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Thursday, 28 Feb 2013

Written Answers Nos. 230-238

HSE Staff Remuneration

Questions (230)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

230. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if his Department has proposed a salary review for the CEO of the Health Service Executive; if this is an upward review, and the sum involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10899/13]

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Written answers

The Health Service Executive (Governance) Bill 2012 Bill provides for the replacement of the HSE Board with a Directorate structure. The Directorate will be comprised of the Director General and a number of senior managers, and will have collective responsibility as the governing authority for the HSE. As well as chairing the Directorate, the Director General will be responsible for the management of the HSE.

The annual salary for the present Deputy CEO of the HSE has been set at €194,950. Once the new Bill has been passed by the Oireachtas, I intend to formally appoint the Deputy CEO as Director General. The salary rate which will then apply to this post will be agreed with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform. The salary for this position, as with all senior public service posts, will be subject to reduction in line with the arrangements announced by the Government in the context of the recent public service pay talks which concluded on 25th February 2013.

HSE Staff Remuneration

Questions (231)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

231. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the proposed pay levels for the chief executives of the new hospital groups; if his Department has proposed bonus payments for these posts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10900/13]

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Written answers

The salary rate for Hospital Group CEOs has been set at National Director Level 3 - €145,959. The feasibility of offering a more flexible package encompassing higher on target earnings associated directly with improved performance was explored but it was decided that this would not be sustainable in current circumstances.

The salary for these positions, as with all senior public service posts, will be subject to reduction in line with the arrangements announced by the Government in the context of the recent public service pay talks which concluded on 25th February 2013.

Hospital Staff

Questions (232)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

232. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that lamp treatment facilities for psoriasis patients are not in use in Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, because of non-deployment of staff; and if he will address this as a matter of urgency with the Health Service Executive and the hospital so that this treatment can be made available to the patients who need it. [10901/13]

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Written answers

The Deputy will be aware that the Government has decided that the numbers employed across the public service must be reduced in order to meet its fiscal and budgetary targets. The health sector must make its contribution to that reduction. However, the HSE can make staff appointments once it remains within its overall employment ceiling and has the financial resources to do so.

In relation to the particular query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy.

Medical Card Applications

Questions (233)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

233. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if and when a medical card will be approved in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10903/13]

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Written answers

The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Health Services Provision

Questions (234)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

234. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which appropriate treatment will be offered in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10904/13]

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Written answers

As this is a service matter this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

Taxi Regulations

Questions (235)

Nicky McFadden

Question:

235. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason for prohibiting the transfer of vehicle licences under the new Taxi Regulation Bill, in view of the fact that it is the PSV licence that determines a person's suitability to carry out the function and not the vehicle licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10735/13]

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Written answers

The regulation of the taxi industry, including issues pertaining to the transfer of small public service vehicle (SPSV)  licences, is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Public Transport Regulation Act 2009.  

Since January 2009 SPSV licences, including vehicle licences for taxis, wheelchair accessible taxis, hackneys, wheelchair accessible hackneys and limousines, have been issued on the basis that they are non-transferable. Licences issued prior to that date can be transferred only once. 

The Taxi Regulation Bill 2012 provides for a prohibition on the transfer of all SPSV vehicle licences, in line with Action 14 of the Taxi Regulation Review Report 2011. The underlying policy principle for the prohibition on transfer is that a licence should determine a person’s suitability to carry out a function and it should not have monetary value or be traded on the open market.

The Taxi Regulation Bill also provides for the principles and criteria for licensing and the assessment of the suitability of a person to hold an SPSV licence, which includes a vehicle licence. Such suitability assessment would be the basis upon which a licence application would be refused or an SPSV  licence could be revoked or suspended in the future.

I am considering separately the matter of transfer of an SPSV licence the event of the death of an SPSV licence holder, for example where there is a requirement for continuity of a family business. I intend addressing this matter in the current legislation, which will also take into account suitability considerations with regard to future holder the licence.

Civil Aviation Regulation

Questions (236)

Brian Stanley

Question:

236. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will confirm that the Irish Aviation Authority carries out effective and adequate auditing of airfield sites in view of correspondence (details supplied); if he will address the issues contained therein relating to Kilkenny airfield; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10743/13]

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Written answers

The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) has statutory responsibility for the regulation of safety of civil aviation in Ireland.

The issues raised  are operational matters for the IAA.  I have referred the Deputy's question to them for direct reply.  Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.

Penalty Points System

Questions (237)

Thomas P. Broughan

Question:

237. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the upcoming new Road Traffic Bill will address any remaining difficulties with the production of driving licences in District Courts and any other issues that have allegedly arisen in relation to the registering of penalty points on the national vehicle driver file; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10808/13]

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Written answers

Section 22 of the Road Traffic Act 2002 was amended by section 63 of the Road Traffic Act 2010 so as to assist the Courts in recording the driving licence details of those drivers accused of committing a penalty point offence. Drivers are therefore required to bring a duplicate of their licence to the Court in order to facilitate the recording of licence details. The actual implementation of those provisions is a matter for the Courts Service and my colleague the Minister for Justice and Equality.  

My officials continue to liaise with their counterparts in that Department, with a view to identifying whether or not any further amendments are required to the provisions of the section. No such additional measures pertaining to this Department have been identified to date.    

Accordingly, the Road Traffic Bill 2013 does not contain any amendments in relation to the production of a licence or the endorsement of penalty points.

Departmental Bodies

Questions (238)

Kevin Humphreys

Question:

238. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a list of the members or former members of the Judiciary who, during the past five years, have acted as chairperson or member of any body in or under his Department, or as chairperson or member of any inquiry, or have performed functions including arbitration, mediation, conciliation, patronage, advisory or law reform functions or any other role in or in any body under his Department or in any body wholly or partly funded by him, specifying in each case the name of the judge; if he or she is serving or retired; the court of which he or she is or was a member; the role or function performed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10887/13]

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Written answers

Over the past five years there have been no members or former members of the judiciary who have acted as chairperson or member of any body under the aegis of my Department or have performed functions including arbitration, mediation, conciliation, patronage, advisory or law reform functions or any other role for my Department.  

My Department has no information on whether members or former members of the judiciary performed any functions or role in any of the agencies under the remit of my Department.  I have forwarded your request to all such agencies for direct reply to you. If you do not receive an answer back within ten working days please contact my private office.

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