Results 6,961-6,980 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Written Answers — Air Services: Air Services (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: Earlier this year, I announced the award of public service obligation, PSO, contracts for the operation of air services on six regional air routes. Following an EU procurement process, Aer Arann was awarded the contracts to provide services on routes linking Dublin with Kerry, Galway, Sligo and Donegal, while Loganair was awarded the contract for the Dublin to Derry and Dublin to Knock...

Written Answers — Light Rail Project: Light Rail Project (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 95 and 100 together. Having announced a new transport investment programme, Transport 21, on 1 November 2005, I received, on 7 November, an application from the Railway Procurement Agency for a railway order in respect of the proposed Luas extension from Sandyford to Cherrywood. I have directed that a public inquiry be held into the application and an...

Written Answers — Cross-Border Projects: Cross-Border Projects (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 193 of the 3 November 2005. The framework for the mutual recognition of driving disqualifications imposed in Great Britain or Northern Ireland and this State is contained in the European Union Convention on Driving Disqualifications. Legislation to support the application of the convention is contained in the Road Traffic Act 2002. The convention...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: Operation Freeflow has been conducted for ten years now and involves contributions by a variety of organisations. These include the Garda Síochána, the Dublin Transportation Office, the four Dublin local authorities, Dublin Bus, Iarnród Éireann, and, in more recent years, the Railway Procurement Agency, RPA, as well as private organisations. Costs for the operation of these agencies are...

Written Answers — Light Rail Project: Light Rail Project (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: Transport 21 includes a metro line from the city centre to Swords via Dublin Airport, metro north, and an orbital metro route, metro west, linking Tallaght with Clondalkin, Blanchardstown and Ballymun. Metro north and west will be developed as public private partnerships, PPPs. It is likely that the infrastructure will be procured on the basis of a design, build, finance and maintain, DBFM,...

Written Answers — Air Services: Air Services (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: The Air Navigation and Transport (Indemnities) Act 2005 is a precautionary measure that allows the Government, in exceptional circumstances, to make an Order declaring that a state of difficulty exists in aviation insurance such that essential insurance is not generally available. This is not a decision that the Government will make lightly. It will be necessary to take into account the...

Written Answers — Light Rail Project: Light Rail Project (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: The timing of the tendering process for metro north and other Luas and metro projects is a matter for the Railway Procurement Agency and therefore I have no function in this regard. The Railway Procurement Agency is at present preparing a detailed implementation plan for the metro north line. Transport 21 provides for the completion of the project in 2012. I understand that public...

Written Answers — Driving Tests: Driving Tests (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: Proposals developed by my Department for the regulation and quality assurance of driving instruction will involve a test of the competence of individual instructors. A working group comprising representatives of my Department and instruction interests has formulated the design of the standards that a driving instructor must meet. The standard will set out criteria for entry to the driving...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 150 on 19 October 2005. The North-South work programme which was agreed by the North-South Ministerial Council, included a commitment to examine the mutual recognition of penalty points between the Republic of Ireland and the North. However, in addition to the fact that separate penalty point systems operate in the two jurisdictions on this...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: I announced a new transport investment programme, Transport 21, on Tuesday, 1 November. This ambitious programme underlines the Government's commitment to develop a world-class transport system for the 21st century. However, the Dublin Transportation Office's, A Platform for Change, continues to provide the strategic framework for the development of the greater Dublin area's transport system....

Written Answers — Air Services: Air Services (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: I understand that there are proposed changes at Weston Aerodrome which have the potential to affect military airspace. My Department has not discussed this with the Department of Defence as it is not a matter for which the Department of Transport has responsibility. This issue, and many other aspects of this proposal concerning the interface between military air traffic, traffic from Weston...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 163 and 166 together. In 2006, the subvention to CIE will increase by 5% from €270 million to €283.5 million. The allocation of the subvention to the operating companies of Bus Éireann, Bus Átha Cliath and Iarnród Éireann is a day-to-day operational matter for CIE. However, a further €1.7 million will be allocated to Bus Átha Cliath in 2006 to...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: Transport 21 includes a financial provision to cover the anticipated cost of the project. However, I do not propose to release this commercially sensitive information until the public procurement process for this project is completed. An initial feasibility study on the proposed interconnector between Heuston Station and the Docklands was carried out on behalf of Irish Rail in 2003. This...

Written Answers — Air Services: Air Services (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: The Air Navigation and Transport (Indemnities) Act 2005 is a precautionary measure that allows the Government, in exceptional circumstances, to make an order declaring that a state of difficulty exists in relation to aviation insurance such that essential insurance is not generally available. This is not a decision that the Government will make lightly. It will be necessary to take into...

Written Answers — Taxi Regulations: Taxi Regulations (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: The operation and licensing of small public service vehicles, including taxis and hackneys, and their drivers, is currently controlled through the Road Traffic (Public Service Vehicles) Regulations 1963 to 2002. Since 26 September 2005, responsibility for the regulation of small public service vehicles now rests with the Commission for Taxi Regulation under the Taxi Regulation Act 2003. Taxi...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: Significant progress has been made on the work transposing Directive 2004/51/EC on the development of the Community's railways and I will be finalising it in the coming weeks.

Written Answers — Light Rail Project: Light Rail Project (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: Transport 21 includes a metro line from the city centre to Swords via Dublin Airport and an orbital metro route linking Tallaght with Clondalkin, Blanchardstown and Ballymun. The detailed planning work, public consultation and the statutory approval process will determine the precise route what metro west will take. Transport 21 also provides for feasibility studies to be undertaken on a...

Written Answers — Departmental Estimates: Departmental Estimates (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: The breakdown of subhead F in the 2006 transport Estimates is: 2006 Appropriation-in-Aid Subheads Amount € '000's F1 Recoupment for Seconded Staff 237 F2 Road Transport Licenses 601 F3 IAA refund of subs 5,331 F4 IAA recoupment of rents 305 F5 Recoupment of IAA associated costs 1,552 F6 Recoupment of IAA safety audit 1 F7 Miscellaneous Receipts...

Written Answers — Driving Licences: Driving Licences (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: In June 2003 a notice requesting the submission of tenders to supply a plastic card licence was published in the EU Official Journal. A number of developments took place following receipt of tenders and the proposals were reviewed in the light of these developments. These developments included the publication of a draft EU directive on driving licences in October 2003 proposing the issuing of...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (24 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: Iarnród Éireann has no proposals for a rail link between Sallins and Naas. However, the Sallins-Naas area will benefit from a significant increase in capacity from the upgrading of the Kildare route which is currently the subject of a railway order application. Under the requirements of the Transport (Railway Infrastructure) Act 2001, I have directed that a public inquiry be held into the...