Results 7,161-7,180 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (3 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 149 and 150 together. Statistics relating to road accidents, based on information provided by the Garda Síochána, are published by the National Roads Authority, NRA, in its annual road accident facts reports. The most recent report, now entitled "Road Collision Facts", relates to 2003 and is available on the NRA website. Reports relating to previous years...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (3 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: The proposed contactless smartcard-based integrated ticketing system, for which the Railway Procurement Agency, RPA, was given statutory responsibility, is, in line with international experience, being introduced on a phased basis, initially in the Dublin area. In advance of the introduction of full smartcard technologies, magnetic strip based integrated ticketing already exists for travel on...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (3 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 153 and 155 together. The Government's strategy for road safety 2004 to 2006 identified speed, seatbelt wearing, driving while intoxicated, engineering measures and vulnerable road users as the key priority areas to be addressed over the coming years in terms of yielding road safety benefits. As regards motorcyclists, the strategy states that it is the...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (3 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: The National Safety Council, NSC, is the agency mandated with responsibility for road safety advertising and education. The council has been allocated €3.965 million from the Exchequer in 2005. The council also receives funding from the Irish Insurance Federation, IIF, and from private sponsorship. A joint National Safety Council-Garda Síochána winter road safety campaign, called "Arrive...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (3 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: The planning, design and implementation of national road projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority, NRA, under the Roads Act 1993. I understand from the NRA that 70 km of motorway-dual carriageway and 20 km of single carriageway will be completed and open to traffic during 2005.

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (3 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 159 and 160 together. The total amount of Exchequer capital funding expended on the development of public transport over the period 2000-2004 was €1,887 million. Year Outturn 2000 252,850,610 2001 344,489,217 2002 390,228,615 2003 436,807,564 2004 295,670,021 2005 426,132,000* *estimated outturn. The anticipated spend for 2005 is...

Written Answers — Light Rail Project: Light Rail Project (3 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: I announced a new transport investment programme, Transport 21, on Tuesday, 1 November last. This ambitious programme underlines the Government's commitment to develop a world-class transport system for the 21st century. The Minister for Finance and I engaged extensively on the preparation of this landmark framework which involves the investment of over €34 billion in current prices in the...

Written Answers — Rail Services: Rail Services (3 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: The DART upgrade project will deliver a capacity increase of 30% by providing for the operation of eight-car DARTs instead of the previous maximum of six cars. With a combination of the upgrade project and the introduction of additional rolling stock, the DART capacity will have increased by 100% since 2000. The project will be substantively completed by year-end with some minor works to be...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (3 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: In 1999, prior to the introduction of the national development plan, the capacity of the Dublin Bus fleet was 74,385, inclusive of standing capacity. By the end of 2000 capacity had increased to 82,590. By the end of 2005, it is estimated that the capacity will be 94,524. Furthermore, with the purchase of a further 20 double deck buses which I sanctioned on Tuesday last, it is expected that...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (3 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: The national development plan, NDP, identifies spending of €152 million to increase the capacity and improve the quality, reliability, frequency and speed of bus services in the Dublin region. The investment programme involved the expansion of the bus network to meet demand, through the phased purchase of additional buses to increase passenger capacity and meet the development requirements...

Written Answers — Driving Tests: Driving Tests (3 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: The information sought by the Deputy is unavailable as there are no statistics kept on the number of driving tests conducted through Irish.

Written Answers — Driving Tests: Driving Tests (3 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: The driving test in Ireland is designed in accordance with the requirements of the European directives on driving licences, which set out the skills that a driver must demonstrate during a driving test. As in other EU countries there is a variation in the pass rate among test centres. The pass rate may be influenced by a number of factors including the number of lessons taken by the...

Written Answers — Driving Tests: Driving Tests (3 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: My Department currently employs 120 driver testing staff including eight female testers. The recruitment to these posts is a matter for the Public Appointments Service, which operates an equal opportunities policy.

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (3 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: I am currently considering the views and issues put to me by the various stakeholders during discussions to date on the reform of the public transport market. It would be premature to hold further discussions with the CIE unions until I have considered the range of issues put to me by all the stakeholders. However, it remains my intention to engage in a spirit of partnership with the...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (3 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: Superannuation matters and employment levels within CIE are a matter for the group in the first instance. I have no proposals in that regard.

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (3 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: The ten year transport capital investment framework — Transport 21 — announced on 1 November, will replace the current five year investment envelope as and from 1 January 2006.

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (3 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: The public transport partnership forum, originally established under the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness and continued under Sustaining Progress, provides a mechanism for consultation with the social partners on public transport matters, including public transport investment requirements, priorities and programmes. During the course of 2005 there have been presentations and discussions...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (3 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: The Government strategy on road safety 2004-06 does not contain a commitment relating to the production of annual progress reports in the same manner as was the case with the first strategy. As I advised the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport yesterday, I intend to take the opportunity later in the year at a suitable occasion to give an outline of overall progress in relation to the...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (3 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: The Medical Bureau of Road Safety continues to analyse blood and urine specimens received under the Road Traffic Acts for the presence of a drug or drugs where the level of alcohol determined is under the legal limit of 80mg-100ml in blood and 107mg-100ml in urine or when a specific request for drug analysis has been received from the Garda when the alcohol result is above the legal limit....

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (3 Nov 2005)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 175 to 178, inclusive, and 200 together. The improvement and maintenance of national roads, including road safety engineering matters, is the responsibility of the National Roads Authority, NRA, and local authorities under the Roads Act 1993. The information sought is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.