Michael Healy-Rae
Question:227. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding cardiology testing (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13412/13]
View answerHealth Services
Questions (227)
Written 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.
Hospital Procedures
Questions (228)
Patrick Nulty
Question:228. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Health the number of sub-arachnoid haemorrhage patients classified as poor grade that were denied emergency treatment in the neurosurgical centre, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, between 1 October 2012 and 31 December 2012; the outcome for those patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13415/13]
View answerWritten answers
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 in this matter.
Health Services
Questions (229)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:229. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a placement in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13418/13]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
CIE Property
Questions (230)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:230. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps that have been taken by Córas Iompar Éireann in the last month to protect their property rights along the Tralee to Limerick old railway line where this is being challenged; the results of meetings with the group seeking to claim rights over sections of this land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13141/13]
View answerWritten answers
This is an operational matter for CIE 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.
Aerodrome Licences
Questions (231)
Joanna Tuffy
Question:231. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding Weston Aerodrome (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13186/13]
View answerWritten answers
The Irish Aviation Authority is the body responsible for licensing aerodromes in Ireland . 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.
Road Project Contracts
Questions (232)
Brian Walsh
Question:232. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide an update in relation to the N17/N18 Gort toTuam public private partnership scheme; if a project schedule is being prepared; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13198/13]
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 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.
The Gort-Tuam PPP project is one of the projects included in the Government's Financial Stimulus Package and in this context an additional multi-annual allocation is being provided to cover the Exchequer element of the project costs. The necessary exchequer funds are now in place but the vast majority of the project requires private sector funding. It is intended that the NRA will now engage with the funders and contractors with a view to securing financial close and commencing works later this year or early next.
As project implementation is a matter for the NRA, 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.
Rural Transport
Questions (233)
Finian McGrath
Question:233. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the new transport co-ordination unit will be able to maintain the personalised door to door service that is already in place and provided by the 35 rural transport groups throughout the country; if he will guarantee the service will be maintained for rural transport groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13317/13]
View answerWritten answers
Longford Rural Transport Programme has been allocated €76,423.00 of the 2013 RTP budget from January to June 2013, with a further proposed, allocation of €76,423.00 from July to December. Additionally, €17,348.50 of Free Travel Pass funding has been allocated to Longford Rural Transport Programme from January to June, 2013, with a further proposed, allocation of €17,348.00 from July to December. This represents a total 2013 allocation of €187,542.50, of combined RTP and FTP funding for the provision of the RTP service in Longford.
My aim is to strengthen the RTP by ensuring a more efficient delivery structure by maximising integration with other state transport services and by making the programme a sustainable part of the public transport system. This is in line with the Programme for Government commitment to maintain and extend the RTP with other local transport services. Since becoming Minister for Public and Commuter Transport the developments I have initiated have been aimed at ensuring that into the future there is a more complete and cost effective transport service offering in rural areas that better meets the transport needs of all users. To this end national responsibility for local and rural transport services integration, including the RTP, was assigned to the National Transport Authority (NTA) with effect from 1 April 2012, putting such services in a broader transport context. I also established the National Integrated Rural Transport (NIRT) Committee in April 2012, comprising key stakeholders and chaired by the NTA, to oversee and manage a partnership approach to implementing integrated local and rural transport. I am well aware of the very valuable work done by the RTP Groups in identifying and delivering the transport needs of their local community. However, given resources are limited and that the Value for Money and Policy Review of the RTP, published last year, recommended organisational restructuring to achieve efficiencies and the better alignment of the 35 RTP groups with local authorities, it is necessary that the current delivery mechanisms and structures are examined and revised. To not do this would mean that vital services would be threatened. The current structures of the RTP are not sustainable if the required efficiencies and savings are to be achieved. If these are not achieved then with the limited resources available services will decline. Work is underway to determine the optimal structure for the delivery of rural transport from an efficiency and service perspective. One of the proposals being examined is that the RTPs be "aligned" with local authorities and that a number of Coordination Units be established. I would emphasise that no decision has been taken but I am hopeful that I will be in a position to recommend a new structure later this year which will allow for the maximising of spend on services and the reduction of administration costs. I will be ensuring that any future structure for the RTP will be based on community input, local flexibility and involving the voluntary sector. Rural Transport by its nature is community based and this will remain under any new structure. While I can understand and fully appreciate that this restructuring creates a level of uncertainty for RTP groups, I am hopeful that the outcome will be a better service delivered more efficiently. I will work with all involved over the coming months to make any transition as smooth as possible.
Sports Capital Programme Applications
Questions (234, 235)
Gerry Adams
Question:234. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason a club (details supplied) in County Louth was refused funding under the sports capital fund; if it has received any feedback in relation to its application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13385/13]
View answerGerry Adams
Question:235. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if unsuccessful applicants for funding from the sports capital grant are provided with feedback on the reason their applications are rejected. [13386/13]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 234 and 235 together.
All unsuccessful applicants under the 2012 Sports Capital Programme were provided with a copy of their assessment. In the case of invalid applications, such applicants were provided with the reason(s) why their application was deemed invalid. Applicants were also provided with the contact details of the official who had responsibility for their application and they are free to seek further information if required.
In relation to the particular applicant referred to by the Deputy, the application was deemed invalid because the applicant failed to provide evidence of title to the site of the proposed project by way of a solicitor's letter, as set out in the guide to filling out the application form. Instead, the applicant provided a 9 year-old print out of the folio from the land registry. This is not sufficient evidence of title for the purposes of the Sports Capital Programme and renders the application invalid.
I understand that representatives of the applicant have been in contact with the official who dealt with the application.