Results 4,741-4,760 of 4,893 for speaker:Séamus Brennan

Written Answers — Transport Service Regulation: Transport Service Regulation (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: My proposals in regard to regulatory reform of the bus market in the greater Dublin area were set out in my November 2002 statement to the Public Transport Partnership Forum and are currently the subject of consultations with the trade unions. The detailed provisions in regard to the proposed new regulatory regime for bus services, both in Dublin and the rest of the country, will be set out...

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

Séamus Brennan: Irish Rail has developed proposals for an integrated rail network for the greater Dublin area for the period up to 2010. The proposals have a preliminary outline cost of implementation of €3 billion. The proposals are being discussed between my Department and the company at present in the context of: the overall capital envelope available for public transport over the coming years; the...

Written Answers — Dublin Port Tunnel: Dublin Port Tunnel (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 85, 108 and 114 together. The position in regard to the height of the tunnel is that my Department appointed consultants to review the feasibility, safety implications and cost of raising the height of the Dublin Port tunnel. They were requested to review a range of options for increasing the operational height of the tunnel, their feasibility, having regard...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: Talks between officials from my Department and the CIE trade unions on public transport reform are to recommence on 12 May. An intensive schedule of meetings over five full days has been arranged by the independent chair appointed by the Labour Relations Commission.

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I am not aware of the recent comments from the President of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors calling for a tougher policy on speeding and drink driving. Speeding and drink driving remain two of the most significant contributory factors in road collisions. New measures to address these issues are contained in the new road safety strategy, which is due for publication shortly....

Written Answers — Rural Transport Services: Rural Transport Services (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 97 and 124 together. Under the rural transport initiative 34 rural community groups are currently being financed to operate pilot rural transport services in their areas. Area Development Management Limited administers the initiative on behalf of my Department. Some 2,500 transport services are currently being provided on approximately 380 new rural routes...

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

Séamus Brennan: On 6 April 2004, I hosted a meeting of Transport Ministers from the current EU member states and the accession states to specifically discuss road safety. The EU Road Safety Action Plan proposes a 50% reduction in road deaths across the EU by 2010. At national level, the road safety strategy which I will soon be publishing contains a demanding primary target of a 25% reduction in road...

Written Answers — Transport Service Regulation: Transport Service Regulation (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 99 and 122 together. I refer the Deputies to my reply to Priority Question No. 40.

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

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 101, 103 and 105 together. The position in regard to the N7-M50 junction — Red Cow roundabout — is that the National Roads Authority and South Dublin County Council are currently preparing plans, including a motorway order and environmental impact statement, for the upgrade of the junction as part of the overall upgrade of the M50. The upgrade works at the...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 109 and 116 together. My Department is currently concluding a capital investment framework agreement with the Department of Finance for the period 2004-08. The agreement will give formal effect to the announcement made in the budget by the Minister for Finance that five-year multi-annual capital envelopes would be introduced for all investment areas. The...

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

Séamus Brennan: I am aware of comments made on the "Pat Kenny Show" in March by Mr. Dave Roberts, said to be a UK-based health and safety consultant. I understand Mr. Roberts expressed the view that crowded trains posed a risk of death to passengers should a train stop suddenly. It is not clear if Mr. Roberts was referring to a collision or emergency braking. Clearly, there is some element of risk to all...

Written Answers — Airport Development Projects: Airport Development Projects (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: With regard to Aer Rianta, there are two main issues in the programme for Government vis-À-vis the autonomy issue for Shannon and Cork and the independent terminal concept at Dublin, both of which are strategically important issues for the long term development of our State airports and I have dealt with both of these matters in replies to questions earlier today. The programme for...

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

Séamus Brennan: I set out my proposals for public transport reform in a statement to the Public Transport Partnership Forum in November 2002. In that statement I said that it was my intention to establish an independent authority to procure public transport services. I also proposed that all DART and suburban rail services in the greater Dublin area would be provided subject to a multi-annual public service...

Written Answers — Railway Stations: Railway Stations (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I am aware that Irish Rail is examining proposals for the development of a new rail station at Spencer Dock. Discussions have taken place between my Department and Irish Rail in relation to the issue. However, formal proposals have yet to be presented by the company.

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

Séamus Brennan: I have not received any proposals from the Railway Procurement Agency to extend the Luas to Cherrywood. I understand that discussions have taken place between the Railway Procurement Agency and a group of developers who own much of the developable land in the catchment area of the potential extension. I also understand that Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council is supportive of the proposal...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: One of my Department's objectives is to expand the capacity and enhance the quality of public transport in Ireland so as to increase the patronage of public transport and effect, where possible, a shift away from sedentary modes of travel such as private cars. While buses, trams and trains include a seated part of the trip, all public transport trips involve the trip maker in a walk to and...

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

Séamus Brennan: Traffic management in Dublin is the responsibility of Dublin City Council. I am informed that a heavy goods vehicle management strategy is currently being developed by the council to coincide with the opening of the Dublin Port tunnel. This plan has three objectives: to ensure the optimal use by HGVs of the port tunnel; to minimise adverse effects of remaining HGV movements in the city; and...

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

Séamus Brennan: The report of last year by the panel of experts chaired by Mr. Paddy Mullarkey which assessed the "expressions of interest" in relation to the independent terminal concept at Dublin Airport referred to examples, particularly in North America, of independent terminals operating at major international airports. I am aware that a project involving private sector development of terminal...

Written Answers — Services for People with Disabilities: Services for People with Disabilities (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: The Road Traffic (Traffic and Parking) Regulations 1997 empower local authorities, the Irish Wheelchair Association and the Disabled Drivers' Association to grant a disabled person's parking permit where they are satisfied that the applicant is suffering from a disability that prevents him or her from walking or causes undue hardship to the person in walking. No specific medical condition is...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: Details of the positions to be transferred have not yet been finalised. To date, in the transport implementation group more than 80 posts that could be transferred from Bus Éireann have been identified. Discussions with Bus Éireann are continuing and the chairman has been asked to examine urgently the options for meeting the overall target of 200 for Mitchelstown. Bus Éireann, along with...