Written Answers Nos. 230-237
230. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the position on the issue of a medical card in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 6W; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28616/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 recently reissued to Oireachtas members.
231. Deputy Derek Nolan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will consider extending the disabled parking places for the benefit of those reliant on them in circumstances where mothers with disabled children have difficulty in getting rollators and associated equipment open in such confined spaces; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28415/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2010 my Department conducted a review of the disabled parking scheme. Among other recommendations, the review argued for an increase in the dimensions of disabled parking bays. These were already larger than standard parking bays, due to the need to take account of the difficulties which people with disabilities might have in entering and exiting vehicles, in particular where wheelchairs or other mobility aids might have to be disembarked.
I introduced some of the recommendations of the 2010 review shortly after entering office in 2011. The recommendations on change in dimensions of parking bays, however, were part of a more comprehensive revision of traffic signs regulations, which took longer to complete. The changes to disabled parking bays can be found in Regulation 29(b) of the Road Traffic (Signs) (Amendment) Regulations 2012 (S.I. No. 331 of 2012).
I remain open to reconsidering the dimensions of these bays in future should that prove necessary.
232. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will outline, in tabular form on a council basis, the amount a number of local authorities (details supplied) will be receiving as part of the additional €50 million that has been committed as part of the investing in infrastructure and jobs plan that was announced on 5 June 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28449/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe additional allocations being provided for works on regional and local roads are outlined in the table below:
|
County Council |
Additional Allocation |
|
Carlow |
601,674 |
|
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown |
505,527 |
|
Kildare |
1,356,738 |
|
Wexford |
1,846,292 |
|
Wicklow |
1,073,272 |
233. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he or his Department were approached in the past two years by the Football Association of Ireland regarding assistance, financial or otherwise, with its debt repayments on the Aviva Stadium, Lansdowne Road in Dublin; if meetings between the FAI and his officials have taken place in the past two years at which the debt repayments on the stadium were discussed; if any sort or form of solidarity payment was sought by the FAI from his Department or associated bodies under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28456/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere have been no approaches by the FAI to me, Minister Varadkar, officials in the Department or the Irish Sports Council concerning the issues raised by the Deputy. Neither have these issues been raised at any meetings at Ministerial, Official or Sports Council level.
234. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a road (details supplied) in County Wicklow will be tolled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28460/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are no plans to toll this road.
235. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide funding for the upkeep of class 3 roads in counties Sligo and Leitrim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28491/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from local authorities own resources supplemented by State road grants.
I announced €350 million in regional and local road grants in January this year. More recently, I announced an additional €50 million for regional and local roads under the Government’s Infrastructure Investment Plan, bringing the total funding available for regional and local roads in 2013 to just over €400 million.
As you know the initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded from State grants is a matter for the Council. It is open to local authorities to fund works on Class 3 roads from their Discretionary Grant. County Councils have also been offered more flexibility in their regional and local road grants whereby they have the opportunity to use up to 30% of their Restoration Improvement Grant and reallocate it to their Discretionary Grant should they wish to do so.
Included in this overall allocation to local authorities is funding of over €8.2 million in 2013 allocated towards the Community Involvement Scheme for works on lesser trafficked local roads. It is also important to re-iterate that the role of Exchequer grants for regional and local roads is to supplement Councils like Sligo and Leitrim County Councils in their spending in this area.
236. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 91 of 7 April 2011, if he will support the development of the Irish Cultural/GAA Museum at Fitzgerald stadium, Killarney, County Kerry; if he acknowledges the potential this multi-million project has for tourism in County Kerry; if he will request Fáilte Ireland to support and provide funding for this important 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. [28523/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe matter raised is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland. I have referred the Deputy's Question to Fáilte Ireland for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
237. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if his attention has been drawn to the public transport walking initiative concept; his views on the initiative; the interaction which the promoters have had with his Department and the support that may be available for the initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28555/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraA copy of the proposal has been received by my Department and I note that it is supported by a number of Deputies.
The issue raised is a matter for the National Transport Authority (NTA) and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
