Results 11,461-11,480 of 13,270 for speaker:Pat Gallagher

Written Answers — Community Care: Community Care (27 Jun 2007)

Pat Gallagher: The Meals on Wheels service is an important element of the community and domiciliary care provided to older people. The Government has recognised this by providing an additional €2.5m in both 2006 and 2007 for the service. This has resulted in an increase of 50% in the funding for this service. In addition, the Health Service Executive (HSE) has provided additional capital funding to...

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (27 Jun 2007)

Pat Gallagher: I propose to take Questions Nos. 123 and 148 together. A national audit of stroke services, funded by my Department, is currently being undertaken by the Irish Heart Foundation in association with the HSE. This audit is scheduled to be completed in early Autumn. In addition an audit of the implementation of the existing cardiovascular health strategy 'Building Healthier Hearts' is being...

Co-location of Hospitals: Motion (Resumed). (27 Jun 2007)

Pat Gallagher: I wish to respond to some of the issues raised by the Opposition in the course of the debate. Private patients are receiving priority access to public hospitals at the expense of public patients. Some 2,500 beds in public hospitals are ring-fenced for the exclusive use of private patients and that is not equitable or fair. As the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, stated last...

Co-location of Hospitals: Motion (Resumed). (27 Jun 2007)

Pat Gallagher: I will deal with that issue.

Co-location of Hospitals: Motion (Resumed). (27 Jun 2007)

Pat Gallagher: There was a great deal of interest in the initiative from public hospitals and the private sector. When the co-located hospital has been built and opened, every public bed in the public hospital will be accessed on the basis of medical need and no other. There will be no preferential treatment in the public hospital system for insured patients or self-payers. As part of its contract with...

Co-location of Hospitals: Motion (Resumed). (27 Jun 2007)

Pat Gallagher: Public hospitals will enter into contractual arrangements with the new co-located hospitals to provide what the former need. The new private co-located hospitals will be required to provide services to the HSE at discounted prices under the rules of the capital allowance scheme. Last night, the Opposition put forward a figure of €70 million for seven years in reference to the cost of the...

Co-location of Hospitals: Motion (Resumed). (27 Jun 2007)

Pat Gallagher: I have five minutes to make my response.

Co-location of Hospitals: Motion (Resumed). (27 Jun 2007)

Pat Gallagher: I did; I said it conforms with section 10 of the Health Act 2004.

Co-location of Hospitals: Motion (Resumed). (27 Jun 2007)

Pat Gallagher: Deputy McManus should read section 10 of the Act.

Co-location of Hospitals: Motion (Resumed). (27 Jun 2007)

Pat Gallagher: The board of Tallaght Hospital agreed unanimously last week to proceed with co-location. No hospital has been forced to participate in this initiative. Private health care has always been a feature of the State's health care system, and public and private service provision have complemented each other. Access to public hospitals should be based on need only. The co-location initiative...

Written Answers — Rural Transport Services: Rural Transport Services (25 Apr 2007)

Pat Gallagher: I propose to take Questions Nos. 194 and 195 together. Last February, I announced the arrangements for a new Rural Transport Programme (RTP) which is being administered by Pobal on behalf of my Department. This new Programme builds on the success of the pilot Rural Transport Initiative (2000-2006) and puts it on a permanent mainstreamed basis with significantly increased funding. The...

Written Answers — Marine Accidents: Marine Accidents (24 Apr 2007)

Pat Gallagher: I propose to take Questions Nos. 642 and 654 together. My colleague, Martin Cullen TD, Minister for Transport, and I have had discussions with many of the families of those involved in recent tragedies. We announced yesterday that a request will be issued shortly at EU level seeking tenders on the raising of both the Pere Charles and the Maggie B. We have also requested our colleague, the...

Written Answers — Rural Transport Services: Rural Transport Services (24 Apr 2007)

Pat Gallagher: I propose to take Questions Nos. 643, 646 and 650 together. Last February, I announced the arrangements for a new Rural Transport Programme (RTP). This new Programme builds on the success of the pilot Rural Transport Initiative (2000-2006) and puts it on a permanent mainstreamed basis with significantly increased funding. In line with Towards 2106 — the new Social Partnership Agreement, the...

Written Answers — Rural Transport Services: Rural Transport Services (4 Apr 2007)

Pat Gallagher: I recently announced the arrangements for a new Rural Transport Programme (RTP). This new Programme builds on the success of the pilot Rural Transport Initiative (2000-2006) and puts it on a permanent mainstreamed basis. Thirty-four community transport groups throughout the country are currently being funded under the RTP to address the particular transport needs of their rural areas. Two of...

Written Answers — Public Transport: Public Transport (3 Apr 2007)

Pat Gallagher: I propose to take Questions Nos. 76 and 156 together. 'Transport Access for All', my Department's Sectoral Plan under the Disability Act 2005, along with those of five other Departments, was approved by the Oireachtas in Autumn 2006. The Department of Transport Plan addresses the accessibility needs of people with mobility, sensory and cognitive impairments across all transport modes and...

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (3 Apr 2007)

Pat Gallagher: The Ports Policy Statement, published in January 2005, states that the continued operation of the regional harbours under the outdated provisions of the Harbours Act 1946 is unsustainable on the grounds of good governance. The Policy Statement reiterated the view that most of the these harbours would best achieve their potential through their transfer to local authority ownership or, where...

Written Answers — Marine Accident Investigations: Marine Accident Investigations (29 Mar 2007)

Pat Gallagher: The Marine Casualty Investigation Board (MCIB) is currently investigating the circumstances that led to the sinking of the Pére Charles on 10th January 2007 south of Hook Head with five crewmembers on board. The MCIB is an independent statutory body and its role is to investigate casualties such as this and to publish their findings. The MCIB will investigate all relevant matters relating...

Written Answers — Services for People with Disabilities: Services for People with Disabilities (29 Mar 2007)

Pat Gallagher: My Department's Sectoral Plan under the Disability Act 2005, titled 'Transport Access for All', has been finalised and published. The Plan addresses the accessibility needs of people with mobility, sensory and cognitive impairments across all transport modes and contains time bound targets for the progressive realisation of accessible transport in Ireland. In general, the timescales for the...

Seanad: Foyle and Carlingford Fisheries Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Mar 2007)

Pat Gallagher: I apologise on behalf of my colleague, the Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, Deputy John Browne, who had intended to attend the debate but for good reason had to return to the south east. Consequently, he asked me to take Committee Stage because I am familiar with these matters, having served in the Department for 15 months during which time...

Seanad: Foyle and Carlingford Fisheries Bill 2006: Committee and Remaining Stages (28 Mar 2007)

Pat Gallagher: Amendments Nos. 1 to 4, inclusive, relate to the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1997, which provides for an aquaculture licensing regime in Ireland, albeit one which does not apply to the Foyle area. These amendments have been tabled to take account of the fact that it is possible that licences may be issued in the Louth area under the 1997 Act at the same time as the provisions concerning...