Results 161-180 of 4,645 for speaker:Seán Canney

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (14 May 2025)

Seán Canney: As Minister of State for International & Road Transport, Logistics, Rail & Ports, I wish to advise that,  Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the National Driver Testing Service. I acknowledge that current waiting times for driving tests are far in excess of what is acceptable and I would like...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Parking Provision (14 May 2025)

Seán Canney: As Minister of State for International & Road Transport, Logistics, Rail & Ports, I wish to advise that a disabled parking permit cannot be issued unless the photo verification section on the initial application has been signed and stamped by a member of An Garda Síochána.  This is standard practice for verifying the photograph as genuinely being...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (14 May 2025)

Seán Canney: As Minister of State for International & Road Transport, Logistics, Rail & Ports I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to rail. The National Transport Authority, or NTA, has statutory responsibility for transport planning in the Greater Dublin Area, including County Meath.  The NTA's Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area,...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Mountain Rescue Service (14 May 2025)

Seán Canney: As Minister of State for International & Road Transport, Logistics, Rail & Ports, I wish to advise that my Department is responsible for administrative arrangements for the “Coastal and Inshore, Mountain and Cave Rescue Grant Current” on behalf of the Irish Coast Guard (IRCG). This is an annual maintenance grant to support the search and rescue activities of the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (14 May 2025)

Seán Canney: As Minister of State for International & Road Transport, Logistics, Rail & Ports, I wish to advise that a person who is resident in Ireland must have an Irish or EU driving licence to drive here. It is possible to drive in Ireland on a foreign licence under the Geneva Convention, but this only applies to visitors. The RSA is currently reviewing Nova Scotia’s...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Harbours and Piers (13 May 2025)

Seán Canney: I thank the Deputy for raising his important points and for his suggestions. Part IV of the Planning and Development Act 2000 sets out arrangements for the protection of our architectural heritage. While the planning authority is responsible for adding buildings and features to the record of protected structures, primary responsibility for preventing endangerment of protected structures...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Regional Airports (13 May 2025)

Seán Canney: I thank the Deputies. I feel and hear their frustration. The programme for Government commits to working with all stakeholders to quickly progress the Waterford Airport project to lengthen and widen the runway, building on the previous Government. The Government recognises the huge value of the aviation sector in supporting international connectivity, economic development, and tourism via...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Regional Airports (13 May 2025)

Seán Canney: No.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Harbours and Piers (13 May 2025)

Seán Canney: I thank the Deputy for raising this important matter. It is important to say that broader investment in harbour maintenance and refurbishment is typically funded directly by the responsible local authorities and port companies and through the fishery harbour and coastal infrastructure development programme managed by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. As outlined in the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (13 May 2025)

Seán Canney: I thank the Deputy and welcome his comments. I agree with him that we need a roadmap to see where we are going. It cannot be spaced out over time because children with disabilities need supports now. The Minister, Deputy McEntee, and the Minister of State, Deputy Naughton, are working closely together to ensure this is rolled out as quickly as possible. Despite all of these challenges,...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Regional Airports (13 May 2025)

Seán Canney: I thank both Deputies for raising this matter. I understand their frustration. This has been going on a while. I assure the Deputies that this Government is committed to working with all stakeholders to see the Waterford Airport project to lengthen and widen the runway progress. In line with this and on behalf of the Minister for Transport, Deputy Darragh O’Brien, I welcome the...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Special Educational Needs (13 May 2025)

Seán Canney: I thank the Deputy for raising this important question. The core principle of progressing disability services, PDS, is to achieve fairer and more equitable access to services for all children with disabilities based on their needs. This includes access to school-based therapy supports for children attending special schools in the country, including in Cork. The Minister fully...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Taxi Licences (13 May 2025)

Seán Canney: I thank Deputy Kelly for raising this issue. I am from the most beautiful place in Galway. It is a very rural area called Belclare. The Cathaoirleach Gníomhach, Deputy Connolly, is laughing at me. It is beautiful but there is scarcely a taxi or hackney there either. I appreciate the issue raised by Deputy Kelly and I thank him for raising it. I will read some of the reply and then...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Taxi Licences (13 May 2025)

Seán Canney: The Deputy and I are on the one page. Complication in a system can create a lot of paperwork and problems, and it can create little by way of results. We need to have a serious look at how we are doing the business here. We must ensure we are not displacing existing taxi services, as the Deputy said. They must also make a living. It is a case of going back to first principles and seeing...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Emergency Services (13 May 2025)

Seán Canney: As Minister of State with responsibility for international and road transport, logistics, rail and ports, I welcome the opportunity to participate in this debate on the new Coast Guard aviation service. The Irish Coast Guard search and rescue, SAR, aviation services are provided under a contract that is currently transitioning to Bristow Ireland Limited, BIL. The previous contractor, CHCI,...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Emergency Services (13 May 2025)

Seán Canney: Following an engagement process with both contractors, the dates of transfer for the remaining three bases have been revised, as follows: Weston, 1 July 2025; Sligo, 15 December 2025; and Waterford, 31 January 2026. I reiterate that the Department of Transport is prioritising the safe and effective transition of this aviation contract without interruption of service and is ensuring that...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Taxi Licences (13 May 2025)

Seán Canney: I doubt it.

Seanad: Finance (Provision of Access to Cash Infrastructure) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 May 2025)

Seán Canney: There were a lot of questions and I will try to get through as many as I can. As of December 2022, there were 4,200 ATMs in the State. Breaking that number down, there were 397 in the Border region, 440 in the west, 417 in the mid-west, 349 in the south east, 630 in the south west, 1,159 in the Dublin area, 560 in the mid-east and 237 in the midlands. Per 100,000 of population, there...

Seanad: Finance (Provision of Access to Cash Infrastructure) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 May 2025)

Seán Canney: Senator Boyhan's request is probably covered under my generalised point that other groups may be considered for consultation as appropriate. I would strongly advocate that Irish Rural Link be included.

Seanad: Finance (Provision of Access to Cash Infrastructure) Bill 2024: Committee and Remaining Stages (13 May 2025)

Seán Canney: I thank Senator O’Reilly. On the question on why a 15% drop in cash demand has been used, the legislation contains provision for the access to cash criteria to be reviewed in tandem with the updating of census figures and if cash demand drops by more than 15% in a calendar year by comparison with the preceding calendar year, or on the request of the Minister. The Central Bank of...