Results 5,281-5,300 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Fáilte Ireland Budget (5 Jul 2018)

Shane Ross: I secured an initial €2 million in Exchequer funding in 2018 (€1 million capital and €1 million current funding) to allow Fáilte Ireland start the development stage of the Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands tourism brand experience. The development and promotion of this new brand is being managed by Fáilte Ireland and I have asked the agency to respond...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Appointments to State Boards (5 Jul 2018)

Shane Ross: I propose to take Questions Nos. 312 and 313 together. Under the National Tourism Development Act 2003, the Board of Fáilte Ireland shall consist of a Chairperson and twelve ordinary members, who are appointed by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport. There are currently seven vacancies on the Board of Fáilte Ireland. Following a recent advertising campaign and...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (5 Jul 2018)

Shane Ross: The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads in Co. Louth is the statutory responsibility of Louth County Council, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from local authorities' own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (5 Jul 2018)

Shane Ross: As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the development and implementation of public transport infrastructure including the provision of bus shelters. The capital funding allocated under my Vote this year to the NTA will enable them to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Taxi Regulations (5 Jul 2018)

Shane Ross: As the Deputy will be aware, the regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) sector is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013.I understand that the NTA has been taking some actions, including changes in their approach to Driver Entry Test to encourage growth and address the issue of the number of drivers available in...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Motor Insurance Costs (5 Jul 2018)

Shane Ross: I propose to take Questions Nos. 323 and 327 together. The increases in premium costs of motor insurance in recent years have been a cause for concern for all drivers, including the owners of Small Public Service Vehicles (SPSVs). However, recent CSO figures show this trend as having been reversed with overall motor premiums for the year 2018 as being lower in comparison to those for the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Taxi Regulations (5 Jul 2018)

Shane Ross: The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) sector is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013. Also, under this Act, An Garda Síochána (AGS) is responsible for the granting of SPSV driver licences, which includes the administration of the associated Garda vetting process. While decisions regarding...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Taxi Data (5 Jul 2018)

Shane Ross: I propose to take Questions Nos. 325 and 326 together. The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including the administration of the SPSV Driver Entry Test and the licensing of taxis, is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013. I have referred your question to the NTA for direct reply to you. Please...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Staff Training (5 Jul 2018)

Shane Ross: My Department has undertaken a comprehensive GDPR readiness project involving all business units. The project has included data protection workshops held with individual business units designed to assist with the Department's readiness for the implementation of GDPR on 25 May this year. As part of the overall project, there are a number of general GDPR training sessions open to staff which...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rural Transport Programme (5 Jul 2018)

Shane Ross: The National Transport Authority (NTA) has national responsibility for integrated local and rural transport, including, since 2012, management of the Rural Transport Programme which now operates under the "Local Link" brand. In light of the NTA's responsibilities regarding Local Link services, including the issues referred to by the Deputy, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Taxi Regulations (4 Jul 2018)

Shane Ross: In relation to insurance, I am aware that the increases in premium costs of motor insurance in recent years has been a cause for concern for all drivers, including the owners of Small Public Service Vehicles (SPSVs). However, I am happy to note that recent CSO figures show overall motor premiums for the year 2018 as being lower in comparison to those for the previous two years....

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Contracts Data (4 Jul 2018)

Shane Ross: Information relating to all expenditure by my Department on external services is available on my Department's website at the following link: The information is updated twice yearly. The first six months of 2018 will be published later in the year.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Electric Vehicles (4 Jul 2018)

Shane Ross: I have no proposals at this time for amending legislation in relation to electric bicycles.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects Data (4 Jul 2018)

Shane Ross: As Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme.  The planning, design and operation of individual roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.  Noting the above position, I...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Infrastructure Provision (4 Jul 2018)

Shane Ross: I can assure the Deputy that any such meeting request received will be considered in line with normal procedure.

Air Services Agreements: Referral to Select Committee (3 Jul 2018)

Shane Ross: I move:That the proposal that Dáil Éireann approves under Article 29.5.2 of the Constitution the terms of: (i) the Air Services Agreement between the Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Government of Ireland; and (ii) the Agreement between the Government of Ireland and the Government of the United Arab Emirates for Air Services Between and Beyond their Respective...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Light Rail Projects (3 Jul 2018)

Shane Ross: I thank the Senator for raising this issue on which he has been a loud and extremely effective voice. It is a difficult issue because when we embark on projects like this, some communities almost inevitably suffer discomfort or worse. It is partly my job to ensure it is Government policy that the kind of disruption to which the Senator refers, particularly in Ranelagh, is deferred or does...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Light Rail Projects (3 Jul 2018)

Shane Ross: I wish to respond to the subsequent points the Senator has made. I am not averse to meeting residents' groups at all, although I could not obviously meet everybody who has difficulty with every transport project. The public consultation process report is due to be issued later this year. This is primarily a matter for the NTA and it is not primarily a matter for me to interfere with that...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Bike Schemes (3 Jul 2018)

Shane Ross: As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to cycle and public transport infrastructure. However, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport, including the management of public bike schemes. Decisions regarding contracts, operation and expansion of existing and proposed bike schemes fall under the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licence Renewals (3 Jul 2018)

Shane Ross: The operation of the National Driver Licensing Service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority, and I have no power to intervene in operational matters. I have therefore referred the Question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.