Written Answers Nos. 249-262
249. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 603 of 25 June 2013, if he will provide a breakdown of where the vacancies identified are located and at what grade; the number of posts currently vacant that are to be filled; his plans to fill these vacancies; and the number of these posts that are not being filled as a result of the recruitment embargo. [33836/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
250. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 508 of 18 June 2013, in regard to the long waiting times for occupational therapy in the Dublin 15 area, if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the Health Service Executive has stated that there are currently 170 children on the clinic waiting list with the longest waiting time of 40 weeks; if he is aware that since February of this year, the staffing numbers in the paediatric team have been reduced by four staff and as a result it is not possible to offer appointments to children; if he is further aware that this may also result in a child being seen in a clinic but not being seen for further assessment for possibly 18 months afterwards and that only children who have been accepted into the service and children seen through an assessment of need are being seen; if he will take steps as a matter of acute urgency to lift the recruitment moratorium in this case to ensure that cover will immediately be provided while the service is awaiting staff to return from maternity leave; if he will also take steps as a matter of acute urgency to lift the recruitment moratorium in this regard to ensure that other vacancies in the occupational therapy department can be immediately recruited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33837/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe particular issue raised by the Deputy is a service matter for the Health Service Executive. Accordingly I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
251. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Health the number of legal cases dealt with in 2012 by the Health Service Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33844/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is an operational matter for the Health Service Executive I have referred the Deputy's question to the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive for attention and direct reply to him.
252. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on plans for the emergency department at St. Columcille's Hospital, Loughlinstown, County Dublin; if he will confirm that it is now the case that this department will remain open for an extended period; if he will provide details of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33849/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI published the Framework for Smaller Hospitals - Securing the Future of Smaller Hospitals: A Framework for Development, and the Hospital Groups Report on 14 May 2013. This Framework offers clear information about the role of our smaller hospitals, including St Colmcille's Hospital, and what they will do in the future. Hospital groups will be required to submit a strategic plan within one year of establishment which will outline its plans for future services within the group area, including those to be delivered in each smaller hospital. In relation to the particular query raised by the Deputy, regarding an update on plans for the emergency Department at St. Colmcille's Hospital, as this is a service issue, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy in this matter.
253. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health his views on a matter (details supplied). [33922/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
254. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the reason the Health Service Executive has yet to publish a report into the death in 2006 of a person (details supplied) at a hospital in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33929/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
255. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding those suffering from mitochondrial disease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33930/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn relation to the particular query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service issue, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy in this matter.
256. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding a driving licence in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33679/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe operation of the driver licensing system is a matter for the Road Safety Authority (RSA), and I cannot comment on individual cases. As far as the law is concerned, car drivers in the age range 60 to 67 may apply for a licence which expires at 70. From 67-69 they may apply for a three-year licence. In neither case is a medical report required. The legislation requires a medical report if the applicant will be 70 or more on the day of commencement of the licence. However, in circumstances where there is a condition or a history of conditions which the legislation requires be notified in a licence application, a medical report would be required from an applicant who is under 70.
The circumstances described by the Deputy should not therefore arise. A person of 66 at the time of the commencement of the licence should receive a licence valid until they turn 70, and should not be asked for a medical report unless they have a condition, or a history of a condition, which requires notification. In the latter case their existing licence should have a code 101 on it, indicating that renewal is subject to a medical report.
257. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the value to Ireland of fishing tourism under the headings of game, sea and coarse fishing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33706/13]
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.
258. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the position regarding the provision of a new Irish Coast Guard building and premises at a particular location (details supplied) in County Wicklow; his plans to draw funding for this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33722/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy is inquiring about the plans for the proposed new Coast Guard Volunteer Station House in Greystones, Co. Wicklow. At present, the Office of Public Works are finalising the design of the Station House and are engaged in ongoing negotiations with the Local Authority. Should these negotiations be successful I intend to move forward to the build phase in 2014.
259. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 279 on 4 July 2013, the position regarding each international organisation, international agency or international body that Ireland is a member of; that his Department or a State body or agency under the aegis of his Department is a member of; if he will provide the full list as per all other Government Departments responding to a similar parliamentary question on that date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33744/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy , in respect of international organisations, agencies and bodies of which Ireland is a member through my Department is set out below. In cases where an Agency under the remit of my Department is a member of an international organisation, agency or body, this is a matter for the agency themselves. I have referred the Deputy's question to the agencies for direct reply on this. If you do not receive a response within ten working days please contact my private office.
Membership of International Organisations, Agencies & Bodies
ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organisation)
ISASI (International Society of Air Safety Investigators)
ECAC/ACC (European Civil Aviation Conference - Group of Experts on Air Accident Investigation)
ESASI (European Society of Air Safety Investigators)
ERTICO (the network of Intelligent Transport Systems and Services stakeholders in Europe)
ROADEX (The Network is an EU funded trans-national collaboration of northern European roads organisations whose aim is to share roads information and research)
International Maritime Rescue Federation
Agreement for Co-operation in Dealing with Pollution of the North Sea by Oil (Bonn Agreement)
International Civil Aviation Organisation
Eurocontrol
European Civil Aviation Conference
European Aviation Safety Agency
International Hydrographic Organisation
International Maritime Organisation
Paris Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control
International Association of Light House Authorities (Commissioners of Irish Lights is a member).
260. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 731 of 14 May 2013 if he will provide an update of his Department's air accident investigation unit's investigation of an incident involving aircraft (details supplied) in County Wicklow on 13 July 2012; when he expects the unit in his Department to issue the draft report to interested parties; when he expects to be in a position to publish the final report into the incident; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33752/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have been advised by the Air Accident Investigation Unit (AAIU) of my Department that they expect to issue a draft final report to interested parties by the end of July. The Regulation provides a period of 28 days for comment following which the comments will be considered and the Final Report issued and published on the AAIU website. As the AAIU is independent in the conduct of its Investigations, I do not propose to make comment on individual investigations.
261. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the purpose and intention of the Road Traffic (Signs) (Amendment) Regulations 2013 (SI 187 of 2013); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33753/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs outlined in the Explanatory Note to Statutory Instrument No. 187 of 2013, these Regulations prescribe an alternative design that may be used for traffic sign number RUS 013 (no turn left) and the Second Schedule to the Road Traffic (Signs) Regulations 1997 (S.I. No. 181 of 1997) is amended accordingly.
262. Deputy Heather Humphreys asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the funding opportunities for a project (details supplied) in County Cavan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33917/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe allocations under the 2012 Sports Capital Programme were announced last December and there are no more grants available at this time. No decision has been taken on the timing of the next round of the Sports Capital Programme. Any future rounds will be advertised in that national press. It will be open to any club to apply under any future round of the Sports Capital Programme, subject to the terms and conditions that will apply at that time.
It may be possible for the club to raise funds via the ‘Tax Relief for Donations to Certain Sports Bodies’ scheme (section 847A of the Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997). This is a Revenue operated scheme which offers tax benefits to individuals or companies who make donations to the club. Further details on this scheme and how it operates can be found on the Revenue Commissioners website.
