Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 Nov 2004

Vol. 593 No. 5

Adjournment Debate.

Air Services.

Ms Lynch

I appreciate the fact that the Minister of State, Deputy Killeen, has come to the House to deal with this matter. The motion refers to the urgent need for Aer Lingus to resume its cargo and courier operations due to the devastating effect the suspension of these services has on businesses in the Munster region, in particular Irish businesses which have to resort to purchasing seats on aeroplanes for staff to transport goods to clients.

This is probably not clear to people who are not involved in this area. The cargo operation which has been run by Aer Lingus out of Cork Airport was due to be withdrawn on 1 January next. The businesses in the region were hugely upset by this because they realised very quickly that it would have a devastating effect on the cargo business in the Munster region. We have been asking for some considerable time that Aer Lingus reconsider its position. However, on 20 November the cargo service was withdrawn much earlier than expected because Swissport, the international carrier used by Aer Lingus, went into liquidation. The decision of Aer Lingus to suspend cargo operations has a devastating effect on many Irish-based exporting companies, some of which are resorting to sending goods on aeroplanes with passengers in the absence of the courier service, which Aer Lingus operated on a flexible basis.

In recent days, businesses in Cork have had to cope without Aer Lingus cargo operations. When the company announced the decision in August, I warned that the move would have serious negative consequences for companies based in Cork, particularly export companies, including important multinationals, and so it has transpired. The impact is much worse than initially feared as not only have all cargo operations ceased but Aer Lingus's hitherto flexible courier service is a thing of the past.

Companies based in the Munster region are being forced to send staff members on flights to get goods or products to clients. The additional costs incurred and manpower wasted will surely force many companies to rethink whether they wish to be based in the region. As a national airline in public ownership, there should be an obligation on Aer Lingus management to have regard for the broader national interest. Both the company and the Government should take note of the warning from the Irish Exporters Association that if distribution out of Ireland becomes difficult, companies will move to Holland, France or Germany where distribution is easier.

There is much focus on the future of Aer Lingus. Developments such as these raise further serious questions about the wisdom of privatisation. Aer Lingus has a duty to supply these services and I call on the company to reverse the decision to abandon its cargo and courier services.

I received a letter from a freight company which operates successfully from the airport business park in Cork. It states:

Regarding Aer Lingus cargo closure I am getting a lot of panic calls from both clients and companies we have not dealt with in the past concerning this closure. The more well known companies such as EMC/Apple/Resound/ADM/Johnson & Johnson are now very concerned with the closure. Aer Lingus have already suspended cargo operations since last Monday due to their handling agent Swissport going into liquidation.

The companies are now feeling its effect. The courier operation, which was flexible in nature, has also gone. The letter gave an example of its impact. One client had to put a member of staff on a morning flight to London — they were lucky to get the seat — to carry an item worth €10, and the ticket cost €220. There were also incidental expenses, such as having lunch and waiting for a return flight. No company can sustain such costs.

People in Cork are getting sick and tired of what happens to them when something goes wrong with Aer Lingus in Dublin. I am not demeaning the fact that the national carrier at one stage refused to carry the bodies of people who wished to be buried in Ireland. It is a sensitive subject. However, this decision is equally important for the Munster region. The Minister should call on the board of Aer Lingus to reverse the decision as a matter of urgency.

Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment (Mr. Killeen)

I thank the Deputy for raising this matter on the Adjournment. It is a matter in which I, too, have considerable interest.

The decision taken by Aer Lingus on cargo handling was an operational matter for that organisation and was outside the scope of direct political intervention. However, a central element of the Government's economic development policies is to ensure that Irish exporters are facilitated in all relevant aspects of their business dealings. It is for that reason that Enterprise Ireland, Bord Bia and other such agencies are resourced by taxpayers through the Government. Their task is to ensure that companies producing goods and services, and providing valuable employment in this country, can fully realise opportunities that exist in export markets across the world.

I am aware of, and am concerned about, reports of difficulties arising at Heathrow Airport as a consequence of the recent demise of the cargo handling agent there for Aer Lingus. Aer Lingus is working to resolve this problem. It has put in place some interim handling arrangements pending the selection of a new cargo handling agent. I am hopeful these efforts will ensure that the cargo handling arrangements at Heathrow Airport will soon be fully operational again.

In so far as the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment is concerned, Enterprise Ireland has been asked to continue to monitor and to report on the situation. It is to undertake a telephone survey of exporting companies to provide a representative and contemporary indication of continuing problems that such companies are experiencing as a consequence of difficulties in accessing cargo handling services.

While I am aware of reports that difficulties have arisen in recent weeks with exports destined for Heathrow Airport, information available to the Department indicates that this problem is of recent origin and that its negative impact is relatively confined and localised. That in no way lessens its importance or detracts from the Minister's determination to resolve any and all obstacles that inhibit or have the potential to inhibit the further development and deepening of our bilateral trading performance in markets around the world.

However, it is important also to indicate that both the Department and Enterprise Ireland have been monitoring whether negative and widespread effects have emerged since the decision of Aer Lingus on its cargo handling activities. That monitoring indicates that other cargo handling operators have taken up available business and that there have been few negative effects on our exporters as a consequence. Equally, neither the Department nor Enterprise Ireland has, in so far as I am aware, received representations from companies that have been negatively affected.

The Government regards the promotion and development of exports as vital to our economic well-being. We will ensure that the necessary supports and facilities are available to exporting companies to realise and maximise the possibilities in all countries with which we have trading relationships. To do so, we are anxious to know of all difficulties that negatively impinge on the realisation of these objectives and are determined to solve them.

Health Board Services.

Mr. Neville

I welcome the opportunity to raise this matter, the primary care strategy and the Mid-Western Health Board's implementation project, Cois Abhainn in west Limerick. This is one of the pilot projects aimed at commencing implementation of the national primary care strategy model of care, providing an opportunity to experiment with ways of delivering a multi-disciplinary primary care team service, and we welcome it.

The Cois Abhainn project encompasses a geographic area of 200 square miles approximately, spanning the coastal rural region west from Foynes to Tarbert, inland to Athea and including Glin. The area includes the north Kerry-Southern Health Board region around Tarbert. There are four general practitioners participating and I pay tribute to them. They are Dr. Brendan Barrett, Dr. Dominic Lehane, Dr. Kieran Murphy and Dr. Michael Tagney. The population to be served by the primary care team is approximately 8,000 people.

An additional 13 posts have been approved for the primary care team. A number of these have been filled and others are being recruited at present. Perhaps the Minister will outline the situation regarding this recruitment. Resource improvements cover public health nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, therapy assistance, dietetics, home helps and administrative support. Absent from this excellent project are psychiatric and psychological services. No psychiatric services are provided for the area. Are there plans to include psychiatric services when rolling out the national scheme?

ICT has played a key role in maximising the responsiveness and accessibility of the service. Communication is the linchpin of primary care team implementation. All sites have been fully networked through the Mid-Western Health Board systems. Communication through telephone and e-mail is now established at each location where personnel in the primary care team are based. Many of the staff involved never had access to ICT and training is geared to individual needs. The development of multi-disciplinary records and shared access to multi-disciplinary electronic records are issues which will require both national and local consideration in the future. Has progress been made in the development of these multi-disciplinary electronic records?

Shared care protocols have been initiated by the team. Diabetes has been identified as the initial area for establishing protocols. Interfaces with other services are being pursued with the mental health services and services for older people through engagement in their service development processes. Services to the public have been enhanced since the implementation of the Cois Abhainn project. The population now has access to local dedicated physiotherapy, occupational therapy and dietetics services. Provision of aids and appliances identified as necessary to enhance quality of life for clients by these therapists will be provided for the population based on agreed criteria. All members of the primary care team have access to improved information and communication systems, ensuring rapid and confidential information exchange, which underpins co-ordinated responses to needs.

Team-building has provided opportunities for team members to get to know all other disciplines in the team and understand and appreciate each other's roles, expertise and skills. This enhances the ability of all professionals to identify resources and referral options within the team. This allows for greater treatment options, leading to potentially better outcomes for clients.

A significant amount of work needs to be completed in order to conclude the implementation phase of the Cois Abhainn project. Perhaps the Minister of State will comment on the progress in respect of and the commitment to the tasks involved which include more in-depth needs analysis; further recruitment to the primary care team; further team-building; further education and training; development of the remaining protocols and pathways; further development of interfaces with the wider primary, community and continuing care services and acute care; ICT development for registration-enrolment, etc.; physical infrastructural development; managing equity in the system of access to and provision of services; and advancements in the quality programme.

I pay tribute to the director of primary care, Ms Mary Healy, of the Mid-Western Health Board for the work done in initiating this excellent primary care project.

Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children (Mr. B. Lenihan)

The primary care strategy, Primary Care: A New Direction, sets out the Government's vision for the development of integrated multidisciplinary primary care teams and networks that will enable clients to access a broad range of services in their local community. The aim of the strategy is to develop the capacity of primary care to meet the broad range of health and social care needs appropriate to the primary care setting. A strengthened primary care system can have a major impact in reducing demands on specialist services and the hospital system, particularly accident and emergency and outpatient services.

The strategy provided for the early establishment of a number of initial primary care teams on the basis of the model described in it. The more widespread implementation of the model will be able to draw on experience gained through the development and operation of these first teams.

In 2002 the Department sought proposals from the health boards for the establishment of primary care teams with a view to funding a number of such projects. The Mid-Western Health Board brought forward three such proposals and, following discussions between the Department and the board, approval was granted to the development of the Cois Abhainn primary care team in west County Limerick. This team serves an area of approximately 20 square miles spanning the coastal rural area from Foynes to Tarbert and inland to Athea and Glin. The population served includes residents of the Tarbert area in County Kerry. The Mid-Western Health Board has indicated that the target population of this primary care team is approximately 8,000 persons.

At the outset the Mid-Western Health Board which has responsibility for the development of the team established a steering group representative of all major service elements to guide the establishment of the Cois Abhainn primary care team. There has been substantial progress to date with its development. The commitment of the front-line health professionals and the health board management and staff involved with the team who have devoted considerable effort to its development must be acknowledged. The team has been established by building on the services and resources already in place in the areas involved in order to develop a primary care team in line with the model described in the strategy. The necessary revenue funding to enable the appointment of 13 additional personnel to make up the full team has been provided. Once-off capital funding of €135,000 and a further €155,000 in respect of information and communications technology supports for the team has also been provided.

The team involves five general practitioners based in four practices — at Athea, Glin, Foynes and Tarbert — their staff and health board professionals working together as a primary care team. Accommodation has been developed at the refurbished Glin Health Centre which has facilitated the provision of an integrated team service.

The broad range of services being provided by the Cois Abhainn primary care team for the local community includes general practitioner services; public health, community and practice nursing services; physiotherapy; occupational therapy; therapy assistance; home help; dietetics, and community welfare services. Other facilities at Carrigkerry, Shanagolden and Ballyhahill will continue to provide satellite bases for outreach general practice services for the local populations.

The team is working with the west Limerick resources organisation, a well established community development group, in undertaking a local needs assessment and developing consumer panels and a model for community involvement in the planning of primary care services. Links are also being developed with the west Limerick rural transport initiative.

The Hanly report recognised the important contribution primary care can make to the provision of quality patient care. In that context, earlier this year my Department requested the Mid-Western Health Board, as one of the two phase 1 implementation regions for the Hanly reorganisation, to consider the primary care developments required to support the reconfiguration of hospital services in the region. The board has conducted a structured and comprehensive analysis to map a broad range of data, including demographic information, disease patterns, socio-economic indices, mental health indicators, locations of existing public health services, GP practices, transport links and existing natural communities. I express my appreciation of the work the health board has undertaken in this regard.

As a result of this detailed work, the board has developed a draft plan for the implementation of the primary care strategy in its region. The plan proposes 11 primary care networks consisting of 37 primary care teams. The next stage will be to undertake a comprehensive consultation process with general practitioners and other relevant interests in the region and revise the plan as appropriate in consultation with the stakeholders. This process is due to commence in the new year.

Rural Transport Services.

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for giving me the opportunity to raise this important matter.

It is widely acknowledged that public transport in this State is hugely inadequate and that the failure of successive Governments to develop public transport is adversely affecting our economy and the quality of life of our citizens. This is just as acute a problem in rural areas as it is in our cities. Inadequate as much of public transport is in our cities, it is at least present. There is no public transport throughout vast swathes of rural Ireland, unless one counts the inter-city buses that serve only the national routes and large towns. That is the situation in my constituency, Cavan-Monaghan, which contains some of the most disadvantaged and isolated rural communities in the country.

For the reasons I have outlined, the rural transport initiative has become an absolutely essential service for those rural communities where it is available. It provides a transport service for people in isolated areas, allowing them regular access to services, employment and health care. It has breathed new life into entire communities and provided an essential lifeline for some who would otherwise have faced terminal decline. For example, in the last ten months the Flexibus Meath Accessible Transport Project which covers County Meath has carried over 16,000 people on 18 daily and weekly service routes. More than 50% of its passengers have no access to alternative transport services and would not be able to get to local shops or the doctor without this service.

There are similar projects in my constituency, including those run by Kilnaleck and District Community Co-operative in County Cavan, Rural Lift which serves parts of west Cavan and County Leitrim, and Latton Social Services and Development Limited in County Monaghan. I commend all involved in each of these essential initiatives.

While I welcome the €3 million allocated to the rural transport initiative in the recently published Book of Estimates, it is clear that this is simply not enough. It is far from enough. With this level of funding, projects will not be able to sustain their current services, not to mention expand them in order to meet demand. What is urgently needed tomorrow — budget day — is a further allocation of at least €2 million for the rural transport initiative. I appeal to the Minister for Finance, the Minister for Transport and the Minister of State opposite to make this funding available.

In the context of the massive spending on national roads, Luas trams, the Dublin Port tunnel and other such projects, the allocation for the rural transport initiative is truly minuscule. The Minister for Transport, Deputy Cullen, announced on 7 October that the initiative was to be extended for a further two years to the end of 2006. However, we should not be talking about merely extending such schemes; we should be talking about mainstreaming them and establishing an integrated rural transport system to serve our communities. Such a system should not be focused only on the elderly and people with disabilities and other special needs.

One of the reasons for the carnage on the roads of rural Ireland at the weekends is the total dependence on private cars for transport to and from social outings. The rural transport initiative is filling real gaps. It needs to be supported and the starting point for a real public transport network in rural Ireland which should be imaginative and involve communities, local businesses, the local authorities and CIE. I urge the Minister of State to support this initiative and increase the funding allocated to it in tomorrow's Budget Statement.

Mr. Killeen

Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as ucht an ábhair tábhachtach seo a phlé sa Dáil agus tá suim againn ann i gCondae an Chláirfreisin. The rural transport initiative has been under way since 2002 and is funded by the Department of Transport. Under the scheme, funding is provided for 34 rural community organisations to address the particular transport needs of their areas through the provision of local transport services.

Area Development Management Limited manages the RTI on behalf of the Department of Transport. It has been fully responsible for administration of the initiative from the initial selection of the groups to be funded to the decisions regarding the specific annual allocations to individual projects. Expenditure under the RTI was some €6 million in the two year period ending December 2003. At that point the pilot initiative was due to end but further funding of €3 million was allocated to fund it for another year to facilitate a full appraisal. This appraisal was carried out earlier this year and on foot of one of its principal recommendations, the Minister for Transport recently extended the initiative for a further two years.

A provisional allocation of €3 million for the RTI is contained in the 2005 Abridged Estimates Volume. Before the Estimates are finalised, the Minister hopes to be in a position to increase this provision to take account of expected increases in the operating costs of projects. This will result in an overall funding commitment of at least €12 million for the RTI to end 2005, which compares very favourably with the total of €4.4 million earmarked for the RTI in the National Development Plan 2000 — 2006. It should be borne in mind that RTI projects also benefit each year from funding provided by the Department of Social and Family Affairs arising from the application of the free travel scheme to the initiative. In addition, some RTI projects are generating additional funds from the provision of transport services for health boards as well as from other sources.

From the outset RTI projects have been encouraged to explore innovative ways in which their services can be partly financed from the local economy. The degree to which prospective RTI groups brought forward proposals for co-financing and additional resources to be secured from non-Exchequer sources was among the operational criteria used to assess the original applications for funding. The RTI is now operational in virtually every county with some 2,500 transport services being provided on approximately 380 new rural routes established under the initiative. Some 20,000 people are currently using the services every month.

In deciding on the extension of the RTI to end-2006 the Minister for Transport was conscious that many of the pilot projects only became fully operational in 2003. He was also conscious of the fact that continuing the initiative to end 2006 would ensure its lifespan would dovetail with the scope of the National Development Plan 2000 — 2006. The extension will facilitate a more comprehensive appraisal of the effectiveness of the pilot initiative in addressing the transport needs of rural areas. It will enable the 34 projects to further explore models of transport provision and strategically develop approaches to designing, planning, co-ordinating, integrating, procuring and providing transport in areas where it was traditionally considered difficult to do so. In providing additional time for the RTI projects to fully mature, the Minister is facilitating the emergence of models of best practice in the provision of rural transport services in terms of both operational and organisational management.

The Dáil adjourned at 10.25 p.m. until10.30 a.m. on Wednesday, 1 December 2004.