Results 7,041-7,060 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Estimates for Public Services 2006: Motion (Resumed). (23 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: I wish to share time with my colleague, Deputy Andrews. I welcome the opportunity to speak in the annual Estimates debate. The capital envelope for the Department of Transport is now framed by Transport 21 which will be rolled out in the next few years. The Estimate was agreed before Transport 21 was finalised and capital spending plans in the next few years will become evident when the...

Estimates for Public Services 2006: Motion (Resumed). (23 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: How can the Deputy say that? A sum of €16 billion was invested in public transport. It is time to come up with a better tune as the old one is becoming pathetic.

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (22 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: I have asked my officials to consider this suggestion, in consultation with the Departments of Education and Science and Finance, and to report to me on the matter.

Written Answers — Driving Tests: Driving Tests (22 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: To reduce the current unacceptable and exceptional backlog of persons awaiting a driving test, my Department and the Department of Finance developed a package of measure to deal with the problem. The package includes a bonus scheme for driver testers, the recruitment of additional testers as well as the outsourcing of a block of tests. The package has the potential to deliver up to 80,000...

Written Answers — Driving Tests: Driving Tests (22 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 415, 417 and 431 together. 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 — Rail Services: Rail Services (22 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: The structure of rail fares is a matter for Iarnród Éireann. As is common internationally, Iarnród Éireann operates two fare structures — a Dublin commuter area, which encompasses Balbriggan, Maynooth, Hazelhatch and Kilcoole, and the national network. With the dramatic growth in longer distance commuting, issues have arisen in regard to fare arrangements between the two areas. These...

Written Answers — Rail Services: Rail Services (22 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: Transport 21 includes provision for the extension of DART services as far as Balbriggan. Iarnród Éireann is also developing a scheme for resignalling the city centre railway section around Connolly-Tara Street and Pearse stations to provide additional capacity for more outer-suburban rail services to be operated from Drogheda to the city centre.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (22 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: The Minister of State does not have a press office. The services of the Department's press office are available to his office when necessary.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (22 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: The following table provides the information required by the Deputy. The salary costs are based on current salary scales. Public relations work, when required, is carried out by a higher executive officer in the Department's press office. Office Number of Staff Grade/Job title Salary scale. Cost per Annum â'¬ Constituency 1 Personal Secretary 20,187-38,948 Constituency 1...

Written Answers — Road Traffic Offences: Road Traffic Offences (22 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table. This information is supplied by the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government who are responsible for the national vehicle and driver file, which contains the driver records on which penalty points are recorded. Number of penalty points attributed by county since introduction of penalty points system...

Written Answers — Air Services: Air Services (22 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: As the agreement has just been made and the transitional arrangements do not come into operation until November 2006 it is too early at this stage to determine when the three new destinations will be nominated and where they will be. The destinations will be nominated when possible new markets have been studied and the airlines have indicated which destinations they wish to serve.

Written Answers — Air Services: Air Services (22 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: The following are the latest statistics available from Shannon Airport management: tonnes 2004 Total Transatlantic Cargo 11,988 Total embarking 4,952 Total disembarking 7,036 Total cargo carried on passenger flights 9,521 Total cargo carried on cargo only flights 2,467 2005 (to 31/10/05) Total Transatlantic Cargo 8,364 Total embarking 2,876 Total...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (22 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: My Department asked the Dublin Transportation Office to carry out transportation modelling work in the context of the preparation of Transport 21. I intend to publish a more detailed document on Transport 21 in due course and this will outline the results of the modelling work carried out by the DTO.

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (22 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: The planning, design and implementation of national road improvement projects, including the Dublin Port tunnel, is a matter for the National Roads Authority, NRA, and the relevant local authorities. I understand from the NRA that the primary construction work on the tunnel is expected to be completed in December 2005 and that the tunnel will be open to traffic by mid-2006, following the...

Written Answers — Air Services: Air Services (22 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: My Department has a long-standing policy of supporting City of Derry Airport, in the interests of North-South co-operation and in recognition that the catchment area served by the airport includes east Donegal. In 1999, my Department provided Derry City Council, the owners of the airport, with capital funding of approximately €1.9 million towards runway improvements, under a co-funding...

Written Answers — National Spatial Strategy: National Spatial Strategy (22 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: Transport 21 has been developed with a view to supporting implementation of the national spatial strategy, NSS, for 2002-20, the purpose of which is to promote more balanced regional development. In this regard, Transport 21 will deliver significant improvements in transport links both within the north-west and between it and other regions, including: improved connectivity along the western...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (22 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: The planning, design and implementation of national road improvement projects, including the Dublin Port tunnel, is a matter for the National Roads Authority, NRA, and the local authorities concerned. Claims submitted by the contractor in this case are a matter for Dublin City Council in the first instance. The making of a claim by a contractor does not inevitably lead to additional payments....

Written Answers — State Airports: State Airports (22 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 430 and 443 together. The three State airport authorities continue to work on preparing their business plans, with the Dublin Airport Authority, DAA, co-ordinating the process. In this context, there is a range of issues, including the unsustainable cost base at Shannon Airport, the recent airport charges determination for Dublin Airport by the Commission for...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (22 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: The tables provide the information requested by the Deputy on salary. The salary costs are based on current salary scales. The overall expenses including overtime incurred by the Minister's office over the past year — November 2004 to November 2005 — is approximately €160,000. This includes travel and subsistence costs for staff and all other associated office costs. Office Total...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (22 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 433 and 434 together. The Railway Procurement Agency, RPA, is currently preparing a detailed implementation plan for the metro north line. This will include public consultation which will commence in early 2006. The final location of stops will be defined through the public consultation and statutory approval process. RPA's current proposal for metro north...