Written Answers Nos. 123-136
123. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health if he will list the diagnostic tools recognised by his Department and the Health Service Executive for the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23593/14]
View answerThe diagnosis of Autistic Spectrum Disorders is an operational matter for the Health Service Executive. Accordingly I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
124. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that a person (details supplied) is given a CAMHS assessment without further delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23594/14]
View answerAs this is a service issue this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
125. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the average waiting times for patients to undergo hip replacement surgery at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9 in 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014. [23598/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
126. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health if he will consider the issues raised in correspondence (details supplied) regarding weight management clinics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23601/14]
View answerI have established the Special Action Group on Obesity (SAGO) comprising representatives from relevant Government Departments, the HSE, the Food Safety Authority, members of academia, service professionals and safefood to examine and progress a number of issues to address the problem of overweight and obesity in Ireland. Furthermore, Healthy Ireland supports a whole-of-government approach to address the determinants and predictors of health and well-being, many of which fall outside the health sector, e.g. housing, transportation, education, workplaces and environment along with an individual's socioeconomic status. Comprehensive, multilevel approaches are required to address the obesity epidemic and the work of SAGO and Healthy Ireland is on-going in this regard.
Progress has been made on the Healthy Eating guidelines, Calories on Menus initiative and the Report on Recommendations to reduce consumption of high fat, salt and sugar foods and drinks from the Top Shelf of the Food Pyramid. As one of the measures specifically designed to combat Childhood Obesity, I launched the safefood/HI/HSE three year Childhood Obesity Campaign – Childhood Obesity: Let's take it on – one small step at a time - which is designed to create greater awareness among parents about the threat of childhood overweight and obesity and provide practical tips to help address the problem with the ultimate aim and effecting behaviour change. The Deputy might also wish to note that my Department is developing a new obesity policy this year which will have a significant impact on the obesity agenda, provide a framework for action based on a number of informants and help lead inter-sectoral work in addressing overweight and obesity in Ireland.
In relation to the detailed queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service matters, I have asked the HSE to respond to him directly.
127. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Health if he proposes to provide a Ulysses pain management programme at a Dublin north side hospital. [23603/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
128. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23604/14]
View answerThe 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.
129. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23609/14]
View answerThe 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.
130. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card renewal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23616/14]
View answerThe 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.
131. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if and when some restoration of respite care might be offered to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare in respect of their child, in view of the degree to which their requirements have to be met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23633/14]
View answerAs the Deputy's questions relates to service matters, I have arranged for the questions to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
132. Deputy Heather Humphreys asked the Minister for Health when a decision will issue on a medical card application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23636/14]
View answerThe 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.
133. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on whether requiring all driver testing vehicles to require ABS brakes is potentially dangerous, in that many vehicles on the road do not have ABS brakes and new drivers will therefore not have experience driving such vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23577/14]
View answerI replied to this same Question from the Deputy on 17th April 2014 and the position has not changed. It is not the case that all vehicles used in driving tests must have anti-lock brakes (ABS). However vehicles used in tests for categories C1, C1E, C, CE, D1, D1E, D, DE must have ABS.
The requirements for vehicles to be used in driving tests are set at EU rather than national level, under section 5.2 of Annex II to Directive 2006/126/EC, as amended by Directive 2012/36/EU. The EU standards are minima. Member States may choose more stringent criteria but not less stringent criteria. In all of the categories mentioned above the EU legislation explicitly requires that the vehicles used in the test have ABS. Member States do not therefore have the option to choose otherwise.
134. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way Council Directive 2012/36/EU affects the requirements of category C, C1 and D testing vehicles; if the current requirements are in excess of those requirements; when it is anticipated that such standards will be introduced; the status of requirements under Directive 2006/126/EC; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23578/14]
View answerI replied to an identical question from the Deputy on 17th April 2014 and the position has not changed. Directive 126 of 2006 is the EU driver licensing directive. Among other aspects of driver licensing, this Directive sets out minimum requirements to be met by vehicles used in driving tests. These are described in Annex II, section 5.2 of the directive. Directive 36 of 2012 made a number of changes to the vehicle requirements for tests relating to categories A1, A2, A, C and CE. Directive 36 does not change the vehicle standards for tests in relation to categories C1 or D.
Ireland is compliant with the requirements of Annex II, section 5.2 of Directive 126 of 2006, as amended. The current requirements in this regard are to be found in Schedule 5 of the Road Traffic (Licensing of Drivers) Regulations 2006 (S.I. No. 537 of 2006), as substituted by Schedule 2 the Road Traffic (Licensing of Drivers) (Amendment) (No. 4) Regulations 2013 (S.I. No. 467 of 2013). All of these documents are available in the public domain.
135. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the revenue generated at the Dublin Port tunnel in 2012, 2013 and to date in 2014. [23599/14]
View answerAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and 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 by-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. He should advise my private office if he does not receive a reply within ten working days.
136. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if he will ensure that a child care service (details supplied) remains open as it is a critical service for families in the area and its closure would result in the loss of 55 jobs and a number of community employment, Tús and training positions. [23635/14]
View answerI refer the Deputy to my recent reply on 27th May, 2014 in which I set out the current position.
