Written Answers Nos. 226 - 235
226. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Dublin 12 Local Drug Task Force cannot sustain any further cuts to its budgets in view of the devastating impact the previous cuts have had on local services, equating to 25% since 2008, €350,608 and that future cuts will jeopardise the remaining projects. [44061/13]
View answer227. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health in view of the fact that the Dublin 12 Local Drug Task Force, similar to other Drugs Task Forces have been given the remit for alcohol in addition to drugs, the additional funding that has been given to carry out that task; and if the Health Service Executive diverted its previous spend on alcohol related projects to the taskforces to allow them carry out their new remit. [44062/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 226 and 227 together.
The Deputy will be aware that I announced a series of measures arising from a review of Drugs Task Forces last December. These measures provide for the extension of the remit of the Task Forces to include alcohol addiction. However, as measures to address the abuse of alcohol remain under consideration by Government, I am not yet in a position to provide clear timescales for the implementation of these measures.
No decisions have been taken yet in relation to the allocations to Drugs Task Forces for 2014. The matter is currently under consideration. It is anticipated that Drugs Task Forces will be informed of their allocations later in the year.
228. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health when the Drugs Advisory Group last met; the agenda and outcome of the meeting. [44063/13]
View answer229. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health when the National Coordination Committee on Drugs met; and its role and remit. [44064/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 228 and 229 together.
The Deputy will be aware that I announced details of a series of measures last December arising from a review of Drugs Task Forces in order to better equip them to respond to the current pattern of substance misuse. These measures included the extension of the remit of the Task Forces to include alcohol addiction and the establishment of a National Coordinating Committee for Drug and Alcohol Task Forces. This new committee will replace the Drugs Advisory Group. As measures to address the abuse of alcohol remain under consideration by the Government, the National Coordinating Committee has not met, and I am not yet in a position to provide clear time-scales for its establishment. Broadly speaking, the committee will drive implementation of the strategies on substance misuse at local and regional level and will oversee, monitor and support the work of the Task Forces.
The Drugs Advisory Group last met on 16th January 2013, and its agenda is outlined as follows:
1. Minutes and matters arising
2. Review of Drugs Task Forces and the Structures of the National Drugs Strategy
3. Release of 2013 funding to Drugs Task Force projects
4. Liaison/C&V Sector Feedback – significant issues
5. A.O.B./Date of Next Meeting.
It was agreed that if a further meeting of the Drugs Advisory Group was necessary, the Department would contact members.
230. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he is going to appoint a consultant specialist in the north east to reduce the delay in consultation appointments for assessment for acute minimum surgery for ear, nose and throat operations; if it is correct that patients may wait for up to four years to see a consultant specialist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44077/13]
View answerIn relation to the specific queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service matters they have been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
232. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding free general practitioner care to all children under five years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44084/13]
View answerThe Government is committed to introducing, on a phased basis, a universal GP service without fees within its term of office, as set out in the Programme for Government and the Future Health strategy framework. As announced in the Budget, it has been decided to commence the roll-out of a universal GP service by providing all children aged 5 and under with access to a GP service without fees. This will mean that almost half of the population will have access to GP services without fees. The Government is providing new, additional funding of €37 million to meet the cost of this measure.
The introduction of a universal GP service constitutes a fundamental element in the Government's health reform programme. The current Government is the first in the history of the State to have committed itself to implementing a universal GP service for the entire population. A well functioning health system should provide equal access to healthcare for its patients on the basis of health needs, rather than ability to pay. The principles of universality and equity of access mean that all residents in Ireland should be entitled to access a GP services that is free at the point of use.
There has been no change in the policy by which eligibility for a medical card is assessed. Medical cards are provided to people who are, in the opinion of the Health Service Executive (HSE), unable without undue hardship to arrange GP services for themselves and their dependants. Assessment for a medical card is determined primarily by reference to the means, including the income and reasonable expenditure, of the applicant and his or her partner and dependants. There is also provision for discretion by the HSE to grant a card in cases of "undue hardship" where the income guidelines are exceeded. Such cases are decided by a qualified Medical Officer. Medical expenses are taken into account when assessing an application on hardship grounds.
233. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will make available a clear, plain English list of new demerits and fixed charges now in place following the passing of the Taxi Regulation Bill 2012. [43926/13]
View answerThe Taxi Regulation Bill 2012, as passed by the Houses of the Oireachtas, sets out clearly the offences under the Bill which are fixed payment offences and which are demerit offences.
Fixed payment offences are specified under Section 48 in the Bill and demerit offences are prescribed under Section 34 in the Bill. In addition, Section 35 in the Bill contains a table which shows the breakdown in the number of demerits that can be applied either upon payment of a fixed charge or payment in respect of a demerit offence or upon conviction of a demerit offence.
234. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding Bus Éireann transport for an area (details supplied) in County Wicklow; if Bus Éireann will provide transport to this area as this is an isolated rural village in south Wicklow with no transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43954/13]
View answerThe provision of services is a matter for Bus Éireann in conjunction with the National Transport Authority (NTA) and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Will the Deputy please advise my private office if he does not receive a reply within ten working days.
235. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the attached (details supplied) regarding certificates for commercial vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44086/13]
View answerIt is a legal obligation throughout the EU for commercial vehicles owners to have their vehicles tested annually. Historically, Irish Road Traffic legislation made it an offence to use a commercial vehicle in a public place without a Certificate of Roadworthiness (CRW). Under the Road Safety Authority (Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness) Act 2012 a person guilty of such an offence is liable on summary conviction to a class A fine or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 months, or to both.
Heretofore, rates of annual testing compliance have been unacceptable. The RSA is implementing important changes to improve the roadworthiness standard of commercial vehicles which will in turn improve safety on our road network. Vehicles that are off the road can deteriorate, therefore it is important that they be tested. For example, tyres and brake hoses may perish, while brake lines, brake reservoirs/air tanks, brake chambers and callipers may seize and or corrode.
As part of the Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness Reform Programme, the issuing of CRWs is now aligned to the obligation to have commercial vehicles tested annually. Longer delays in completing tests result in shorter periods of validity for issued CRWs. Operators who fail to comply with the requirements for testing should not be allowed to gain an advantage over those who are proactively compliant. Where a vehicle is out of test for over a year, the validity of a CRW is six months from the test date with a further test being required at the expiry date of the relevant CRW.
