Results 5,621-5,640 of 11,242 for speaker:Noel Dempsey

Order of Business (29 Nov 2007)

Noel Dempsey: We are not concerned with listening only to those with vested interests.

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (28 Nov 2007)

Noel Dempsey: The provision and improvement of non-national roads in its area is a matter for Mayo County Council to be funded from its own resources supplemented by State grants. In 2007, Mayo County Council was allocated a total of €31,625,821 in non-national road grants. Following the issue of road grants for 2007, Mayo County Council sought additional funding for the upgrading of the R312 Castlebar...

Written Answers — Rail Services: Rail Services (28 Nov 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 172 and 173 together. I am informed by Iarnród Éireann that the remaining 4-carriage peak period services on the Maynooth line will be extended to 8-carriages by February 2008. I understand also that additional services serving the Docklands Station are already operating on the Clonsilla-Docklands section, which have benefited customers in the peak periods...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (28 Nov 2007)

Noel Dempsey: The Roads Act 2007 provides the necessary statutory basis to facilitate the implementation of free flow open road tolling (also known as "barrier-free" tolling) on toll-based national roads. 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, including the M50, is vested in the...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (28 Nov 2007)

Noel Dempsey: The Low Cost Safety Improvement Works scheme of grants for non-national roads was introduced in 2000 as an extension of the scheme operated on national roads under the auspices of the National Roads Authority (NRA). The NRA assesses applications for grant assistance under the non-national roads scheme on behalf of the Department. The criteria for grant approval are based on accident data,...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (28 Nov 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I can confirm that the Irish Road Haulage Association have made representations to my Department in the matter of M50 tolls. Issues relating to tolls on national roads are in the first instance a matter for the National Roads Authority. As the Deputy is aware, the statutory power to levy tolls on national roads, to make toll bye-laws and to enter into toll agreements with private investors...

Written Answers — Rail Services: Rail Services (28 Nov 2007)

Noel Dempsey: My Department has asked Iarnród Éireann to compile the information sought and to forward it to the Deputy directly.

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (27 Nov 2007)

Noel Dempsey: The improvement and maintenance of non-national roads in its area is a matter for each individual road authority to be funded from its own resources supplemented by State road grants. Specific grants for the improvement and maintenance of tertiary county roads were not allocated to local authorities in 2007. Works on such roads may, at the discretion of the local authority, be funded on foot...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (27 Nov 2007)

Noel Dempsey: The grants allocated under the Local Improvements Scheme to Cork County Council in 2006 and 2007 were €1,889,115 and €2,365,465 respectively. The Community Involvement in Road Works Scheme is a voluntary scheme for works on non-national public roads. Specific grants are not allocated to local authorities for the Scheme. However, local authorities may reserve a portion of their...

Written Answers — State Airports: State Airports (27 Nov 2007)

Noel Dempsey: The State Airports Act, 2004 provides the framework for the establishment of Shannon and Cork as independent airports. Under the Act, both the Minister for Finance and I will have to be satisfied as to the state of operational and financial readiness of the three airports before any vesting of assets can take place. Shannon Airport Authority recently submitted its draft business plan to the...

Written Answers — Air Services: Air Services (27 Nov 2007)

Noel Dempsey: It is understood that Shannon Airport is making every effort to ensure that year-round transatlantic services are maintained. I would be confident that the Airport Authority, with the continued support of business and tourism interests in the region, can respond to the challenges and opportunities presented by Open Skies. Experience has shown that the liberalisation of aviation markets...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (27 Nov 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 279 and 295 together. I refer the Deputies to the Minister for Finance's reply to Question No. 64 which he answered on 22nd November 2007.

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (27 Nov 2007)

Noel Dempsey: Commuting by private car is growing in Ireland and our economic success and growing population has contributed to the increase in transport demand. One such area relates to school travel. Figures from the 2006 Census indicates that the percentage of primary school children being driven to school by car has risen to 55% in 2006 compared to 27.7% in 1991. The Transport 21 investment programme...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (27 Nov 2007)

Noel Dempsey: The Road Safety Strategy 2007 to 2012 identifies the need to legislate for and introduce a reduction in the legal Blood Alcohol Level (BAC) for drivers, but does not specify what that level should be. I am awaiting the advice of the Road Safety Authority (RSA) on the matter, and am aware that the RSA has sought the advice of its Policy Advisory Panel and expects that recommendations will be...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (27 Nov 2007)

Noel Dempsey: As Minister for Transport I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme element of Transport 21. The planning design and implementation of individual national road projects (including the allocation of funding) is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under sections 17 and 19 of the Roads Act, 1993 in conjunction with the relevant...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (27 Nov 2007)

Noel Dempsey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 283 to 285, inclusive, together. The information requested by the Deputy available to my Department is currently being collated and will be forwarded to the Deputy in the coming days. The Road Transport Act, 1932 as amended, provides the statutory basis for regulating the provision of public bus services by private bus operators. The Act provides for the...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (27 Nov 2007)

Noel Dempsey: As of 31 October 2007 there are 456.82 staff employed in my Department. This is a whole time equivalent (wte) figure and all staff included are permanent employees. There were 10 temporary staff employed in my Department as of 31 October 2007. All these staff are on contract. The functions of the Department of Transport changed following the Government election in 2002 and this led to...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (27 Nov 2007)

Noel Dempsey: The total amount spent by my Department in 2004, 2005, 2006 and to date in 2007 for air travel, business class flights and first class flights is as follows: Year Economy Business First Class Total â'¬ â'¬ â'¬ â'¬ 2004 77,462 183,644 261,106 2005 121,119 73,161 5,721 252,001 2006 133,899 113,044 246,943 2007 119,523 121,337 2,133 242,992

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (27 Nov 2007)

Noel Dempsey: The total amount spent by my Department on couriered documents, registered post and standard post to date in 2007 is as follows: â'¬ Standard 99,009 Registered 1,317 Couriered 33,751

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (27 Nov 2007)

Noel Dempsey: The scheme for performance-related awards in the Civil Service applies to Deputy and Assistant Secretaries and equivalent grades. Details of awards to individual officers under the performance-related scheme are not disclosed on the basis that they are confidential to the officer concerned. However I can say that during 2007 awards totalling €64,000 were made to 5 officers in my Department...