Results 12,221-12,240 of 19,173 for speaker:Shane Ross

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (29 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: It is for all regional airports.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (29 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: Yes, any of the regional airports can apply for funding. The idea that the total allocation would go to Waterford Airport is not the case.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (29 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: It will be in the Estimates from 2017.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (29 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: Yes.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (29 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: I am not happy. I spoke to the European Commissioner when I was in Luxemburg recently. She was not happy either with the progress being made and the fact that this is being obstructed by various parties in the United States. As the Deputy knows, it is causing a great deal of difficulties in Cork. Such a service could give a high level of employment. There is a blockage in the United...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (29 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: It has not been signed as of yet. I will be meeting representatives from the Dublin Airport Authority to discuss this issue next week. One of my concerns is that the original cost has risen from €250 million to €320 million. There are obvious concerns about noise, which is an issue for residents in the area. The Dublin Airport Authority is in discussions with a large number...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (29 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: I am very happy to take questions on the concerns of residents near the airport if the Chairman decides I should do so.

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (29 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: I answered a question on this in the Dáil. I cannot answer the Deputy's question on how genuine it is. I have asked it to meet the residents on a regular basis, which it agreed to do, and they have had meetings. I will try to ensure that a State monopoly of this sort does not abuse its position. I take the matter quite seriously. Although the runway cannot, and should not, be...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (29 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: Programme B, land transport, is the largest programme by far in the Department's Vote, representing 80% of my overall budget. A large portion of this is capital investment. The main components of the programme are roads improvement and maintenance funding with an overall budget of €720 million, the public transport investment programme at €347 million and public service...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (29 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: I will take Deputy Troy's questions first. The figure for motor tax receipts is €1.1 billion. The €16 million capital was carried forward because certain projects have been delayed a bit. The money is not lost and will be spent. I take the Deputy's point about the €500 million for the maintenance of roads and a very large amount of the capital budget goes towards the...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (29 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: In the first place, we will have to see how they deal with it because they are negotiating and we are hands off at the moment. I do not, however, want to see industrial relations problems in semi-State companies. Nor do I want to see something similar breaking out to what happened with Luas. I acknowledge the fact that the unions will be eyeing the settlements made in the Luas case. It...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (29 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: Deputy Fitzpatrick asked about the local improvement scheme, which I know is important to people, in particular those outside Dublin. Local roads have gone into disrepair and there has been a lack of funding for the repairs. This is a matter of great disappointment to many Deputies. As the committee is probably aware, it is now being given support in the programme for Government. While...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (29 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: I will do that at some stage. There is additional funding promised in the programme for Government for green ways. This is a project and a concept that is reasonably new to me but I find it extremely attractive. They are not just environmentally attractive. They can also bring in tourists as well as be attractive from a sport and clean living perspective. We should embrace and encourage...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (29 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: As Deputy Catherine Murphy has to go at 10.30 a.m., I will take her questions first. Deputy Catherine Murphy spoke of the relationship between roads and public transport. The 2016 breakdown shows a 43% spend on roads and a 35% spend on public transport. The answer to the Deputy's question, of course, is that both of them need a great deal more funding. I certainly would be open to ideas...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (29 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: By the end of the capital plan it is intended that public transport and roads should be virtually in equilibrium. The relationship should be changed by 2022. It will be moving in the direction the Deputy suggests. The Leap card is spectacularly successful. It is a fantastic achievement. I do not have the figures in front of me but there has been a massive increase in the past year. We...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (29 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: We discussed this already. I will provide Deputy Munster with more specific figures after the meeting. The overall figure for accessibility for bus stops, rail improvements and an accessible bus fleet has improved quite a lot. It is within the public transport safety and development infrastructure figure. It has increased substantially, from €135 million to €207 million. ...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (29 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: Deputy Munster received an answer to this specific question from the NTA yesterday. I have the reply here. I will revert to her. I have only just read it. I am quite happy to contact the NTA on her behalf if she wants me to do so and if it is appropriate. I have not had time to read the reply. On a general level, we had an exchange about this in the Dáil. I do not want to refer...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (29 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: I will deal with Deputy O'Keeffe's questions first. The Cork to Limerick motorway, the M20, is not off the agenda, as I suspect the Deputy knows but it is hugely expensive project. I think it is in the region of €860 million, which would take up a pretty good whack of the capital budget. I know it is necessary and it will almost certainly be included in the mid-term review next...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (29 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: On the breakdown on drink driving, that report contains a great deal of information. I can get the Deputy a copy as it gives a good breakdown. The only problem is that it is not up-to-date as it is for 2012. However, we will provide the Deputy with more information and breakdown if he wishes. It is a pretty staggering discovery that drink driving is creeping back in. We thought there had...

Select Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Estimates for Public Services 2016
Vote 31 - Transport, Tourism and Sport (Revised) (29 Jun 2016)

Shane Ross: That would be pleasant. Your idea, Chairman, is to turn really narrow roads into cycle routes. Would they be exclusively cycle routes?