Results 8,061-8,080 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects Expenditure (10 Oct 2017)

Shane Ross: Proposals to deliver an upgraded route linking Dundalk to Sligo, taking in Cavan, involve linking elements of the national road network and regional roads along as direct a route as possible. Essentially the route involves upgrade/realignment works on the regional routes from Dundalk to Cavan and on national routes from Cavan to Sligo. The latter would involve a route that passes through...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network Expansion (10 Oct 2017)

Shane Ross: I propose to take Questions Nos. 572 and 573 together. The Programme for Partnership Government includes a commitment to provide for an independent costing and review of the Western Rail Corridor Phase Two between Athenry and Claremorris for passenger and freight use. The role of heavy rail in Ireland's transport sector is currently under review. The National Transport Authority...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Greenways Development (10 Oct 2017)

Shane Ross: The extension of the Great Southern Trail to Tralee is a matter for Kerry County Council. Accordingly, the Council would be better placed to update the Deputy on progress. I understand that Limerick County Council is also working on improving the quality of the Great Southern Trail and is also seeking to extend the route to Limerick City. The Deputy may be aware that my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Lobbying Data (10 Oct 2017)

Shane Ross: Since the commencement of the Lobbying Act 2015 from 1 September 2015, all lobbyists who come under the Act are required to register and to provide information regularly about their lobbying activities. The Deputy can access details of such activities at the following website In relation to the Public Health (Alcohol) Bill in particular, which is currently before Seanad Eireann, this...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (10 Oct 2017)

Shane Ross: I propose to take Questions Nos. 577 and 596 to 599, inclusive, together. As Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and operation of individual road projects is a matter for the Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Greenways Development (10 Oct 2017)

Shane Ross: The Strategic Investment Framework recommended the development of a new rail policy and last year the National Transport Authority (NTA) and Iarnród Éireann published the Rail Review Report 2016 on which the NTA held a public consultation. Over 300 submissions were received by the NTA in response to that consultation process which have now all been examined. The NTA submitted a...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rural Transport Programme Data (10 Oct 2017)

Shane Ross: In recognition of the value and benefit of rural transport to many communities, the Programme for a Partnership Government undertakes to examine how best to improve integration of services in the rural bus network within regions, and proposed that a report about this should be provided to the relevant Oireachtas Committee. Work on this matter is still underway, so such a report has not yet...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Network (10 Oct 2017)

Shane Ross: Given its role in relation to national roads TII's input is taken into account in drafting capital expenditure programmes but TII does not have a policy role in relation to regional and local roads. As Minister, therefore, I have to take an overview of overall Departmental policy not alone regarding the national, regional and local road network but across all the sectors for which the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Network (10 Oct 2017)

Shane Ross: I propose to take Questions Nos. 581 to 583, inclusive, together. As the Deputy is aware, the Capital Plan sets out transport investment priorities to 2022. The decisions on the transport elements of the Capital Plan were framed by the conclusions reached in my Department’s Strategic Investment Framework for Land Transport. Based on the findings in that report it is envisaged that...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Brexit Issues (10 Oct 2017)

Shane Ross: Since the UK voted to leave the EU, my department has been fully engaged in evaluating the ensuing risks for tourism and, together with the tourism agencies, working to address those risks. The department's analysis of the situation was greatly assisted by the All-Island sectorial meeting I hosted with the industry in January which examined the impact of Brexit on the tourism and hospitality...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Promotion (10 Oct 2017)

Shane Ross: The Government's Tourism Policy Statement "People, Place and Policy – Growing Tourism to 2025" was launched in March 2015. The main targets contained in the Tourism Policy Statement, to be achieved by 2025, are as follows: - Overseas tourism revenue to increase to €5 billion net of inflation, compared to €3.5 billion in 2014; - Overseas visits to Ireland to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Promotion (10 Oct 2017)

Shane Ross: The Government's Tourism Policy Statement "People, Place and Policy – Growing Tourism to 2025" was launched in March 2015. The main targets contained in the Tourism Policy Statement, to be achieved by 2025, are as follows: - Overseas tourism revenue to increase to €5 billion net of inflation, compared to €3.5 billion in 2014; - Overseas visits to Ireland to increase to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Data (10 Oct 2017)

Shane Ross: Statistics published by the Central Statistics Office show that in the five year period between 2011 and 2016, the number of overseas visits to Ireland increased by 47.3%. This increase can be broken down further as follows – - 36.3% increase in visits from Great Britain - 44.6% increase in visits from Mainland Europe - 83.2% increase in visits from North America - 54.2% increase...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Promotion (10 Oct 2017)

Shane Ross: I am keen to see the further development of greenways across the country, fully recognising the tourism potential, along with the economic and health benefits that greenways can bring to local communities. To that end my Department recently undertook a public consultation process to inform the new Greenway Strategy which is currently being developed. I was very impressed by the level of...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sports Events (10 Oct 2017)

Shane Ross: On 25 September, the Taoiseach and I spearheaded the delegation that presented Ireland's bid to host the Rugby World Cup tournament in 2023. The delegation included, amongst others, Dick Spring, Chairman, Ireland 2023 Oversight Board; Philip Browne, Chief Executive, IRFU; David Sterling, Head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service; and Brian O'Driscoll, Ireland's Bid Ambassador. Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Tourism Data (10 Oct 2017)

Shane Ross: The matter raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for the Board and Management of Tourism Ireland. I have referred the Deputy's Question to Tourism Ireland for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

Death of Former Taoiseach: Expressions of Sympathy (5 Oct 2017)

Shane Ross: On behalf of the Independent Alliance, I join with the sympathy that has been expressed to the Cosgrave family and to the late Liam Cosgrave's friends. Today, I suppose we are marking the final departure of Liam Cosgrave after a very long life and a long career. My most vivid memory of him is, in fact, what was his first departure. Some Members of this House will remember it. When, in...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (4 Oct 2017)

Shane Ross: As Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to 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 1993-2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. This also applies to the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Motor Tax (4 Oct 2017)

Shane Ross: Motor tax can be paid on an annual, half-yearly or quarterly basis. The rates of duty for half-yearly and quarterly motor tax are set at a higher rate than a pro-rata proportion of the annual rate of duty. The differential takes account of the extra workload for staff in motor tax offices and my own Department, which operates the online motor tax system, as well as the resultant...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (4 Oct 2017)

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