Results 1,861-1,880 of 9,116 for speaker:Jack Chambers

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Legislative Process (25 Oct 2023)

Jack Chambers: The Programme for Government commits to enhancing the powers of An Garda Síochána to limit the antisocial use of scramblers and quadbikes, including through legislation if necessary. The Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023 was signed into law by the President on the 23 June 2023. Among its provisions, the Act aims to adequately tackle the antisocial use of scramblers and quadbikes via...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Air Quality (25 Oct 2023)

Jack Chambers: As the Deputy will be aware, daa has statutory responsibility to operate, manage and develop Dublin Airport, including environmental monitoring surrounding the airport. Accordingly, I have forwarded your request to daa for a direct response. If a response is not received within 10 days, please contact my private office.

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (25 Oct 2023)

Jack Chambers: Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the National Driver Testing Service. This includes the status of applications in Dublin Fingal. As such, I have referred 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. On the broader issue of delays, the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (25 Oct 2023)

Jack Chambers: I propose to take Questions Nos. 56 to 59, inclusive, together. Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility for the National Driver Testing Service. 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. On the broader...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety (25 Oct 2023)

Jack Chambers: As part of Action 6 of the Government’s Road Safety Strategy 2021-2030, 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. The work was overseen by a Review Group co-chaired by the Department of Transport and Road Safety Authority. As part of...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety: Discussion (25 Oct 2023)

Jack Chambers: I thank the committee for inviting me to talk about the important matter of road safety and update it on the road traffic measures Bill 2023. I sincerely appreciate the committee having made this time available at such short notice to discuss this legislation given the trends on our roads. I am joined by my Department officials who work in the area of road safety. In three out of the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety: Discussion (25 Oct 2023)

Jack Chambers: In response to Senator Doherty's point on the trend in recent years, she is correct that during some of that period there was reduced activity on roads. However, we saw ongoing persistence of some of the lifesaver offences in that speed was still a central factor. We know that the trend during Covid and even after continued in terms of the incidence of intoxicated driving. The consumption...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety: Discussion (25 Oct 2023)

Jack Chambers: My understanding is that An Garda Síochána sought to maximise the opportunities with GoSafe. The possibility through the contract was to increase by up to 20%.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety: Discussion (25 Oct 2023)

Jack Chambers: The Garda will be able to give further information on that. It is recruiting additional personnel to run the GoSafe vans and procuring additional vehicles to maximise the opportunities through GoSafe. I agree that if there is further capability to do more there, that should be pursued. My understanding, however, is that the Garda has sought to reach the upper end of what is possible...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety: Discussion (25 Oct 2023)

Jack Chambers: We know that increased activity over bank holiday weekends is a key factor. Looking at the trends here and globally, there are higher numbers of collisions and often higher numbers of deaths. I can set out some of the research from Australia which tracked this over a number of years to give an example of how changing the periodic offences makes a difference. To give some context, RSA...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety: Discussion (25 Oct 2023)

Jack Chambers: Unfortunately, when the Road Safety Authority does its various surveys on driver acceptability of speeding, it is very high, and a significant percentage of drivers openly admit to speeding when they are anonymously surveyed. It is unfortunately socially acceptable to many. For many drivers who are compliant, the speed limit is often the target rather than being aware of the wider...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety: Discussion (25 Oct 2023)

Jack Chambers: The Deputy is correct. The plan is that we have to enact the legislation to change the default speed limits. Once that is enacted, we will produce detailed guidance for every local authority then to do a speed limit review and the new guidance will inform local authorities on how to conduct a review and on the recommendations that evolve from it. Essentially, the present position is that,...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety: Discussion (25 Oct 2023)

Jack Chambers: I thank the Deputy for that. I regret that there has been a negative impact on many commuters and public transport users in Meath and the regression in service people have experienced this week and in previous weeks. We will reflect what is said at the committee to Bus Éireann and the National Transport Authority and we will write back to the committee with their feedback and response....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety: Discussion (25 Oct 2023)

Jack Chambers: I am here to deal with the general scheme of the road safety measures Bill. What I will say is that we have an ambitious plan to continue regional development and upgrade our road network, which is of central importance, particularly for the roads that have a very poor road safety record. What we are trying to do through the national development plan process and through the funding...