Written Answers Nos. 250 - 259
250. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if a medical card may be retained in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34160/13]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has issued to Oireachtas members.
251. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if and when a medical card will issue in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34182/13]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has issued to Oireachtas members.
252. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason an Irish driving licence is not accepted in Canada; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33948/13]
View answerIrish driver licensing law operates within the framework of EU law. As a result we have reciprocal relationships for exchange of driving licences with other EU Member States. We also have exchange relationships agreed on a bilateral basis with a number of other jurisdictions. These are reached only after considerable study and comparison of the two licensing regimes shows that they are compatible. On the Irish side, this task is undertaken by the Road Safety Authority (RSA).
We do not currently have such an arrangement with Canada, but I am keen to make progress in this area. Ideally, we prefer to conclude such agreements at a national level. However, Canada issues licences at provincial level. We have decided to prioritise arrangements with provinces with concentrations of Irish emigrants. Following contacts between our Embassy in Ottawa and the provincial authorities in Canada, it was decided to prioritise Ontario as it is now home to a large community of Irish people.
I understand from the RSA that a considerable amount of work has now been done both by them and by the authorities in Ontario, although they have yet to conclude what is a very detailed project of study and comparison of the two licensing systems. In the meantime, the RSA has also begun a similar process with the provinces of Alberta, Newfoundland, Manitoba and Labrador. Although engagement has only recently started with Alberta, the authorities there have allowed a concession by accepting Irish licences and granting holders an exemption against waiting time within their own graduated driving licence (GDL) system.
253. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of taxi drivers registered in the Dublin 5, Dublin 13 and Dublin 17 areas in the years 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013. [34004/13]
View answerThe regulation of the taxi industry is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Public Transport Regulation Act, 2009. I have forwarded your question to the NTA for direct reply. If you do not receive a response within 10 working days please notify my private office.
254. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide details on the most recent proposals for timetable changes for a Dublin bus route (details supplied); if this proposal was accepted; if consideration is being given to organising the timetable to coincide with the train timetable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34015/13]
View answerThe issue raised is a matter for Dublin Bus in conjunction with the National Transport Authority (NTA) and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to both the company and the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive replies within ten working days.
255. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide details of the most recent proposals for a Dublin bus route (details supplied) in order to meet capacity requirements at peak times; if he will provide an update on plans for this route; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34016/13]
View answerThe issue raised is a matter for Dublin Bus in conjunction with the National Transport Authority (NTA). I have forwarded the Deputy's question to Dublin Bus for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
256. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in view of the fact that between 19 January 2013 and 5 July 2013, 263,936 plastic card drivers licences have been issued by the Road Safety Authority, if he will provide a breakdown of the total number of persons who have opted in to be an organ donor and those who have not; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34019/13]
View answerThe operation of the driver licensing system is a matter for the Road Safety Authority. I have therefore passed the Deputy's query 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.
257. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the action that can be taken to improve road conditions at a location (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34066/13]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The maintenance and upkeep of individual national primary and secondary roads, including the N70, is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993-2007, in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Noting this, I have referred the Deputy's question to the NRA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
258. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport with regard to the proposed road project in County Kilkenny known as the Kilkenny central access scheme, the contracts, if any, that have been entered into; the commitments or undertakings that have been given to any prospective or agreed tender parties; if preferred bidder status has been announced in relation to the project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34091/13]
View answer259. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport with regard to the proposed demolition of Nos. 20-22 Vicar Street, County Kilkenny under the Kilkenny central access road scheme, which form part of the medieval complex of St. Canice's Cathedral, the proposed timeline for the works envisaged; the specific heritage obligations that are necessary in respect of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34094/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 258 and 259 together.
The provision, 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. Kilkenny County Council was provided with €350,000 between 2008 and 2009 from my Department in connection with this project under the Strategic Non National Road Grants Scheme. It should be noted that the Strategic Grants scheme is scheduled to be discontinued from 2014 onward in order to focus monies on the repair and maintenance of regional and local roads. The small amount of funding available for major schemes will focus on projects already under construction or to which the Department is already committed. The procedural and planning matters in relation to the scheme of concern to the Deputy are matters for Kilkenny County Council and are not matters in which I have a function.
