Results 1,361-1,380 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (9 Jul 2024)

Eamon Ryan: As the Deputy may be aware, BusConnects is a transformative programme of investment in the bus system, providing better bus services across our cities. It is the largest investment programme in the bus system in the history of the State, and is managed by the National Transport Authority (NTA). The NTA recently revised plans for the L1, L2, and L3 routes following consultation with Wicklow...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (9 Jul 2024)

Eamon Ryan: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport. The query raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for Bus Éireann. I have, therefore, referred the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Sector Pensions (9 Jul 2024)

Eamon Ryan: From the outset I would like to clarify that as Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. However, issues in relation to CIÉ pension schemes are primarily a matter for the trustees of the pension schemes, the CIÉ Group, and their employees. The case in relation to the rules governing the 1951 scheme are...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Departmental Communications (9 Jul 2024)

Eamon Ryan: The number and details of the public helplines operated by my Department are outlined in the following table. Telephone No. Opening Hours Calls Recorded Motor Tax Office 0818 411 412 or +353 61 365005 Monday to Friday 10:00 - 13:00 No Road Transport Operator Licensing Division LoCall 076 100...

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): Road Tolls (4 Jul 2024)

Eamon Ryan: To respond to Deputy Moynihan, I am in a difficult position because this is not decided. There is no final design. No decision has been made on either design or tolling arrangements so any discussion is speculative. From our Department's perspective, there is no final conclusion on either the design or the tolling arrangements. Any proper discussion of this would require further work and...

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): Road Tolls (4 Jul 2024)

Eamon Ryan: Safety has to be the first concern because what Deputy Gould said is true. There are real safety issues on the current road. The second key issue relates to the towns of Buttevant and Charleville. Going back to what I was saying about other road schemes, we have to make sure that we get our towns cleared of through traffic. Those are the sort of considerations that we would have to take...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Transport (4 Jul 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I do not disagree with the Deputy. We have to have really good quality public transport bus stations and Parnell Place bus station clearly does not meet that criterion. That is recognised by the fact that a detailed design and assessment has been done, an estimate of the cost and a due scheduled investment so that the works start the year after next. I would prefer them to start next year....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Transport (4 Jul 2024)

Eamon Ryan: We provide the funding and Bus Éireann has to manage its resources under the whole schedule of different works. There is a major problem in Cork - the Deputy knows this - with regard to the need for new mechanics and bus drivers. We need to invest in a whole variety of ways in our public transport system. Bus Éireann is stating that is the schedule and these are the types of...

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): Road Tolls (4 Jul 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I thank the Deputy for raising the matter. The proposed N20 or M20 Cork to Limerick project, consists of a replacement of 80 km of the existing roadway. This project would bypass towns such as Mallow and Charleville. It would also improve the quality of the road network, address safety issues along the existing N20 and allow for improved intercity bus services through increased capacity...

Ceisteanna Eile (Atógáil) - Other Questions (Resumed): Road Tolls (4 Jul 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I am in a difficult position-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Transport Policy (4 Jul 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I agree with the Deputy’s sense of frustration and with his sense of vision and opportunity here. I will commend my Department to accelerate the various different measures we need to make, and not just my Department but others as well. The underlying reasoning behind what the Deputy says, namely, economic gain and savings for householders, as well as improved emissions, is very real....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Transport Policy (4 Jul 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I agree with Deputy Bruton. The underlying benefit of shared car use and ownership is, as he says, most cars are parked 95% the time and if that cost can be shared, it significantly reduces the cost to the householder, in urban and rural areas. There is a particular problem in urban areas, as the Deputy will know, where we will not be as easily able to deploy electric vehicles with charging...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Transport (4 Jul 2024)

Eamon Ryan: The National Transport Authority has advised my Department that an accessibility upgrade project of Parnell Place bus station in Cork, which includes some station enhancements, is planned under the public transport retrofit accessibility programme. This programme funds the retrofitting of older public transport infrastructure and facilities, to ensure access for everyone, including disabled...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Transport (4 Jul 2024)

Eamon Ryan: The regulation of the small public service vehicle, SPSV, industry is a matter for the independent transport regulator, the National Transport Authority, under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013 as amended by the Public Transport Act 2016. As Minister, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of the industry. While transport service provision has improved in both rural...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Transport (4 Jul 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I absolutely agree. We have to provide good quality public transport and transport services for all our people. I deeply regret that the local hackney pilot scheme was not successful. The Deputy is correct about that. The uptake was far lower than we wanted. We will review that and come back with further iterations. When something does not work, we can at least learn why it did not....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Transport (4 Jul 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I absolutely commit to Deputy Smith to making all political efforts to improve rural taxi, hackney and, indeed, BusConnects services. This includes looking at the digital online app as part of Connecting Ireland. That will bring about improvements. It also includes working very closely with the likes of Local Link, which also provides a very significant local drop-off service. There is a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Transport Policy (4 Jul 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I thank Deputy Bruton. Both the national sustainable mobility policy and the two most recent climate action plans contain several actions around supporting and expanding the range of shared mobility options in Ireland. As the Deputy noted, one of those actions was to establish a new shared mobility unit within my Department. The purpose of that unit is to engage with key stakeholders and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rail Network (4 Jul 2024)

Eamon Ryan: As committed to in the Government's current national development plan, the reinstatement of the western rail corridor is being considered as part of the all-island strategic rail review. The review is unique as it has considered the future of rail on the island of Ireland across both jurisdictions and was conducted in co-operation with our colleagues in the Department for Infrastructure in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rail Network (4 Jul 2024)

Eamon Ryan: Could I have a little more time, given that I have to respond to four Deputies? I do not know what the-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rail Network (4 Jul 2024)

Eamon Ryan: If we could, purely out of respect to all four Deputies.