Results 1,941-1,960 of 9,116 for speaker:Jack Chambers

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Active Travel (18 Oct 2023)

Jack Chambers: I will try. I thank Deputy Lahart and I hear what he is saying clearly. Feedback from local communities and stakeholder engagement is of fundamental importance to get community buy-in, with public representatives here in the Oireachtas, councillors and the wider public. I will reflect this in the context of the wider active travel programme we are seeking to roll out. I have...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Taxi Regulations (18 Oct 2023)

Jack Chambers: I thank Deputy McAuliffe for raising this matter. The regulation of the small public service vehicle, SPSV, industry, including enforcement and compliance in the sector, is a matter for the independent transport regulator, the NTA, under the provisions of the Taxi Regulation Act 2013 and Public Transport Act 2016. Neither the Minister, Deputy Ryan, nor I, have a role in the day-to-day...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Active Travel (18 Oct 2023)

Jack Chambers: I thank the Deputy and I acknowledge his local experience and feedback relating the active travel scheme. The Department of Transport has responsibility for the provision of funding and setting of policy in relation to transport issues, including active travel. The National Transport Authority, NTA, has responsibility for the allocation of funding to projects at local authority level and...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety (18 Oct 2023)

Jack Chambers: The Road Traffic (Control of Traffic) Regulations 2006 allow road authorities to restrict or prohibit certain non-passenger vehicles, including heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), from entering specified roads during specified periods. These regulations form the basis of the 5-axle HGV ban in operation in Dublin City and in a number of other locations. Following engagement with An Garda...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (18 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. Employee/employer relations between the RSA and driver testers are therefore an issue for the RSA in the first instance. Neither I, nor my officials, are party to RSA recruitment and employee contractual matters. The letter referred to was...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Services (17 Oct 2023)

Jack Chambers: I have been asked to respond on behalf of the Minister for Health. It is up to the Deputies.

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Park-and-Ride Facilities (17 Oct 2023)

Jack Chambers: The Deputy’s contribution speaks to the need for wider investment in transport. From a public transport perspective, part of that is delivering greater rail and other infrastructure. The all-island rail review is the starting point for the wider vision we have on rail. To complement that, we must continue investment in roads infrastructure. We must make sure junctions and road...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Park-and-Ride Facilities (17 Oct 2023)

Jack Chambers: I thank the Deputy for the opportunity to address this issue and discuss park-and-ride facilities. In my constituency of Dublin West that has a population including many Cavan people, I am aware from engaging with people who are commuting and have family members of the importance of this to the people in Cavan. There are a substantial number of people in regional towns, the rural...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Tax Code (17 Oct 2023)

Jack Chambers: I thank the Senator for tabling this Commencement matter, which I am taking on behalf of the Minister for Finance. The residential zoned land tax, RZLT, is a new tax introduced in the Finance Act 2021 which seeks to increase housing supply by encouraging the building on lands that are suitably zoned and appropriately serviced. It aims to bring forward for housing land that has benefited...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Tax Code (17 Oct 2023)

Jack Chambers: I thank Senator Boyhan for his input on the RZLT. As I noted earlier, this new tax is one of a range of measures in Housing for All, the Government's housing strategy, and is intended to prompt the development of housing. While the demand for housing is greatest in urban centres, there is also housing need in many other parts of the country, as we are all aware. The zoning of land by local...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Road Safety (17 Oct 2023)

Jack Chambers: I thank Senator Fitzpatrick for raising this important matter. I know she has been working on it for many years with Oireachtas colleagues. As the Senator is aware, the Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023 was signed into law by the President on 23 June last. This is wide-ranging legislation that introduces enforceable variable speed limits. It creates a new public body, namely, Zero Emissions...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Road Safety (17 Oct 2023)

Jack Chambers: I thank Senator Fitzpatrick for her wider advocacy on this very important issue for many urban areas across Dublin and elsewhere. I am also glad of the opportunity to clarify the enforcement of road safety legislation regarding scramblers. The Road Traffic and Roads Act 2023 is wide-ranging and has important implications in a number of areas. The Government agrees that the antisocial use of...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: National Transport Authority (17 Oct 2023)

Jack Chambers: I thank the Cathaoirleach and Senator O’Loughlin for raising this important Commencement matter, and I welcome the opportunity to discuss this issue with Members of the House today. I also want to acknowledge the Senator's consistent advocacy for this on behalf of constituents and also in connecting the local campaign with the Government and with the National Transport Authority who...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: National Transport Authority (17 Oct 2023)

Jack Chambers: I wish to reassure Senator O'Loughlin that the Government is strongly committed to delivering a cost-efficient and sustainable public transport network and the review of existing fare structures has a key role to play in achieving those goals. The rationale for implementing the new national fares strategy is to remove the current inconsistencies in the existing fare structure which the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (17 Oct 2023)

Jack Chambers: Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has statutory responsibility forthe National Driving Test service. This includes test applications, scheduling matters and the data regarding waiting list times. I have therefore referred the Deputy's question to the Authority for direct reply on the specific information requested. I would ask the Deputy to contact my...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety (17 Oct 2023)

Jack Chambers: Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has responsibility for the promotion of public awareness of road safety and of measures, including the advancement of education, relating to the promotion of the safe use of roads. The Department is of the view that the wearing protective clothing such as of helmets and high visibility clothing is better achieved by...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (17 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. The specific information requested is held by the RSA. Therefore, 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,...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety (17 Oct 2023)

Jack Chambers: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and 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 operation and management of individual national roads is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. This is...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Safety Authority (17 Oct 2023)

Jack Chambers: Appointments to State Boards under the aegis of my Department are made in line with the Government Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards. In relation to board of the Road Safety Authority, a vacancy arose in December 2022 following a resignation and a further board member’s term expired in August 2023. In June 2023 the Public Appointments Service launched a campaign for...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Driver Test (17 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. Consequently, neither I nor my Department have powers to intervene in aspects of service delivery, including scheduling matters. I have referred the Deputy's question to the RSA for consideration and direct response on the specific issues...