Results 6,461-6,480 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Written Answers — Driving Tests: Driving Tests (7 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: The direct cost of the bonus scheme will be in the region of €1.5 million to €2 million. The scheme is available to all driving testers and 90 testers have signed up to participate. New recruits will also be eligible to participate. It is not possible to indicate the total number of tests to be carried out under the bonus scheme but, based on the commitment given by the 90 testers, it is...

Written Answers — Road Signage: Road Signage (7 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: The Traffic Signs Manual, published in 1996, incorporates the design of all of the traffic signs that can be deployed on public roads and guidance and advice in relation to the use of such signs. Traffic signs can be generally divided into three distinct groupings. These are regulatory signs, warning signs and information signs. While the manual provides depictions of regulatory signs, the...

Written Answers — Bus Corridors: Bus Corridors (7 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: I understand from the DTO that the status of hard shoulder bus lanes being implemented by local authorities in the greater Dublin area is as follows: N3 Dunshaughlin approaches, at construction. Expected completion Q3 2006; Bracetown, construction works complete; and, Clonee-Blanchardstown bypass, inbound extension to Blanchardstown QBC, at public consultation. In addition, hard shoulders are...

Written Answers — Driving Tests: Driving Tests (7 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 3311/06, which I answered in the House on Wednesday, 1 February 2006. As I have indicated to this House previously, the delay in providing driving tests is a matter of regret to me. It not only represents a poor service to the public but it is also hampering the development of initiatives I wish to pursue and which will contribute further to road...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (7 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: Details of funding for the agencies under the auspices of this Department as outlined in Parliamentary Question No. 39961 of 15 December is set out in the following table. This table outlines the total amounts these agencies provisionally spent in 2005, their respective allocations included in the 2006 abridged Estimates volume, AEV, and the relevant expenditure to date in 2006. Agency...

Written Answers — Transport Regulations: Transport Regulations (7 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: At present, transport officers are executive officers in my Department who receive an allowance for carrying out specific duties. To date, vacancies have been filled by confined competition within my Department. However, under the Government's decentralisation programme, executive officers who applied under the Central Applications Facility, CAF, may be offered positions as transport officers...

Order of Business. (7 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: Deputy Rabbitte is making it up as he goes along.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (2 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: Under the decentralisation programme, Bus Éireann headquarters posts are to be relocated to Mitchelstown. The company has identified 86 posts. However, no employee has indicated a wish to move, and this continues to be examined. Implementation issues, including the identification of accommodation, are being pursued by Bus Éireann.

Written Answers — Aviation Safety: Aviation Safety (2 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: This is an operational matter for which neither I nor my Department has responsibility. The Irish Aviation Authority has informed my Department that the comparison with the UK is not sufficiently specific to enable it to form a response. A public licensed international aerodrome in Ireland is required to comply with the requirements of the Chicago Convention relating thereto, in the context...

Written Answers — Air Services: Air Services (2 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: Neither I nor my Department have responsibility for air traffic restrictions at Weston Aerodrome which will be enforced during the Ryder Cup. The Irish Aviation Authority has informed my Department that it does not propose to place any air traffic restrictions on Weston Aerodrome during the period of the Ryder Cup. The authority is aware however that Weston Aerodrome intends to adjust its...

Written Answers — Driving Licences: Driving Licences (2 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: Provisional driving licences issued by licensing authorities are recorded on the national driver file, held and administered by the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government, which has advised that provisional licences as shown in the following table were current during the last three years but that a breakdown by postal district in respect of the Dublin local authorities is...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (2 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: The focus of the roll-out of the penalty points system to date, as well the extension of the application of the system from next April that I announced on 26 January, is on offences that relate primarily to the behaviour of drivers. This reflects the fact that 86% of all road deaths can be attributed to driver behaviour in its broadest sense. The remaining offences to which the penalty point...

Written Answers — Consultancy Contracts: Consultancy Contracts (2 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: During my time as Minister for Transport, I have not sought such advice. I refer the Deputy to Parliamentary Question No. 113, answered on 17 February 2005. The Department has, on limited occasions, employed outside professional public relations advice. Tony O'Brien Communications was employed in 2004 to assist the Department with media relations and was paid a fee of approximately €6,000....

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (2 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: As announced by the National Roads Authority on 27 January, the NRA has, with my agreement, terminated its negotiations with National Toll Roads on the upgrade of the West Link section of the M50. The NRA now proposes to remove the West Link toll plaza in 2008 and to install a barrier free toll system on the M50. The move to free flow tolling on the M50 will require the completion by the NRA...

Written Answers — Driving Tests: Driving Tests (1 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 113, 133 and 207 together. As I have indicated to this House previously, the delay in providing driving tests is a matter of regret to me. 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 driving test and those who deliver it...

Written Answers — Driving Tests: Driving Tests (1 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: My Department proposes to temporarily redeploy staff from the Department of Agriculture and Food who have been identified as being surplus to that Department's organisational requirements and who are based in various regional locations around the country. Following interviews and tests, eight successful candidates will now commence a six week training course late February and, subject to...

Written Answers — Traffic Management: Traffic Management (1 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: Transport 21 makes provision for a major phased investment in public transport in the greater Dublin area, which will provide a real alternative to private car commuting. A significant expansion in rail capacity occurred in 2005 including the entry into service of eight car DART trains. As I have said previously, the bus will continue to play a crucial role in the capital's public transport...

Written Answers — Port Development: Port Development (1 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 116 and 142 together. The advice referred to in the Dáil reply from the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources of 12 October 2005 was received from the Attorney General on 21 October 2005. In addition, further advice relevant to this matter was received from the Attorney General in January of this year. Following approval by the Government,...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (1 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 117 and 175 together. In launching Transport 21 in November last, I indicated that the bus will continue to play a crucial role in Dublin's public transport system and, in particular, will be used to meet immediate and short-term requirements for additional public transport while other infrastructure is being put in place. In early 2005, I asked Dublin Bus to...

Written Answers — Shipping Register: Shipping Register (1 Feb 2006)

Martin Cullen: With regard to the Irish ship register, the maritime safety directorate of my Department is at present reviewing Ireland's policy on the registration of vessels on the Irish flag. In September 2005, a consultation paper was published by the directorate, which outlined the current position in relation to ship registration in Ireland, and invited submissions from interested parties in relation...