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Questions— 14 February 2012. Written Answers [Deputy Michael Ring.] Table St Michael GAA Sligo €6,000 Tipperary €25,000 Durlas Og GAA Club €25,000 Westmeath €13,250 Coralstown/Kinnegad GAA Club €13,250 Wexford €110,518 St Fintans GAA Comm Grounds €5,303 Wexford Borough Council €105,215 Wicklow €58,800 Bray Emmetts GAA €54,700 Cobra Gymnastics Club €2,000 St Anthony’s Football Club €2,100 Public Transport 752. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider the reintroduction of the scheme that offered reduced public transport fares for senior overseas citizens as part of an effort to boost visitor numbers. [8196/12] Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (Deputy Leo Varadkar): The matter is primarily an operational one for Iarnród Éireann in the first instance working conjunction with the tourism agencies. I have referred the Deputy’s question to Iarnród Éireann, Fáilte Ireland and Tourism Ireland for direct reply. Please inform my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days. Road Safety 753. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the timeframe he expects the nationwide audit of speed limits to take; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8197/12] Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (Deputy Leo Varadkar): My Department will shortly engage with the National Roads Authority and local authorities throughout the country with a view to ensuring a nationwide audit of speed limits takes place. The aim of this audit is to examine and improve, where appropriate, the application by local authorities of speed limits and speed limit signage throughout the country, in accordance with my Department’s “Guidelines for the Application of Special Speed Limits”, which were issued last year. As this work will involve extensive input from and engagement with the NRA and road authorities to reduce inconsistencies and the potential for driver confusion, it will take some time but it is intended to complete this project during the course of 2012. I am determined that the necessary improvements should be implemented as soon as possible to further enhance road safety, save lives and reduce serious injuries. Tourism Promotion 754. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider the introduction of an accreditation system or information briefing for front line tourism industry workers based on knowledge of local heritage, attractions and general tourist 666
Questions— 14 February 2012. Written Answers information as part of an effort to enhance the experience for visitors to Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8198/12] Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (Deputy Leo Varadkar): It is the responsibility of every front-line tourism business to ensure its employees provide a first-class customer service to our visitors. This extends to engaging with visitors and sharing knowledge and information with them to ensure they enjoy their holiday to the fullest extent possible. The most recent Visitor Attitude Survey published by Fáilte Ireland for 2010 shows that 95% of visitors to Ireland expressed satisfaction with the friendliness of the people they met on their visit. This suggests that we are, generally speaking, getting things right in this area. Fáilte Ireland is responsible for promoting and supporting the training and education of people for employment in the tourism industry. In this regard, Fáilte Ireland has many programmes that provide training aimed at ensuring an excellent customer service for visitors. I have referred the Deputy’s question to Fáilte Ireland to enable the agency to inform the Deputy of its activity in this area. Please advise my office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days. National Car Test 755. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of revenue generated through the fees of driving tests and the national car testing services for 2009, 2010, 2011 and to date in 2012; the reasons the fee for an NCT was increased from €50 to €55; the reason vehicles aged over ten years will now be required to undergo a NCT each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8209/12] Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport (Deputy Leo Varadkar): Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006 (Conferral of Functions) Order 2006 (S.I. No. 477 of 2006), the operation of the driver testing and national car testing (NCT) services are matters for the Road Safety Authority. I have referred this part of the Deputy’s question to the authority for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days. The €5 increase in the NCT fee from €50 to €55 was sanctioned to take account of the VAT increase on services, the increase in the consumer price index for 2011 to help make the RSA selffinancing over the coming years, thereby removing its reliance on Exchequer funding. I have indicated that there will be no further increase in NCT fees for the next three years. The effects of wear and tear on a vehicle become more evident as it ages and a corresponding increase of failure rates is seen at NCT. When NCT testing was first introduced, less than 4% of vehicles passed the test at the first attempt. Since then, the pass rate has risen steadily to almost 70% for cars which are four years old, while the pass rate on the first attempt for cars over ten years old had deteriorated to just 33%. With effect from 1 June 2011, cars older than ten years must undergo annual roadworthiness testing. Road traffic collision statistics for 2009 show that 41.5% of fatal collisions and 46% of serious injuries arose from collisions that involved vehicles that were ten years old or more, and older vehicles are also more likely to be involved in a collision. As at the end of 2011, 28% of all taxed private motor vehicles were ten years or older. For those reasons, I believe the annual testing of vehicles of ten years and older is a valuable safety measure. Public Transport 756. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will request Dublin Bus to have buses regularly going to Dublin Airport from a location (details supplied) in Dublin 13; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8210/12] 667
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Page 325 and 326: Appendix 4. Annual summary of Staph
Page 327 and 328: 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011(Q1-3) †
Page 329 and 330: 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011(Q1-3) †
Page 331 and 332: 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011(Q1-3) †
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Written Answers. - Parliamentary Debates - Houses of the Oireachtas

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