Finian McGrath
Question:1183. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the supports available in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5 [48692/12]
View answerHealth Services Provision
Questions (1183)
Written answers
As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
Primary Care Centres Provision
Questions (1184)
Seán Fleming
Question:1184. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will provide the list of primary care centres included in each of the bundles announced as part of the stimulus package; the funding allocated to each of these projects; the expected timeframe for the various stages of advancing these various projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48707/12]
View answerWritten answers
The management and delivery of primary care centres through the public private partnership programme is a service matter. Therefore your question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
Care of the Elderly
Questions (1185)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:1185. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health further to the Ombudsman's recently issued a report, Too Old to be Equal a Follow Up, in that report she makes three recommendations to his Department, if he will make a statement on each of these recommendations regarding implementation of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48727/12]
View answerWritten answers
This matter requires further consideration by Government in order to meet the requirements of the Equal Status Acts and to ensure no hardship for those currently in receipt of the Mobility Allowance. We are seeking further legal advice as to the options available to the Government.
The Ombudsman is asking the Department to
- Remove the upper age limit as a condition of the Mobility Allowance scheme with immediate effect.
- Authorise the HSE to reconsider the application for complainants in the report without taking account of the upper age limit.
- Instruct the HSE to reconsider applications since 1 April 2011 which were refused solely on the basis of the upper age limit without regard to the upper age limit.
The Department is not in a position to amend the circular relating to the Mobility Allowance as recommended in the report. The recommendations, if implemented would ignore the very serious financial constraints on the Department, the HSE and the State generally. Implementation of the recommendations would create liabilities that the State could not afford.
Voluntary Sector Funding
Questions (1186)
Tom Fleming
Question:1186. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will look at the budget for an organisation (details supplied) as a special case; if he will acknowledge the tremendous work that this organisation is carrying out and the truly great success story that it is; if he will reverse the 5% cut to their budget next year that equates to €400,000 in cuts to vital services; his views on whether such a cut, if implemented, will send special needs services in County Kerry back decades; if he will make a special case for special needs services in the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48731/12]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
Health Insurance Cost
Questions (1187)
Tom Fleming
Question:1187. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will introduce a health insurance scheme that is fair and affordable for families and persons at an early date in view of the fact that thousands can no longer afford the rising costs of existing policies that are to be the subject of further increases in the new year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48734/12]
View answerWritten answers
I am very aware that health insurance is becoming harder to afford, in particular for older people, as insurers increasingly tailor their insurance plans towards younger, healthier customers. The Government is committed to keeping down the cost of health insurance so that it is affordable for as many people as possible and is also strongly committed to protecting community rating, whereby older and less healthy customers should pay the same amount for the same cover as younger and healthier people.
To support the principle of community rating, the Programme for Government contains a commitment to put a permanent scheme of risk equalisation in place. This is a key requirement for the existing private health insurance market and is designed to keep health insurance affordable for older persons and to maintain the stability of the market. I was pleased, therefore, to recently publish the Health Insurance (Amendment) Bill, 2012 on 18 October, to give effect to a new Risk Equalisation Scheme (RES) to be applied from 1 January 2013. An effective and robust RES is required in the Irish private health insurance market in order to protect affordability for those who need it most.
There can be little doubt that price increases will make it more difficult for persons who hold private health insurance to renew their policies. I have consistently raised the issue of costs with health insurers and am determined to address costs in the sector in the interests of consumers. I will continue to focus strongly on this issue.
I would also strongly advise consumers to shop around for the health insurance plan that best suits their needs. Consumers have a legal right to switch between or within insurers to get better value and to reduce their premium costs. All consumers should carefully consider the full range of plans and levels of cover available within the market, so that their own needs are fully met. Where customers wish to switch products, the relevant health insurance legislation ensures that switching is as easy and seamless as possible for customers. The evidence to date is that many people are changing their product choice or insurer following significant price or product changes. It is not open to a company to refuse a customer of another insurer the same level of cover. All plans are available to all customers, regardless of whether you are an employee of a particular organisation or not. Policy holders can switch to the same level of cover without waiting times for cover to apply.
In addition to the choices available to consumers in the health insurance market, the Government's clear objective is for the health insurance market to remain as competitive and affordable as possible, as we move towards a new system of Universal Health Insurance.
Mobility Allowance Eligibility
Questions (1188)
Tom Fleming
Question:1188. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if persons who are genuinely entitled to the mobility allowance and who have been deprived of what has always been rightfully theirs are now going to be put into payment; if their payments will be backdated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48737/12]
View answerWritten answers
The eligibility criteria for mobility allowance remain unchanged. Therefore people with a severe disability over 65 years of age are not eligible for the mobility allowance and the Health Service Executive is not authorised to pay the allowance to people outside of the eligibility criteria.
The Department of Health has accepted the Ombudsman's recommendation to review and revise the mobility allowance so as to render it compliant with the Equal Status Act.
The matter requires further consideration by Government in order to meet the requirements of the Equal Status Acts and to ensure no hardship for those currently in receipt of the Mobility Allowance. The Department of Health is seeking further legal advice as to the options available to the Government. However it must be acknowledged that the extension of the Allowance, as currently constructed, may have serious financial pressures on the health budget and may be unsustainable.
The recommendations, if implemented would ignore the very serious financial constraints on the Department, the HSE and the State generally. Implementation of the recommendations would create liabilities that the State could not afford.
Health Services Staff Issues
Questions (1189)
Eoghan Murphy
Question:1189. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Health the sectors of the public sector that are currently employed on a roster basis and if there are any plans to remove employees from the rostering system. [49075/12]
View answerWritten answers
As Minister for Health, I am replying to this question only insofar as it relates to the health sector.
Where it is necessary to provide services on an extended-hours or 24-hour basis, staff are rostered for duty to ensure an appropriate match between the staff available and service required. Provision is also made, where appropriate, for some staff to be off duty but on-call to meet urgent but unpredictable service needs. Health service managers keep rosters under review to ensure the most cost-effective staffing arrangements having regard to service needs and to achieve optimum patient care. There are no general plans to cease the rostering of staff, as such arrangements are key to the provision of essential health services to the population.
Public Sector Staff Retirements
Questions (1190)
James Bannon
Question:1190. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Health the exact number of public servants who are back in employment in the public service, who are on pensions and have accepted lump sums; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49087/12]
View answerWritten answers
My Department has rehired three retired members of staff since July 2012 in line with a Government Decision on the arrangements for dealing with our forthcoming EU Presidency requirements. These staff members were rehired on a temporary basis to allow us to fulfil our responsibilities in the context of Ireland's forthcoming Presidency of the EU. Theses are staff members with experience and expertise that is of particular value to the running of our Presidency and their re-employment is very specifically related to that Presidency. It will accordingly terminate as soon as our Presidency tasks have been discharged.
For ease of reference I have attached the information requested by the Deputy in tabular format.
|
Grade |
Length of Contract |
|
1 Principal Officer (50% of full time) |
13 months |
|
1 Assistant Principal (50% of full time) |
13 months |
|
1 Assistant Principal (70% of full time) |
10 months |
The pensions of these staff are subject to normal pension abatement rules.
The information in relation to the Non-Commercial State Agencies is currently being collated and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as it is available.
Parking Regulations
Questions (1191)
Mary Mitchell O'Connor
Question:1191. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has considered increasing the fine local authorities can impose for parking illegally in a disabled car parking space; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47422/12]
View answerWritten answers
The possibility of increasing fines for parking illegally in a disabled parking space was considered as part of a review of the Disabled Parking Scheme by my Department in 2010. The review, which was conducted in consultation with key stakeholders, recommended a number of improvements to the system which have since been introduced, but did not recommend a change in the fines concerned.
The fixed charge penalty for parking illegally in a disabled parking space is, at €80, double that applying to any other parking offence. If not paid in 28 days this fine goes up to €120. If the fixed charge is not paid within 56 days, the case can be taken to court. The courts have the power to impose a fine of up to €1,000 for a first offence and up to €2,000 for a second or subsequent offence. If an individual commits a third or subsequent offence within one year, the court may impose a fine of up to €2,000 and/or a prison term of up to three months.
I am satisfied that the penalties available in law for this offence are sufficient, and that they demonstrate the seriousness with which the law regards the misuse of disabled parking facilities.
Road Improvement Schemes
Questions (1192)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:1192. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason for the delay with the work on the N86 road upgrade and when works will commence on the County Kerry Dingle road. [47679/12]
View answerWritten answers
As Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
Noting the above position, I have referred the Deputy’s question to the NRA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you don’t receive a reply within 10 working days.
Youth Services
Questions (1193)
Finian McGrath
Question:1193. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 309 of 18 October 2012, if he will provide advice and support on the tourism proposal for youth travel (details supplied). [47223/12]
View answerWritten answers
The matter raised is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland. I have referred the matter and the further details provided to Fáilte Ireland for direct reply to the Deputy. Please contact my private office if a reply is not received within ten working days.
Departmental Expenditure
Questions (1194)
Mary Lou McDonald
Question:1194. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 836 of 19 July 2012, if he will provide details relating to professional fees paid by his Department . [47256/12]
View answerWritten answers
Details of consultancy and other external contracts are published on my Department's website in the features section at the following link: http://www.dttas.ie/feature.aspx?id=82. This information will be updated regularly.
Public Sector Staff Issues
Questions (1195, 1245)
Billy Kelleher
Question:1195. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the names of each staff member within his Department that has been rehired since March 2011 and the cost involved in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47302/12]
View answerJames Bannon
Question:1245. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the exact number of public servants who are back in employment in the public service, who are on pensions and have accepted lump sums; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49091/12]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1195 and 1245 together.
There has been no retired staff member rehired permanently in my Department since I came into office on the 9th March 2011, but there have been a number of retired staff members and former public servants rehired on a contractual basis or engaged to undertake a specific task. The details are set out in the table below.
|
Name |
Grade |
Amount |
|
Frank Russell |
Inspector of Air Accidents |
€38,302.11 |
|
John A. McLoughlin |
Radio Officer Grade III |
€29,687.80 |
|
Thomas Byrne |
Radio Officer Grade III |
€32,578.36 |
|
John B. McLoughlin |
Radio Officer Grade III |
€19,806.99 |
|
Timothy Lyne |
Radio Officer Grade III |
€12,953.52 |
|
Gordon Duncan |
Radio Officer Grade III |
€10,385.76 |
|
Liam Dolan |
Principal Officer |
€1,256 |
|
Andrew Cullen |
Assistant Secretary |
pro bono |
|
Paul Byrne |
Principal Officer |
€1,500 |
|
Bernadette Treanor |
Equality Officer |
€11,958 |
|
Dara Mullally |
Principal Officer |
€2,000 |
Five of these were Radio Officers to fill essential frontline vacancies in the Coast Guard until such time as recruitment processes for replacements could be completed. One Aeronautical Engineer was rehired temporarily for the Air Accident Investigation Unit. The other retired officials were engaged to chair the Steering group on the review of the Railway Safety Programme 2009-2013 and the VFM Policy Review Group on Tourism Product Development, respectively or were contracted to carry out specific short term exercises. All but the final three individuals in the table have completed their tasks.
Free Travel Scheme Administration
Questions (1196)
Eoghan Murphy
Question:1196. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way subvention to Iarnrod Eireann for free travel passes is calculated and determined. [47402/12]
View answerWritten answers
The issue raised is a matter for Iarnród Éireann in conjunction, as appropriate, with the Department of Social Protection, who administer the free travel pass scheme. I have referred the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
Rail Services
Questions (1197)
Eoghan Murphy
Question:1197. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide information detailing changes in train speeds and times over the past 30 years, for example, the average journey time by train from Dublin to Cork; the average speed of trains on this line; and the power of engines used by trains on this line; his views on whether the current work practices are an impediment to achieving greater improvements in journey times on this or any other line. [47403/12]
View answerWritten answers
The issue raised is a matter for Iarnród Éireann in conjunction, as appropriate, with the National Transport Authority. I have referred the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
Dublin Bus Services
Questions (1198)
Eoghan Murphy
Question:1198. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the average age of a bus that is retired from the Dublin Bus fleet; and if buses retired from the Dublin Bus fleet are made available for purchase by private operators in the Irish market. [47404/12]
View answerWritten answers
The issued raised is an operational matter for Dublin Bus and I have referred the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
Parking Regulations
Questions (1199)
Mary Mitchell O'Connor
Question:1199. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has considered issuing penalty points to drivers who park illegally in disabled car parking spaces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47421/12]
View answerWritten answers
Measures are already in place to deter against such illegal parking. A fixed charge of €80 applies to parking in a disabled person's parking bay. The amount of the fixed charge increases by 50% to €120 if it is not paid within 28 days.
If no payment is received within the 56 day period, a court prosecution is initiated. Where a person does not pay the charge is subsequently convicted in court of the said offence he or she is liable to a fine not exceeding €1,000 for the first offence, a fine not exceeding €2,000 for a second or subsequent offence and in the case of a third offence or subsequent offence committed within a twelve month period, a fine not exceeding €2,000 and/or a prison sentence of up to 3 months. The level of fine to be imposed in any instance is at the discretion of the court.
The focus of the penalty points system is on improving driver behaviour that impacts on road safety. The only parking offence that is included in the system is the serious offence of dangerous parking. It is considered that it would not be appropriate to extend the system to include drivers who illegally park in a disabled person's parking bay.
Cross-Border Projects
Questions (1200)
Seamus Kirk
Question:1200. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the Narrow Water Bridge Project; the financial arrangements for the Narrow Water Bridge Project from Omeath, County Louth, to Warrenpoint, County Down; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47541/12]
View answerWritten answers
The Narrow Water bridge project was submitted for INTERREG IVA funding and the steering group of the Special European Union Programmes Body (SEUPB) responsible for overseeing the INTERREG programme has recently approved funding of €17.4 million for the project.
As part of the proposed financial arrangements, my Department together with the Department of Finance and Personnel in Northern Ireland will be contributing towards the cost of the project.
Further work towards delivering the project now falls to Louth County Council, as the road authority responsible for the project in accordance with the provisions of the Roads Act, 1993, working with its Northern Ireland partners on the project.
Tourism Promotion
Questions (1201)
Eric J. Byrne
Question:1201. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will confirm the status of Ireland.com; the reason behind its purchase by Tourism Ireland (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47542/12]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy will be aware, Tourism Ireland was established under the framework of the Belfast Agreement of Good Friday 1998. It is jointly funded by the Irish Government and the Northern Ireland Executive, and operates under the auspices of the North/South Ministerial Council through the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment in Northern Ireland and my Department here.
As I have previously stated, the decision to purchase the domain name "Ireland.com" from the Irish Times, and an analysis of a business case in this regard are operational matters for Tourism Ireland Limited and its Board while the issue of accommodating existing @ireland.com email address holders in as helpful and fair a manner as possible is the responsibility of the Irish Times.
In terms of the business case for the purchase, I understand that Tourism Ireland firmly believes that having a simple domain name like "Ireland.com" will have significant benefits to them. Primarily it is considered that, given the ease of recognition and memorability, the new domain name will deliver greater "stand out" for Ireland around the world. At present "Ireland.com" is a competitor with Tourism Ireland's discoverireland.com domain name for search engine traffic. Accordingly, the acquisition will be beneficial in accessing that traffic. Furthermore Tourism Ireland’s business case for the project identified that cost savings will also be achieved through a reduction in their paid search engine optimisation activity. I understand that Tourism Ireland’s projections show that the costs of the acquisition will be fully recouped in just over three years.
Finally, with regard to "The Gathering Ireland 2013", having a simple domain name like "Ireland.com" can only help in projecting an even stronger online presence to achieve our ambitious targets for visitor numbers next year and beyond.
Road Maintenance
Questions (1202)
Seán Kenny
Question:1202. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide the National Roads Authority roads maintenance budget for the years 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47550/12]
View answerWritten answers
Each year the funding provided to the local authorities through the National Roads Authority under the roads budgets are outlined in the road grant allocation booklets, copies of which are available in the Dáil library.
Air Services Provision
Questions (1203)
Seán Kenny
Question:1203. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the progress that has been made to date in improving air access to Ireland from North America; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47551/12]
View answerWritten answers
Air access between Ireland and North American is crucially important for trade and tourism. In this regard, there have recently been two important announcements.
As part of a recent tourism mission to North America to promote the Gathering, I met with United Airlines in Chicago and a new Chicago-Shannon route has been confirmed for next summer. In addition, American Airlines recently announced that it is to begin a new daily service from Dublin to New York JFK from June 2013 in addition to its existing Dublin-Chicago route which operates six times a week. These are very positive developments and discussions are continuing with a number of other carriers for additional capacity linked to both general traffic demand and the expected increased traffic linked to the Gathering.
Current indications are that transatlantic capacity for summer 2013 will be higher than summer 2012, which was in the region of 27,500 seats per week. Tourism Ireland continues to work closely with Dublin Airport Authority to secure additional capacity.