Results 6,421-6,440 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Written Answers — Taxi Regulations: Taxi Regulations (14 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: The licensing of small public service vehicles, including taxis, is currently governed by the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) Regulations 1963 to 2002. Under these regulations, small public service vehicle licences are granted and renewed by individual local licensing authorities. Information regarding the number of licensed taxis in each of the years 2000-04, based on information...

Written Answers — Taxi Regulations: Taxi Regulations (14 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: The following statutory instruments have been made under the Taxi Regulation Act 2003: Taxi Regulation Act 2003 (Part 4) (Appointed Day) Order 2003 (S.I. No. 517 of 2003); Taxi Regulation Act 2003 (Section 37(1))(Commencement) Order 2004 (S.I. No. 260 of 2004); Taxi Regulation Act 2003 (Part 2) (Establishment Day) Order 2004 (S.I. No. 523 of 2004); Taxi Regulation Act 2003 (Part 3)...

Written Answers — Departmental Websites: Departmental Websites (14 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: My Department plans to redevelop and update its website later in the year. The suggestion of including a list of statutory instruments on the site will be considered in this context.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (9 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: Very good progress is being made in relation to decentralisation of transport functions to Loughrea. I refer the Deputy to my previous answer to Question No. 128 answered on Wednesday, 1 February 2006, where I set out the position in full.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (9 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: Under the decentralisation programme, 90 posts in the National Roads Authority are due to transfer to Ballinasloe. Seven public servants and 59 civil servants have applied on the central applications facility to decentralise. The National Roads Authority has not been identified as an early mover by the decentralisation implementation group. Implementation issues, including the identification...

Written Answers — Driving Tests: Driving Tests (9 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: A suitable location has been identified in Letterkenny to facilitate driving tests for articulated vehicles. Final arrangements are being made by the OPW which will allow such testing to resume shortly.

Written Answers — Driving Tests: Driving Tests (9 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: The driver theory testing service has procedures in place for dealing with complaints, including any concerning a refund of fees, which may be addressed to the Customer Service Manager at P.O. Box 144, Drogheda, County Louth. The driver theory testing service is operated as a public private partnership project. Performance standards which the service must meet are set out in the contract to...

Written Answers — Rail Services: Rail Services (9 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: While the deployment of its fleet is an operational matter for Iarnród Éireann, I am advised by the company that the frequency of service on the Dublin-Sligo railway line was recently improved from three services per day to five, with the introduction of Iarnród Éireann's new timetable in December 2005. In addition, 150 new railcars are on order and some of these will be deployed by the...

Written Answers — Civil Service Travel Scheme: Civil Service Travel Scheme (9 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: The travel pass scheme is operated in this Department according to the provisions of Department of Finance circular 50/2001. Although staff are encouraged to apply for a calendar year pass, a closing date is not operated by the Department as the scheme is available to new entrants throughout the year. All employees employed on a permanent/probationary basis are accommodated in the scheme.

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (9 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: As I indicated in my reply to Question No. 137 of 2 February, the extension of the application of the penalty points system, which will be implemented with effect from April next, is focused on those penalty point offences that relate to driver behaviour. The concentration on that group of offences is supported by the fact that driver behaviour is the primary contributory factor in some 86%...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (8 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: The licensing of small public service vehicles is currently governed by the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) Regulations 1963 to 2002. Under these regulations, small public service vehicle licences are granted and renewed by individual local licensing authorities. Information regarding the number of licences that have not been renewed at any given time is not available in my Department....

Written Answers — Search and Rescue Service: Search and Rescue Service (8 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: I refer the Deputy to the reply given to Question No. 352 of Tuesday, 7 February 2006 which sets out the current position regarding the acquisition of a suitable site for a new station house for the Doolin coastal unit. Until the site acquisition has been finalised it will not be possible to determine the cost of construction of the accommodation.

Written Answers — Driving Tests: Driving Tests (8 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: The fees received in respect of driving tests for 2005 amounted to €7.09 million. The total cost of operating the service in 2005 is estimated to be approximately €12 million. There is not a direct correlation between receipts and expenditure in any given year as while cash is received with applications, the test may be conducted in a subsequent year.

Written Answers — Driving Tests: Driving Tests (8 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: The number of driving tests conducted by a driver tester each day depends upon the time of year, the category of vehicle being tested, the test location and if the tester is working overtime. On average 7.6 standard car test equivalents should be conducted per driver tester per day.

Written Answers — Driving Tests: Driving Tests (8 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: My Department in consultation with the Minister for Finance has developed a package of measures to deal with the backlog of driving test applications. One aspect of the package is a bonus scheme for driver testers. A total of 90 driver testers have signed up for the bonus scheme which is due to commence on 6 February 2006 for one year. This is expected to deliver a minimum of 30,750 extra...

Written Answers — Rail Services: Rail Services (8 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: The strategic rail review commissioned by my Department and published in 2003 contained an examination of the rail freight business and its realistic potential to support economic development and contribute to sustainable development. In preparing the report, the public were invited to make submissions on rail policy and a number of public consultation sessions were held around the country....

Written Answers — Driving Tests: Driving Tests (8 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Questions Nos. 113, 133 and 207 of 1 February 2005. As I have indicated to this House previously, the delay in providing driving tests is a matter of concern to me. I believe it not only represents a poor service to the public but it is also hampering the development of initiatives which I wish to pursue and which will contribute further to road safety. The...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (8 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: The McCann report recommended a phased approach to the construction of the western rail corridor. Following the launch of Transport 21, I asked Iarnród Éireann to commence the design and planning stages of the western rail corridor from Ennis to Claremorris. The line between Ennis and Athenry will be the first section to be developed and I await specific proposals from Iarnród Éireann in...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (8 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: On 20 January 2006, Dublin Bus submitted an application for funding for 200 additional buses to be provided over the two-year period 2006 to 2007 and the construction of a new garage. The projected total capital cost of the proposals contained in the application is €120 million. My Department is currently examining this application in accordance with the requirements of the Department of...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (8 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: The Dublin Transportation Office, DTO, strategy for the greater Dublin area, A Platform for Change, proposes a network of radial and orbital quality bus corridors, QBCs, and additional bus priority measures. The proposed orbital QBC referred to by the Deputy, linking as it would a series of radial Luas lines, red and green, existing QBCs, N11 and the Rock Road, future QBCs and the DART...