Results 7,381-7,400 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Public Transport. (19 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: Dublin Bus accepts that, so it is doing a full review of the existing network in Dublin, something which has not been done by anybody for decades.

Public Transport. (19 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: In recent years the DART has been developed and its capacity doubled. We have also had the impact of the Luas. The Deputy is surely not arguing that the existing bus routes should not be touched when the DART and Luas are working. It seems bizarre the Deputy should suggest that. Dublin Bus accepts it has a responsibility to work out the network and has informed me it is in the best position...

Road Safety. (19 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: The primary immediate investigative role with regard to road accidents is vested in the Garda Síochána. Priority in such an investigation must be given to the determination of the causes of road accidents, including whether a breach of the road traffic laws contributed to the occurrence. Garda reports are forwarded to the National Roads Authority and subsequently to each local authority for...

Road Safety. (19 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: I agree with the Deputy that this is a difficult issue. The accidents on our roads throughout October have been appalling. I extend my sympathies to the families of those involved in the tragedies. The answer I gave to Question No. 84 emphasised the primacy of the gardaí but I agree with Deputy Mitchell that the information we need to assemble if we are to make legislative or policy...

Road Safety. (19 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: I agree with the Deputy. I conveyed to Deputy Olivia Mitchell that I accept that information on road accidents is somewhat scattered at present. I am addressing the lack of a single fulcrum of information by establishing a road safety authority. I have outlined to the House my approach for dealing with the apparent increase in the use of drugs by young people, who then get involved in road...

Road Safety. (19 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: Such analysis is being done. Many investigations take place on foot of serious road accidents. I would not like to diminish the strong role of local authorities in that regard, not only under the Department of Transport but also under the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. I was surprised to find, after Deputy Shortall raised this matter on a previous occasion, that...

Road Safety. (19 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: Deputy Ryan has made an extraordinary assertion. I agree that one of the reasons for this country's high level of road fatalities is its extraordinary network of small roads scattered throughout the country. The Government is pursuing a policy of constructing motorways on the major interurban routes to try to improve the road network, but the Green Party is opposing that every step of the...

Road Safety. (19 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: I would not disagree with the assertion that we must consider every method, no matter how new, to improve the quality of surfaces, signage and markings on our roads. That is unquestioned. Many accidents occur on what would be termed regional roads and non-national roads, which are the responsibility of the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. However, testing...

Driver Testing. (19 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: The normal complement of driver testers in my Department, excluding the chief tester and supervisors, is 119. Currently there is a number of vacancies in that complement, although by and large these are being covered by the retention of retired driving testers. In normal circumstances I would be satisfied that the normal complement of 119 was adequate to maintain a high level of service to...

Driver Testing. (19 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: I do not disagree with the Deputy.

Driver Testing. (19 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: I agree the situation is unacceptable. The Minister for Finance has been very supportive of me in providing the financial resources to achieve the outcome we need, namely, an end to backlog. I never want to see backlogs recur and it is undoubted that this proposal will end the backlog. When the backlog is out of the way, we will be have the capacity to keep the full complement of driver...

Driver Testing. (19 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: In some places.

Driver Testing. (19 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: The problem is that the backlog is so large, at approximately 130,000. I have examined this issue in detail with the testers and have been told by them that they would have no trouble dealing with a normal, average number of applications for driver tests. In fact, it was only two or three years ago that waiting times had reduced to a few weeks. We know what happened then and the reason it...

Driver Testing. (19 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: It was an issue then that people decided——

Driver Testing. (19 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: I am answering the question.

Driver Testing. (19 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: The testers feel that the full complement of 119 is more than adequate to meet demands, although the system has always operated with less than a full complement. However, to give the system the flexibility to bring in extra testers on occasion, or more permanent testers, will make it possible to reduce backlogs. I can only operate on the basis of what I am told by the experts — the driver...

Driver Testing. (19 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: That process is complete.

Driver Testing. (19 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: It has gone out to public and international tender. I have not seen the final results but the process is almost at an end, which I am happy to report to the House. If we had agreement, the Department would be in a position to appoint a major company for the outsourcing on a very fixed-time contract.

Driver Testing. (19 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: I believe it is one of the companies. The file has not come to me to sign, so I do not want to speculate on it. There has been speculation. I am not in a position of having to go into all this because it has been done. I would be ready to roll it out if we could get agreement on the process. We must go to the Labour Relations Commission. I do not believe that is necessary given the quality of...

Driver Testing. (19 Oct 2005)

Martin Cullen: It is very cost effective.