Results 5,981-6,000 of 10,964 for speaker:Patrick O'Donovan

Leaders' Questions (20 Jan 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: The Deputy might like to congratulate-----

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Bus Services: Bus Éireann and the National Transport Authority (20 Jan 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: Do passengers who travel on non-stop Bus Éireann services that take in excess of three hours have access to toilet facilities?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Bus Services: Bus Éireann and the National Transport Authority (20 Jan 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: The company has non-stop services.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Bus Services: Bus Éireann and the National Transport Authority (20 Jan 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: Does Bus Éireann provide a non-stop service between Cork and Dublin?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Bus Services: Bus Éireann and the National Transport Authority (20 Jan 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: Do those using Bus Éireann non-stop services have access to toilets?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Bus Services: Bus Éireann and the National Transport Authority (20 Jan 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: If the bus leaves Ballina and it is full and all the passengers are heading to Busáras in Dublin, it will not stop.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Bus Services: Bus Éireann and the National Transport Authority (20 Jan 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: I asked about school transport.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Bus Services: Bus Éireann and the National Transport Authority (20 Jan 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: I was waiting for the entire meeting. I did not leave and return.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Bus Services: Bus Éireann and the National Transport Authority (20 Jan 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: I acknowledge the legislative requirement but for tourists and domestic travellers, between Leap, CIE, Iarnród Éireann, Bus Éireann, Luas, NTA, Transport for Ireland, and not to mention all the taxi companies, is it time a single name was used? Those who are not familiar with the airport when they land in Dublin encounter Aircoach, the green bus, Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Bus Services: Bus Éireann and the National Transport Authority (20 Jan 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: Is that actively in progress? If the Luas, DART, commuter rail, mainline rail, Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann are to be integrated, surely something as basic as painting them all the same colour would be a start. However, Irish Rail has rebranded over the past three years at a cost and Bus Éireann has recently rebranded at a cost. The Leap card was introduced with another new name...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Bus Services: Bus Éireann and the National Transport Authority (20 Jan 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: I refer to the questions I asked about the NTA's requirement for toilet facilities and the extension of licences on the Limerick routes.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Bus Services: Bus Éireann and the National Transport Authority (20 Jan 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: The NTA allocates a licence for a non-stop bus service between Tralee and Dublin, which could take four and a half hours, depending on traffic and, there is no requirement for a toilet.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Bus Services: Bus Éireann and the National Transport Authority (20 Jan 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: Is it adequate in 2016 that people could be stuck on a bus for four and a half hours potentially, with no access to a toilet?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Bus Services: Bus Éireann and the National Transport Authority (20 Jan 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: Is it good enough that a licence is being awarded without a requirement for a toilet?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Bus Services: Bus Éireann and the National Transport Authority (20 Jan 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: The licence is awarded by the NTA and in many cases, vulnerable passengers are on board. Many passengers travelling from provincial locations are going to Dublin, for instance, for hospital appointments. It is not acceptable to expect passengers to travel from Killarney to Dublin without a toilet stop.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Bus Services: Bus Éireann and the National Transport Authority (20 Jan 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: Is that not a matter for the authority, as the licensing agency?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Bus Services: Bus Éireann and the National Transport Authority (20 Jan 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: It has not been heard. The licensing agency thinks it is appropriate to expect people to sit on a bus travelling between Killarney and Dublin in the full knowledge that the bus will not stop and there is no toilet on board.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Bus Services: Bus Éireann and the National Transport Authority (20 Jan 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: It takes longer to travel between Killarney and Dublin than to fly between Shannon and New York. There are no toilets on these buses and there is no requirement to have a toilet on board. If Aer Lingus and Ryanair operated on that basis, there would be an outcry. I ask that this issue be reviewed. I know elderly people who have no choice but to take a particular service. Some are elderly...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications: Bus Services: Bus Éireann and the National Transport Authority (20 Jan 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: I welcome the representatives from Bus Éireann and the National Roads Authority. I wish to deal with intercity services provided by both Bus Éireann and other service providers and to focus on long journey times from Dublin to Limerick, Cork and beyond. Is there a requirement that toilet facilities be provided on board these coaches, be they in public or private ownership? If...

Written Answers — Department of Finance: Disabled Drivers and Passengers Scheme (20 Jan 2016)

Patrick O'Donovan: 52. To ask the Minister for Finance why the processing of a claim for a fuel rebate for a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will be delayed as it was not submitted online; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2419/16]