Results 9,121-9,140 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Transport (22 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I agree with both Deputies. There is nothing restricting us from carrying out projects outside of this scheme. I think of examples in my constituency of Dublin Bay South. There was a brilliant scheme, presented, as it happens, by a Fine Gael councillor with the support of my Green Party colleagues, to develop a quiet route to link up most of the schools in the suburbs around Ranelagh,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Transport (22 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I am very glad to hear that Glór na Mara National School in Tramore is leading the way. I agree with the Deputy. It is not just about the area around the local school but also about the routes used to get to that school. The prize here is a freeing up of parents' time if they do not have to drive but also great independence and freedom for children. Whether travelling by bus, on foot...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Transport (22 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 12, 76 and 187 together. I thank the Deputy for giving me the opportunity to clarify this important issue. As Deputies are aware, as part of budget 2022, I secured €25 million in funding for the introduction of a young adult card. It is my firm view that the young adult card will be of great benefit to young adults and will not only promote modal...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Transport (22 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: We will look at that as well. In response to Deputy Higgins's question on the timeframe, it will be within weeks. This has to be done quickly. It took a lot of work to get this done, especially to incorporate private bus operators. That was not a small project because of all the management and co-ordination involved. To have the ability to regulate, in effect, or monitor fares in a way...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Transport (22 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I will announce that on budget day, but I will be very much arguing for it because it is a very direct way of addressing the cost of living, especially for many students and younger people who face very high rents and difficulties in that sort of area. It is important we give them options around public transport. As I said, this measure can and will be introduced quickly. I am very glad it...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: School Transport (22 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 15 together. In March 2021, the Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Deputy Naughton, and I launched the safe routes to school, SRTS, programme, which aims to support walking, scooting and cycling to primary and post-primary schools and to create safer walking and cycling routes within communities, through the provision of infrastructure...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Bus Services (22 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: We will look at the various options. I will make a general point. There is bad weather today, the schools are back and offices are busier midweek than they otherwise might be. Many people will have seen that the traffic this morning was very heavy. The problem is that we do not have enough public transport. The solution to these problems is increased public transport and providing the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Bus Services (22 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: Yes.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Greenways Provision (22 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: It is a sightly complicated greenway. It is different from some of the others. I understand that Meath County Council is progressing the greenway as a joint greenway and river navigation restoration project. We are only responsible for the greenway part. However, the council put the schemes together, which makes it slightly complicated and different from other greenway projects. My...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Greenways Provision (22 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I mentioned the river navigation aspect because my officials said to me that it slightly complicates matters. That is an issue that Meath County Council must consider. However, that should not stop us. I agree with the Deputy that the time it takes us to deliver transport projects is too long and deeply frustrating. We often engage in public consultation and then it is only years later...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Greenways Provision (22 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: That is an important link. With e-bikes and so on, people would be able to use that as a real connection. I agree that we need to speed things up. The Deputy should address with Meath County Council why it is dealing with the project in that way.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Greenways Provision (22 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: TII has a key role here. It is very good at delivering infrastructure. It has been doing it for several decades. It has delivered motorways and other programmes. It is systematic in its approach. Deputy Tóibín is correct that we should extend the route from Trim to the Royal Canal greenway, which would result in mesh networks. Many people will go for a 60 km, 70 km, 80 km or...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Expenditure (22 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I recall the Deputy and I having several conversations on that. The prioritising of roads is something that TII has a central role in. It does all work in this entire capital budget. There is not too much negotiation with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform on the capital side, because the figures are set out in the national development plan. The approach to take in investment...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Bus Services (22 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I am sorry to hear that the Deputy's train was late this morning and that he, like Deputy Tóibín, had difficulty getting to the Dáil, which may account for some of the reordering of questions we have had to do. First, as I have mentioned, the performance of all public transport operators is monitored by the NTA as part of the contractual arrangements in place between it and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Bus Services (22 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I agree with the Deputy. As I said earlier, if companies are not delivering on the terms of the contract and the service level agreements, there have to be consequences. The NTA has that stick with which to impose fines. The operators that cannot meet service standards cannot expect that they will retain and continue to provide services on particular routes. It is a problem. There is an...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Transport Policy (22 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The strategy will include a feasibility study on light rail in Galway. I mentioned that specifically in my response. I would not read anything into the lines where it was not mentioned. The process in Galway will be similar to Cork. I would like Galway City and County Council to put in high-quality bus corridors, the likes of this cross-city routes such as the Dublin Road, which will go...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Transport Policy (22 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: The strategy has to start before the end of the year so this is not in some distant future. This has to start in the next number of months-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Transport Policy (22 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: Yes, and the work on the whole new strategy that we have to start straightaway. Specifically and very pointedly in my response, I said that that must include a feasibility study for light rail in Galway city. There are other elements such as park and ride, active travel, where we have had such difficulty in Galway and BusConnects. There are also ongoing upgrades to the rail system around...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Expenditure (22 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 23 together. In response to the Deputy’s query, the total capital funding allocated to the Department for investment in 2022 is €2.547 billion. As of the end of August 2022, €926.116 million in capital was profiled for expenditure and €707 million was issued. The variance was €219.110 million. In addition,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Expenditure (22 Sep 2022)

Eamon Ryan: I agree with the Deputy. One of the key investments we need to make is in the protection and renewal of existing assets. As they Deputy will be aware, if we let a road go it costs far more to bring it back when there is structural damage, potholes and so on. It is far better to invest now in maintaining the road surface, the network and the drains. That saves money in the long run. We...