Results 981-1,000 of 3,996 for speaker:Martin Kenny

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (4 Jul 2023)

Martin Kenny: 217. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to provide, in tabular form, the wait times facing those seeking a test for their full driving licence between 2018 and 2022. [32802/23]

Nursing Home Care: Motion [Private Members] (27 Jun 2023)

Martin Kenny: This motion is about trying to help a sector that we all know is in deep trouble. At the gates of Leinster House last week, I met many managers and owners of nursing homes. They did not come here because there were minor problems. They came here because there were serious issues, which have resulted in many smaller nursing homes being unable to survive on the payments known as the fair...

Offences against the State (Amendment) Act 1998 and Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act 2009: Motions (27 Jun 2023)

Martin Kenny: It is 21 years since we had the Hederman report on the Offences against the State Act. Many of that report's recommendations are similar to those of the report we have before us in the past week. I was thinking about this. We seem to have a situation whereby we generate reports continually but do not implement them or do much about them. That needs to change, and it needs to do so...

Apprenticeship and Further Education and Training: Statements (22 Jun 2023)

Martin Kenny: I welcome these statements on apprenticeships and further education and training developments. It is welcome that there are 67 different apprenticeship programmes in the country and I know some of them are doing exceptionally well. However, there are also difficulties and problems and we cannot hide away from them. I pay tribute to all of the companies which open up opportunities for young...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Road Projects (22 Jun 2023)

Martin Kenny: That is completely inappropriate. We need to get a commitment from all of the Government to build this road.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Road Projects (22 Jun 2023)

Martin Kenny: That is for improvement to the existing road.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Road Projects (22 Jun 2023)

Martin Kenny: I appreciate that. A major part of the national development plan is multi-annual funding, which is to ensure that the money is there into the future, not just for this year and sure we will see what happens next year. It is about making sure that we have a commitment to deliver. So far, the commitment is only for this year and then it stops. That is the problem. I appreciate the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Road Projects (22 Jun 2023)

Martin Kenny: 7. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to provide an update on engagement he has had in relation to the N17 upgrade. [30140/23]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Road Projects (22 Jun 2023)

Martin Kenny: I would like to find out what engagement there has been with Sligo County Council and Mayo County Council in regard to the upgrade of the N17. There is a proposal to build large sections of new road along the route. Farmers have had lands frozen for development for decades in anticipation of this project happening. As the Minister of State knows, the Minister, on a visit to Sligo a couple...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Road Projects (22 Jun 2023)

Martin Kenny: Projects in the national development plan are the responsibility of the TII or some other body to develop, propose and move forward. We continually hear that the Minister cannot interfere in these projects because someone else is doing them. It is a case of God bless it and good luck to it but the Minister cannot get involved. That is basically the answer. The Minister then arrives at a...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rail Network (22 Jun 2023)

Martin Kenny: I accept and understand that. Some progress is being made but unfortunately for many decades - in fact, for almost a century - for those in the west of Ireland it has been a case of waiting for the next report. The next report sits there and then they must wait for the next report. There will come a stage when we have reports about reports. We need action. We need things to be done,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rail Network (22 Jun 2023)

Martin Kenny: 3. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to detail what upgrades are currently under way in relation to rail infrastructure, including the western rail corridor, DART services, and MetroLink. [30196/23]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rail Network (22 Jun 2023)

Martin Kenny: I also want to speak to the Minister of State about rail infrastructure, upgrades and developments in respect of the western rail corridor, the DART service in Dublin which was supposed to get upgrades, and MetroLink which was in the news this morning due to observations on the planning application. These are vital pieces of infrastructure. On the western rail corridor, Waterford Port is...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rail Network (22 Jun 2023)

Martin Kenny: I accept and understand that. A couple of weeks ago the senior Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, was in Sligo and he told us that he wants to put a greenway on top of the part of the rail line running past Knock Airport from Charlestown to Collooney. It is part of the western rail corridor which is intact; the railway has briars and bushes overgrowing it and it needs to be cut back and cleaned...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Road Tolls (22 Jun 2023)

Martin Kenny: 1. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to provide an update on public private partnerships which facilitate tolls on eight of our motorways. [30139/23]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Road Tolls (22 Jun 2023)

Martin Kenny: My question is on the public private partnerships, PPPs, that facilitate the toll roads across the country. There have been recent increases in tolls and these have been very difficult for many motorists, especially those with large vehicles, trucks, buses, etc. The cost of living is bearing down hard on people. It is my view and that of many others that these toll roads were from the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Road Tolls (22 Jun 2023)

Martin Kenny: I take the point that the direction of travel of everything in the country is going up and it is related to the CPI. However, as inflation is going up in the country, the reality is that some things are pushing it up further than it needs to go and this issue with the toll roads is an example. To link the tolls to inflation does not make sense. I doubt the staff working in the toll...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Road Tolls (22 Jun 2023)

Martin Kenny: I understand that, but while there are contracts there the Minister of State must accept these were bad contracts. They did not work well for the public or the taxpayer. These contracts were win-win all the way for the toll companies and that continues to be the case. The Minister of State mentioned there will be a profit share if the volumes of traffic increase. There was also a...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Ports Policy (22 Jun 2023)

Martin Kenny: 70. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to outline any engagement he has had with management at Waterford Port, including any plans related to upgrading the current infrastructure in the area. [30141/23]

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (20 Jun 2023)

Martin Kenny: I ask the Taoiseach about the reliability and provision of public bus transport services in some areas. On Monday night at 1 a.m., an Expressway service bus left Sligo for Dublin Airport. It is supposed to stop in Boyle, just off the N4, at 1.35 a.m. but it did not and just drove straight past, leaving six people sitting with their bags and no bus. This is happening more often around the...