Results 4,601-4,620 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 27 together. The Road Safety Strategy 2007 to 2012, approved by the Government in October 2007, identifies the need to legislate for and introduce a reduction in the legal Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) for drivers, but does not specify what that level should be. In determining what the BAC limit should be reduced to, the advice of the Road Safety...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The penalty points system provided for in the Road Traffic Act 2002 has been kept under review to identify changes that would enhance both road safety and the effective enforcement of road traffic legislation. To that end a range of changes to the system were provided for in the Road Traffic Acts of 2004 and of 2006. The penalty point system applies in respect of 36 offences at present. The...

Written Answers — End-of-Life Vehicles: End-of-Life Vehicles (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: My primary focus at this stage is to obtain details from insurers of vehicles that have been written off in recent years for comparison against the National Vehicle and Driver File (NVDF) and to determine the extent to which written off vehicles may still be in circulation. I can report that, with the assistance of the Irish Insurance Federation, the insurance industry has agreed to make the...

Written Answers — Cycle Facilities: Cycle Facilities (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: My Department is currently considering the outputs of research which will inform the development of a National Cycling Policy. My Department's recent public consultation document on sustainable travel and transport acknowledged the existence of deficits in cycling infrastructure. The issue of ensuring that appropriate expertise in relation to such infrastructure will be available to local...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: Bus Eireann has continued to pursue decentralisation to Mitchelstown. However, to date no employee has indicated a wish to move. My Department recently attended a meeting with the Decentralisation Implementation Group (DIG) on the 15th April, 2008 and representatives from each of the agencies under the Department's aegis, including Bus Eireann, were present. Discussions took place on how...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The upgrading of the Dublin Bus fleet, which currently stands at 1182 buses, is a matter for Dublin Bus. I understand from Dublin Bus that it purchased, with Exchequer assistance including under Transport 21, 213 additional buses, and 617 replacement buses over the period 2000-2007 and is in the process of purchasing a further 100 replacement buses for delivery in 2008 and 2009. I am informed...

Written Answers — Freight Transport: Freight Transport (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: A port capacity study undertaken on the Department's behalf by Fisher Associates in 2006, contained detailed submissions from seven ports regarding increasing unitised capacity. The report concluded, inter alia, that: There is currently significant available capacity for further growth in LoLo traffic at Irish ports; Current available capacity for RoRo traffic also exists, although less so...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 19, 59 and 70 together. At the launch of Transport 21, the Government identified the projects in the national roads, public transport and regional airports sectors that it wished to see prioritised for development in the ten-year period from 2006 to 2015 with an overall investment of €34 billion. The prioritisation was influenced by a number of relevant...

Written Answers — Parking Facilities: Parking Facilities (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: My intention is to publish a Sustainable Travel and Transport Action Plan before the end of the year and my Department is currently considering a wide range of policy options. The development of the Action Plan is a cross-cutting initiative and there is already substantial engagement with other Government Departments, including the Office of Public Works, which is the key player in allocation...

Written Answers — Ministerial Meetings: Ministerial Meetings (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I meet other Government Ministers on a regular basis. The preparation of minutes would not arise from all such meetings. Where minutes are prepared and the subject matter relates to matters for consideration by the Government such minutes are exempt records under section 19 of the Freedom of Information Acts 1997 and 2003.

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: Under Part V of the Roads Act 1993 (as amended) the statutory power to levy tolls on national roads, to make toll bye-laws and to enter into toll agreements with private investors in respect of national roads is vested in the National Roads Authority (NRA). An M50 Demand Management Report was carried out last year for the NRA by independent consultants and conveyed to my Department. It was...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: My Department has approved total funding of €73m (in September 2006 and April 2007) towards the purchase of 235 new buses by Bus Éireann. I understand that Bus Éireann is in the process of taking delivery of the new buses on a phased basis. The deployment of buses, including the new buses, is a matter for Bus Éireann and I have no function in the matter.

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The Dublin Transport Authority Bill 2008 includes a provision requiring the Authority to promote the use of public transport in the Greater Dublin Area including the implementation of a single brand to be used by public transport operators providing services under contract to the Authority. The aim is to establish a clear, shared brand across the various public transport modes — Luas,...

Written Answers — Employment Rights: Employment Rights (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The primary responsibility for the compliance with the law on board ships rests with the flag state in each case. I am unaware of any case of workers being left unpaid on board Irish registered ships as a result of default by an employer in the years 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008. The payment of wages on foreign flagged ships is a matter for the flag state where the ship is registered and is a...

Written Answers — Taxi Regulations: Taxi Regulations (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: My Department has been in discussion with the Commission for Taxi Regulation in relation to a proposed subsidy arrangement to assist taxi and hackney operators with the purchase of wheelchair accessible vehicles that will meet the new accessible vehicle specifications being developed by the Commission. The Commission submitted a revised subsidy proposal to my Department at the end of January...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 30, 51 and 73 together. The Programme for Government contains a commitment to expedite the establishment of a Dublin Transport Authority, which will have the necessary powers to ensure the delivery of the integrated public transport system envisioned under Transport 21. The Dublin Transport Authority Bill has been published and has passed Second Stage in the...

Written Answers — Dublin Transport Authority: Dublin Transport Authority (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: My officials participated in a Consultative Committee representing local government interests, Government Departments and other experts which advised the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government on the issues examined in the Green Paper on Local Government Stronger Local Democracy — Options for Change published by the Minister on 22 April last. The Minister for the...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: The promotion of public awareness of road safety is a matter for the Road Safety Authority, and enforcement of the Road Traffic Acts or the Roads Act is a matter for An Garda Síochána. Safety in the context of a workplace or work environment comes under the remit of the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) and I have no role in this area. It was reported in the press media at the end of...

Written Answers — State Airports: State Airports (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 34 and 65 together. The State Airports Act, 2004 provides the framework for the establishment of Shannon and Cork as independent airports. As part of the airport restructuring process the boards of Cork and Shannon airport are required to prepare business plans for eventual separation. Draft business plans for Cork and Shannon were submitted to the DAA at the...

Written Answers — Rail Services: Rail Services (8 May 2008)

Noel Dempsey: There is substantial ongoing current and capital Exchequer investment in the development and operation of the railway network. Total Exchequer funding allocated to Iarnród Éireann for 2008 amounts to more than €720 million and is targeted at passenger services. The potential to expand rail freight is being considered as part of the development of the Sustainable Travel and Transport...