Written Answers Nos. 1055-1069
1057. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm the funding amount provided towards the development of non-animal alternative bioscience research methods - known as the 3Rs, replacement, reduction and refinement - in the years 2010, 2011 and 2012; and if he could confirm the proportion allocated to each method. [28096/13]
View answerThe Deputy may wish to note that all project applications in the period referred to in the Deputy's question, that is, 2010 to 2012, involving the use of animals required the application of replacement, reduction and refinement considerations. It would not have been possible for research projects to be licensed by my Department in the absence of such considerations. However, there was no dedicated budget line provided by Government for this purpose.
1058. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm the amount of funding allocated to the development and validation of alternative bioscience research method approaches in 2013 with reference to Article 47 (1) of the EU Directive 2010/63/EU. [28097/13]
View answerI would wish to draw to the attention of the Deputy that what is proposed under Article 47 (1) is that the Commission and the Member States shall contribute to the development and validation of alternative approaches which could provide the same or higher levels of information as those obtained in procedures using animals, but which do not involve the use of animals or use fewer animals or which entail less painful procedures, and they shall take such other steps as they consider appropriate to encourage research in this field.
A specific amount of funding is not required to be allocated for this purpose in 2013. The recently appointed Competent Authority for the purpose of Directive 2010/63/EU on the protection of animals for scientific purposes, the Irish Medicines Board (IMB) is currently working with the European Commission regarding the identification and validation on alternative approaches that might be developed in the future.
1059. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm which national laboratory has been nominated, under Article 47(2) of the EU Directive 2010/63/EU, to assist the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods. [28098/13]
View answerI would like, at the outset, to clarify that the development and validation of alternative approaches to procedures using animals is a matter that must be addressed on a an EU wide basis. The Irish Medicines Board (IMB) is currently working with the European Commission regarding the identification and validation on alternative approaches that might be developed in the future. In this regard, one area that is being examined by Member States in co-operation with+ the EU Commission is the identification and nomination of suitable, specialist and qualified laboratories to carry out such validation studies. This work is on-going at present.
1060. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health his stance on measures to ensure that the regulatory framework for Horizon 2020 EU research programmes provides essential funding to advance methods of biomedical research which do not involve the use of animals. [28099/13]
View answerAs the Deputy will know, Ireland is implementing Directive 2010/63/EU on the protection of animals used for scientific purposes which includes the principles of replacement, reduction and refinement.
I understand that the recitals to the Framework Regulation for Horizon 2020, as proposed by the Commission, contain the following in paragraph 24 "Research and innovation activities supported by Horizon 2020 should respect fundamental ethical principles. The opinions of the European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies should be taken into account.
Research activities should also take into account Article 13 TFEU and reduce the use of animals in research and testing, with a view ultimately to replacing animal use. All activities should be carried out ensuring a high level of human health protection in accordance with Article 168 TFEU".
Negotiations on the Horizon 2020 Programme are still ongoing between the European Council , the Commission and the European Parliament. It is hoped to have an agreement reached by end June under the Irish Presidency.
1061. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 249 of 29 May 2013, if he will support the case of the family concerned. [28101/13]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is not available in my Department. However, I have asked the HSE to provide the information it has available directly to you in relation these matters.
1062. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health the position regarding orthopaedic procedures in the region served by the Galway Roscommon Hospital Group; the number of patients who underwent such procedures in 2012; the number of patients awaiting such procedures; and if he will outline the progress made in reducing waiting times for such procedures. [28106/13]
View answerThe National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2013, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has recently been adopted by the HSE, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to this particular query raised by the Deputy, I have asked the Health Service Executive to investigate the situation and respond directly to the Deputy in this matter.
1063. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will investigate the matter in which a young person with a disability was left on a bus for seven hours; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28107/13]
View answerThe media has reported that a female with a disability who was being transported by bus from her home to the Moorehaven Training Centre in Co Tipperary was allegedly left on a locked bus all day.
The HSE has assured the Department of Health that it is working with the Moorehaven Training Centre to establish why this incident went unnoticed. The HSE has been in continual contact with the General Manager of the Moorehaven Training Centre in relation to this incident. Work is also underway in reviewing Moorehaven’s Policies, Protocols, and Procedures in regard to clients and service provision to ensure that such an incident never happens again.The HSE will review the service provided by Moorehaven under the Service Level Agreement process. The HSE is also currently reviewing the placement of the service user in question in the Moorehaven Training Centre. Both the HSE and Moorehaven Centre have been in contact with the family of the service user, who have been fully advised of the circumstances surrounding the incident.
1064. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of registered hauliers in the State in 2013; if he will list the relevant numbers for 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012; the numbers of haulier companies that have entered liquidation in the same periods; the numbers of new haulier companies that have registered in those years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26855/13]
View answerThe Department's records show that 3903 licences have been issued to road hauliers operators in the State for 2013. For the preceding five years, the figures are as follows: 4,014 in 2012; 4,428 in 2011; 4,788 in 2010; 5,298 in 2009; and 5,474 in 2008. In the licence application process, no distinction is made between those applicants applying for a licence for the first time and those who are renewing their licence, and details of the number of companies that applied for first time in each year are not available. The Department is not in a position to provide details of the total annual number of liquidations in the road haulage sector.
1065. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if consideration will be given to the provision of rest-room facilities to applicants undertaking their driving test at the Galway City Driver Testing Centre. [28103/13]
View answerThe operation of the driving test, including any ancilliary matters such as those referred to by the Deputy, is a matter for the Road Safety Authority, and I have referred the issue to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a reply has not been received within ten days.
1066. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if, with the consideration of the aim of sustainable regional development, a driver testing facility for large, non-class, B vehicles can be provided in Galway to serve the western region, thereby removing the necessity to travel to the Midlands to undertake such tests. [28104/13]
View answerThe subject of this question, which relates to operation of the driver testing service, is a matter for the Road Safety Authority, and I have referred the question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a reply has not been received within ten days.
1067. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the cost of replacement signage along the N59 in County Mayo which has recently been undertaken by the National Roads Authority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27147/13]
View answer1068. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the cost of the National Roads Authority's national re-signing programme for 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27151/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1067 and 1068 together.
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.
Within its capital budget, the assessment and prioritisation of individual projects is a matter in the first instance for the NRA in accordance with Section 19 of the Roads Act.
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.
1069. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when a person (detail supplied) in County Kildare may expect to receive a tax book for a vehicle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27169/13]
View answerThe National Vehicle and Driver File (NVDF) maintains a record of the registered owners of motor vehicles. Article 10 of the Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing) (Amendment) Regulations 1992 (SI No. 385 of 1992) set out the procedures regarding notification and recording of changes of vehicle ownership. When details of the change of ownership are recorded on the NVDF, a Vehicle Registration Certificate (VRC) issues to the new owner. The VRC is used to notify any subsequent change of ownership.
In order to cater for isolated instances where the documentation required under the above regulations is not available or cannot be produced, my Department, through administrative process, accepts a declaration sworn before a Commissioner of Oaths, and in accordance with the Statutory Declarations Act 1938, that ownership of a vehicle has changed .
I am informed in the case referred to by the Deputy, that such a declaration was received at my Department's Shannon office on 13 July 2012. In accordance with procedures the Department contacted the owner recorded on the NVDF on 18 July 2012 seeking clarification on whether that person had any continuing interest in the vehicle. That person responded to the Department on 24 July 2012 indicating that they had a continued interest and in light of this information the change to the new owner was not recorded on the NVDF and the parties concerned were informed accordingly. The matter is now for the parties concerned and my Department has not received any further communication on the matter.
