Results 1,801-1,820 of 9,563 for speaker:Jack Chambers

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (21 May 2024)

Jack Chambers: Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the National Driver Testing Service and the information requested is held by that agency. As such, I have referred the questions to the RSA for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Legislative Process (21 May 2024)

Jack Chambers: The Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023 was signed into law by the President on 23 June 2023. This is a large piece of legislation which covers a multitude of topics. In the Programme for Government, we committed to addressing a number of concerns, such as the use of e-scooters, rollout out of zero to low emissions vehicles associated infrastructure, progressing BusConnects, and tackling the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (16 May 2024)

Jack Chambers: I will conclude what I was about to say and then respond to the Deputy's direct question. The Port of Cork has been assisted by Department officials in applying for the EU's Connecting Europe Facility. We provided support and guidance on those applications. This can help the port obtain 30% of the costs for infrastructure and up to 50% of the costs for other studies. The results of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (16 May 2024)

Jack Chambers: There is a need to ensure progress on this. We are engaging regularly with the Port of Cork on its needs, both in meetings and through correspondence, in respect of the proposed development at Ringaskiddy. There is extensive engagement with the corporate governance division on the financing needs of the port. The offshore renewable energy ports division, which was established last year,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (16 May 2024)

Jack Chambers: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I am committed to facilitating the commercial State ports under my remit as positive contributors to the offshore renewable energy, ORE, industry to support Ireland in meeting its ambitious targets of 5 GW of installed offshore wind capacity by 2030, with a further 2 GW in development for the production of green hydrogen and other non-grid uses....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Road Safety (16 May 2024)

Jack Chambers: I would like to express my sincere condolences to the friends and families of those who have lost their lives on our roads this year. As Minister of State with responsibility for road safety, I have been working with the Minister, Deputy Eamon Ryan, my officials, the transport agencies and across government to reverse the current trend and stop the level of fatalities on our roads. The...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Road Safety (16 May 2024)

Jack Chambers: On speed limits, there has been notification to local authorities of the legislative changes. Guidance is being finalised and will be issued to local authorities in the coming weeks. As new councillors are elected, that will commence quickly with a view to getting the wider implementation of the speed limits. As the Deputy said, it is about local authorities and councillors working...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Road Safety (16 May 2024)

Jack Chambers: Section 81 of the Road Traffic Act 2010 provides for the use of cameras by the Garda to assist in the detection of certain offences. The powers have been used by Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, working with the Garda. It is open to road authorities to use these powers on a similar basis for other offences. As part of our wider camera-based enforcement strategy, we want to have many...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Education Policy (16 May 2024)

Jack Chambers: I appreciate Sentator Joe O'Reilly raising this important issue. I am taking this on behalf of the Minister for Education who was not available this morning. I thank the Senator for raising this and allowing me the opportunity to outline the provisions that are in place to support gifted and talented students. Our students are among the top performers, as seen in international testing,...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Education Policy (16 May 2024)

Jack Chambers: I thank the Senator. I will reflect the feedback and perspectives he has given on the success of what is happening in Breifne College, Cavan, as well as the need to make sure all children and young people are given the opportunity to thrive based on their ability. The Senator's point is that we must mainstream that in a much more significant and substantive way within our education system....

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Disability Services (16 May 2024)

Jack Chambers: I thank the Senator for raising this important issue for discussion. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Rabbitte, and the Minister, Deputy O’Gorman. The Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is leading discussions across Government to develop actions that will improve the lives of people with disabilities, including in the...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Disability Services (16 May 2024)

Jack Chambers: I again thank Senator Crowe for bringing this issue to the House. I appreciate his contribution in this area, which is very important to us all as representatives in constituencies and also given my own role in the context of transport. It is clear that the issue of transport and mobility supports for people with disabilities is a critical one. Addressing challenges and barriers in this...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (16 May 2024)

Jack Chambers: At the end of April, the estimated wait time to be invited to sit a driving test in Cavan was 16 weeks, compared to a national average of 14.9 weeks. While this is still above the service level agreement target of 10 weeks, significant progress has been made since last August, when the estimated wait time was 34 weeks in Cavan and 30.4 weeks nationally. The Deputy may be interested to note...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Air Services (16 May 2024)

Jack Chambers: I thank the Deputy for his continued interest in this matter. In the context of supporting greater connectivity on the island of Ireland, the Government agreed ‘to take forward a review of the potential for Government support to renewed viable air routes from Cork to Belfast and Dublin to Derry, working with the UK Government and Northern Ireland Executive to deliver improved...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Ports Policy (16 May 2024)

Jack Chambers: Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) is integral to achieving Ireland’s Climate Change ambitions, with a target of achieving 5GW of installed offshore wind capacity by 2030, with a further 2GW to be in development by 2030. Beyond that, the Programme for Government and the Climate Action Plan 2021 also sets out a target of 37GW of ORE projects to be delivered before 2050. Government...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Coast Guard Service (16 May 2024)

Jack Chambers: The Irish Coast Guard (IRCG) is a division within the Department of Transport and a principal emergency service whose role it is to provide maritime search and rescue, maritime casualty, and pollution response service. My Department is fully committed to ensuring that the Irish Coast Guard remains capable and equipped to deliver its services and to meet current and future challenges. ...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety (16 May 2024)

Jack Chambers: As part of Action 6 of the Government’s Road Safety Strategy, a review was undertaken to examine the framework for setting of speed limits in Ireland including specific consideration of the introduction of a 30km/h default speed limit in urban areas. This review is complete and was published in September 2023. Speed limits are set through a combination of default speed limits and...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Airport Security (16 May 2024)

Jack Chambers: Following drone incidents that caused disruption at Dublin airport in early 2023, daa has put in place a range of additional measures to counter illegal drone use. This includes a re-examination and updating of its standard operating procedures when drones are detected, an upgrade to its drone detection systems, a review of the safety critical area at the airport and the deployment of a...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Licences (16 May 2024)

Jack Chambers: I can confirm that Ireland has a licence exchange agreement with Australia for holders of HGV licences. An Australian HGV licence holder who wishes to drive such vehicles professionally in Ireland must, in addition to exchanging their Australian licence for an Irish one, obtain a certificate of professional competence before they can drive for a living. More information can be found...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety (16 May 2024)

Jack Chambers: In line with commitments set out under Actions 67 and 122 of the Government's Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030, the National Transport Authority (NTA) chaired a cross-agency working group to examine various approaches to expediting the timely and efficient introduction of camera enforcement. Building on the recommendations of this group and work undertaken by Transport Infrastructure Ireland...