Terence Flanagan
Question:243. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if any fees or charges will apply regarding free GP care for under-fives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8857/14]
View answerGeneral Practitioner Services
Questions (243)
Written answers
The free GP for children aged five and under service will be made available without any user fees or charges, nominal or otherwise. Legislation is currently being prepared on this basis and a draft GP contract is currently open to public consultation. The Department of Health is continuing policy work on the universal GP service.
Disability Support Services Provision
Questions (244)
Brendan Smith
Question:244. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if services for young adults with special needs in the Kingscourt area, County Cavan will be provided in County Cavan as was the case up to late 2013 (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8865/14]
View answerWritten answers
The vision for the Health Service Executive's Disability Services Programme is to contribute to the realisation of a society where people with disabilities are supported, as far as possible, to participate to their full potential in economic and social life, and have access to a range of quality personal social supports and services including respite care to enhance their quality of life.
The Health Service Executive National Service Plan 2014 and the recently published 2014 Operational Plan for the Social Care Division outline the quantum of specialist services, the key reform initiatives and the additional investment in 2014 which it has assured me will give effect to this vision in 2014. The HSE will spend €1.4 billion and employ a staff level of approximately 15,000 whole time equivalents in 2014 to provide specified levels of services.
In relation to the specific queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service issues they have been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
Nursing Home Services
Questions (245)
Bernard Durkan
Question:245. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which adequate provision in terms of accommodation, utilisation of existing accommodation, availability of adequate nursing and support services remains available at St. Brigid's Nursing Home, Crooksling; if due cognisance is taken of the comprehensive level of services potentially available there; if all issues relating to the title of the property have been resolved to satisfaction of the Health Service Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8868/14]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
Road Tolls
Questions (246)
Noel Harrington
Question:246. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the dividends paid out to each of the partners involved in the East Link bridge for each of the past 29 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8645/14]
View answerWritten answers
The East Link toll bridge was opened in October 1984. It was built on foot of an agreement between Dublin City Council and NTR and therefore my Department was not a party to the agreement. Under agreements dated the 16 March 1983 and 24 November 1983, the latter being in consideration for the loss of limited berthage and the disposal of certain lands, Dublin Port Company acquired the right to participate in the future profits of the Toll Scheme for a period of 25 years from the date on which the building costs were finally discharged or until 31 December 2015, whichever date first occurs. The appropriate date, therefore, is 31 December 2015. Under these aforementioned agreements it is my understanding that Dublin Port Company received €1.1 million for each of the years 2012 and 2011 for example. The figures are disclosed in the Company’s publically available annual accounts.
Roads Maintenance
Questions (247)
Patrick O'Donovan
Question:247. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will confirm for this Deputy that local authorities can invoke section 76 of the 1993 Roads Act in order to remove water from public roads, removing the risk of flooding to private property, that the section allows the local authority to take such action without the need to serve notice on the landowner on or through whose property the water may be discharged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8607/14]
View answerWritten answers
I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 776 on Tuesday, 18 February.
Public Transport
Questions (248)
Andrew Doyle
Question:248. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a list from the National Transport Authority of all real time passenger information displays at bus stops in County Wicklow on which it will make progress in 2014, with data broken down on planning, proposed installation and activation in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8672/14]
View answerWritten answers
The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the implementation and development of infrastructure projects in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), including the installation of Real Time Passenger Information (RTPI) displays. Noting this I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
Driver Licences
Questions (249)
Clare Daly
Question:249. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on the delays in processing driver licences by the National Driver Licensing Service and the practice of charging persons €15 for an e-mail copy of licences while they are waiting for the hard copy. [8722/14]
View answerWritten answers
The operation of the National Driver Licensing Service (NDLS) is the statutory responsibility of the Road Safety Authority (RSA). When the NDLS came into operation in October 2013, there were a number of problems which caused delays in the processing of applications, and the build-up of a backlog. I have discussed these issues, and how they are being addressed, with the acting CEO of the RSA. The RSA acknowledged that there were teething problems when the service opened. Some were technical and systems issues, while others related to new staff becoming familiar with rules and processes around driving licences and permits.
The RSA has increased resources in NDLS centres experiencing delays, as well as in the licence processing centre, and provided further training to staff. There are no major technical difficulties now affecting the service. Following a successful pilot phase, a booking system to allow for customers to make appointments is now being extended on a phased basis to all NDLS offices.
While I understand that there are still some backlogs in relation to applications, the situation has improved. I have been informed that licence applications that are fully and correctly completed are being issued in a shorter timeframe than previously and work is continuing to achieve the target turnaround period of 5 to 8 days. The RSA has assured me that the remaining backlog has largely been cleared. The NDLS can also respond to urgent situations where a licence is needed for travel abroad or for work purposes. I have been assured by the RSA that it does not give out email copies of licences. There is a quite separate document known as a letter of entitlement, or driver statement, for which individuals may apply. It sets out details from the individual's driver record. The process of applying for this document, which costs €15, is separate from the driver licence application.
Data Protection
Questions (250)
Niall Collins
Question:250. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has established an information officer, if this person is in charge of developing and implementing data protection in his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8751/14]
View answerWritten answers
The Department is registered as a Data Controller under the Data Protection Acts and there are established procedures within the Department for the management of personal data and for dealing with requests under the Acts. As part of these procedures, there is a Data Protection Contact Person within the Department and a Division with specific responsibility for data protection policy. In addition, the Head of Driver and Vehicle Computer Services Division has a separate registration under the Acts in respect of the data controlled by that division. The Information Services Division of the Department also has safeguards in place to protect the integrity of the data held on the Department's IT systems and these are constantly reviewed and monitored.
Vehicle Height Limits
Questions (251)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:251. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 225 of 31 January 2014, in relation to the maximum height of straw and hay that can be carried on lorries, the reason he did not extend the derogation from 31 October last for six months or a year in order to examine the effect that the 4.65 m vehicle height restriction would have on the cost of transporting fodder; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8872/14]
View answerWritten answers
Statutory Instrument 366 of 2008 - Road Traffic (Construction and Use of Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulations, 2008 sets the maximum vehicle height limit at 4.65 metres. These regulations were signed into law on the 1st of November 2008 by my predecessor, Minister Noel Dempsey. These regulations allowed a five year derogation from that limit for vehicles registered, licensed or in use prior to 1 November 2008. The derogation was introduced to allow a five-year period within which vehicles operating at heights in excess of the new limits could be withdrawn from use or to allow the necessary height reductions by operators. This derogation expired on 31 October last.
The original reasoning behind the limit was mainly concerned with rail safety, the protection of expensive physical infrastructure, road safety, and quality of life considerations for residents in urban areas through which high sided vehicles may have to travel. In light of the foregoing, I did not extend the derogation in relation to vehicle heights as this would have the effect of ensuring that those operators who were pro-actively compliant with this legislation would continue to be at a competitive disadvantage, while those that did not comply would benefit. On a broader point, it would send the message that derogation deadlines set in transport matters are not serious and that companies should not make any effort to comply with them.
Following the expiry of the derogation, specific concerns have been raised with me by the agri-sector in relation to the effect that the 4.65 metre maximum vehicle height restriction would have on the cost of transporting fodder. Unfortunately, these concerns were only raised by the sector since the expiry of the 5 year derogation in October last, and not prior to the 2008 regulations being signed into law nor in the subsequent five years. Notwithstanding this, I have considered the various issues involved, consulted with my colleague Minister Coveney, with Irish Rail and farming representative bodies and arising from this have asked my officials to draft regulations to allow for a very narrow exemption for the haulage of agricultural fodder, i.e. straw and hay only, from the height limits brought in by the 2008 regulations.