Results 461-480 of 1,035,984 for in 'Dáil debates' OR in 'Committee meetings' (speaker:Máiría Cahill OR speaker:Michael D'Arcy OR speaker:Seán Sherlock OR speaker:Patrick Costello OR speaker:Duncan Smith)

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Road Projects (4 Jul 2024)

Mattie McGrath: Yes, indeed, it is good news. I hope the Minister will still be in the Cabinet when it comes to the Government later in the year. I take him at his word that he is interested in having a bypass of Tipperary town. The life is choked out of it with the trucks and other traffic that should not be going through the town. People will be able to breathe, work and live again in peace if it is...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Road Projects (4 Jul 2024)

Eamon Ryan: Those ancestors helped on the first Bianconi coach route from Clonmel to Limerick, which went through Tipperary town. It did not go through Bansha; it went further south. In honour of those ancestors, I look forward to seeing this happen.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Road Projects (4 Jul 2024)

Road Projects

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Road Projects (4 Jul 2024)

Marian Harkin: 4. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport for an update on progress in upgrading the N17 from Knock to Collooney. [28723/24]

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Road Projects (4 Jul 2024)

Marian Harkin: I am looking for an update on progress in upgrading the N17 from Knock to Collooney. This is a major issue of concern from a strategic, economic perspective and a safety perspective. Progress has been slow. It is the main artery from Galway to the north west so I want to hear what progress is being made.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Road Projects (4 Jul 2024)

Eamon Ryan: As I said in my response to Deputy McGrath, I can confirm that approximately €411 million of Exchequer capital funds were provided for national roads through TII to local authorities in 2024. These allocations were announced by the Department of Transport and TII on the 22 February 2024. The N17 Knock to Collooney scheme has been identified in the national development plan. This...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Road Projects (4 Jul 2024)

Marian Harkin: From what the Minister said, he is talking about bypasses of Tobercurry and Charlestown and nothing else. While that is fine, there are a number of really dangerous stretches on this road, especially between Curry and Tobercurry. I do not know whether he is familiar with the road. There are also some very dangerous sections between Tobercurry and Collooney. Work needs to start on those...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Road Projects (4 Jul 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I will not have those figures until we get the business case, as is the case with what I said in respect of the Cahir to Limerick Junction road. It is at the business case phase that we start to get an indicative outline of the potential costs. I agree with the Deputy that road safety is our key first objective.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Road Projects (4 Jul 2024)

Marian Harkin: It has to be.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Road Projects (4 Jul 2024)

Eamon Ryan: We provided specific funding to TII to examine whether we can improve our existing national road network, even if we are not doing the full motorway or new project appraisal or development and whether we can improve safety measures on all carriageways, particularly national roads, through a variety of different measures, such as investment in junctions, speed measurement measures and other...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Transport (4 Jul 2024)

Martin Kenny: Will the Minister provide an update on the measures he is taking to ensure passengers are kept safe on board our public transport infrastructure throughout the country? As he will be aware, we have had several incidents over the years whereby workers on public transport have been attacked and verbally abused. People do not want to work driving buses, trains or trams any more because of...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Transport (4 Jul 2024)

Eamon Ryan: Antisocial behaviour is a societal issue to which public transport is, unfortunately, not immune. Those who regularly use and work in our public transport system are most directly impacted by any incident that occurs on the network. I assure the Deputy that all public transport operators are expending significant resources introducing measures to counter the impact of antisocial behaviour...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Transport (4 Jul 2024)

Martin Kenny: There has long been a campaign by the National Bus and Rail Workers Union, SIPTU and others involved in the transport system to ensure we try to develop a national transport policing service, as there is another countries throughout the world. When we travel, we see there is a section of the police that deals with transport issues. We see examples of problems arising here all the time...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Transport (4 Jul 2024)

Eamon Ryan: The Government, with the transport operators, will protect passengers and staff. The Deputy is right that SIPTU has done very good work in highlighting the concern. I had a meeting with SIPTU officials and some of the drivers who have experienced what is more than antisocial behaviour. It can be terrifying when people are subject to assault or intimidation. No one in the Government wants...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Transport (4 Jul 2024)

Martin Kenny: With respect, we are not suggesting a separate force. What we are suggesting is a division of An Garda Síochána that would be dedicated to public transport policing. This is what we are suggesting and it is has also been suggested by the trade unions involved. The Minister said it would not make any difference. The reality is that on the Luas, DART and other systems there are...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Transport (4 Jul 2024)

Eamon Ryan: I accept the Deputy's point. As he said, he is speaking about a division within An Garda Síochána. Again, in regular communication with An Garda Síochána on the matter we have asked for advice on what is the best structure. We have to take the advice from the Garda Commissioner. In this case he is best placed to assess how we might want to deploy. We do have special...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Transport (4 Jul 2024)

Martin Kenny: Clearly not.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Transport (4 Jul 2024)

Eamon Ryan: -----with An Garda Síochána deciding to manage or operate in a different way.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Transport (4 Jul 2024)

Martin Kenny: They are clearly not.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Public Transport (4 Jul 2024)

Eamon Ryan: We can never completely eradicate it but we do have to take action in every instance to try to stop it. One of the things that to my mind really does work, and it is more on the bus service rather than rail or light rail services, is engagement with the community. It is often about community policing. A lot of the time with the bus drivers I have met it is often about an isolated bus...