Results 121-140 of 4,893 for speaker:Séamus Brennan

Written Answers — Light Rail Project: Light Rail Project (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: As the Deputy will be aware, the Railway Procurement Agency which is under the auspices of my Department is responsible for the delivery of the Luas project. The agency has confirmed that it complies with the requirements of the code of practice for the governance of State bodies, including conformity with the guidelines for the appraisal and management of capital expenditure in the public...

Written Answers — National Car Test: National Car Test (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 48 and 83 together. A contract was signed with national car testing service, NCTS, in December 1998 to provide a car testing service for the State from January 2000 until 31 December 2009. Under the terms of the contract the performance of NCTS is subject to an annual review which can cover the results of NCT inspections, the results of planned or random...

Written Answers — Road Safety: Road Safety (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 49, 66, 68, 111 and 125 together. The programme for Government states that a three year road safety strategy will be developed and will target speeding, drink-driving, seat-belt wearing and pedestrian safety in order to reduce deaths and injuries. At my request, the high level group on road safety has prepared a draft new strategy for the period 2004-06 and I...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 50 and 221 together. I have recently received detailed proposals from Irish Rail for the reopening of the Cork to Midleton line, as part of the implementation of the Cork area strategic plan. The projected cost of the entire project is €115 million in two phases: phase 1 — €89.7 million for start-up of services in 2008 and phase 2 — €25.3 million for...

Written Answers — Penalty Points System: Penalty Points System (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 51, 60, 61 and 73 together. Penalty points are being applied to the driving licence records of those convicted of speeding, seat belt wearing and insurance offences, and to those who pay a fixed charge to the Garda, in the case of speeding and seat belt wearing offences, in order to prevent the instigation of court proceedings. The full application of the...

Written Answers — Regional Airports: Regional Airports (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 52, 64 and 65 together. The programme for Government provides for the continued support of our six regional airports. My Department provides a range of financial mechanisms in support of this objective, but it is important to note that the regional airports are not in receipt of state subvention. With regard to capital funding, grant-aid of approximately €9...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 53, 106 and 113 together. The western rail corridor, WRC, was not included in the recommended investment strategy in the strategic rail review published last year primarily because it was not supported by complementary land use and transportation strategies. However, the review did conclude that the proposal was in line with the aims of the national spatial...

Written Answers — Light Rail Project: Light Rail Project (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: The Railway Procurement Agency's, RPA, current estimates of patronage on the Sandyford and Tallaght lines suggest a total annual patronage of approximately 20 million passengers when the system is fully operational and established patterns of travel have emerged. The original Luas proposal, which W. S. Atkins assessed in 1998, consisted of one line from Tallaght to Dundrum-Balally via the...

Written Answers — Driving Tests: Driving Tests (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 55, 74 and 88 together. The number of applicants awaiting a driving test at 26 April 2004 is 120,541. Of these, 17,446 have been given test appointments and a further 13,835 have indicated that they are currently not available to be tested. The current average waiting time and numbers awaiting a test at each driving test centre as at 26 April 2004 are set out...

Written Answers — Traffic Corps: Traffic Corps (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 56, 118 and 119 together. The programme for Government contains a commitment relating to the establishment of a dedicated traffic corps. As I have already indicated in this House, I support the implementation of this proposal through the formation of a corps that will be separately identifiable and visible. A consultation process involving my Department, the...

Written Answers — Infrastructural Projects: Infrastructural Projects (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: As I stated in previous replies to this question, all major projects are subject to detailed assessment and evaluation including, at key stages, cost benefit analysis, in accordance with Department of Finance guidelines on the appraisal and management of capital projects. The development of PPP projects takes account of Department of Finance interim guidelines on the assessment, appraisal and...

Written Answers — Light Rail Project: Light Rail Project (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: Section 51 of the Transport (Railway Infrastructure) Act 2001 provides that the Luas system may not be opened for testing and commissioning or for passenger services until it has been demonstrated to the satisfaction of an inspector appointed by the Minister under the regulation of Railway Act 1871, that is, my Department's railway inspecting officers, that the infrastructure and rolling...

Written Answers — State Airports: State Airports (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 59, 89, 91, 96, 107, 123 and 129 together. I was very pleased SIPTU decided to call off its threatened industrial action at the State airports in the middle of March last and both I and senior officials in my Department will maintain the process of full engagement with the Aer Rianta unions to deal with issues of concern to workers in the company arising from...

Written Answers — Drink Driving Convictions: Drink Driving Convictions (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 62 and 127 together. I am aware of reports of a decision taken in the District Court relating to seven drink driving cases. It would be inappropriate for me to comment on a decision taken in the courts. I understand that there are at present 80 cases before the High Court relating to the operation of the evidential breath testing programme. The issues raised...

Written Answers — Bus Stops: Bus Stops (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 63, 86, 104 and 126 together. The power to determine the locations for the provision of bus stops and termini is vested in the Garda Commissioner under section 85 of the Road Traffic Act 1961. Under that section the Commissioner may issue a direction to a bus operator identifying the specific location of bus stops and termini in respect of any bus route and in...

Written Answers — Speed Limits: Speed Limits (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: The Road Traffic Acts provide for the direct application of speed limits to all roads. Under the provisions of the Road Traffic Act 1994, separate speed limits apply to roads in built up areas, to roads outside such areas generally and a specific speed limit applies to motorways. The 1994 Act also provides that local authorities may make by-laws through which the speed limits that apply on a...

Written Answers — Driving Licences: Driving Licences (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 69, 90 and 131 together. Under the Road Traffic Act 1961 and the Road Traffic (Licensing of Drivers) Regulations 1999 to 2001, it is a matter for the appropriate licensing authority to determine the eligibility of a person for a duplicate driving licence, and to issue licences. I have no plans to change this arrangement.

Written Answers — Traffic Management: Traffic Management (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: The use of bus lanes is provided for in the Road Traffic (Traffic and Parking) Regulations 1997, the primary purpose of which is to facilitate and promote bus based public transport. These regulations generally limit the use of bus lanes to buses and, in the case of with-flow bus lanes, to cyclists. Having regard to the role of taxis in providing on-street immediate hire service, an exemption...

Written Answers — Driving Tests: Driving Tests (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: The requirements of the practical driving test are set out in the relevant EU directive. A number of improvements to the practical driving test are in the course of implementation on foot of amendments agreed at EU level. These changes relate to random checks on mechanical aspects of vehicles which have a bearing on road safety such as tyres, steering, brakes, engine oil, coolant, washer...

Written Answers — Rail Network: Rail Network (4 May 2004)

Séamus Brennan: Irish Rail recently completed a study on the feasibility of providing an interconnector tunnel from Heuston Station to the docklands. At my request, this study also examined the question of increased use of the Phoenix Park tunnel for passenger services between Connolly and Heuston stations. The completed study has been submitted to my Department and discussions have taken place with Irish...