Results 5,541-5,560 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey
- Public Transport. (6 Dec 2007)
Noel Dempsey: It might have suited the Deputy to repeat the incorrect statement he made earlier. I suppose I will repeat the answer I gave then. There are very good reasons the â¬58 million was not spent. One does not lash money around for the sake of it. It would be wrong to spend this money on 196 buses because they could not be brought into operation this year or next year in the absence of drivers.
- Public Transport. (6 Dec 2007)
Noel Dempsey: On the quality of services, there is a memorandum of understanding between the Department and CIE. The integrated ticketing project is proceeding apace. There would be no point in spending the â¬58 million on that project, given that its total final cost will be â¬49 million. It would be rather silly to spend money on a project that does not need money at this point in time.
- Public Transport. (6 Dec 2007)
Noel Dempsey: The money is safe.
- Public Transport. (6 Dec 2007)
Noel Dempsey: The envelope that is available under Transport 21 will be used during the window for that project, which lasts until 2015.
- Public Transport. (6 Dec 2007)
Noel Dempsey: It is not lost.
- Road Safety. (6 Dec 2007)
Noel Dempsey: The Road Safety Strategy 2007-2012 identifies the need to legislate for and introduce a reduction in the legal blood alcohol level content for drivers, but it does not specify what the level should be. I am awaiting the advice of the Road Safety Authority on the matter. I am aware that the authority has sought the advice of its policy advisory panel and expects that recommendations will be...
- Road Safety. (6 Dec 2007)
Noel Dempsey: The only recommendations on this matter I received from the Road Safety Authority were contained in the road safety strategy published at the end of October. The Deputy is referring to a draft document that was for discussion and part of a series of discussions that took place in respect of all the road safety strategies and all the 126 recommendations. I was not and am not privy to what...
- Aviation Regulation. (6 Dec 2007)
Noel Dempsey: EU legislation relating to air navigation services, known as the Single European Sky, SES, legislation, requires that there be functional separation of the activities of air navigation service provision and regulatory oversight of those services. This requirement for functional separation has been implemented by the Irish Aviation Authority. However, in implementing SES legislation, most EU...
- Aviation Regulation. (6 Dec 2007)
Noel Dempsey: I, of course, welcome any action taken by the regulator to ensure that airline customers get the kind of service they should receive. If I thought the regulator's office was overstaffed or overpaid, I would do something about it. I have no plans to do that. As I said in the body of the answer I gave, we are looking at whether we should continue with the current situation where safety and...
- Aviation Regulation. (6 Dec 2007)
Noel Dempsey: I gave no resources other than resources for ELS. There have been discussions in recent years and the number of staff has gradually increased, as Mr. O'Leary has noticed. It is at about optimum level. Obviously, if more responsibilities were given to it, we would have to review that. If changes were made and some functions were taken away, one might give it other ones. I am satisfied...
- Light Rail Project. (6 Dec 2007)
Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 48 together. My Department has agreed with Limerick local authorities that the terms of reference for the proposed Limerick planning, land use and transportation study will include an examination of the feasibility of introducing light rail transit and-or bus rapid transit. I understand that Limerick local authorities hope to engage consultants by the...
- Light Rail Project. (6 Dec 2007)
Noel Dempsey: The Department has agreed with the Limerick local authorities that the terms of reference of the land use and transportation study will include this study on light rail transit and rapid bus transit. Not much progress has been made on priority or quality bus corridors. The council is willing but the public is not responding. Much work remains to be done. I have not examined the detail of...
- Light Rail Project. (6 Dec 2007)
Noel Dempsey: I agree with Deputy O'Dowd. There is a focus on these four cities because they are cities and because of commitments in the programme for Government. I encourage as many local authorities as possible, in places such as Drogheda, Dundalk and Navan, to consider these opportunities. The scenario has changed fundamentally. The footprint of Cork city, to which Deputy O'Dowd referred, is...
- Light Rail Project. (6 Dec 2007)
Noel Dempsey: I will raise the matter. I did not mean to ignore the question. I will not discuss the decision but, more generally, policy on rail freight is a matter I will raise.
- Light Rail Project. (6 Dec 2007)
Noel Dempsey: I agree.
- Airport Development Projects. (6 Dec 2007)
Noel Dempsey: The Government decision of May 2005 on the aviation action plan envisaged a tender process being held in relation to the operation of the second terminal at Dublin airport. Now that the planning issues relating to the terminal have been settled and construction has started, I anticipate that the design and running of an appropriate tender process will proceed next year. The tender process...
- Airport Development Projects. (6 Dec 2007)
Noel Dempsey: Drafting of the tender documents is already under way. It is intended that this documentation will be finalised by the first quarter of 2008. The procedure should take approximately 12 months. The first part of 2008 will largely be taken up with the design of the tender process and various other procedures that have to take place, including notifications to the Official Journal of the...
- Airport Development Projects. (6 Dec 2007)
Noel Dempsey: The Commissioner for Aviation Regulation has not made a decision in respect of charges post-2010. He has indicated that the T2 project will have some impact but it would not be right for me to second guess him. The commissioner's aim is to ensure that the airport can operate in the most economically efficient manner possible. He also has a role and a remit in the context of protecting...
- Public Transport. (6 Dec 2007)
Noel Dempsey: My Department approved total funding of â¬73 million â in September 2006 and April 2007 â towards the purchase of 235 new buses by Bus Ãireann. I understand that Bus Ãireann is in the process of taking delivery of the new buses on a phased basis. The deployment of buses, including the new vehicles, is a matter for Bus Ãireann and I have no function in the matter.
- Public Transport. (6 Dec 2007)
Noel Dempsey: I understand that of the 235 buses, 166 are replacement vehicles and 69 are new. A total of 117 are expected to be delivered by the end of December. The balance will be delivered early in 2008.