Results 7,261-7,280 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (19 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: My Department is committed to delivering a sustainable transport system designed in a way which will achieve a balance between economic, social and environmental needs. In the current climate of rising oil prices and growing CO2 emissions from transport there is clearly a need to focus on cleaner and renewable fuel sources such as biofuel to support the achievement of a sustainable transport...

Written Answers — Press Releases: Press Releases (19 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 92 and 240 together. I have not instructed my staff not to provide Opposition spokespersons with all press releases when automatically issued by my Department. I am happy to provide Opposition spokespersons with all press releases and, as the Deputy has asked, these press releases will be issued as soon as reasonably practical.

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (19 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 93, 98 and 121 together. The Government Road Safety Strategy 2004-2006 sets a primary target of a 25% reduction in road collision fatalities by the end of 2006 over the average annual number of fatalities in the 1998-2003 period. Achievement of the target would result in no more than 300 deaths per annum by the end of the period of the strategy. This is an...

Written Answers — Light Rail Project: Light Rail Project (19 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: The Railway Procurement Agency, RPA, has been asked to carry out an evaluation of the linking of the Luas red and green lines. I understand that it has carried out a significant amount of technical work looking, in particular, at various route options. The next step will be for the RPA to put the findings of this work out for public consultation. Following this, the RPA will submit a business...

Written Answers — Driving Tests: Driving Tests (19 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: The target is to reduce waiting times for a driving test from months to weeks. The current backlog is intolerable. That is why the Government has brought forward a comprehensive proposal to deal with the matter. This target of reducing waiting times from months to weeks can be achieved within 18 months to two years of the full implementation of the package of measures recently outlined.

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (19 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: The metro proposal is being considered by my Department as part of its preparatory work on a ten year transport investment framework. I hope to bring proposals on the framework to Government shortly. The existing statutory process for approving a metro project is set out in Part 3 of the Transport (Railway Infrastructure) Act 2001. The legislation originally proposed to further streamline and...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (19 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: In the period 2000-2004, €1.233 billion was spent on public transport safety and development. Details are set out in the following table. Project 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 â'¬m â'¬m â'¬m â'¬m â'¬m Railway Safety 123.86 148.45 127.16 103.94 86.71 Rolling Stock 23.56 5.59 62.52 88.28 76.25 IÉ Upgrades and Other Projects 5.83 21.82 42.87...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (19 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: The question refers to new EU guidelines on financing of airports and start up aid to airlines departing from regional airports. The aims of the proposed guidelines are to establish a firm legal framework for agreements between airports and airlines and to increase transparency and to prevent any discrimination in the agreements concluded by regional airports and airlines on start up aid. The...

Written Answers — State Airports: State Airports (19 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 104, 129, 137, 153 and 233 together. My Department's statement of strategy for 2005-2007 sets out my broad aviation policy objectives. This policy is underpinned by the State Airports Act 2004, which provides a framework for the restructuring of the three airports and the more recent Government decision in May of this year concerning the provision of new...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (19 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 105 and 251 together. On 3 October 2005, CIE lodged an application for a railway order with me under the provisions of the Transport (Railway Infrastructure) Act 2001 for a major programme of works to upgrade the infrastructure on the Kildare route, which will lead to a significant increase in capacity. Under the requirements of the Transport (Railway...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (19 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: For the first three quarters of 2005 this Department has spent €1,060 million, which is €106 million less than profiled for the same period. This difference consists of €92 million less in capital spend and €14 million less in current expenditure. The capital difference in the main is made up of a capital spend of €64 million less on roads projects, B2, and €27 million less on...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (19 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: The working group on the western rail corridor, established by my predecessor to examine the case for re-opening the line, has now concluded its deliberations and the chairman of the working group delivered his report to me on 10 May 2005. The recommendations in the report on the phased development of the western rail corridor are being examined in the context of the multi-annual investment...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (19 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: The question of the adoption of changes in the circumstances where the driver of a vehicle can be made the subject of a preliminary roadside breath test has been the subject of considerable debate and consideration for some time. The first Government road safety strategy, which related to the period 1998 to 2002, indicated that while the Government would consider the possibility of some...

Written Answers — Traffic Management: Traffic Management (19 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: The use of bus lanes is provided for in the Road Traffic (Traffic and Parking) Regulations 1997 and 1998. The primary purpose of bus lanes is to facilitate and promote bus based public transport. The regulations, which have national application, generally limit the use of bus lanes to buses and, in the case of with-flow bus lanes, to cyclists also. Having regard to the role of taxis in...

Written Answers — Air Services: Air Services (19 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 115 and 238 together. I refer the Deputies to my reply to a similar question from Deputy Pat Breen on 4 October 2005, which I answered along with a question from Deputy Jan O'Sullivan. As I have said previously, I do not believe an impact study of the kind proposed is required. The restructuring of the State Airports, including Shannon, is intended to enhance...

Written Answers — Air Services: Air Services (19 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: The October EU Transport Council agreed a general approach to this proposed regulation. The agreement of the European Parliament is also required and the EU Presidency is working closely with the Parliament with a view to reaching agreement in the first reading at Parliament. This would prepare the ground for its formal adoption at the December EU Transport Council. I cannot designate an...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (19 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 119 and 159 together. Automated toll collection is currently in use on existing toll plazas and will be used on all future toll schemes. Automated toll collection does not require legislation for its use. The automated toll collection systems currently in place, however, use a barrier as the main enforcement tool as toll operators do not consider the existing...

Written Answers — European Council Meetings: European Council Meetings (19 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 120 and 154 together. The meeting of the Transport Council on 6 October 2005 unanimously agreed with the European Commission that the time was now right for the resumption of negotiations with the US. The previous talks had ended in a failure to reach agreement in June 2004. The main issues where agreement could not be reached were market access, ownership and...

Written Answers — Semi-State Bodies: Semi-State Bodies (19 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 122, 142 and 250 together. In its decision of 18 May, the Government agreed to the State disposing of a majority shareholding in Aer Lingus and retaining a stake of at least 25% to protect strategic interests, provided that both myself and the Minister for Finance are satisfied that this level of disposal is warranted on foot of the analysis prepared by the...

Written Answers — Transport Investment Plan: Transport Investment Plan (19 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 124, 132, 134 and 136 together. The current five-year investment envelope for transport provides for capital expenditure of €10.15 billion over the 2005-09 period. I cannot comment on the level of funding to be made available for the ten-year transport investment framework until the Government has considered the matter. I hope to bring proposals to...