Results 4,161-4,180 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (6 Dec 2006)

Martin Cullen: The Department of Transport is the source of funding available to local authorities for provision of Quality Bus Corridors and other traffic management measures. The Dublin Transportation Office and the Cork, Galway, Limerick and Waterford local authorities administer these grants on behalf of my Department. Allocations for Traffic management grants in the Regional Cities include provision...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (6 Dec 2006)

Martin Cullen: The Government Press Office publishes the Government's planned legislation programme at the beginning of each Dáil session. The Bills published in any one term depend on a range of factors including the demands on Dáil time for other business, requirements for urgent legislation etc. Planned legislation for the next Dáil session will be published by the Government Press Office early in...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (6 Dec 2006)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 72 and 141 together. The planning of Operation Freeflow is a matter for the Operation Freeflow Committee, which is chaired by An Garda Síochána and brings together the relevant local authorities and agencies. Operation Freeflow 2006 was launched on 27 November 2006, and runs until 7 January 2007. I understand that, as in previous years, Operation...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (6 Dec 2006)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 73, 82, 97, 104 and 138 together. The Government has made a number of significant decisions in recent times that will provide a solid basis for expanded and improved bus services throughout the country over the coming years. As announced in my statement of 28 September 2006, the Government has decided that the regulation of the bus market and future...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (6 Dec 2006)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 74 and 139 together. I refer the Deputy to my response to Question No. 251. In relation to the question of a provision in the Book of Estimates for 2007, there is no such provision in the Abridged Estimates & Summary Public Capital Programme, 2007.

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (6 Dec 2006)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 77 and 113 together. I want to begin by refuting the suggestion that the lines referred to by the Deputy have been abandoned. While Transport 21 involves a very large commitment of financial resources, those resources are also finite. Transport 21 provides funding for the delivery of an extensive rail based network in the period 2006 to 2015. This network is...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (6 Dec 2006)

Martin Cullen: Subject to a satisfactory outcome to the Railway Order process, it is expected that the construction of the Glounthaune to Midleton railway line can commence in 2007 and still be completed in line with Transport 21. The Railway Order process has taken longer than anticipated. I appointed an Inspector to hold a Public Inquiry into CIE's application for the project on 26 May last. The Inquiry...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (6 Dec 2006)

Martin Cullen: My Department provides funding to the DTO in respect of the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) and the local authorities in the regional cities for the development of park and ride facilities. These local authorities are aware of the availability of this funding, and it is a matter for each of them to identify and prioritise projects, and apply for funding to my Department. I should add that my...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (6 Dec 2006)

Martin Cullen: Under section 24 of the Transport Act 1958, Bus Éireann is not required to hold a licence under the Road Transport Act 1932. However, since 10 January 2001, the company is required by Ministerial direction to notify my Department of proposed new services or proposed changes to existing services at least four weeks prior to their introduction. In this context Bus Éireann submitted proposals...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (6 Dec 2006)

Martin Cullen: In October 2006, the European Commission published a proposal for a directive to require existing HGVs to be retrofitted with enhanced mirrors on their passenger side to improve the lateral field of indirect vision of drivers. Consideration of the proposal by Member States commenced last month. Ireland together with some other Member States are seeking to have the proposal amended to also...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (6 Dec 2006)

Martin Cullen: The number of passengers carried by Dublin Bus increased from 137.1 million in 1997 to 149.8 million in 2004. There was a decrease in passenger numbers carried in 2005 to 146 million, which coincided with the introduction of the Luas to Sandyford and Tallaght which currently carries in excess of 25 million passengers annually. However, the underlying growth on the services of Dublin Bus is...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (6 Dec 2006)

Martin Cullen: The maximum default road speed limits that apply to motorways, national roads, regional and local roads and to roads in built-up areas are set down in the Road Traffic Act 2004 as 120, 100, 80 and 50 kilometres per hour respectively. This 2004 Act also provides that each county council and city council has power to intervene and, through the making of bye-laws, to apply a special speed limit...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (6 Dec 2006)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 88 and 134 together. I have arranged for the details of the service availability and quality targets included in the 2006 Memorandum of Understanding on Service Levels and Targets (MOU) with Bus Átha Cliath, Bus Éireann and Iarnród Éireann to be forwarded to the Deputy. The memoranda for 2007 have not yet been finalised. My Department will shortly...

Written Answers — State Airports: State Airports (6 Dec 2006)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 89 and 142 together. All three State Airport Authorities must demonstrate their financial and operational readiness for the post-independence era. Recognising that the airports will require coordinated strategies for the achievement of this operational and financial readiness, the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) has to be satisfied, in the first instance, that...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (6 Dec 2006)

Martin Cullen: I await proposals from the Integrated Ticketing Project Board in relation to scope, timelines and a budget for the phased completion of the integrated ticketing project. I expect these details to be included in the Board's report up to end November 2006, which I expect to receive in shortly. While ultimately integrated ticketing is to be national in scope, the current focus is on...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (6 Dec 2006)

Martin Cullen: The Road Traffic Act 2006 was enacted on 16 July 2006 and 15 of the 23 sections were commenced with effect from 21 July 2006. The remaining provisions are being rolled out progressively, section 16 (in part) was commenced with effect from 1 September 2006 and I expect to commence some further sections of the Act shortly.

Written Answers — Infrastructure Projects: Infrastructure Projects (6 Dec 2006)

Martin Cullen: I am aware of the increasing land cost element of roads and public transport projects. Discussions are taking place between relevant Government Departments and State agencies on the issue.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (6 Dec 2006)

Martin Cullen: The table outlines the number of Departmental staff and the staff cost in each of the years since the creation of my Department. Year Staff number Staff cost for the year € 2002 731 25,709,000 2003 543 21,805,000 2004 542.5 22,869,000 2005 539.5 24,652,000 2006 to date 692.36 38,368,000 As the Department was established in mid 2002, the numbers shown for that year include posts...

Written Answers — Air Accident Investigations: Air Accident Investigations (6 Dec 2006)

Martin Cullen: The IAA is carrying out an investigation following a recent death on board an Irish aircraft. I am informed by the IAA that this investigation is still in progress. In the light of this it would not be appropriate for me to comment at this stage. I will consider, in the light of the outcome of this investigation whether any further action on my part in this matter is appropriate.

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (6 Dec 2006)

Martin Cullen: I am generally satisfied with the pace of implementation of the railway upgrade programme in the first full year of investment under Transport 21. Construction has commenced on the Portlaoise train care depot and on the new Docklands station, and planning and design is well underway for a number of projects including the Navan rail link and the Western Rail Corridor. Delays in the...