Results 4,721-4,740 of 4,893 for speaker:Séamus Brennan

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 53, 106 and 113 together. The western rail corridor, WRC, was not included in the recommended investment strategy in the strategic rail review published last year primarily because it was not supported by complementary land use and transportation strategies. However, the review did conclude that the proposal was in line with the aims of the national spatial...

Written Answers — Light Rail Project: Light Rail Project (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: The Railway Procurement Agency's, RPA, current estimates of patronage on the Sandyford and Tallaght lines suggest a total annual patronage of approximately 20 million passengers when the system is fully operational and established patterns of travel have emerged. The original Luas proposal, which W. S. Atkins assessed in 1998, consisted of one line from Tallaght to Dundrum-Balally via the...

Written Answers — Driving Tests: Driving Tests (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 55, 74 and 88 together. The number of applicants awaiting a driving test at 26 April 2004 is 120,541. Of these, 17,446 have been given test appointments and a further 13,835 have indicated that they are currently not available to be tested. The current average waiting time and numbers awaiting a test at each driving test centre as at 26 April 2004 are set out...

Written Answers — Traffic Corps: Traffic Corps (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 56, 118 and 119 together. The programme for Government contains a commitment relating to the establishment of a dedicated traffic corps. As I have already indicated in this House, I support the implementation of this proposal through the formation of a corps that will be separately identifiable and visible. A consultation process involving my Department, the...

Written Answers — Infrastructural Projects: Infrastructural Projects (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: As I stated in previous replies to this question, all major projects are subject to detailed assessment and evaluation including, at key stages, cost benefit analysis, in accordance with Department of Finance guidelines on the appraisal and management of capital projects. The development of PPP projects takes account of Department of Finance interim guidelines on the assessment, appraisal and...

Written Answers — Light Rail Project: Light Rail Project (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: Section 51 of the Transport (Railway Infrastructure) Act 2001 provides that the Luas system may not be opened for testing and commissioning or for passenger services until it has been demonstrated to the satisfaction of an inspector appointed by the Minister under the regulation of Railway Act 1871, that is, my Department's railway inspecting officers, that the infrastructure and rolling...

Written Answers — State Airports: State Airports (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 59, 89, 91, 96, 107, 123 and 129 together. I was very pleased SIPTU decided to call off its threatened industrial action at the State airports in the middle of March last and both I and senior officials in my Department will maintain the process of full engagement with the Aer Rianta unions to deal with issues of concern to workers in the company arising from...

Written Answers — Drink Driving Convictions: Drink Driving Convictions (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 62 and 127 together. I am aware of reports of a decision taken in the District Court relating to seven drink driving cases. It would be inappropriate for me to comment on a decision taken in the courts. I understand that there are at present 80 cases before the High Court relating to the operation of the evidential breath testing programme. The issues raised...

Written Answers — Bus Stops: Bus Stops (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 63, 86, 104 and 126 together. The power to determine the locations for the provision of bus stops and termini is vested in the Garda Commissioner under section 85 of the Road Traffic Act 1961. Under that section the Commissioner may issue a direction to a bus operator identifying the specific location of bus stops and termini in respect of any bus route and in...

Written Answers — Speed Limits: Speed Limits (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: The Road Traffic Acts provide for the direct application of speed limits to all roads. Under the provisions of the Road Traffic Act 1994, separate speed limits apply to roads in built up areas, to roads outside such areas generally and a specific speed limit applies to motorways. The 1994 Act also provides that local authorities may make by-laws through which the speed limits that apply on a...

Written Answers — Driving Licences: Driving Licences (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 69, 90 and 131 together. Under the Road Traffic Act 1961 and the Road Traffic (Licensing of Drivers) Regulations 1999 to 2001, it is a matter for the appropriate licensing authority to determine the eligibility of a person for a duplicate driving licence, and to issue licences. I have no plans to change this arrangement.

Written Answers — Traffic Management: Traffic Management (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: The use of bus lanes is provided for in the Road Traffic (Traffic and Parking) Regulations 1997, the primary purpose of which is to facilitate and promote bus based public transport. These regulations generally limit the use of bus lanes to buses and, in the case of with-flow bus lanes, to cyclists. Having regard to the role of taxis in providing on-street immediate hire service, an exemption...

Written Answers — Driving Tests: Driving Tests (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: The requirements of the practical driving test are set out in the relevant EU directive. A number of improvements to the practical driving test are in the course of implementation on foot of amendments agreed at EU level. These changes relate to random checks on mechanical aspects of vehicles which have a bearing on road safety such as tyres, steering, brakes, engine oil, coolant, washer...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: Irish Rail recently completed a study on the feasibility of providing an interconnector tunnel from Heuston Station to the docklands. At my request, this study also examined the question of increased use of the Phoenix Park tunnel for passenger services between Connolly and Heuston stations. The completed study has been submitted to my Department and discussions have taken place with Irish...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 75, 93, 100, 102, 117 and 121 together. The programme for Government contains a commitment to develop a metro with a link to Dublin Airport. I have received the revised outline business case for line 1 of the metro from the Railway Procurement Agency, RPA, which involves a line from the airport to the city centre. I am currently finalising my proposals on the...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: Statistics relating to road accidents, based on information provided by the Garda Síochána, are published by the National Roads Authority in its annual road accident facts reports. The most recent report is in respect of 2002 and that report, with reports relating to previous years, are available in the Oireachtas Library. The following table gives the number of road deaths that have...

Written Answers — Pensions Provisions: Pensions Provisions (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: Future pension arrangements are being considered as part of the detailed preparatory work on the restructuring of CIE. The objective of that work is that the current position in relation to pension entitlements and pension security should continue to obtain for the future.

Written Answers — Integrated Ticketing: Integrated Ticketing (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 78 and 87 together. The Railway Procurement Agency, RPA, has statutory responsibility for the implementation of an integrated ticketing system based on smartcard technologies for initial deployment in the Dublin area. The RPA has set a target date of end 2005 for the launch of the full smartcard-based integrated ticketing system in Dublin. It continues to...

Written Answers — Property Disposal: Property Disposal (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I have been encouraging CIE to dispose of properties which are surplus to operating requirements with a view to generating funds for major capital investment and to develop properties which have the potential to generate additional income for the group. While CIE has the potential to generate significant funds from property, any particular decision on any disposal or development is dependent...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: The development of policies on road safety is carried out on a co-ordinated basis in the context of the road safety strategy by the high level group on road safety, on which the National Safety Council is represented. Over the lifetime of the first Government strategy on road safety we have seen significant investment in Garda enforcement assets, we have provided the financial support...