Bernard Durkan
Question:226. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will be allocated a GMS doctor card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50074/13]
View answerMedical Card Applications
Questions (226)
Written answers
The 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.
Hospital Procedures
Questions (227)
Bernard Durkan
Question:227. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the procedure to be followed for male circumcision in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50077/13]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter I have requested the Health Service Executive to investigate and respond directly to the Deputy.
Medical Card Reviews
Questions (228)
Bernard Durkan
Question:228. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if he will review the refusal of a medical card in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50078/13]
View answerWritten answers
The 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.
Community Involvement Scheme
Questions (229)
Paul Connaughton
Question:229. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if funding will be made available for community involvement schemes in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49849/13]
View answerWritten answers
In February 2013, a circular issued from my Department to local authorities inviting applications for funding under a pilot Community Involvement Scheme (CIS). €10.6m has been allocated over 2 years (including 2014) for work to be undertaken at 377 locations with over 240kms of roads to be improved. I have not yet decided whether to initiate a new round of the CIS in 2014 and would welcome the Deputy's views on the matter.
Based on most recent returns from Local Authorities, it is expected that 291 schemes will be completed in 2013.
Haulage Industry Regulation
Questions (230)
Terence Flanagan
Question:230. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the action that can be taken regarding overheight trucks (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49960/13]
View answerWritten answers
The Road Traffic (Construction and Use of Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulations, 2008 provide that with effect from November 1 2013 the maximum operating height for all vehicles in Ireland is 4.65 metres unless otherwise permitted by law.
The enforcement of road traffic legislation, including legislation relating to vehicle heights, is the responsibility of An Garda Síochána, and I will relay the Deputy's concerns to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence.
Driver Licence Data
Questions (231)
Patrick O'Donovan
Question:231. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport in view of the data in response to a parliamentary question regarding applications for drivers' licences and learner permits in 2012, if he is satisfied that the provision of driver licence centres in Limerick is adequate in comparison to the data relating to applications and distances from centres in counties Leitrim, Longford, Westmeath and Roscommon, which was raised with him by way of Topical Issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49993/13]
View answerWritten answers
The choice of locations for the front offices of the National Driver Licensing Service (NDLS) is a matter for the Road Safety Authority (RSA), and I have no role in it. However, I do note that when locations were being considered, there was a generally agreed principle of making the service available within 50 kilometres to 95% of the population, and I understand that this has been achieved.
Under the front office contract, provided by SGS Ireland Ltd on behalf of the NDLS, customer services are offered at 34 full-time centres and 2 part-time centres around the country. They are open from 9 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday, and from 9 am to 2 pm on Saturdays. They also remain open through lunchtimes. These opening hours are more flexible than previously available. Furthermore, people will be able to use any of the offices to apply for or renew their licence rather than, as previously, just the centre in their own local authority.
As the Deputy is aware, the front office services provided by SGS Ireland Ltd. commenced only in the past few weeks and the level of service and location of centres will be kept under review.
Appointments to State Boards
Questions (232)
Niall Collins
Question:232. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will outline in tabular form the number of appointments to State boards under his Department's remit made since March 2011 to date in 2013; the number of vacancies in State boards under his Department's remit since March 2011 to date in 2013; the number of vacancies on State boards under his Department's remit publicly advertised since March 2011 to date in 2013; and the number of appointments to State boards under his remit drawn directly from the public advertisement process. [50020/13]
View answerWritten answers
I announced new procedures for appointment to boards on Friday 8th April 2011 and all appointments from that date have followed these procedures. They include an open invitation for expressions of interest in serving on the board of any of the agencies under the remit of my Department. This invitation was renewed on 31 January 2013.
Details of all appointments and vacancies are published on http://dttas.ie/corporate/english/state-board-membership-and-approved-fees and I currently have a database of more than 500 individuals who have expressed interest. However, given the importance of ensuing the right mix of skills and experience on every board, appointments are not necessarily confined to those who have made such an expression.
I have made 120 new appointments to State boards (excluding the re-appointment of members already serving, CEOs, employee representatives and those made by the North/South Ministerial Council). Of these 120 appointments, some 66 (or 55%) had submitted expressions of interest, with the remainder headhunted for specific skills. In every case where expressions of interest are concerned, I give close consideration to individuals who I consider appropriate to promoting good governance at board level, and with experience or qualifications in finance (including audit capability and/or project assessment)law, corporate governance, marketing, IT, or with experience relevant to the transport, tourism and sports sectors.
Taxi Regulations
Questions (233)
Dominic Hannigan
Question:233. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the results of the SPSV text will be provided to applicants in a manner so that the answer and score for each question is visible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50048/13]
View answerWritten answers
The regulation of the small public service vehicle (SPSV) industry, including the operation of the area knowledge test and SPSV Skills Development Programme, is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) under the provisions of the Public Transport Regulation Act, 2009.
I have referred the Question to the NTA for direct reply. The Deputy should advise my private office if does not receive a response within 10 working days.