Results 24,801-24,820 of 40,330 for speaker:Leo Varadkar

Questions on Promised Legislation (14 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The cost of medicines has been reduced. Prescription charges for medical card patients under the age of 70 years were reduced in January and those who do not have medical cards who obtain medicines under the drugs payment scheme had the cost reduced in January by €10 a month. We intend to continue to reduce the cost of medicines for persons with medical cards and those who do not...

Questions on Promised Legislation (14 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I am afraid that I do not know exactly what policies and procedures are operated at University Hospital Kerry in Tralee. There are plenty of hospitals in Ireland that accept direct referrals from GPs to the X-ray unit. I am not sure why it is not the case in Tralee.

Questions on Promised Legislation (14 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I think that case is before the courts.

Questions on Promised Legislation (14 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I have not seen or read it.

Questions on Promised Legislation (14 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: We would like to read the judgment for ourselves.

Questions on Promised Legislation (14 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: That is a matter for the National Transport Authority to consider. There is a National Transport Authority greater Dublin area plan for public transport which it is due to review again before the end of 2021. Proposals for new lines will be appraised in that context.

Questions on Promised Legislation (14 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I am sorry to hear that the Deputy's constituents have been waiting for so long for investigations. It is not possible for me to talk about individual cases, but I am sure that if the Deputy raises them with the Minister for Health and the HSE, they will give him a full answer.

Questions on Promised Legislation (14 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I do not have an update on the report, but I understand that, as part of the public service stability agreement, there is an agreement which is due to take place with the unions on the matter.

Questions on Promised Legislation (14 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I made some inquiries about this issue. As the Deputy has acknowledged 170 additional beds have been opened across our hospitals so far this with, with plans for more to be opened during the course of this year. The HSE, in appraising where new beds will be opened or not be opened, examines need, cost and the ability to staff them. I will not be taking it into my hands to determine exactly...

Questions on Promised Legislation (14 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: There is very definitely increased traffic on our roads. This is related to more people now working, which is a positive but it has negative consequences, including very significant increases in traffic and journey times. I cannot tell the Deputy what the interim steps are that are particularly relevant to his constituency. The Deputy will be aware that Luas services have been increased...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): National Development Plan (14 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1 to 5, inclusive, together. The national development plan will be published on Friday alongside the new national planning framework. The national development plan will set out the Government's intentions for investment in public infrastructure out to 2027, grounded in the strategic investment priorities identified by each Minister and in line with the...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): National Development Plan (14 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: The batch of questions we are discussing relate to the role of my Department in the new national development plan. While my Department has a role in it, we did not write the plan or anything like it.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): National Development Plan (14 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: Members have asked quite a number of detailed questions about process and procedure which would best be addressed to line Ministers such as the Minister for Finance, Deputy Paschal Donohoe, and the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government, Deputy Eoghan Murphy. There were many detailed questions on transport which would best be addressed to the Minister for Transport, Tourism and...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): National Development Plan (14 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: I will answer questions on the extent to which my Department has a role in the forthcoming national development plan, but I will not be able to answer questions on behalf of three other Ministers in detail. It is not correct to say the plan has been long delayed. When I contested the leadership of my party in June, I committed to the publication by the end of 2016 of a ten-year...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): National Development Plan (14 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: In the greater scheme of things I do not think it is very late. The nature of a ten-year plan is that it includes all sorts of project in the pipeline for construction. Infrastructure takes time to provide. It has to be planned, designed, go through the planning process and be built. It then has to be opened. Perhaps, therefore, the ten-year plan will include anything that will incur...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): National Development Plan (14 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: -----we now have three under construction. Of course, they will be included because the cost will arise in the period of the plan.

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): National Development Plan (14 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: It will also include others that have yet to go through the planning process and still others that will start in the course of the plan. The nature of a ten-year plan is that it will include projects at all points in the pipeline of construction and development. I reassure Deputy Micheál Martin that I have not taken charge of any marketing or PR exercise, with which I know that he...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): National Development Plan (14 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: There will be a very good-----

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): National Development Plan (14 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: There will be a very good health package involving a multibillion euro investment that is much needed in ICT, which is the game changer for the health service in new hospitals. The hospitals in Tullamore and Tallaght were probably the last to be built in this country, probably more than ten years ago, possibly even in the last century; therefore, it is great that we are now building...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed): National Development Plan (14 Feb 2018)

Leo Varadkar: There will also be investment in primary care centres and to implement the maternity strategy and the trauma strategy. It is a very good package. While we have high levels of spending on health services in Ireland, historically we have underspent in capital investment. A lot of our buildings, equipment and information technology is out of date. We can really change the health service by...