Results 9,561-9,580 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Topical Issue Debate: Bus Éireann (4 Apr 2017)

Shane Ross: I thank the Deputies for their constructive responses. I welcome this afternoon's announcement that both parties have accepted an invitation from the WRC to recommence discussions. I hope that they can use this opportunity to agree an acceptable and fair deal. The travelling public in particular will expect that the parties can come to an agreement that allows for an end to this recent...

Topical Issue Debate: Bus Éireann (4 Apr 2017)

Shane Ross: I have intervened where I believe it to be appropriate for me as Minister to do so. I have intervened to secure increased funding for those socially necessary but financially non-viable PSO services. Bus Éireann benefitted from that increase last year and will benefit again this year. I have intervened to state publicly my commitment to increasing that PSO allocation in future budgets...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Reports (4 Apr 2017)

Shane Ross: ​As the Deputy is aware, a public consultation process held by the National Transport Authority to start a national debate on the current and future role of rail transport in Ireland  was launched in November 2016. The public consultation was launched with the publication of a Rail Review 2016 report-which examined the funding required to support the heavy rail network both now...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Sports Capital Programme Data (4 Apr 2017)

Shane Ross: A list of all the applications submitted under the 2017 Sports Capital Programme is available on the Department's website at

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Car Test (4 Apr 2017)

Shane Ross: Currently, there are two options available to motorists who wish to have their vehicles tested before their NCT due date. They may either have their vehicle tested up to 90 days in advance of their test due date without affecting the validity period of the test certificate issued or the next test due date. Alternatively, a vehicle may be submitted for voluntary...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Industrial Disputes (4 Apr 2017)

Shane Ross: ​The issue raised is a matter for Bus Éireann and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the Company 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: Road Safety Authority Data (4 Apr 2017)

Shane Ross: ​The recent revelations about Garda figures for numbers of preliminary breath tests conducted, while deeply concerning, do not have any relation to the drink driving figures produced by the Road Safety Authority (RSA), which rely on a different data set. The Garda figures which have recently been shown to be inaccurate are figures for the number of preliminary breath tests carried...

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

Shane Ross: I have referred the Deputy's question to the Road Safety Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response is not received within 10 days.

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

Shane Ross: I propose to take Questions Nos. 634 and 635 together. As the Deputy is aware, the improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads (including bridges) in Tipperary is the statutory responsibility of Tipperary County Council, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from the Council's own resources supplemented by State...

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

Shane Ross: ​Due to the major cutbacks in roads funding arising from the financial crisis, it was necessary for my Department to cease making separate allocations to local authorities in 2012 in respect of the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS). Details of the allocations in respect of LIS to local authorities for 2010 and 2011 were as follows; ​Year ​Total LIS Allocation...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Drug and Alcohol Testing (4 Apr 2017)

Shane Ross: ​Preliminary testing for the presence of drugs in drivers is provided for in the Road Traffic Act 2016.  It is my intention to commence the provisions relating to such tests from 13 April next. The recent revelations about the counting of numbers of preliminary breath tests conducted by An Garda Síochána, while deeply concerning, do not have an impact on the...

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

Shane Ross: As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy in relation to roads.  The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects on national roads are a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (formerly known as the NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the relevant local authority.  For regional and local...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences Renewals (4 Apr 2017)

Shane Ross: ​The operation of the National Driver Licensing Service is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority, and I have no role in individual cases.I have therefore referred the Question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Information (4 Apr 2017)

Shane Ross: The Department's Customer Service Action Plan 2017-2019 was published earlier this year.  The service standards and indicators in this Customer Service Action Plan are set out in accordance with the 12 Guiding Principles of Quality Customer Service.  One of these principles is Choice where we commit to providing choice in service delivery to our customers.  One of the...

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

Shane Ross: I propose to take Questions Nos. 647 and 648 together. During the lifetime of the previous Road Safety Strategy, 2007-2012, fatalities among cyclists declined by 66%. While it is always difficult to keep up the downward momentum in fatalities, the current Road Safety Strategy (RSS) 2013-2020 contains a number of measures to make cyclists safer.  Key to this are educational and public...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Mountain Rescue Service (4 Apr 2017)

Shane Ross: The National Co-ordinating Committee for Mountain and Cave Rescue (NCCMCR) was established in 1983 and has been chaired by the Irish Coast Guard of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport since 2002. The Committee meets twice a year. The Committee is currently chaired by the Volunteer Services and Training Manager of the Coast Guard, who ensures that any wider issues that require...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (4 Apr 2017)

Shane Ross: I propose to take Questions Nos. 650 and 651 together. As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to addressing the effects of climate change.  The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the Greater Dublin Area Transport Strategy 2016 to 2035. Noting the NTA's responsibility in the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: EU Regulations (4 Apr 2017)

Shane Ross: EU Regulation No. 598/2014 entered into force in June 2016 and is directly applicable in the State.  Upon publication of the draft proposal by the European Commission, officials of my Department undertook a consultation process with those statutory bodies that have roles in this area to best inform Ireland's position on the negotiation of the proposal.  The Regulation...

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

Shane Ross: I intend to meet the newly appointed President of the Olympic Council of Ireland (OCI) in the near future and arrangements for the meeting will be finalised soon. I have not been provided with any updates, briefings or drafts of the internal OCI report referred to by the Deputy. As I have outlined in response to other Parliamentary Questions, sporting...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport Fares (4 Apr 2017)

Shane Ross: ​The issue raised is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) 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.