Tag Archives: Transport Minister

AN EAST Clare councillor described himself as “a fraction nervous” over the Green transport minister’s commitment to progressing the Killaloe Bypass. After receiving a detailed update on the multimillion euro project at the May meeting of the Killaloe Municipal District, Councillor Pat Burke expressed the hope that Minister Eamon Ryan would not have “a wobbly”. The Fine Gael member noted the Council hopes to proceed to tender, subject to ministerial approval, around mid-June. The official response described that stage in the project as a “milestone” in a time-frame that could see major works get underway early next year, with a possible completion date of 2025. Commenting on a written update from Seán Lenihan, Senior Engineer at the Council’s Projects Management Office (PMO), Councillor Burke commended the works. “Excellent progress has been made,” he remarked. “I am a fraction nervous about a section of the response which says that ‘all going well’ the minister will give approval for tendering. “I would …

THE issue of Clare Bus has been raised in Dáil Éireann, with three of the constituency’s TDs appealing directly to Minister Shane Ross to intervene in the dispute with the National Transport Authority (NTA), which resulted in new contractors being appointed to the rural transport service in March. Deputy Cathal Crowe outlined the importance of the service saying, “We are not a leafy suburb with DARTs and Luas trams going down through it. We rely very much on rural transport.” The Fianna Fáil TD described the dispute over funding as “shambolic” and, referring to the staff of Clare bus said, “They are the only group of workers I can think of in the State at present who have been made redundant, not by the Covid crisis but by Government body hard-balling.” In her maiden speech in Dáil Éireann, Sinn Féin TD, Violet-Anne Wynne asked, “Will the Minister also step up and engage an independent mediator to resolve contractual issues between …

Over €1 million has been granted to Clare for improvement and maintenance works on roads. Clare County Council will be allocated €220,000 for road improvements and a further €791,657 for road maintenance. This funding is part of an allocation of almost €160 million from Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII). Nationally, €139.7 million of this will go towards road improvement works, while €20.2 million will go towards essential road maintenance. “According to the Minister for Transport, Paschal Donohoe, this funding represents a base allocation for local authorities that will be supplemented during the year in respect of certain maintenance works, pavement works and safety schemes,” commented Clare TD Pat Breen. “Fine Gael has a plan to keep the economic recovery going and ensure that we continue to have more resources to invest in better services and infrastructure like roads. The Government’s capital Investment Plan 2016-2022, allocates €6 billion for transport, which includes €4.4 billion, for the maintenance and renewal of the road …

Clare TD Timmy Dooley has called on Transport Minister Paschal Donohoe to make the report on the sale of Aer Lingus available to appropriate Oireachtas Committee. It’s been confirmed that the Government has now received the expert report on the controversial proposed sale of the State airline and any sale would require the backing of the Dáil. Deputy Dooley, the Fianna Fáil transport spokesman, explained, “The disposal of the State’s shares in a company must receive the support of the Dáil. For that reason, it is only right that public representatives from all sides are given the opportunity to examine the expert advice on hand. “The Oireachtas Transport Committee has held numerous discussions on this issue and has met and questioned all stakeholders involved in a possible sale of Aer Lingus. It is only right that the Committee, which has representatives from all parties as well as independents, would receive a copy of the report without further delay.”

Transport Minister, Paschal Donohoe has announced the commencement of a major review of the system for regulating airport charges in Ireland. This proved to be a bone of contention for Shannon Airport, where Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary pulled the plug when there was no budge on charges but returned immediately when granted the concession he demanded. Following a procurement process, which attracted bids from a number of Irish and international consultancy firms, Indecon International Economic Consultants have been awarded the contract to conduct the review, which will commence immediately and be completed before the end of the year. The review will involve full consultation with impacted stakeholders and will deliver options and recommendations for the future of airport charges in Ireland. The Minister said he considers it appropriate and timely to carry out a comprehensive review of the airport charges regulatory regime at this time. The current system for regulating airport charges has been in place since 2001. It is intended …

Transport Minister Paschal Donohoe has published a new document, the aim of which is to provide advice and guidance to those charged with responsibility for imposing speed limits. Guidelines for Setting and Managing Speed Limits will also ensure that greater consistency is applied where speed limits are concerned. The guidelines provide for the introduction of new road signage to deal with speed limits in rural areas on minor local roads and for the implementation of new urban ‘Slow Zones’ in residential areas to reduce the speed limit to 30 km/h. Minister Donohoe said, “Speed limits should not be seen by drivers as setting a target speed, or as being appropriate in all conditions, nor are they intended to be. Drivers must, take responsibility to drive at a safe speed appropriate to the particular road and surrounding environment, while not exceeding the posted speed limit’. “The purpose of the guidelines is to provide advice and guidance to local authority engineers, and …

IFA president, Eddie Downey has called on Transport Minister Paschal Donohoe to work with the organisation to develop a voluntary package of measures that facilitates the development of proposed Greenway projects, while protecting farmers’ rights. He said, “The Government plans to develop over 330km of Greenway tracks across the country over the next number of years. These projects have the potential to attract tourists and economic development to many rural areas.” However, Mr Downey said they will also significantly impact on farmers and may in some instances divide farm holdings. “This is leading to landowners firmly opposing the use of CPOs, which may have a negative impact on the long-term success of the Greenways initiative. Therefore, it is essential that a robust package of measures is put in place which recognises the inconvenience, severance and injurious affection caused and goodwill required.” The IFA leader has also called on local authorities to engage in this process with the Department of Transport …

IFA president, Eddie Downey has called on Transport Minister Paschal Donohoe to work with his organisation to develop a voluntary package of measures that facilitates the development of proposed Greenway projects, while protecting farmers’ rights. He said, “The Government plans to develop over 330km of Greenway tracks across the country over the next number of years.These projects have the potential to attract tourists and economic development to many rural areas”. However, the IFA president said they will also significantly impact on farmers and may in some instances divide farm holdings. “This is leading to landowners firmly opposing the use of CPOs, which may have a negative impact on the long-term success of the greenways initiative. Therefore it is essential that a robust package of measures is put in place which recognises the inconvenience, severance and injurious affection caused and goodwill required.” Mr Downey has also called on local authorities to engage in this process with the Department of Transport and …