Written Answers Nos. 195-202
195. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the issue of a medical card in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38988/13]
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.
196. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if and when a medical card will be issued in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38989/13]
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.
197. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if and when a medical card will be issued in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38990/13]
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.
198. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if reconsideration will be given for the issue of a full medical card in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38991/13]
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.
199. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the funding for the harbour dredging in Arklow, County Wicklow is ring-fenced and secure while the Office of the Chief State Solicitor drafts the necessary legal documentation, following approval in principle for this proposal in August 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38912/13]
View answerArklow Harbour transferred to Wicklow County Council on 1 January 2012. To facilitate the transfer to the County Council my Department agreed to provide funding for essential remedial works at the harbour over a two year period commencing in 2012.
Funding of €3,588,000 was allocated from my Department's budget in 2013 to Wicklow County Council for essential work at the harbour including dredging. Wicklow County Council was unable to proceed with the dredging this year as the necessary Foreshore Licence was not obtained from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government.
My Department is currently consulting with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in relation to my Department’s overall Vote allocations as part of the 2014 Estimates and Budgetary processes.
200. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if it is the case that a person at CIE (details supplied) was previously party to a case under the Equality Tribunal where it was alleged that they used discriminatory practices and now holds a role in the company which would seem wholly inappropriate in view of the findings of said tribunal. [38889/13]
View answerThis is a matter for CIE. I have no role in the appointments at the corporation. 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.
201. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if any funding sources exist for community groups seeking to travel to potential twinning partners to help develop tourism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38953/13]
View answerThe matter raised is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland. I have referred the Deputy's Question to the agency for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
202. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will outline forthcoming changes to regulations regarding the transfer of taxi licences; and if there are plans for the introduction of a compensation scheme to facilitate licence holders wishing to leave the industry. [39033/13]
View answerThe 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.
In line with the recommendation under Action 14 of the Taxi Regulation Review Report 2011, Section 14 of the Taxi Regulation Bill 2012 provides for a prohibition on the transfer of all SPSV vehicle licences. The underlying 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.
Only in the exceptional circumstances of the event of the death of a licence holder will a taxi licence be permitted to continue in force, as provided for under Section 15 of the Taxi Regulation Bill 2012.
I intend to make a further amendment to the Taxi Bill to ensure the proportionate application of the legal provisions concerning the prohibition on transfer of a taxi licence to deal the matter of a company holding a taxi licence.
The Taxi Regulation Review Report 2011 sets out the future approach to regulation of the taxi market. At the core of the Report are recommendations concerning stronger qualitative controls for SPSV licensing, improved standards and effective enforcement. The conclusion of the Taxi Review Group is that this approach is supported by the independent analysis of the economic consultants, Indecon, in particular that non-compliance with the taxi regulations is an impacting factor on the low level of exit from the taxi market.
There are no plans for the introduction of a compensation scheme to facilitate licence holders wishing to leave the industry.
