Finian McGrath
Question:1124. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the impact on senior citizens that the new prescription charges are having which is causing hardship [1973/13]
View answerPrescription Charges
Questions (1124)
Written answers
Due to the very difficult and challenging economic environment, the Government has committed to achieving additional savings in health expenditure with €781m of savings targeted in 2013. The increase in prescription charges will account for €51 million of this target. The Government is committed to achieving these savings while protecting front line services to the most vulnerable to the greatest extent possible.
Home Help Service Provision
Questions (1125)
Finian McGrath
Question:1125. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding home help in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 13 [1974/13]
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.
Question No. 1126 answered with Question No. 1120.
Coast Guard Station Closures
Questions (1127)
Catherine Murphy
Question:1127. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason he reversed the recommendation to close the Coast Guard Stations at Malin Head and Valentia Island. [58200/12]
View answerWritten answers
Value for Money reviews into the Coast Guard and Marine Surveying functions of my Department by Fishers Associates identified a number of issues which need to be addressed in Ireland's maritime transport safety and marine emergency response regimes. One of the consultants' recommendations was that the option of a 2 centre model for rescue coordination centres should be pursued. However, when I published the reviews last July I made it clear that I wouldn't accept or reject any of the recommendations until a full assessment of the proposals had been undertaken and actions prioritised to address the issues identified as requiring attention.
My Department has examined the consultants' recommendation regarding the operation of the 3 coordination centres, including engaging in further discussions with Fisher Associates, to determine how greater efficiencies can be delivered in light of the resource constraints under which we must operate. After careful consideration of the various options available, it was concluded that the three centres should remain but that changes to the operation arrangements within and between the centres would be required to achieve the necessary operating efficiencies and savings.
In particular, through the utilisation of the most modern communications and IT infrastructure across a single national Coast Guard network the 3 centres will be more closely aligned and integrated. My Department is currently undertaking work with the support of external consultants to establish the details of the future operational arrangements for the centres. This is an important measure in the action plan I am preparing to address the deficiencies in the maritime safety and emergency response services identified in the Value for Money reviews.
Regional Road Network
Questions (1128, 1129)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:1128. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to a bridge collapse in the Beaufort area of County Kerry known locally as Spideog Bridge located on the L7515 close to Beaufort church, when money will be made available to this job; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1176/13]
View answerMichael Healy-Rae
Question:1129. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding funding in respect of a bridge (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1191/13]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 1128 and 1129 together.
The improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads in its area, is a statutory function of each road authority in accordance with the provisions of section 13 of the Roads Act, 1993. Works on such roads are a matter, for the relevant local authority to be funded from its own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the local authority. In July last year, the National Roads Authority (NRA) on behalf of the Department issued a circular to all local authorities inviting applications for consideration for funding in 2013 under the Specific Improvement Grants Scheme. Kerry County Council submitted 9 projects for consideration for funding in 2013; however the Cahersivane Bridge and Spideog Bridge were not included in the Council's submission. It is open to Kerry County Council to fund these works from its Discretionary Grant or alternatively from its own resources.
Regulatory Impact Assessment Numbers
Questions (1130)
Niall Collins
Question:1130. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of regulatory impact assessments that have been carried out by his Department in the past twelve months; and the list of regulatory impact assessments carried out within his Department in the past twelve months. [57767/12]
View answerWritten answers
My Department has carried out five regulatory impact analyses (RIAs) in the past twelve months.
In the area of Maritime Safety, RIAs were carried out on the transposition of Directive 2010/65/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 October 2010 on Reporting Formalities for Ships Arriving in and/or Departing from Ports of Member States and also on the proposed new regime for the registration of ships in Ireland.
Two RIAs were carried out in the area of Road Safety. The first was to inform the development of the Road Safety Authority (Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness) Act 2012 and the second was submitted to Government in December 2012 to accompany a General Scheme of the next Road Traffic Bill, which is currently being drafted by the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel. An RIA was also carried out for the Taxi Regulation Bill, 2012.
Public Transport Provision
Questions (1131)
Terence Flanagan
Question:1131. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the improvements in transport infrastructure he has planned that will affect Dublin North East and Dublin North Central; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57797/12]
View answerWritten answers
As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. Following the establishment of the National Transport Authority (NTA) in December 2009, the implementation and development of infrastructure projects in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA) comes under the remit of the NTA.
I also have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of 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 NTA and the NRA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you don’t receive a reply within 10 working days.
Sport and Recreational Development
Questions (1132)
Terence Flanagan
Question:1132. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps he is taking to ensure the development of sport in schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57798/12]
View answerWritten answers
The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) is developing proposals to promote sport and physical education at both Junior and Senior cycle which are in line with my priorities in this area. My Department is in ongoing contact with the NCCA as they progress these proposals.
Departmental Bodies Abolition
Questions (1133)
Patrick O'Donovan
Question:1133. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide in tabular form the number of agencies, bodies, boards, quangos or other entities, which are financed from, answerable to or established by his Department that have been abolished, merged or re-organised since this Government took office; the savings that have been realised since the changes were made; the level of staff reduction that has been achieved; if he will provide details of further agency reductions that he intends to pursue in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57885/12]
View answerWritten answers
I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 355 of 8th November 2012 which sets out the position to that date. Link
Since then, the Government decided in November 2012 to proceed with the separation of Shannon Airport from the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) and to merge it with a restructured Shannon Development to form a new integrated Shannon entity in public ownership. The Order to specify the date of separation of Shannon Airport from the DAA as 31st December 2012 was executed last month following its approval by both Houses of the Oireachtas. On that day, the assets and business of Shannon Airport were transferred from the DAA to the Shannon Airport Authority (SAA).