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Thursday, 15 May 2014

Written Answers Nos. 251-261

Hospital Services

Questions (251)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

251. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if he plans to invest further capital funding in Temple Street Children's Hospital, Dublin; if so, in which departments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22029/14]

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Written answers

Delivery of healthcare facilities is a service matter. Therefore your question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Medical Card Appeals

Questions (252)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

252. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when a decision to refuse a medical card will be reversed in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22084/14]

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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.

Medical Card Eligibility

Questions (253)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

253. 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 Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22099/14]

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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.

Nursing Home Repayment Scheme

Questions (254)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

254. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health when eligibility under the fair deal scheme will be determined in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22100/14]

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Written answers

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (255)

Olivia Mitchell

Question:

255. Deputy Olivia Mitchell asked the Minister for Health the average time for those waiting for hip replacement surgery at Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22102/14]

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Written answers

As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.

Question No. 256 answered with Question 217.

Cross-Border Projects

Questions (257)

Brendan Smith

Question:

257. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there have been any recent developments regarding the proposed Narrow Water bridge project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22033/14]

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Written answers

As far as my Department is concerned the position is as outlined previously.  I was very disappointed that the project could not be funded under the INTERREG IVA programme because of the substantial funding gap between the tenders for the construction of the Narrow Water bridge and the project sponsors' original estimates.  The budget for regional and local roads has suffered major cutbacks in recent years and this year's allocation is down over €60 million on 2013 and I am not, therefore, in a position to progress the Narrow Water project at this point.  

As regards the next INTERREG V programme, the Department for Public Expenditure is the lead Department.  My understanding is that discussions are underway, involving the Northern Ireland Executive, the Irish Government and the Scottish Government regarding the Programme. The Operational Programmes will then be submitted to the European Commission for formal negotiation and approval by the deadline of 22nd September 2014.  It is estimated that the earliest calls for applications is unlikely to happen before March/April 2015.

Traffic Management

Questions (258)

Finian McGrath

Question:

258. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will ban all HGVs from Griffith Avenue, Dublin 9. [21649/14]

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Written answers

The Road (Traffic and Parking) Regulations, 1997 (S.I. No. 182 of 1997), give local authorities the power to apply restrictions to heavy goods vehicles from entering particular public roads or areas.  As it is a matter for each local authority to determine if, and where, such restrictions should apply within its functional area, I have no function in restricting vehicular access to individual roads.  

Road Tolls

Questions (259)

Finian McGrath

Question:

259. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the revenue earned at the Dublin Port tunnel. [21650/14]

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Written answers

As Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme.  The implementation of individual national road schemes (such as the Dublin Port Tunnel) which provide for tolling, is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993-2007. Moreover, the statutory power to levy tolls on national roads, to make toll bye-laws and to enter into toll agreements with private investors in respect of national roads is very specifically vested in the NRA under Part V of the Roads Act, 1993 (as amended). The maximum tolls for each toll year are set in accordance with the toll bye-laws made by the NRA under Section 61 of the Roads Act. Noting the above position, I have referred the Deputy’s question to the NRA for direct reply.  Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.

National Car Test

Questions (260)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

260. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide details of the income over the past five years from the two national car test centres in County Kerry; the way the proceeds have been spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21866/14]

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Written answers

The subject of this question is the responsibility of the Road Safety Authority and I have referred the question to them for direct reply.  I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a reply has not been received within ten days.

Traffic Regulations

Questions (261)

Eoghan Murphy

Question:

261. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 297 of 13 February 2014, when he plans to introduce regulations permitting local authorities to introduce by-laws that would designate electric vehicle charging points on public roads as electric vehicle parking only, as well as permitting local authorities to assign dedicated public parking spaces as car club only spaces. [21899/14]

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Written answers

I intend to introduce these regulations as soon as possible.The Office of the Attorney General has been working on a draft of the regulations in question, and I understand that good progress has been made.  I would be cautious about predicting a precise date for completion.  However, I hope that the process of drafting will be completed very soon, and I can assure the Deputy that I intend to sign the regulations into law as soon as they are ready.

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