John McGuinness
Question:218. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a hospital appointment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny [3699/13]
View answerHospital Waiting Lists
Questions (218)
Written answers
Improving access to outpatient services is a key priority for the Government. Building on work already undertaken by the HSE, the NTPF has now taken over the reporting of outpatient waiting time data. The collation and analysis of outpatient waiting time data in a standardised format will reveal the distribution of long waiters across all hospitals. In the first instance, this will allow the SDU and NTPF to target their resources towards those patients who are waiting longest and ensure that they are seen and assessed. A maximum waiting time target has now been set of 12 months for a first time outpatient appointment by 30 November 2013.
In parallel with reducing the numbers of longest waiters, the SDU will also work with the HSE Clinical Programmes to reform the structure, organisation and delivery of outpatient services to ensure that the right patient is seen and assessed by the right health professional at the right time.
Should the patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he/she would be in the best position to take the matter up with the consultant and hospital involved.
In relation to the specific query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
Driving Licence Issues
Questions (219)
Frank Feighan
Question:219. Deputy Frank Feighan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of persons that currently hold full driving licences here; the number of drivers that have licences to pull a small trailer behind a car; his plans to bring new rules and regulations for persons pulling small trailers behind their car; if these new regulations affect persons who already pull small trailers behind their cars; and the number of full licences that were given out under the amnesty for provisional licence holders many years ago. [3542/13]
View answerWritten answers
The number of persons that currently hold full driving licences is 2,413,936 and the number of drivers that have licences to pull a small trailer behind a car is 799,282.
New regulations in relation to driver licences came into effect on 19 January 2013. These Regulations changed the weight limits associated with towing trailers but will not apply to people who already hold a B or EB driving licence that was issued prior to 19 January 2013.
Currently, if you have a category B driving licence that was issued prior to 19 January, you can tow a small trailer as long as the trailer does not exceed the unladen weight of the drawing vehicle and the combined design gross vehicle weight of the drawing vehicle and trailer does not exceed 3,500kg. If the design gross vehicle weight of your vehicle is 3,500kg, then the trailer being towed cannot exceed 750kg.
However, from 19 January 2013, a person who gets a category B driving licence for the first time will be able to tow a trailer where the maximum authorised mass of the vehicle and trailer combined does not exceed 3500kg. Accordingly, there are fewer restrictions on the size of the trailer being towed as long as the combined weight of drawing vehicle and trailer are not exceeded.
In relation to towing a larger trailer, a licence issued before 19 January 2013 should include an EB category for this purpose. This category allowed for the pulling of a trailer above 750kg with no limit. From 19 January, a person taking out a first EB (now changed to a BE) licence can only draw a trailer whose maximum authorised mass is no greater than 3,500kg. The combined maximum authorised mass cannot exceed 7,000kg with vehicle or trailer individually not exceeding 3,500kg.
There are no available records relating to the overall number of people who received a full licence under the amnesty referred to by the Deputy.
Railway Safety Issues
Questions (220)
Seán Kenny
Question:220. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of suicides that have occurred on the Irish rail system each year since year 2000; and the rail safety measures and staff training in place to deal with these incidences. [3547/13]
View answerWritten answers
I understand from enquiries I have made with the Railway Safety Commission (RSC) that the numbers of suicides that have occurred on the Irish rail network since the year 2000 are as follows:
|
Year |
No of suicides |
|
2000 |
9 |
|
2001 |
11 |
|
2002 |
9 |
|
2003 |
10 |
|
2004 |
11 |
|
2005 |
8 |
|
2006 |
7 |
|
2007 |
5 |
|
2008 |
8 |
|
2009 |
3 |
|
2010 |
8 |
|
2011 |
7 |
|
Total 2000-2011 |
96
|
In providing these figures the RSC have highlighted the fact that the Irish Rail network is an open system and anyone purchasing a ticket can enter a railway station through the ticket barriers. I also wish to advise the Deputy that I have forwarded his question to Irish Rail asking that they provide him with information on specific railway safety measures and staff training they have introduced to reduce the incidences of suicide. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
Sports Capital Programme Applications
Questions (221)
Micheál Martin
Question:221. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the criteria for determining the successful allocations to local projects as part of the recently announced Sports Capital Programme; and if he will clarify the specific reasons the application made by a club (details supplied) in County Dublin was unsuccessful in view of the work this club does in the local and wider community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3598/13]
View answerWritten answers
The club referred to by the Deputy applied for a grant under the 2012 Sports Capital Programme.
When the 2012 Programme was advertised, my Department issued a guide to filling out the application form which clearly set out the Department’s minimum requirements that applicants had to meet to be considered for funding. Unfortunately, this application did not meet these requirements on 3 separate grounds and hence was deemed invalid and could not be considered for funding.
Firstly, applicants applying for a capital grant had to provide a letter confirming that they had some security of tenure to the land where the facility was to be developed. The club referred to by the Deputy provided an unsigned management license which did not fulfil this requirement. Secondly, the club did not provide evidence that planning permission was not required or that it had been obtained or applied for. Finally, the club did not sign the application form as required.
A letter setting out the reasons why the application was deemed invalid has been sent to the club contact. If the club requires any more information or clarification they should contact the Sports Capital Programmes Unit of my Department in Killarney.
The 2012 Sports Capital Programme is now closed and all the monies under this round have been allocated.
Details on how applications under the Programme were assessed is set out in my reply to Parliamentary Question number 355 answered on 20 December 2012.
Dublin Bus Services
Questions (222)
Micheál Martin
Question:222. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason Dublin Bus is failing to provide a bus service between the Finglas west area and the local Charlestown shopping centre, Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3600/13]
View answerWritten answers
This is a matter for Dublin Bus in conjunction with the National Transport Authority (NTA) and I have forwarded 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.
Ministerial Meetings
Questions (223)
Kevin Humphreys
Question:223. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he or his officials met any representatives of the tobacco industry in the last six months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3627/13]
View answerWritten answers
Neither I nor any of my officials have met with any representatives of the tobacco industry in the last six months.
Cycling Facilities
Questions (224)
Nicky McFadden
Question:224. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider developing plans to create and improve walking and cycle routes in the midlands, with particular focus on canal and river pathways, to attract more tourists to the midlands; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3638/13]
View answerWritten answers
My Department has provided significant investment for cycling routes, including in the Midlands. The most recent National Cycle Network funding scheme allocated funding for routes along the R420 in Offaly and along the Royal Canal in Westmeath. The latter in particular builds on extensive previous funding for route development along the Canal in Westmeath. It is likely that a further funding call for National Cycle Network funding will take place in 2013, which would again provide an opportunity for Local Authorities to gain funding for projects in a competitive manner. Furthermore, the current work by the NRA on route alignment and design for a Dublin-Galway cycle route would clearly benefit the Midlands should funding for delivery prove possible.
National Roads Authority Projects
Questions (225)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:225. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in view of the fact that the National Roads Authority is in charge of salting the national roads, the reason that when salt is being brought to council depots that councils in Kilkenny, Waterford and Tipperary have to go to Foynes and depots in Limerick have to go to Waterford for salt; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3703/13]
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 maintenance of national roads, including provision for adverse weather conditions, is a matter for the NRA under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. In addition the NRA co-ordinates the management of salt supplies for all roads.
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.