Arthur Spring
Question:231. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Health the reason for the withdrawal of a medical card from a person (details supplied) in County Kerry. [20819/14]
View answerMedical Card Reviews
Questions (231)
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.
Health Services
Questions (232)
Bernard Durkan
Question:232. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when urgent physiotherapy will be offered in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20820/14]
View answerWritten answers
In relation to the particular patient query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to him directly.
General Medical Services Scheme Administration
Questions (233)
Denis Naughten
Question:233. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 1143 of 16 July 2013, if he will provide an update on the review of assistance for stoma care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20821/14]
View answerWritten answers
The HSE is responsible for the administration of the primary care schemes and, therefore, the HSE has been asked to update the Deputy regarding its planned review of stoma care products on the List of Reimbursable Items.
Motor Insurance Regulation
Questions (234)
Ciara Conway
Question:234. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport with respect to third party claimants of Setanta Insurance, if the Motor Insurers' Bureau of Ireland, MIBI, will appoint its own legal teams to individual cases or if the legal teams already in place will be permitted to continue to pursue the matters on which they have been working; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20715/14]
View answerWritten answers
The Motor Insurers’ Bureau of Ireland (MIBI) is a non-profit-making organisation registered in Ireland. The company was established by the insurance companies following an Agreement between the Government and those companies underwriting motor insurance in Ireland. The MIBI Agreement on the compensation of claims for uninsured driving is a legal agreement between MIBI and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport. The arrangement MIBI puts in place for dealing with the Setanta claims is a matter for the MIBI itself under the terms of the Agreement. I will arrange for the Deputy's question to be forwarded to the MIBI for them to respond directly to her.
Road Safety
Questions (235)
Dessie Ellis
Question:235. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he has carried out any review of the effectiveness and benefit of certificate of professional competence, CPC, courses for professional drivers; if so, what were his findings and, if not, if he will commit to one as soon as possible. [20632/14]
View answerWritten answers
The operation of the Certificate of Professional Competence regime is the responsibility of the Road Safety Authority. I have therefore forwarded the question to the Authority for direct response. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.
Road Network
Questions (236)
Brendan Griffin
Question:236. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when work will commence on a new roadway (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20656/14]
View answerWritten answers
As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. The contract for the N17/N18 Gort Tuam PPP was signed on 30th April 2014 and I will be attending the project sod turning on the 9th May 2014. I understand that the expected construction timescale for this project is 3.5 years and the project is expected to be completed in 2018.
Road Safety
Questions (237)
Dessie Ellis
Question:237. Deputy Dessie Ellis asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is satisfied that certificate of professional competence, CPC, courses for professional drivers are relevant or useful to those taking them; and his plans to reform the model in operation, possibly by adding an on-the-road element to the course curriculum. [20661/14]
View answerWritten answers
The operation of the Certificate of Professional Competence regime is a matter for the Road Safety Authority. I have therefore forwarded the question to the Authority for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.
Parking Provision
Questions (238)
Eoghan Murphy
Question:238. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 1190 of 16 July 2013, if he will introduce a pilot scheme in Dublin city to trial the use of partial footpath parking in residential areas. [20700/14]
View answerWritten answers
As I explained to the Deputy in my response to the Question referred to, there are sound arguments against allowing partial parking on pavements. The key concerns are that footpaths are provided for the safety of pedestrians and to segregate vulnerable road users from passing or parking traffic on the roadway; that footpaths are not constructed to the same specifications as roads and are not built to bear the weight of vehicles; and that pavement parking, if allowed in some areas, could become a matter of habit for many people and difficult to restrict to the areas where it is legally permitted.
I accept that there are also arguments which can be put on the opposite side, particularly in the case of very narrow streets where on-street parking would block traffic flow. I am, however, willing to consider this issue further. The matter would need to be examined in some detail in consultation with key stakeholders and interested parties before any decision could be made with regard to the possibility of a pilot scheme. I propose to engage with the National Transport Authority which is the appropriate body to conduct such an examination.
Sports Capital Programme Applications
Questions (239)
Brendan Griffin
Question:239. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a decision has been made on funding for a club (details supplied) in County Kerry under the sports capital programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20742/14]
View answerWritten answers
I can confirm that an application has been submitted by the organisation referred to by the Deputy under the 2014 Sports Capital Programme and the Deputy's support for the project is noted. The applications received under the 2014 Sports Capital Programme are currently being assessed and I hope to announce allocations later this year.
Rail Services
Questions (240)
Thomas P. Broughan
Question:240. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 946 of 30 April 2014 with regard to his recent referral to a technical consultancy or review being undertaken by the National Transport Authority to assess the long-term rail transport requirements of the north Dublin and Fingal corridor extending from Finglas to Malahide and including Dublin Airport and Swords, if there will be public consultation on this review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20786/14]
View answerWritten answers
I understand that the National Transport Authority (NTA) will shortly award the contract for the study to assess the long term rail transport requirements of the North Dublin/Fingal Corridor and that a timeline of eight months for completion is estimated. I have referred the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply in relation to their proposals to address statutory and any other public consultation requirements in relation to the study. The Deputy should advise my private office if he does not receive a reply within ten working days.