Results 281-300 of 29,130 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (9 Apr 2024)

Eamon Ryan: The National Transport Authority (NTA), in conjunction with Galway City Council and Galway County Council, is currently developing the Galway Metropolitan Area Transport Strategy. The new strategy will provide a long-term strategic planning framework for the delivery of transport and the integrated development of transport infrastructure and services in the Galway Metropolitan Area. It will...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Éireann (9 Apr 2024)

Eamon Ryan: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the planning and development of public transport infrastructure, including the provision of the national Public Service Obligation bus fleet. Noting the NTA's responsibility in the matter, I have referred the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (9 Apr 2024)

Eamon Ryan: As Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport; however, I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of public transport. The issues raised by the Deputy in relation to complaints and staffing measures on the Sligo to Dublin train service are matters for Irish Rail. Therefore, I have referred the Deputy's question to Irish...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Network (9 Apr 2024)

Eamon Ryan: 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...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Road Network (21 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: Going into some details, additional projects have been progressed in Cavan and Monaghan this year. Eight schemes have been provided for under the climate change adaptation and resilient works programme. There have been 21 bridges dealt with under the bridge rehabilitation programme. There are 16 schemes under the safety improvement works programme. We provided an allocation in February....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Bus Services (21 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I thank Deputy Ward. I am aware that capacity pinch points are being experienced on certain bus routes across the public transport network, including on the C spine route from Lucan. I fully acknowledge that these issues can be incredibly frustrating for public transport users, in particular if they are left waiting at bus stops for prolonged periods due to full buses operating on the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Bus Services (21 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: As I said, we are looking at plans for it this year in response to what has been a phenomenal increase in demand. That is good news. It would be very frustrating if buses passed by people because they were full. We will respond to that. As the Deputy is aware, there are two elements to BusConnects. The first is the introduction of new routes and spines and the second is new corridors....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Bus Services (21 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: Funding is one of the constraints. Another is the fact that we need to expand the number of drivers and mechanics, as I said earlier. We have to make the public transport alternative work and that is why the Government is prioritising spending on public transport. It is not just about spending; it is also about political decisions. I was very glad that the city council is now...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Transport (21 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: Like the Deputy, I visited Summerhill bus station recently and I agree on the progress being made in the provision of services. Similarly, I got the message that a shortage of mechanics, as well as drivers, is a real issue. We do have to resolve that, and we can and will. To go into the detail of some of the figures, so people have an understanding of this antisocial behaviour, I...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Transport (21 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I agree. To give background, the NTA did establish a working group on antisocial behaviour, which meets monthly. It works with the operators and looks at the trends among public transport operators to share best practice. I mentioned those various operators. My Department and key public transport stakeholders also presented to the Department of Justice's antisocial behaviour forum that...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Road Network (21 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority in accordance with the provisions of section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from councils' own resources, which are supplemented by State grants for regional and local roads. As outlined in the 2024 regional and local roads programme, which I...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Road Network (21 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I agree with Deputy Smith on both contentions. I mentioned in an earlier response that climate change is hitting home now. We see the rain levels and the intensity of rainfall. It is not just the amount of rain but the bursts and we see the impact on the road network where we have flooding events and so on. That is an issue. Similarly, there has been an issue with very high cost...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Road Projects (21 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: It is a long way from Dundalk to Midleton. We are committed to providing the funding. We do not have a substantiated funding request as yet but as soon as we do, we will be able to fund Cork County Council. We do not fund in advance of the cost estimates and claims coming in but we will provide the funding that is necessary. It takes time but there are precedents here. The Deputy...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Driver Licences (21 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: The Road Safety Authority, RSA, and my Department have no plans to change the rules in relation to driver licensing for tractors. The current licence category, W, will continue to be the licence category that covers work vehicles and land tractors. Agricultural vehicles are any power-driven vehicles running on wheels or tracks, having at least two axles, the principal function of which...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Driver Licences (21 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I agree with the Deputy's latter comments on safety. To return to what we were discussing earlier, safety should be our first consideration in all of these issues. To clarify, part of the problem here was that the RSA made an adjustment to the text regarding W licences on its website last year which garnered attention in recent days. It was an attempt to clarify an interpretation around...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Driver Licences (21 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: We will not know the final details of the directive until a new European Parliament is elected. My understanding from talking to officials in the Department is that we do not expect it within this mandate of the Commission; it will be the next one. It would be slightly premature for us to try to second guess what a new Parliament and a new trilogue process will deliver in the directive. In...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Public Transport (21 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: Like Deputy Hourigan, I take the safety and security of transport workers and passengers very seriously. It is an unfortunate truth that public transport is not immune to instances of antisocial behaviour and those who work within our public transport network are among those most directly impacted. To address this, the NTA, An Garda Síochána and the operators work closely to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Active Travel (21 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I assure the Deputy that there is no intention whatsoever to disadvantage the northside of Cork city versus the southside. If there are particular projects on the southside or elsewhere that are being advanced faster, that is a matter for Cork City Council in conjunction with the NTA. There is no Government strategy to try to disadvantage one versus the other. I will make a general...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Active Travel (21 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I would love nothing more than to see the northside of Cork get a larger, fairer share, but it comes down to the council.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Active Travel (21 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I agree with the Deputy. We need greater investment in Cork – southside as well as northside – in terms of improved footpaths and an improved environment to make it safe for our children to walk or cycle to their local football clubs, boxing clubs or whatever it may be. Historically, there has been an underinvestment, although that has not been the case under this Government....