Written Answers Nos. 1592-1610
1592. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 693 of 28 May 2013, the progress that has been made to date in the development of a national rare disease plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38793/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraWork on the drafting of a national plan is well underway with publication of it earmarked for the end of the year.
1593. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide adequate refuge accommodation for victims of domestic violence in Cavan-Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38801/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2010 the National Strategy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence was published. It aims to provide a framework for sustainable intervention to prevent and effectively respond to domestic, sexual and gender-based violence and is lead by Cosc which is the National Office for the Prevention of Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence.
The HSE subsequently published its own Policy on Domestic, Sexual and Gender-based Violence. The principal actions are in line with the National Strategy. The HSE’s policy states that a health-focused analysis of violence is crucial, not only because the consequences of such violence require a significant amount of healthcare system resources, but most importantly because the health care system is often the first route through which victims seek to access supports.
In relation to the specific issue raised by the Deputy, as this is a service issue it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
1594. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Health the steps his Department intend to take to ensure semi-State bodies and other organisations and bodies under the remit of his Department advertise vacant positions through the Public Appointments Service and publicjobs.ie in a clear and transparent manner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39254/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAgencies under the remit of this Department regularly use the Public Appointments Service (PAS) to fill vacancies. My Department requests the agencies under its remit to refer the filling of vacancies to the PAS in the first instance. It will continue to promote PAS on an ongoing basis.
1595. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he is considering increasing the current penalties for a driver caught driving without insurance, such as introducing a minimum fine of €10,000, imposing automatic penalty points and the automatic suspension of a persons driving licence. [36980/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraRoad Traffic legislation does not provide for minimum fines, as the level of a fine to be imposed following conviction must be at the discretion of the Judge hearing the case.
Furthermore, the fine suggested by the Deputy would mean that such cases could no longer be dealt with summarily in the District Courts. At present, District Court Judges have the discretion to deal with the offence of driving without insurance either as a penalty point offence, with 5 points being endorsed or one attracting a consequential disqualification following conviction. Both attract a maximum fine of €5,000 and/or a term of imprisonment not exceeding six months. I do not have any plans to amend the current legislation.
1596. Deputy Michael P. Kitt asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if there are proposals to re-open Thoor Ballylee, County Galway; if he will indicate the amount of money spent to date on improvements on this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38418/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe matter raised is an operational matter for Fáilte Ireland. I have referred the Deputy's Question to the agency for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
1597. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason there is not a VTN or DOE vehicle testing centre in south Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38743/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe subject matter of this question is the responsibility of the Road Safety Authority and I have forwarded it to them for direct reply. I would ask the Deputy to contact my Office if a reply has not been received within ten days.
1598. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide a full list of routes operated by Bus Éireann that are wheelchair friendly; the date on which each route was made wheelchair friendly; the routes they plan to upgrade to wheelchair friendly status in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36914/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis is an operational 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.
1599. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if all categories of vehicles permitted to drive as per the back of the new plastic card driving licences should be contained in Section 9 on the front of the new cards issued by the Road Safety Authority; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the W category that covers work vehicles and land tractors is not being included in Section 9 on the front when it is a permitted category on the back of the licence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36916/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAll categories of vehicles a person may be permitted to drive as per the back of the new plastic card driving licences may not necessarily be contained in Section 9 on the front of the new plastic driving licence.
The display of categories on the front of a licence will not show all categories if, for example, the holder of a licence in one category is automatically entitled to a licence in another category. By way of illustration, a holder of a licence in category B ( to drive a car ), is automatically entitled to drive a tractor which is covered by category W. In such a case, category B only will appear on the front of the licence. If a person applies for a category W licence only, then W will be shown on the front and rear of the licence.
1600. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the National Roads Authority are aware of an area (details supplied) in County Wicklow where noise pollution from the N11 has increased considerably; if the levels of noise pollution can be tested by the NRA; if they can expedite a solution if the levels are too high; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36972/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
Noting the above position, I have referred the Deputy’s question to the NRA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you don’t receive a reply within 10 working days.
1601. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps being taken by Córas Iompar Éireann to control the spread of Japanese knotweed, Fallopia japonica, along the railbed system, particularly in Phibsborough where is seems to have become established by the railbed further to recent canal re-lining works undertaken by Waterways Ireland; whether demarcation issues between Córas Iompar Éireann and Waterways Ireland have the effect in that area of undermining the designation of the lands between the railbed and the Royal Canal as a Special Area of Conservation, allowing the Japanese knotweed, one of the most invasive species known to horticulture, to thrive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36998/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe issue raised is a matter for the Railway Procurement Agency (RPA) as ownership of certain property in the area referred to by the Deputy is in the process of transfer to it from Irish Rail in connection with the development of Luas BXD. However, as the full extent of the property is not clear from the Deputy's question, I am referring the matter to both the RPA and Irish Rail for attention. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
1602. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the maximum height of vehicles. [37003/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra1616. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding HGVs [37224/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1602 and 1616 together.
The derogation contained in Statutory Instrument 366 of 2008 - Road Traffic (Construction and Use of Vehicles) (Amendment) Regulations, 2008, permitting certain classes of vehicles which were first registered, licensed or in use before 1st November 2008 to exceed 4.65 metres in height, terminates on 31st October 2013 and I have no proposals to extend it.
1603. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the amount of grant aid allocated to each county in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013 for road strengthening and improvement works for roads of all categories; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37027/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails of the regional and local road grant allocations for the years in question can be found in the regional and local road grant allocation booklets which are available in the Dáil Library.
With regard to national roads, as Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects is a matter for the National Roads Authority (NRA) under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
Within its capital budget, the assessment and prioritisation of individual projects is a matter in the first instance for the NRA in accordance with Section 19 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 don’t receive a reply within 10 working days.
1604. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the steps that Iarnród Éireann has taken to ensure the process for recruiting 20 new revenue protection officers is done in a clear and transparent manner; if he will provide a full job description of the role; the number of applications received for the positions; if the positions were publicly advertised and if so, by what means and methods; the number of persons called for interviews for the positions; when he expects the positions to be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37031/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis is an operational matter for Iarnród 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.
1605. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when a ticket machine will be put in place at a train station (details supplied) in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37040/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. Following the establishment of the National Transport Authority (NTA) on December 2009, the implementation and development of infrastructure projects in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), such as installing a ticket machine at a train station in County Wicklow comes under the remit of the NTA.
Noting this I have referred the Deputies question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a reply within 10 working days.
1606. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the implications the European Commission’s proposed Single European Sky will have for all Irish airports and the Irish Aviation Authority; the number of submissions and the number of comments his Department received in view of the recent consultation process that concluded on 6 September 2013; the way his Department reached out to numerous stakeholders in order to receive a wide field of submissions that will feed into Ireland's negotiations plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37041/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Single European Sky (SES) is a policy initiative agreed in 2004 with the central objective of reforming and improving the performance of air traffic management in Europe. The Commission's current legislative proposals are designed to accelerate the achievement of these policy objectives. Whilst air traffic management is a key element in the overall air transport market and thus impacts on stakeholders such as airports and airspace users, the implications of these proposals relate principally to the thirty seven air navigation service providers across Europe, including the Irish Aviation Authority. Given the over-riding performance improvement focus of the SES initiative, the main implications for service providers will be the continued achievement of further efficiencies in the delivery of their navigation services to their customer airlines, airports and other airspace users. The Irish Aviation Authority is already one of the most efficient providers, compared to its European peers, and its charges are amongst the lowest in Europe. In relation to the implications for airports, only Dublin Airport exceeds the traffic threshold of 70,000 air transport movements per annum and accordingly other Irish airports are largely unaffected by this Single European Sky legislative package, apart from some general provisions concerning certification requirements with regard to the safety, quality and security of air navigation services (principally air traffic control) provided at these airports.
My Department circulated these proposals to a wide range of stakeholders in the Irish aviation sector. The technical nature of the proposals warranted a targeted approach to those stakeholders principally concerned with airspace utilisation and optimisation. Comments were invited from over 40 organisations and comments were received from five. My Department is in the process of analysing these submissions and envisages that they will be an important and helpful contribution in the negotiations on these proposals.
1607. Deputy Eoghan Murphy asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if Iarnrod Eireann is in breach of any data, privacy or other laws by requiring that all customers purchasing a ticket on-line register an on-line account with the company which holds personal information and is it not the case that they are required to offer an alternative method of payment on-line that does not require the registering of said personal account. [37109/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe issue raised is a matter for Iarnród Éireann and I have passed 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.
1608. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if it has been brought to his attention that speed bumps installed on a particular road (details supplied) in County Wicklow that were installed using funding from the National Transport Authority are hazardous and causing vehicles to swerve into the middle of the road to avoid the ramps; if the NTA has had any correspondence from public representatives or the local authority regarding funding to fix the said ramps to ensure cars no longer swerve to avoid the bumps, enhancing the safety for both road users and pedestrians; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37129/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra1674. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a safety audit was ever conducted by the National Transport Authority as part of the funding it provided to the local authority regarding new cycle lanes and a footpath (details supplied) in County Wicklow; if the attention of the NTA has been drawn to concerns with the project's current state; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38118/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra1691. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the National Transport Authority has been involved in the installation of a pedestrian crossing at a school (details supplied) in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38583/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 1608, 1674 and 1691 together.
As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for policy and overall funding in relation to public transport. Following the establishment of the National Transport Authority (NTA) in December 2009, the implementation and development of infrastructure projects in the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), such as the Sustainable Transport Measures Grants Programme under which the projects in question are funded, comes under the remit of the NTA. This Programme facilitates investment in the various QBCs, cycling/walking, safety and traffic management projects throughout the seven local authorities in the GDA region.
Noting this I have referred the Deputy’s question to the NTA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you don’t receive a reply within 10 working days.
1609. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the way he intends to bridge the discrepancy between licence renewals taking up to four to six weeks although one is required to produce a licence in a Garda station within ten days of being stopped by the gardaí. [37131/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy may be aware, we are currently in a transition period in the operation of driver licensing. The Road Safety Authority (RSA) formally became the national driver licensing authority in January 2013. As an interim measure, the local authority motor taxation offices are continuing to process driver licence applications and issue licences on behalf of the RSA. From November next, the RSA will assume full responsibility for the service and, through contracts with private sector companies, will provide customer interface and processing services. Under the new regime, there will be a target to process driver licence applications within 7 days.
I am aware that there are currently backlogs in processing licences in some local authority areas. The RSA and the local authorities are actively engaging in efforts to reduce and eliminate them as soon as possible.
1610. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on whether fixed charge notices for cyclists to be introduced in line with the road safety strategy is suitable for most rural areas; if he is considering ensuring that the measures to be legislated for in the near future are confined to urban areas where cyclist safety is more at risk; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37141/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAction 92 of the Road Safety Strategy 2013 - 2020 provides that we will 'legislate for the extension of fixed charge notices to other offences including those related to cyclists and drivers' hours'. The completion date for this Action is the second quarter of 2014 and will involve prescribing those offences in Fixed Charge Regulations to be made by me.
As all road traffic legislation is applicable on a nationwide basis, it would not be legally and administratively possible to apply it to certain parts of the country only.
