Results 321-340 of 29,130 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

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

Eamon Ryan: The reality is that there are significant services from Galway to Dublin Airport, such as the Citylink services of which the Deputy will be aware.

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

Eamon Ryan: They are very significant in number and, therefore, we are not going to see that connectivity completely disappear. The Deputy is right. The Aircoach service was there replacing that Bus Éireann services and in both instances the demand was not there. It is a commercial decision. If Aircoach was seeing large passenger numbers, it would obviously not be stopping the route. I expect...

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

Eamon Ryan: First, with regard to rural public transport services, there has never, in the history of the State, been a Government that has been so committed to expanding rural bus and rural public transport services. In the past two years, every week we have introduced a new or enhanced rural public transport service and we have seen-----

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

Eamon Ryan: -----a spectacular increase in demand for rural public transport services. I will happily compare our record in that regard with any other country or any other time in Irish history where there has been such an expansion of rural public transport services.

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

Eamon Ryan: Regarding the airport service, we will, as I said, carry out an assessment, as the Deputy said, with GoBus and Citylink. It will be very extensive. We are investing to improve Irish Rail services connectivity between Galway and Dublin-----

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

Eamon Ryan: -----so that there is a major enhancement and expansion of public transport services. We have to look to see even in that instance where the services are best deployed. If there is a need for a PSO intervention, a gap in the market where there is not an existing service, or where commercial services have not delivered, we will look at that-----

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

Eamon Ryan: -----but depicting it as no service or a lack of new rural public transport services is not accurate.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Driver Test (21 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: It is not satisfactory that two of the centres in Tipperary are outside of the service level agreement. To clarify, in both Thurles and Tipperary town, we are within that SLA target, which is ten weeks in the case of Thurles and seven weeks in the case of Tipperary town. Obviously, if there is a long period where a service provider is not able to meet the standards, my Department, and it...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Driver Test (21 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I absolutely agree with the Deputy. The Government aspires to an open government data regime where we provide that information. It should not have to require letters in many instances; we should be looking to provide information on a readily accessible basis. This might reduce the amount of work which we as representatives or they as administrators have to do. I fully accept the Deputy's...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Aviation Industry (21 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: Aviation plays a crucial role in our economy and society. The National Aviation Policy, NAP, published in August 2015, established a policy framework for the development of the aviation sector. It was designed to create an environment that would encourage the sector to enhance Ireland's connectivity, foster the growth of aviation enterprise and maximise the contribution of aviation to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Road Safety (21 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: Published in December 2021, the Government’s road safety strategy 2021–2030 has the target of reducing road deaths and serious injuries by 50% this decade and achieving Vision Zero by 2050. Vision Zero has been adopted across the EU and aims to eliminate deaths and serious injuries on our roads. The second annual review of the road safety strategy took place on 18 January,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Road Safety (21 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I agree with the Deputy. It is about engineering, enforcement and education, but we need to lower the speed limits. Many speed limits give the wrong message to motorists and are too high for the real condition of the roads. It is important we bring down the speed limits. In most urban areas the speed limit should be brought down to 30 km/h from 50 km/h, in many of the non-secondary...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Road Safety (21 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I agree with the Deputy. That is why in last year's budget we allocated additional funding of €12 million to Transport Infrastructure Ireland, TII, to specifically look at areas, particularly on the national road network, where there might be sections of carriageway that are not optimal or not up to standard, and to try to address the real black spots. That is just part of it and is...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Driver Test (21 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I thank the Deputy. There are four test centres in County Tipperary. Throughout the county at the end of February, 600 tests were scheduled and a further 1,605 applicants were waiting to receive an invitation to book their test. As of the most recent figures for the end of February, the average wait time to be invited to sit test was 27 weeks in Clonmel, 19 in Nenagh, ten in Thurles and...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Road Projects (21 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I wish thank the Deputy for her question, which raises the important matter of road safety. A major priority in the National Development Plan is to maintain the quality and safety of the existing national road network. TII periodically carries out a collision analysis of the entire national road network, as required by TII guidelines, as well as pro-active safety inspections. The...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (21 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 77 and 123 together. The Deputy will be aware that the National Transport Authority, or 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...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (21 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I am absolutely aware of the views expressed by some members of the disability community regarding the issue of island bus stops. The NTA has advised my Department of the challenges posed by the interaction between buses, cyclists, and pedestrians at bus stops. This interaction is particularly pronounced when pedestrians navigate from the footpath onto the bus, and vice versa. Either...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (21 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I am aware of the ongoing public transport service issues in Cork City, and the negative impact that they are having on the travelling public. Further, the National Transport Authority have advised that they are specifically aware of the punctuality and reliability issues in Cork City and that they are working closely with Bus Éireann to address these. I am further advised by the...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Rail Network (21 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: The All-Island Strategic Rail Review, being undertaken by my Department in co-operation with the Department for Infrastructure in Northern Ireland, will inform the development of the railway sector on the Island of Ireland to 2050, in line with net zero carbon emissions targets. I expect that a final report, taking account of the comments received during the recent Strategic Environmental...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Taxi Regulations (21 Mar 2024)

Eamon Ryan: The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including SPSV licensing, is a matter for the independent transport regulator, the National Transport Authority (NTA), under the provisions of the Consolidated Taxi Regulation Acts 2013 and 2016. I am not involved in the day-to-day operations of the SPSV industry. My colleague, Stephen Donnelly, T.D., Minister for Health, is...