Results 12,061-12,080 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network Expansion (19 Jul 2016)

Shane Ross: The Programme for Partnership Government includes a commitment to provide for an independent costing and review of a proposal to extend the Western Rail Corridor by linking Athenry and Claremorris.  Along with my officials I am currently considering how best to progress this commitment. The Programme also commits that no measure will be taken to prevent the future reactivation...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Procurement Contracts (19 Jul 2016)

Shane Ross: The business case for the Master Licence Record project was approved by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the tenders for the resources required for the initial analysis phase of the project were published on 27 May 2016. The responses have been received from interested vendors in relation to these tenders and are currently being evaluated. The...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects Expenditure (19 Jul 2016)

Shane Ross: ​The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads in its area is a statutory function of local authorities in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act, 1993.  Works on such roads are a matter for the relevant local authority to be funded from its own resources supplemented by State road grants.  The initial selection and prioritisation of...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network Expansion (19 Jul 2016)

Shane Ross: The estimated cost of the overall DART expansion programme is €4bn of which the tunnel element, as originally designed, was to cost €3bn.  As the Deputy will be aware, the business case for the DART  underground was reviewed in 2015 and the National Transport Authority (NTA) recommended that the project be redesigned to provide a lower cost technical solution,...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Industrial Disputes (19 Jul 2016)

Shane Ross: I have been consistently clear that issues relating to pay and conditions are a matter for agreement between the relevant employer and their employees. In addition, the Deputy will be aware of the important role played in recent months by the Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court as they have assisted and are continuing to assist the various parties in the CIE...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aviation Industry Regulations (19 Jul 2016)

Shane Ross: ​I am not aware of any difficulties with US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) services at Dublin Airport.  All flights wishing to avail of preclearance during the 2016 Summer Season have been facilitated.  This has been achieved though effective co-operation between the relevant parties aimed at improving efficiency and throughput in the facilities. However, given...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Wage-setting Mechanisms (19 Jul 2016)

Shane Ross: I recently had an introductory meeting with the Chairperson and Chief Operating Officer of CIE and we discussed a wide range of issues relating to the challenges and opportunities facing the CIE Group. Obviously the fact that there are currently a number of pay related discussions under way involving the CIE subsidiary companies was raised at that meeting as one...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Military Aircraft Landings (19 Jul 2016)

Shane Ross: Shannon Airport has informed my Department that ​the number of soldiers of the United States of America who have passed through Shannon Airport to end June in 2016 is 25,890.  The monthly breakdown is January - 5999; February - 3679; March - 3668; April - 4182; May - 3811; June - 4551. The number of requests my Department received to date in 2016 from...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Airport Development Projects (19 Jul 2016)

Shane Ross: The daa has statutory responsibility for the management, operation and development of Dublin Airport.  In line with this responsibility, it is a matter for daa to ensure that the necessary infrastructure is in place to facilitate the development of the airport and that there is sufficient capacity to meet existing and future demand. I recently met with senior officials of daa to...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Services Provision (19 Jul 2016)

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.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network Expansion (19 Jul 2016)

Shane Ross: ​The current position regarding the funding of the railways in Ireland is that the bulk of funding is provided to Iarnród Eireann for the maintenance and renewal of the heavy rail network.  Analysis has shown that the Exchequer contribution for the heavy rail network per annum is considerably below the amount required to maintain the existing network. In an...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Ports Policy (19 Jul 2016)

Shane Ross: The Harbours Act 2015 provides the legislative basis for one of the key recommendations in National Ports policy, namely that governance of five ports of Regional Significance should vest in more appropriate local authority led governance structures. Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company, as a port of Regional Significance, is designated under the policy for transfer to Dún Laoghaire...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Haulage Industry Regulation (19 Jul 2016)

Shane Ross: The maximum weight limits and dimensions of goods vehicles in the European Union (EU) are set by EC Directive 96/53/EC and were incorporated into Irish law by the Road Traffic (Construction and Use of Vehicles) Regulations, S.I. No. 5 of 2003.  While Directive 96/53/EC sets maximum limits for vehicles moving between jurisdictions within the EU, it does not impose an absolute...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Sector Staff Remuneration (19 Jul 2016)

Shane Ross: ​I am of course aware that the three CIE subsidiary companies and the trade unions have been, and are currently engaged, in a number of processes facilitated by the Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court with a view to reaching agreement on different issues including pay. Those processes will I am sure take cognisance of the particular circumstances of each...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Aviation Issues (19 Jul 2016)

Shane Ross: ​The primary purpose of national aviation policy is to provide sustainable, safe, secure and efficient air transport services in accordance with Irish and international civil aviation law and policy.  The Air Navigation (Carriage of Munitions of War, Weapons and Dangerous Goods) Order 1973, as amended, implements in Irish law the provisions of the Chicago...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Policy (19 Jul 2016)

Shane Ross: Decisions on the transport elements of the Capital Plan were framed by the conclusions reached in my Department’s Strategic Investment Framework for Land Transport. Based on the findings in that report it is envisaged that maintenance and renewal of our land transport network will continue to be the main priority over the next period and the bulk of the capital budget is earmarked for...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Improvement Schemes (19 Jul 2016)

Shane Ross: I agree with the Deputy that drainage is an issue of particular importance that local authorities need to give consideration to in their work programmes. However, it must be stated that the improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority. Works on those roads are funded from local authorities own resources supplemented by...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: National Trails Office (19 Jul 2016)

Shane Ross: ​I am taking the Deputy's question to relate to the Blueway network of water trails along the west coast of Ireland. The National Trails Office, which is operated by Sport Ireland along with Fáilte Ireland, Waterways Ireland, and a number of National Governing Bodies including Canoeing Ireland, the Irish Underwater Council and the Irish Sailing Association and other...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Network (19 Jul 2016)

Shane Ross: ​Bus lanes were introduced, at considerable public expense, to provide on-street priority for bus-based public transport. In addition to buses, cyclists are allowed in bus lanes because they are inherently vulnerable road users and are safer in those lanes, and emergency services are also allowed to use the lanes. Taxis are permitted to use them because they are a public transport...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Airport Security (19 Jul 2016)

Shane Ross: ​I can confirm that my Department engaged Helios in 2015 to conduct an examination of the functions of Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) in accordance with Section 32 of the Irish Aviation Authority Act 1993. My Department, with the approval of Government, has published the Executive Summary of the Report on the Department website. However, a decision was taken by the...