Results 9,061-9,080 of 10,035 for speaker:Martin Cullen

Written Answers — State Airports: State Airports (2 Nov 2004)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 172, 179 and 372 together. It is the policy of the Government to encourage as wide a range as possible of reliable, regular and competitive air services to and from Ireland. The central tenet of this policy is the belief that a strong, competitive and efficient network of air links are vitally important for developing our trade and tourism sectors,...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (2 Nov 2004)

Martin Cullen: Between 1998, the first full year of the operation of the Government Road Safety Strategy 1998 — 2002, and 2004, there have been significant and sustained increases in the funding made available to the road safety agencies under the aegis of my Department. Overall funding has grown from a total of €11.372 million in 1998 to €22.488 million in 2004, a rise of 97.7%. The funding made...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (2 Nov 2004)

Martin Cullen: EU Directive 2000/56 amends Annex 1 and Annex 2 of Council Directive 91/439 on driving licences by substituting some additional requirements and was to be implemented by 30 September 2003. The revised Annex 1 relates to some additional harmonised information codes on a driving licence which indicate restrictions on the type of vehicle to be used in certain circumstances, for example,...

Written Answers — Driving Tests: Driving Tests (2 Nov 2004)

Martin Cullen: The authorised complement of driver testing staff in my Department is 130 which includes supervisory-management grades and both permanent and contract staff. My Department is in discussions with the Department of Finance with a view to filling eight existing vacancies in this area definitively. I am confident that these discussions will conclude satisfactorily before the end of the year....

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (2 Nov 2004)

Martin Cullen: In the context of its decentralisation implementation plan, prepared in accordance with Department of Finance requirements, the NRA has indicated significant concerns about the impact of decentralisation to Ballinasloe, County Galway, on its ability to deliver the national roads programme. These concerns will be taken into account and addressed in the ongoing implementation of the...

Written Answers — Air Services: Air Services (2 Nov 2004)

Martin Cullen: Aer Lingus is mandated by my Department to operate in a commercial manner. It is, therefore, the responsibility of the board and management to operate the airline so that it can compete successfully and generate profits in this very difficult sector. It is my strong view that maintaining a strong, commercially successful airline is the best way of ensuring that Aer Lingus continues to meet...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (2 Nov 2004)

Martin Cullen: Under the decentralisation programme Bus Éireann headquarters posts are to be relocated to Mitchelstown. That position remains unchanged. To date, 86 posts suitable for decentralisation have been identified by the company. Whether existing employees move to fill these posts is a voluntary decision for those involved. To date no employee has indicated a wish to move and this clearly presents...

Written Answers — Road Network: Road Network (2 Nov 2004)

Martin Cullen: The National Roads Authority is currently undertaking the largest road building programme in the history of the State, made possible by record levels of Exchequer funding supplemented by private investment in respect of public private partnership schemes. Good progress is being made in the implementation of the programme. Over the period since 2000, 45 projects — 310 km. — have been...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (2 Nov 2004)

Martin Cullen: I understand that the Railway Procurement Agency and Connex are availing of every opportunity through the media and in direct meetings with community groups to remind people of all safety aspects of light rail operating in city streets. Consultation is also taking place between the RPA, Connex and the Garda Síochána on how to encourage motorists to respect red lights and other road...

Written Answers — Light Rail Project: Light Rail Project (2 Nov 2004)

Martin Cullen: The further development of the Luas network is the responsibility of the Railway Procurement Agency. The RPA is at present advancing plans for extensions of Luas to the Dublin Docklands and Cherrywood. These plans are based on private sector funding, captured through development levies from developers who own land along a proposed route. I understand from the RPA that good progress is being...

Written Answers — Infrastructural Projects: Infrastructural Projects (2 Nov 2004)

Martin Cullen: Iarnród Éireann recently submitted to my Department a strategy document that sets out the business case for the development of a greater Dublin integrated rail network. The proposal to construct an interconnector rail tunnel between Heuston Station and the docklands is a part of the plan. My Department is in the process of evaluating the business case at present. The current position in...

Written Answers — Traffic Management: Traffic Management (2 Nov 2004)

Martin Cullen: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 112, to which I replied earlier today.

Written Answers — Traffic Management: Traffic Management (2 Nov 2004)

Martin Cullen: I wish to ensure that as many practical measures as possible are taken to improve the movement of buses on the road network and thereby reduce journey times and congestion. In that regard, my Department is engaged in discussions with Bus Éireann, Dublin Bus, Dublin Transportation Office, the quality bus network project office and the National Roads Authority regarding the use of the hard...

Written Answers — Airport Development Projects: Airport Development Projects (2 Nov 2004)

Martin Cullen: Under the regional airports measure of the National Development Plan 2000-2006, funding has been made available towards infrastructural works and upgrades in facilities to maintain continued safe and viable operation of the six regional airports in Kerry, Waterford, Galway, Sligo, Knock, and Donegal. The programme is being implemented under two separate rounds, the first covering the period...

Written Answers — Taxi Hardship Panel: Taxi Hardship Panel (2 Nov 2004)

Martin Cullen: The taxi hardship panel was an independent three-person panel established in February 2002 to report in general terms on the nature and extent of extreme personal financial hardship that may have been experienced by individual taxi licence holders arising from loss of income as a direct result of the liberalisation of the taxi licensing regime, including an estimate of the numbers of...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (2 Nov 2004)

Martin Cullen: I understand that the opening of a rail line between Sallins and Tullow does not form part of Iarnród Éireann's medium-term strategic plan for the development of the rail network. The strategic rail review, conducted on behalf of my Department in 2003 to advise on the approach to be taken to rail development in the country over the next 20 years did not include the provision of services on...

Written Answers — Driving Instructor Register: Driving Instructor Register (2 Nov 2004)

Martin Cullen: I propose to take Questions Nos. 341, 342, 350, 351 and 359 together. I refer the Deputies to my reply to Question No. 154 on Thursday, 14 October, 2004. Proposals being developed by my Department for the regulation and quality assurance of driving instruction will involve a test of the competence of individual instructors. A working group comprising representatives of my Department and of...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (2 Nov 2004)

Martin Cullen: Talks on the reform of public transport between officials in my Department and the CIE unions, under an independent chair appointed by the Labour Relations Commission, were adjourned in mid-September. I am reviewing the developments which have taken place during these talks and the technical work which has been undertaken by my Department on the reform programme. I am also consulting with...

Written Answers — Disabled Drivers: Disabled Drivers (2 Nov 2004)

Martin Cullen: The Road Traffic (Traffic and Parking) Regulations 1997 empower local authorities, the Irish Wheelchair Association and the Disabled Drivers' Association, to grant a disabled person's parking permit where they are satisfied that the applicant is suffering from a disability that prevents him or her from walking or causes undue hardship to the person in walking. The qualifying criterion is...

Written Answers — Toll Revenues: Toll Revenues (2 Nov 2004)

Martin Cullen: The State's share of the West-Link gross toll revenue, also referred to as the licence fee, in each of the years 2001-03 is set out as follows. The licence fee payable in a year is based on the previous year's traffic volumes and is paid in May of the following year. Consequently the licence fee payable for 2004 is not as yet available. 2001 €9,219,706; 2002 €7,584,901; 2003...