Results 18,901-18,920 of 31,374 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (24 Sep 2020)

Eamon Ryan: Insurance is a critical issue, on which reports from the Central Bank and the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission will have a material bearing. The Government will have to assess those reports and act on them to bring down the cost of insurance for everyone. With regard to the meeting with the taxi drivers and the range of issues that they rightly raised, the critical issues...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Taxi Regulations (24 Sep 2020)

Eamon Ryan: I met delegates from four taxi representative groups the week before last. It was a useful and productive meeting at which I had an opportunity to hear about the impact of Covid-19 on the taxi industry and the representatives' proposals as to how the industry can best be supported through this difficult time. I undertook to meet representatives again in the near future once I had an...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Taxi Regulations (24 Sep 2020)

Eamon Ryan: I cannot give clear commitments on the matter now because we must sit down again with taxi representative groups in advance of so doing. As I stated to those groups, I wish to sit down with the Department and the NTA. I discussed the matter with the NTA this week. My Department had similar meetings with the NTA and will do so again next week before we have further discussions with the taxi...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Taxi Regulations (24 Sep 2020)

Eamon Ryan: We will act quickly on this issue but we need to get it right. I need to work with the Department and the NTA to make sure we go back to the industry representatives with clear measures that are doable. Not all of them will be doable, but wherever a measure is possible, we will act, such as by extending the PUP into next year. The Government has not ruled out further revising the PUP if...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (24 Sep 2020)

Eamon Ryan: Rather than reading out the full reply I have before me, I will focus on the financial aspect of this issue. The fundamental problem is that there is no way to replace the passenger demand for taxis that has been lost during the pandemic. It will only return as the pandemic is brought under control and economic activity across all sectors recovers. However, the Government measures should...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Transport (24 Sep 2020)

Eamon Ryan: As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in respect of public transport. The NTA has statutory responsibility for securing the provision of public passenger transport services nationally. The NTA also has national responsibility for integrated local and rural transport including management of the rural transport programme, which now...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Transport (24 Sep 2020)

Eamon Ryan: The Deputy is correct that this is not the only example. It is a cruel and critical problem for every family affected. If I recall correctly, 20,000 students throughout the country are on bus services not provided by the Department of Education and Skills. Many of these services are in particular difficulty because of the 50% rule concerning capacity of bus services. The local Flexibus...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Transport (24 Sep 2020)

Eamon Ryan: My apologies.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: School Transport (24 Sep 2020)

Eamon Ryan: Those 20,000 children have not been excluded. That was an historic reference to the number of children who were on private bus services not operated by the Department of Education and Skills. In most instances, these children travel longer distances than to the local school. For that reason, they are not included within the scheme run by the Department of Education and Skills. The Deputy...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (24 Sep 2020)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 15 together. As Minister for Transport I have responsibility for overall policy and securing exchequer funding in relation to the national roads programme. Under the Roads Act 1993-2015, and in accordance with the National Development Plan (NDP), the planning, development and construction of individual national road projects is a matter for Transport...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: School Transport (24 Sep 2020)

Eamon Ryan: It is my understanding that the decision by Dublin Bus to withdraw from the provision of bus service from Blessington, County Wicklow to St. MacDara's in Templeogue was taken following a strategic evaluation of this and other similar routes over the last two years. The decision was taken by Dublin Bus in June of this year to cancel its legacy contracts with a number of private bus operators...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Network (24 Sep 2020)

Eamon Ryan: There have been proposals dating back to 2001 to develop an upgraded East-West route linking Dundalk to Sligo, taking in Cavan, and involving linking elements of the national road network and regional roads along as direct a route as possible. As regards the regional road aspect of the proposal, the improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Taxi Licences (24 Sep 2020)

Eamon Ryan: Recognising that this question is identical to an earlier question from Deputy Richard Boyd Barret, I would like to thank the Deputy for giving me an additional opportunity to discuss the important issues raised by taxi representative groups and the issues facing the small public service vehicle industry as a result of COVID-19. As mentioned in my earlier response, I had a useful meeting...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid-19 Pandemic (24 Sep 2020)

Eamon Ryan: As the Deputy may be aware, I met with delegates from four taxi representative groups the week before last. It was a useful and productive meeting where I had an opportunity to hear about the impact of COVID-19 on the taxi industry and their proposals as to how the industry can best be supported through this difficult time I am, of course, happy for my Department to continue to engage...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Policy (24 Sep 2020)

Eamon Ryan: The Deputy is aware that the draft Limerick Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy has been developed by the National Transport Authority, in collaboration with Limerick City and County Council, Clare County Council and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII). And let me first of all say I very much welcome the development of transport strategies for the major cities. We need to ensure a...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Transport Policy (24 Sep 2020)

Eamon Ryan: As the Deputy is aware, the National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure and services in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) and the making of a transport strategy for the region is a core function of the NTA. The Transport Strategy for the Greater Dublin Area 2016-2035, which was adopted in 2016,sets out a...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Covid-19 Pandemic (24 Sep 2020)

Eamon Ryan: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport in Ireland. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory responsibility for the regulation of fares in relation to public passenger transport services. In relation to the issue raised by the Deputy, the NTA has informed me that customers who have an annual TaxSaver...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (24 Sep 2020)

Eamon Ryan: The transport sector accounts for 20% of Ireland’s national emissions, therefore the decarbonisation of this sector is of key importance as we seek to reach our emissions reductions targets, both nationally and at EU level. According to recent figures from the EPA, the majority of transport emissions originate from the passenger car fleet (51%), while the heavy duty freight sector...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (24 Sep 2020)

Eamon Ryan: As the Deputy is aware, the improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of the relevant local authority in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from the Council's own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works is a matter for decision...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (24 Sep 2020)

Eamon Ryan: As Minister for Transport I have responsibility for overall policy and securing exchequer funding in relation to the National Roads Programme. Under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 and in line with the National Development Plan (NDP), the planning, design and construction of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities...