Results 8,601-8,620 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Topical Issue Debate: Road Projects (4 Jul 2017)

Shane Ross: I will, of course, look on it as favourably as I possibly can. I am glad that the Deputy who has been in this position realises that the competing considerations are overwhelming in this case, particularly as the capital plan looms and decisions have to be made in the autumn. I will certainly bear in mind what he said about the ports and Shannon Airport. They are strong points. The...

Topical Issue Debate: Road Projects (4 Jul 2017)

Shane Ross: I thank the Deputy for raising this very important subject. He will be aware that I cannot make any commitment at this stage and that he is putting a case which is competing with many others in what is not a bottomless pit. I acknowledge the fact he has made a very good case for upgrading the N24, in particular when he mentioned the spatial strategy, which is important, and the fact the...

Seanad: Business of Seanad (4 Jul 2017)

Shane Ross: It could happen to a bishop.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Traffic Legislation (4 Jul 2017)

Shane Ross: While there is no licensing regime for drivers of animal-drawn vehicles comparable to the system of driver licensing for mechanically propelled vehicles, nor are animal-drawn vehicles subject to NCT-type tests, I have no plans at present to change the law in this regard. However, the same traffic driving rules apply to horse drawn vehicles and their drivers as do to drivers...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Greenways Development (4 Jul 2017)

Shane Ross: The National Transport Authority (NTA) is responsible for the delivery of cycling infrastructure in the GDA in cooperation with the relevant local authority. Given the NTA's involvement in this project I am forwarding the Deputy's question to the NTA for comment and direct response to you. If you have not received a further reply within 10 working days please...

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

Shane Ross: ​Intoxicated driving is widely acknowledged as one of the major causes of road traffic collisions. There is plenty of evidence available for the scale of drink driving, quite independently of the figures for preliminary breath tests, to which the Deputy refers. RSA research, published in 2016, indicates that alcohol was a contributory factor in 38% of fatal collisions in...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Coast Guard Services (4 Jul 2017)

Shane Ross: Following a competitive tender process a contract agreement for search and rescue helicopters was signed in July 2010 between the then Minister for Transport and CHC Ireland DAC. These Helicopters respond to emergencies at sea, inland waterways, offshore islands and mountains. The helicopters are operated by CHC Ireland DAC and the fully qualified crews are employees of...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Ministerial Meetings (4 Jul 2017)

Shane Ross: ​I met with Right Honorable Chris Grayling, Secretary of State for Transport at the Department for Transport Office in Westminster on 26 May last along with an Official from my Department. The meeting was at my request and the purpose was to discuss issues common to both UK and Ireland in relation to Brexit. The meeting was informative and constructive and covered...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Brexit Negotiations (4 Jul 2017)

Shane Ross: Officials from my Department are in regular contact with their UK counterparts, in London and Northern Ireland, at sectoral level including on Brexit related matters. In addition, the Secretary General of the Department, along with members of his Management Board and senior officials, met in London with their UK counterparts from the Department for Transport on 19...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Cycling Policy (4 Jul 2017)

Shane Ross: The creation of a safer cycling environment is a priority for me and I share the Deputy's concerns regarding the figures this year. Under the Sustainable Transport Measures Grants Programme, my Department provides funding to the National Transport Authority (NTA) for the seven local authorities in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) for the implementation of sustainable transport...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Transport Authority (4 Jul 2017)

Shane Ross: As the Deputy will appreciate, complaints or reports made to a State agency, in this case the National Transport Authority (NTA), are a matter for that agency. I have therefore referred your question to the NTA for direct reply to you. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within 10 working days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (4 Jul 2017)

Shane Ross: ​The issue raised is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) in conjunction with the transport providers and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (4 Jul 2017)

Shane Ross: ​The issues raised are matters for Bus Éireann and Bus Átha Cliath and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the Companies for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive responses within ten working days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Traffic Legislation (4 Jul 2017)

Shane Ross: ​The application of Special Speed Limits, i.e. speed limits other than the default speed limits, are provided for in Section 9 of the Road Traffic Act 2004, which gives local authorities the power to make bye-laws ("special speed limit bye-laws") in respect of any specified public road or specified part of a public road or specified carriageway or lane of a public road within...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (4 Jul 2017)

Shane Ross: ​The operation of the Driver Theory Test is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority. If the Deputy checks the theory test website - www.theorytest.ie- she will find that there are various options to assist people with difficulties with the test. These include a voice-over option where a recording reads out the questions, additional time provided, and the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Regional Airports (4 Jul 2017)

Shane Ross: ​The maximum level of grant aid that is permitted under the 2014 EU Guidelines on State aid to airports and airlinesfor capital projects at qualifying airports is 75% of the 'funding gap', i.e. the net present value of the difference between the positive and negative cash flows (including investment costs) over the lifetime of the project. However, the EU Guidelines provide that,...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: State Aid (4 Jul 2017)

Shane Ross: My Department has notified the European Commission that Fáilte Ireland's Grants Scheme for Large Tourism Projects, which was launched on 8 June 2016, will be seeking state aid exemptions in respect of the scheme. The scheme has a total fund of €65 million and runs from 2016-2021. The scheme seeks to avail of five categories under Commission Regulation (EU) No. 651/2014 of 17...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Olympic Council of Ireland (4 Jul 2017)

Shane Ross: I have issued no such emergency funding for either 2016 or 2017. Sport Ireland, which is funded by my Department, is the statutory body with responsibility for the promotion, development and co-ordination of sport. This includes responsibility for the allocation of funding for the Olympic Council of Ireland. ​As this is a matter for Sport Ireland, I have referred the Deputy's...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Olympic Games Ticketing Arrangements (4 Jul 2017)

Shane Ross: ​I expect to receive advice from the Office of the Attorney General in this matter at an early date, which I shall then consider as a matter of urgency. I will separately inform the Deputy once that advice is received. In relation to the 2017 funding arrangements from Sport Ireland to the Olympic Council of Ireland, the position remains that the board of Sport Ireland intends...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Greenways Development (4 Jul 2017)

Shane Ross: I propose to take Questions Nos. 531 and 532 together. Both Leitrim (with the support of Cavan) and Sligo County Councils submitted applications to my Department under the last tranche of the National Cycle Network (NCN) funding programme 2014-2016 for the construction of a greenway along the sections of the disused Sligo, Leitrim and Northern Counties (SLNCR) railway within their...