Results 541-560 of 29,384 for speaker:Eamon Ryan

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....

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

Eamon Ryan: I hear from officials that Cork tends to be a bit slower and more expensive. We need to spend the money wisely, widely and well.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Road Projects (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. Work on these roads is funded from councils’ own resources and supplemented by State road grants. The Department emphasises to local authorities each year the importance of setting aside a...

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

Eamon Ryan: I went to Midleton the day after the storm. The floods were just receding. It was remarkable to see the work of the local authorities and various other State agencies managing the crippling impact on the town and surrounding areas, including Glanmire. We committed then, and I recommit here today, that whatever was needed to restore the roads and provide connectivity, safety and so on would...

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

Eamon Ryan: We will work closely with the council to ensure that we solve the problems.

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

Eamon Ryan: We have already significantly enhanced some of the services to Macroom. West of there, route 257, which was part of the first phase of Connecting Ireland and goes all the way to Millstreet, was introduced in December 2022 and the patronage in the following year increased by 112%. I agree with the Deputy about the demand that is there. With regard to the section east of Macroom and...

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

Eamon Ryan: I agree with both Deputies on the points made. I argue that there are two key constraints to what we all want, which is a major expansion of public transport services in Cork county and city, as well as in the rest of the country. The first is a budget constraint. Even with the significant resources provided, the truth is that we are going to have to make difficult decisions because...