Dec 2018)

Shane Ross: I assure the Deputy I will make his views known to the TII. I will make sure they are passed on. He should not underestimate the cost of the project, which is €400 million. It is split approximately as follows: section 1 from Ballybofey and Stranorlar will cost €115 million; section 2 from Letterkenny to Manorcunningham will cost €99 million; and section 3 from...