Results 7,421-7,440 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Improvement Schemes (30 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: Road improvement and maintenance (including footways and footpaths)  together with traffic management measures within its area of responsibility is the statutory responsibility of each local authority funded by its own resources supplemented by grant funding. The Department does not, therefore, hold the information requested by the Deputy.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (30 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: I share the concerns of local residents, teachers and parents of school children in the area. However, the issues raised are primarily matters for the National Transport Authority (NTA) and I have forwarded the Deputy's questions to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response from the NTA within ten working days.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Supplementary) (29 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: I thank the members for coming to consider this technical Supplementary Estimate for the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. The entirety of this Supplementary Estimate is taken up with one project, namely Luas cross-city. Luas cross-city will shortly begin operations and will provide a real benefit to our transport infrastructure. The Luas network has been a huge success story for...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Supplementary) (29 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: I will address Deputy Troy's question first. Extra money is not being sought but, rather, there is a transfer of €12.5 million. Under the provisions of the Act, I have to give a ministerial direction for money to be taken from the TII pot, which then comes in to the Department. The money goes on a quite circuitous route. It is collected from developers and goes to local...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Supplementary) (29 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: That is correct.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Supplementary) (29 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: The levies are imposed along the Cherrywood and docklands lines.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Supplementary) (29 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: That is correct.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Supplementary) (29 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: Something else.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Supplementary) (29 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: The Deputy is correct. There is a mismatch in terms of years. The process allocates funds collected in respect of past construction to another area. The funds go into the TII pot and are then allocated out. That is why it ended up funding the Luas cross-city. A huge amount of extra money is involved but it is not a Supplementary Estimate. I do not have any details in regard to the...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Supplementary) (29 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: I will find out the relevant information for the Deputy. I am sorry about the difficulties experienced by Deputy O'Keeffe and that Luas cross-city does not currently address those concerns. We are addressing many issues of that sort. There is an issue outside the Dublin area which we are addressing that I suspect I should not discuss now because it does not regard the Luas cross-city but...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Supplementary) (29 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: I apologise. I have a note on the issue which might have been circulated to the Deputy that I will read out because we anticipate the issue will be addressed. As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for policy and the funding of public transport. I am not involved in the issue the Deputy addressed, which is the day-to-day operations of public transport, but I...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Supplementary) (29 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: It comes from developers. As the Deputy knows, there is a levy on developments along Luas lines. As I outlined in response to Deputy Troy, the money from the levies is collected by the relevant local authority. The route it takes is somewhat circuitous, the reason for which I do not know but which is required under the Act. It goes from the local authority to TII, then to the Department,...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Supplementary) (29 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: I am happy to take that question. The Deputy is right that €150 million came from the European Investment Bank. The funds for the scheme have come from the European Investment Bank by way of a loan of €150 million, the Exchequer and TII reserves, mainly made up of development levies. On the amount of land zoned, it would be speculative to say how much has been zoned and...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Supplementary) (29 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: My officials do not have estimates, but we will follow up with a note, about which we will have to ask TII.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Supplementary) (29 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: On EU funds, I think we have had that discussion before. We are committed to using the funds as far as we possibly can. There are some restrictions, but we are committed to applying provided that the rates and conditions are right.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2017
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Supplementary) (29 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: I am advised that we are using as much as we can under current fiscal rules. We are very close to the ceiling, but when it changes, we will use the Juncker fund as a possible source of funding in the future if the rates are right.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Road Projects Status (29 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: I thank the Senator for raising this important subject. Although I get an enormous number of requests of this sort as Topical Issues in the Dáil and as Commencement matters here, it does matter. It would be wrong for me to say that when the Senator raises matters of this sort, they are disregarded, disposed of or ignored or that we are going through the motions. There are hundreds and...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Road Projects Status (29 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: I thank the Senator. The fact he has made representations on this will make it more likely rather than less likely to happen within that timetable.

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015: Statements (29 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: It is a pleasure to attend the House for the second time today, which is twice more than I often attended while a Member of the House. It is good to be here.

Seanad: Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2015: Statements (29 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: I thank the Leas-Chathaoirleach. It is clear that Ireland faces a considerable challenge to transition to a low carbon and climate resilient economy by 2050. The transport sector has a critical role to play in achieving this national objective. We must develop approaches that reduce emissions and enable the sector to adapt to the impacts of climate change without impeding social progress...