Results 5,981-6,000 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Electric Vehicles (4 May 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I agree with the broad thrust of what the Deputy is saying whereby 50% of the vehicles being sold in the current market are typically characterised as SUVs. They are larger, have a bigger environmental footprint and contain a greater amount of steel. There are concerns around safety for pedestrians and others. If a person is hit by an SUV versus a lighter and smaller car, there are real...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Electric Vehicles (4 May 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The other thing that will help in that direction is that the market itself is changing. A large number of the international manufacturers in Europe and beyond are starting to provide options that are cheaper, lighter and more compact. I believe there is a real market for that. Many people say they cannot switch to electric vehicles because of the cost issue. That will start to be...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Transport (4 May 2023)

Eamon Ryan: Under the National Development Plan 2021-2030, BusConnects programmes will be substantially delivered in all of Ireland’s five cities by the end of the decade. These programmes will significantly enhance the quality of public transport in our cities and also include the parallel development of high-quality cycle lanes. BusConnects will be hugely transformative for all five of our...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rail Network (4 May 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The National Transport Authority published the Limerick-Shannon metropolitan area transport strategy, LSMATS, in December of last year. The strategy was prepared by the NTA in collaboration with Limerick City and County Council, Clare County Council and Transport Infrastructure Ireland, with the co-operation of Iarnród Éireann, and provides a roadmap for sustainable transport in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rail Network (4 May 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I think a station in Moyross will transform that part of the city. As the Deputy said, it is close to the university and Thomond Park and to an existing community that would really benefit from the connectivity with the city. That has already been improved with the new bus services, which have been hugely popular. I visited Moyross last year and got a real sense that the people there are...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rail Network (4 May 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The House will not be surprised that I agree with Deputy Leddin. It is an either-or. We could go with a roads-based sprawl development, and Limerick could spread out into Clare on an unsustainable roads development system, which has not worked for Limerick. Limerick should be much bigger. Limerick needs to grow and needs to be much larger, and I believe it can grow around a sustainable...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rail Network (4 May 2023)

Eamon Ryan: It will not be viable. The housing will not be put in the right places. There will not be this 15-minute city concept, which we need to develop in Limerick, and we will not connect particularly those communities that were left isolated and without public transport systems, often people who could not afford a car. We need to think of them. There is a social justice issue in this. Public...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Electric Vehicles (4 May 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The Government has already committed significant funding to support low-emitting vehicles through the national development plan, which currently includes an allocation of almost €500 million for the period from 2021 to 2025 and additional support from the climate action fund. This funding includes both capital grants to support the purchase of EVs and capital funding for the delivery...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Fines Administration (4 May 2023)

Eamon Ryan: Publicly subsidised bus services are provided on the basis of public transport service contracts made between the relevant operators and the NTA. These contracts are a requirement of the Dublin Transport Authority Act 2008, which sets out the broad parameters of the contracts. The contracts are published and available to view on the NTA's website. As the House will be aware, the vast...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Fines Administration (4 May 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The key problem has been in getting drivers at Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann, Go-Ahead and other private operators. Every bus operator will tell the same story. To address this challenge and help close the gap, we engaged with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment and secured agreement for 1,500 work permits for drivers who are needed across the country. Deputies will have seen...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Fines Administration (4 May 2023)

Eamon Ryan: It is never tolerable if people miss a bus service, particularly if the operator is not delivering on its contract agreements in respect of regular services. That is why we have the system of regulation and fines and of holding those companies to account. Despite all these problems, particularly regarding the difficulty in getting drivers, what we have seen in the past year is public...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Funding (4 May 2023)

Eamon Ryan: It is my understanding that the Deputy is referring to a commitment in the Climate Action Plan 2023 to consider an eMobility hub model for the 5 cities, consisting of charging infrastructure for shared electric mobility solutions such as eBikes and eScooters, as well as car clubs operating EVs for short-term hire. My department, working in conjunction with the National Transport Authority,...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (4 May 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 80 together. As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme. Once funding arrangements have been put in place with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), under the Roads Acts 1993-2015, and in line with the National Development Plan (NDP), the planning, design,...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Park-and-Ride Facilities (4 May 2023)

Eamon Ryan: In line with the Climate Action Plan 2019, the National Transport Authority established the Park and Ride Development Office in February 2020. The function of the Office is to enable the delivery of park and ride sites by the NTA across the country in collaboration with Local Authorities and transport operators, such as Iarnród Éireann. The Office provides full-time specialist...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (4 May 2023)

Eamon Ryan: The deployment of new carriages is a matter in the first instance for Iarnród Éireann in consultation with the National Transport Authority (NTA), which has statutory responsibility for the development and delivery of certain public transport infrastructure, including the purchase of rolling stock. In relation to the Deputy’s specific query, I have been advised by...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (4 May 2023)

Eamon Ryan: I am pleased to inform the House that the frequency of the 101 bus service at peak times will improve very shortly. The 101 provides connectivity between Drogheda and Dublin City Centre, serving Balbriggan, Dublin Airport, N1 Business Park and Busáras. The 101 route was one part of two routes put out to tender by the National Transport Authority (NTA) last year, the other route being...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (4 May 2023)

Eamon Ryan: In October 2019, the Government approved the purchase of 41 additional intercity rail cars to enhance passenger capacity across the rail network. Delivery of the first units purchased following this approval commenced late last year and I am pleased to inform the Deputy that Iarnród Éireann recently took delivery of the final new carriages. These new rail cars will allow for...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (4 May 2023)

Eamon Ryan: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public and sustainable transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) is responsible for the development and implementation of public transport and active travel infrastructure, allocating the funding provided by my Department at project level and working in conjunction with the relevant local...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (4 May 2023)

Eamon Ryan: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 and in line with the National Development Plan (NDP), the planning, design and construction of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned....

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (4 May 2023)

Eamon Ryan: As Minister for Transport I have responsibility for overall policy and exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 and in line with the National Development Plan (NDP), the planning, design and construction of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned....