Results 7,121-7,140 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (9 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: The matters to which the Deputy refers are day-to-day operational matters, which fall within the remit of Iarnród Éireann alone. However, I understand the company deploys or proposes to deploy modern commuter rail cars on a number of longer distances services, such as Dublin to Sligo and Wexford. These modern commuter railcars are fully accessible and bicycles can be conveyed on these...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (9 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: As I stated in my reply to Questions Nos. 332 and 333 of 12 October, the Medical Bureau of Road Safety's 2004 annual report will be published shortly. Certain specific data relating to the forensic analysis programme for driving under the influence of drugs was made available to me by the bureau to facilitate the Deputy in responding to Question No. 174 of 3 November.

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (9 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: I refer the Deputy to my previous reply to Question No. 228 on Thursday, 27 October 2005. In my last reply I acknowledged that the current level of fees for passenger licences under the Road Transport Act 1932 does not reflect the true cost of the administration and enforcement of the current legislation. It is my intention, therefore, to propose a revision of the current charges in the new...

Written Answers — Departmental Costs: Departmental Costs (9 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 317 and 318 together. No public relations company was used for the launch of Transport 21. There were no costs for the use of Dublin Castle. Costs were incurred for catering at Dublin Castle, producing backdrops, graphics, associated printing and producing a video. The required public procurement procedures were complied with in accordance with the Government...

Written Answers — Driving Tests: Driving Tests (9 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: A driver testers normal working hours are from 9.15 am to 5.30 pm. In the case of driving tests in cars, eight 50 minute tests per day are normally scheduled. Driving tests in higher category vehicles normally take two car test slots and motorcycle tests are scheduled for an hour. In addition, the schedule of tests is altered during the winter months when testers are scheduled for a test...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (9 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: Traffic management in general is a matter for the appropriate local authority and, in the vicinity of Dublin Port, that authority is Dublin City Council. By agreement with the other local authorities and the National Roads Authority, NRA, the day-to-day traffic management on the M50 is the responsibility of Dublin City Council. Issues relating to the West Link toll bridge are matters for the...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (9 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: Transport 21 provides for funding for quality bus corridors, QBCs, traffic management and park and ride in regional cities throughout the period up to 2015. However, Transport 21 does not allocate funding for any specific quality bus corridors. It is a matter for the local authorities to prioritise the most suitable routes for QBCs and to apply to the Department for funding. The Department...

Written Answers — Public Service Contracts: Public Service Contracts (9 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: I am not aware of any overspend on contracts due to them being incorrectly specified.

Written Answers — Parking Regulations: Parking Regulations (8 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: The Road Traffic (Traffic and Parking) Regulations 1997 empower local authorities, the Irish Wheelchair Association and the Disabled Drivers' Association to grant disabled person's parking permits. Permits are issued where the issuing body is satisfied that the applicant is suffering from a disability that prevents him or her from walking or causes undue hardship to the person in walking. The...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (8 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: The ten-year transport investment framework, Transport 21, now provides the strategic framework for the development of the national roads network. It provides for a more extensive upgrade programme than that provided for in the NDP. In these circumstances, separate costings for the completion of the primary route improvement programme provided for in the NDP have not been abstracted.

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (8 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: The planning, design and implementation of national roads improvement projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority, NRA, and local authorities. I understand from the NRA that nearly 50% of the national primary routes from Dublin to the Border, Galway, Cork, Limerick and Waterford will be completed by the end of2006.

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (8 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: In July 2005, in responding to NRA proposals relating to arrangements needed for the better implementation of the national roads programme, I approved a significant increase in NRA staffing levels. I am satisfied that these additional resources will enable the NRA to improve the management and delivery of the significant programme of works under the national roads programme. The NRA is also...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (8 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: My Department spent approximately €15,000 in 2002, €6,200 in 2003 and €19,900 in 2004 providing services through the Irish language. Detailed information sought by the Deputy is set out in the following table. Breakdown of Expenditure 2002 2003 2004 â'¬ â'¬ â'¬ Training 728 Nil 70 Translation 2,151 88 11,746 Advertising 17 20 135 Bilingual...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (8 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: The Road Traffic Acts provide that a member of the Garda Síochána may require a person in charge of a mechanically propelled vehicle to provide a preliminary breath specimen where the vehicle is involved in a road collision or where a garda considers that a road traffic offence has been committed, or where a garda forms the opinion that the person has consumed alcohol. The purpose of...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (8 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: CIE submitted an application for a railway order for the Kildare route project on 5 October under the terms of the Transport (Railway Infrastructure) Act 2001. I have directed that a public inquiry be held into the application and have appointed Mr. Pat Butler SC as inspector to hold the inquiry. The capital cost of the project has been included in Transport 21, the ten-year capital...

Written Answers — Rail Services: Rail Services (8 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: A phased approach to the development of Maynooth suburban services is incorporated in Transport 21, the ten-year transport investment framework announced on 1 November. The city centre resignalling project will be completed in 2009. This will deliver four extra train paths per direction per hour, an increase from 12 to 16, into Connolly Station, which operates at capacity. At least one of...

Written Answers — Air Services: Air Services (8 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 443 and 444 together. The director of the Mid-West Regional Authority wrote to me on 24 October 2005 regarding open skies between Ireland and the US in the context of the EU-US aviation negotiations which are ongoing and particularly whether I would carry out an impact study on the effects of open skies. The reply to the director states that I am aware of a...

Written Answers — Air Services: Air Services (8 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: I understand that Congressman Smith has tabled an amendment to the Foreign Relations Authorization Act for the Fiscal Years 2006 and 2007, which is under consideration by the Houses of Congress in the US. This amendment calls for an economic impact study on the dual gateway policy. The content of US legislation is a matter for the US Congress. However, several recent reports such as the...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (8 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: The audit committee at the Department of Transport is comprised of the following members: (1) John Lawlor, External Member (2) Liam MacLaughlin, External Member (3) Andy Cullen, Department of Transport (4) Pat Mangan, Department of Transport The chairperson is John Lawlor and the audit committee has met on four occasions in the past 12 months. Copies of the agendas follow. Agenda...

Written Answers — National Development Plan: National Development Plan (8 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 447 and 448 together. The economic and social infrastructure operational programme, ESIOP, is one of six main operational programmes in the National Development Plan, Community Support Framework for Ireland 2000-2006. The ESIOP provides for total investment of over €26 billion under the National Development Plan 2000-2006 in six main priorities: national...