Written Answers Nos. 581-600
582. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health if persons (details supplied) in County Kildare will now qualify for a medical card under the new discretionary medical cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28485/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn the context of the Government's decision to develop a policy framework for providing eligibility for health services on the basis of medical conditions, the Government recently announced that a medical card or GP visit card is to be issued to a person, with a serious illness, whose discretionary card was refused renewal since the centralisation of medical card assessments.
If the medical card or GP visit card to which the Deputy refers was awarded by way of discretion and was refused renewal in the period from 1 July 2011 to 31 May 2014 following the completion of an eligibility review, a card will issue by the HSE.
The HSE has commenced the process of identifying and contacting persons to advise them that their medical cards and GP visit cards will issue. The HSE has commenced issuing letters to the persons concerned and this process should be concluded by the first two weeks of July. No action is required on the part of those affected as the HSE will be in contact. If people do not hear from the HSE by mid July, they should contact the HSE on its Lo-Call contact number: 1890 25 29 19. These individuals will be able to access medical card and GP visit card services in the normal manner when they have been advised by the HSE that their medical card or GP visit card is active.
The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine the specific query raised 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.
583. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in issuing a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28493/14]
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 issued to Oireachtas members.
584. 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. [28494/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn the context of the Government's decision to develop a policy framework for providing eligibility for health services on the basis of medical conditions, the Government recently announced that a medical card or GP visit card is to be issued to a person, with a serious illness, whose discretionary card was refused renewal since the centralisation of medical card assessments.
If the medical card or GP visit card to which the Deputy refers was awarded by way of discretion and was refused renewal in the period from 1 July 2011 to 31 May 2014 following the completion of an eligibility review, a card will issue by the HSE.
The HSE has commenced the process of identifying and contacting persons to advise them that their medical cards and GP visit cards will issue. The HSE has commenced issuing letters to the persons concerned and this process should be concluded by the first two weeks of July. No action is required on the part of those affected as the HSE will be in contact. If people do not hear from the HSE by mid July, they should contact the HSE on its Lo-Call contact number: 1890 25 29 19. These individuals will be able to access medical card and GP visit card services in the normal manner when they have been advised by the HSE that their medical card or GP visit card is active.
The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine the specific query raised 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.
585. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Health the criteria and conditions under which public patients are prioritised for treatment in private facilities and if private clinics/hospitals reserve the right to treat their own patients/clients ahead of the public patients regardless of the public patients level of medical need; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28495/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
586. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health when an alternative to the mobility allowance scheme will be introduced following the closure of the scheme to new applicants in February of this year due to the requirements of the Equal Status acts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28502/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra591. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the mobility allowance and motorised transport grant schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28533/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 586 and 591 together.
Conscious of the reports of the Ombudsman regarding the legal status of the Mobility Allowance and Motorised Transport Grant Schemes in the context of the Equal Status Acts, the Government decided to close both schemes to new applications on 26th February 2013. Following the work of the Review Group on Transport Supports for People with Disabilities and the Inter-Departmental Group tasked by Government to consider details of a statutory replacement for the discontinued schemes, the Government decided in November 2013, that the preparatory work required for a new travel subsidy scheme and associated statutory provisions should be progressed by the Minister for Health. Work is ongoing on the policy proposals to be brought to Government for the drafting of primary legislation for a new scheme.
The Health Service Executive continues to make payment to the 4,700 people who were in receipt of the Mobility Allowance payment in February 2013.
588. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) will now qualify for a medical card under the new discretionary changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28510/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn the context of the Government's decision to develop a policy framework for providing eligibility for health services on the basis of medical conditions, the Government recently announced that a medical card or GP visit card is to be issued to a person, with a serious illness, whose discretionary card was refused renewal since the centralisation of medical card assessments.
If the medical card or GP visit card to which the Deputy refers was awarded by way of discretion and was refused renewal in the period from 1 July 2011 to 31 May 2014 following the completion of an eligibility review, a card will issue by the HSE.
The HSE has commenced the process of identifying and contacting persons to advise them that their medical cards and GP visit cards will issue. The HSE has commenced issuing letters to the persons concerned and this process should be concluded by the first two weeks of July. No action is required on the part of those affected as the HSE will be in contact. If people do not hear from the HSE by mid July, they should contact the HSE on its Lo-Call contact number: 1890 25 29 19. These individuals will be able to access medical card and GP visit card services in the normal manner when they have been advised by the HSE that their medical card or GP visit card is active.
The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine the specific query raised 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.
589. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Health if he will confirm that the manufacturer of the drug fampyra has submitted a revised application to the Health Service Executive for its inclusion in the GMS and community drugs scheme; if it has, the date on which it was received; and when a decision will be made by the Health Service Executive. [28529/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health Service Executive (HSE) is responsible for the administration of the primary care schemes, therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
592. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [28537/14]
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 issued to Oireachtas members.
593. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Mayo. [28538/14]
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 issued to Oireachtas members.
594. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 599 of 13 May 2014 when a reply will issue; the reason for the delay in providing the reply; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28549/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Deputy's previous question was referred to the Health Service Executive by the Department of Health as it relates to the provision of services. The Department has requested that the HSE inform the Deputy, directly, of the current position in relation to the provision of special shoes to the named individual, as soon as possible.
595. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will mandate local authorities to pursue developers and contractors for damage done to public roads, footpaths or any other public property as a result of the work that they carried out, rather than the local authority carrying the costs of such works. [27818/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe maintenance and construction of public roads is the statutory responsibility of the relevant road authority, in accordance with the provisions of section 13 of the Roads Act 1993.
A person must have lawful authority or the consent of the relevant road authority in order to carry out works on a public road or any part of a public road such as a footpath.
Section 13(10)(a) provides, inter alia, that a person who, without lawful authority or the consent of a road authority, defaces, damages or excavates a public road, is guilty of an offence.
Section 13(10)(b) provides that a consent under section 13(10(a) may be given by the road authority subject to such conditions, restrictions or requirements as it thinks fit and any person who fails to comply with such conditions, restrictions or requirements is guilty of an offence.
Section 13(10)(c) provides that where a person does anything in contravention of section 13(10)(a), a road authority may, inter alia, remove any defacement, repair any damage or fill in any excavation, and may recover any costs reasonably incurred by it from such person as a simple contract debt in any court of competent jurisdiction.
With regard to other types of public property, these would be subject to any relevant statutory provisions that apply to such property.
596. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will report on the measures required to commence section 12 of the Road Traffic Act 2014; and if he will indicate a timeline of when it is expected that the provision will be commenced. [27921/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraSection 12 of the Road Traffic Act 2014 relates to the taking of a specimen of blood, in hospital, from an incapacitated driver following a road collision in which injury occurred. It is my intention to commence the relevant section of the Act as soon as possible.
The principal requirement before this section can be implemented is for procedural guidelines to be prepared for members of the medical profession and An Garda Síochána. This task is being undertaken by the Medical Bureau of Road Safety. I understand that the Guidelines are now essentially complete.
However, section 12 is also linked to sections 11 and 13. Section 13 provides for consequential disqualifications for offences under sections 11 and 12. It will therefore be necessary to commence all three sections simultaneously.
Section 11 relates to intoxication impairment testing. My officials are liaising with An Garda Síochána on the timetabling of the implementation of this section. Regulations are also being drafted by the Office of the Parliamentary Draftsman in relation to this provision. While it is likely that the necessary arrangements for Section 12 will be in place very shortly, commencement must await finalisation of the preparations for Section 11. The target date for this is September.
597. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport when the clubs who applied for grant funding under the sports capital programme 2014 will be notified of the decision regarding their applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27823/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI was delighted to be able to launch the 2014 round of the Sports Capital Programme earlier this year. €40 million is available for allocation.
The 2,036 applications received under the 2014 Sports Capital Programme are currently being assessed by officials in my Department. Every application will be assessed by one official and reviewed by another. Given the number of applications received and the detail contained therein, this process takes a number of months to complete. I hope to announce allocations in the near future. The Department will also be contacting all applicants regarding the outcome of their applications.
598. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will provide in tabular form the amount of time that was allocated to an national car test inspector for testing a vehicle prior and present to the introduction of the performance reward scheme that was introduced in 2010; if he will also provide in tabular form the items that were listed for testing prior and present to the introduction of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27844/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra599. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views in relation to the performance reward scheme that was introduced in 2010 in all national car test centres; his further views that the scheme could jeopardise the integrity of car testing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27845/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 598 and 599 together.
Under the Road Safety Authority Act 2006 (Conferral of Functions) Order 2006 (S.I. No. 477 of 2006) the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has responsibility for the delivery of the National Car Test.
The RSA has overall responsibility for the operation, oversight, development, quality assurance and delivery of vehicle testing arrangements.
I have requested that the RSA respond directly to the Deputy’s questions. Please advise my office if you do not receive a reply within ten working days.
600. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the motorway services plan that was included in the original M9 motorway scheme; if these services were intended to be online or offline; if they were operated privately or by the National Roads Authority; and the criteria that was used to make such decisions. [27851/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra601. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of motorway service stations that will be built nationwide over the next five years; if they will be operated privately or by the National Roads Authority; and of those to be built by the NRA, the amount of money that will be spent on the construction and operation of these facilities; and if he considers this good use of public finances. [27852/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 600 and 601 together.
As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The construction, improvement and maintenance of individual national roads, including service areas, is a matter for the National Roads Authority under the Roads Acts 1993 to 2007 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. In particular, Section 54 of the Roads Act 1993 specifically provides for the National Roads Authority or a local authority to provide and/or operate service areas.
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 questions to the NRA for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you don’t receive a reply within 10 working days.
I hope potential private sector operators and developers take the opportunity presented by the public consultation process to indicate very clearly what they could offer, whether online or offline services. On the M9, Dublin-Waterford, we all agree that an additional service area is needed.
