Arthur Spring
Ceist:250. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a list of all public consultations his Department has carried out since the start of 2012. [50753/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraDepartmental Consultations
Ceisteanna (250)
Freagraí scríofa
The information requested by the Deputy is currently being collated and will be forwarded to him as soon as it is available.
Mental Health Services Provision
Ceisteanna (251)
Willie O'Dea
Ceist:251. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide alternative and appropriate purpose built accommodation for the remaining residents of St. Joseph's Psychiatric Hospital, Mulgrave Street, County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50773/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
A Vision for Change recommended the closure of the old psychiatric hospitals and a move from the traditional institutional based model of care to a patient-centred, flexible and community based mental health service, where the need for hospital admission is greatly reduced, while still providing in-patient care when appropriate. This Government is committed to implementing A Vision for Change and reforming our model of healthcare delivery so that more and better quality care is delivered in the community. In this regard the mental health capital programme will provide the infrastructure necessary for the continued reform of our mental health services and will facilitate the closure of the remaining hospitals.
In relation to the specific query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter the question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
Hospital Services
Ceisteanna (252)
Willie O'Dea
Ceist:252. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health when the new critical care unit of the Mid-Western Regional Hospital, Dooradoyle, County Limerick, will be opened; if funding and staff have been provided for this unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50774/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Funding for this particular project is a matter for the Health Service Executive. Therefore, I have forwarded the Deputy's query to them, in order for them to respond directly to the Deputy in relation to this matter.
Hospital Services
Ceisteanna (253)
Willie O'Dea
Ceist:253. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health his plans to open the vacant stroke unit at St. Camillus' Hospital, County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50775/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
Medical Card Application Numbers
Ceisteanna (254)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:254. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form the number of applications for medical cards in County Kerry between January 2010 and January 2012, the average waiting time for these applications to be processed, the number that were granted, the number refused and the number still pending; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50781/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
Taxi Regulations
Ceisteanna (255)
Thomas P. Broughan
Ceist:255. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when he plans to bring forward the Taxi Regulation Bill; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50619/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I will shortly seek Cabinet approval for the publication of the Taxi Regulation Bill, 2012, which will provide for replacement of the Taxi Regulation Act 2003 and extend the regulatory framework to give effect to recommendations from the Taxi Regulation Review.
Official Engagements
Ceisteanna (256)
Thomas P. Broughan
Ceist:256. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is engaging with the European Investment Bank; the matters on which he is engaging with the European Investment Bank on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50620/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department is not directly engaged with the European Investment Bank at present.
Taxi Regulations
Ceisteanna (257)
Colm Keaveney
Ceist:257. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the concern being expressed by taxi drivers at the consequences of changes in regulation that are having the effect of forcing drivers to sell their licenses at a loss; if in view of the fact that taxi drivers are suffering as a consequence of our current economic difficulties and are not in a position to work as drivers but are waiting for a pick up in the trade in the future, he will consider allowing some flexibility into the process to allow for this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50624/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The National Transport Authority (NTA) has responsibility for the regulation of the taxi industry under the Taxi Regulation Act, 2003 and is also the lead agency with responsibility for implementation of the recommendations of the Taxi Regulation Review Report within the target time periods specified in the Report.
I understand that the National Transport Authority has already given advance notice to the industry concerning the implementation of a number of measures arising from the Review. In particular, advance notice has been given for the implementation of the prohibition on the transfer of small public service vehicle (SPSV) licences. This measure reflects the Review Group view that a licence should determine a person’s suitability to carry out a function and it should not have monetary value or be traded on the open market.
The implementation of the prohibition on SPSV licence transfer will be subject to the enactment of the Taxi Regulation Bill 2012 which is to be published by year-end. The date of enactment will be dependent on the deliberations of the Oireachtas.
Departmental Consultations
Ceisteanna (258)
Arthur Spring
Ceist:258. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a list of all public consultations his Department has carried out since the start of 2012. [50758/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department consults with members of the public across a range of the Department's functions, including two formal public consultations processes since the start of 2012. A draft National Sports Facilities Strategy was published as a discussion document on the Department’s website in September 2012 inviting comments by end October. Submissions were also invited from interested parties, by end October 2012 on the future role and remit of Sport Ireland and how we might best deliver for sport in Ireland. (Sport Ireland is a new organisation which I propose to establish to merge the Irish Sports Council and the National Sports Campus Development Authority).
In addition and although not directly under the remit of the Department, over 50 Community Town Hall meetings were held this year all over Ireland to get communities involved in preparing for and identifying events for The Gathering Ireland 2013. These meetings were attended by thousands of people and hundreds of events and Gatherings have been identified by local communities as a result.
Bus Éireann Services
Ceisteanna (259)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:259. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his view regarding bus connections (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50785/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
This is a matter for Bus Éireann and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the company for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
Tourism Promotion
Ceisteanna (260)
Tom Fleming
Ceist:260. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will support the development of the Irish Cultural-GAA Museum at Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney, County Kerry; if he acknowledges the potential this €3 million project has for tourism in the county; if he will request Fáilte Ireland to support and provide funding for this project in 2013 that has the potential to be one of Ireland's greatest tourist attractions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50827/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The matter raised is an operational one for Fáilte Ireland. I have referred the Deputy's question to Fáilte Ireland for direct reply. Please contact my private office if a reply is not received within ten working days.