Results 7,521-7,540 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Other Questions: Ports Facilities (22 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: I point out to Deputy Wallace that the most recent audited financial results from Iarnród Éireann for 2016 show the Rosslare Europort division made a surplus after tax of almost €2.5 million.

Other Questions: Ports Facilities (22 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: That is what it managed to do.

Other Questions: Ports Facilities (22 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: Irish Ports operate as an independent commercial company and planning and preparation for Brexit are operational matters for the ports. I am planning to soon meet my British counterparts and I undertake to Deputy Browne that I will raise the issue with them. As the Deputy said, it is a complicated historic issue that might have to eventually be resolved by way of simultaneous legislation in...

Other Questions: Ports Facilities (22 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: I acknowledge the importance of the port. It is in Deputy Browne's constituency. It is the second biggest sea port in the State in terms of ship movements, tourist traffic and unitised freight. Despite what was said here, revenue is up 1% overall year on year at €10.6 million reflecting a 4.5% increase in passenger cars and a 4.3% increase in roll-on roll-off freight units, while the...

Other Questions: Road Projects Status (22 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in respect of the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Within its capital budget, the...

Other Questions: Road Projects Status (22 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: I cannot give that commitment to the Deputy in this situation, and I do not think he expects me to. A lot of progress has been made. I will not say that it is ungrateful, because I do not expect gratitude from anybody for anything, but it should be recognised that TII has been allocated progressive and increasing amounts of money. I will repeat that €4 million was allocated to the...

Other Questions: Road Projects Status (22 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: The road is happening and it is going to happen. It is not happening at the pace which the Deputy, understandably, would require. The considerable sums being spent on the project are proof of the commitment to it. The option of accelerating the construction of some of the Building on Recovery schemes, including the Ballyvourney to Macroom scheme, was considered. This was not possible...

Other Questions: Services for People with Disabilities (22 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: The National Disability Inclusion Strategy 2017-2021, NDIS, was launched by my colleague, the Minister of State with special responsibility for disability, Deputy Finian McGrath, last July. This is a whole-of-Government approach aimed at improving the lives of people with disabilities. The NDIS contains precise and measurable actions and timescales for delivery, including in the areas of...

Other Questions: Traffic Management (22 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: Traffic plans are hopeless if one does not have an environmentally friendly way, which the Deputy addressed, of getting children to school which gets them out of cars. We have a larger role here, not just in Dublin or the Deputy's area but on a national level, to get children cycling and participating in walking, cycling and sustainable travel initiatives, which are in my Department's remit....

Other Questions: Public Transport Initiatives (22 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: As the Deputy is aware, BusConnects, which was launched earlier this year by the National Transport Authority, NTA, is a plan to transform Dublin's bus system fundamentally so that journeys for passengers by bus will be fast, reliable, punctual, convenient and affordable. It represents a reimagining of bus transport for the Dublin region. It encompasses the revamping of all aspects of the...

Other Questions: Public Transport Initiatives (22 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: Much of what Deputy Wallace said is right. We are bad performers and we have missed our targets. We do not have a record about which we could hold our heads high. Public transport is a contributor to that. There is no point in denying it. We are making large strides, particularly in the bus area but also elsewhere, with ambitious and renewed targets to remedy the situation of which we...

Other Questions: Public Transport Initiatives (22 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: The State takes climate change seriously, as does our Department. It was not taken seriously enough in the past and we had targets which may have been too ambitious but were there all the same. The green public transport fund was established to cover the difference in price between those buses which were diesel-fuelled, hybrids and other forms of environmentally friendly, low emissions...

Other Questions: Rugby World Cup 2023 (22 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: The Deputy's comments probably are more controversial than mine will be. We did everything we possibly could to secure a successful bid. On the question of lobbying, the answer is that, yes, there was lobbying and plenty of it. We are not ashamed of the fact we lobbied and put our case. Politicians lobbied and the Irish Rugby Football Union lobbied. Members of the Opposition lobbied, and...

Other Questions: Rugby World Cup 2023 (22 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: A sum of €50 million has been allocated in the budget for large-scale projects, and stadium projects certainly could be considered eligible candidates for that funding. I do not know whether the Deputy is giving credit to the criticisms of our stadium infrastructure. Commitments were given in this regard and they were solid, bullet-proof and Government-sponsored. I remain of the...

Other Questions: Traffic Management (22 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: A traffic management plan for a particular area is primarily a matter for the relevant local authority, in this case Dublin City Council. There are, however, some supports designed at central government level that can assist both local authorities and local entities, including schools, in better managing traffic and its impact on their area. The sustainable transport measures grants,...

Other Questions: Traffic Management (22 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: As I said, the local authority should be the lead in this. I am not attempting to pass the buck in saying that I do not consider myself to have any great role in this. If I can play a constructive role in bringing people together, then I will do so. However, the first port of call probably should be the local authority when it comes to bringing stakeholders together. My guess, moreover,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Transport Infrastructure Provision (22 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: I take the Deputy's point about imagination and ambition. The problem is that we do not have money. Light rail was found to be too ambitious in terms of a lack of market demand for it. If there is a business case for it, we will look at the issue again. The decision was made that there was not a good business case for light rail at the time. There is definitely an attempt to address the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Transport Infrastructure Provision (22 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: If the Deputy can make a fresh case for light rail which makes economical commercial sense I will be very happy to discuss it with her. As the Deputy is aware, we have limited funds. If she can make a case that is convincing and stands up to scrutiny I will be delighted to review it with her. On the budget, regional cities and an environmentally-friendly solution, the Deputy knows the...

Other Questions: Rugby World Cup 2023 (22 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: I thank the Deputy for his question and remarks. Before I respond to the question, I congratulate France on its win. I wish it every success as it turns its attention to delivering an outstanding tournament in 2023. Wednesday's result was disappointing, particularly after the years of work put into the bid. However, in our disappointment, we should not lose sight of the fact that the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Public Transport (22 Nov 2017)

Shane Ross: As the Deputy will be aware, it is the responsibility of the National Transport Authority, NTA, to conduct the current public procurement process relating to the tendering out of 10% of the public service obligation, PSO, bus network. The NTA is undertaking this by way of three separate competitions: Dublin metropolitan, Dublin commuter and Waterford. It is well recognised that good public...