Results 11,741-11,760 of 11,861 for speaker:Brian Hayes

Topical Issue Debate: Coroners Service (13 Mar 2014)

Brian Hayes: I thank the Deputy for his remarks. The Bill was published in 2007 and it is unacceptable it has taken so many years to get it on the Statute Book. The Deputy asked about the timeline. I understand it is the firm intention of the Minister to review this as quickly as possible in order that we can make progress and review it in a way which involves many of the issues the Deputy has...

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Consultants Recruitment (13 Mar 2014)

Brian Hayes: I thank both Deputies for raising this very important issue on health care provision and service. As both Deputies will know, in 2011 a national policy and strategy for the provision of neuro-rehabilitation services in Ireland was set out for a four year period from 2011 to 2015, and the Health Service Executive established the clinical rehabilitation medicine programme by way of a number of...

Topical Issue Debate: Hospital Consultants Recruitment (13 Mar 2014)

Brian Hayes: I share the frustration of colleagues about the roll-out of a programme that dates back to 2011 and a strategy which at the time was to be achieved within a four year timeline and their desire to achieve much more for people who find themselves in this position. As Deputies Marcella Corcoran Kennedy and Catherine Murphy said, this is about more than just acute hospital services. It is also...

Topical Issue Debate: Counselling Services (13 Mar 2014)

Brian Hayes: I have a reply from the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs who, unfortunately, is out of the country. She asks me to apologise to the Deputy for being unable to attend the debate and is grateful to the Deputy for putting this matter on the agenda of Dáil Éireann. I will not read out the first page of the reply because we know about the Child and Family Agency which I think we...

Topical Issue Debate: Counselling Services (13 Mar 2014)

Brian Hayes: I very much appreciate the remarks of Deputy Ó Caoláin concerning the very important role RCNI plays. I am aware of that. Without understanding a huge amount of the reasoning behind this, it probably comes down to the fact that since 1 January 2014, the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs took over responsibility in this area instead of the Minister for Justice and Equality....

Topical Issue Debate: Community Welfare Services (13 Mar 2014)

Brian Hayes: I apologise on behalf of the Minister for Social Protection, Deputy Burton, who cannot be here this evening. She has asked me to respond. A key objective of the transfer of the community welfare service, CWS, from the Health Service Executive to the Department of Social Protection on 1 October 2011 was to provide a streamlined and consistent service to the customer. As part of this...

Topical Issue Debate: Community Welfare Services (13 Mar 2014)

Brian Hayes: It is also important to note that people claiming supports under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme tend to interact with the Department only on an occasional basis. This may be where, for example, they seek an exceptional needs payment or claim additional supports such as rent or mortgage interest supplement, which are usually reviewed once to twice yearly. Staffing needs for all...

Topical Issue Debate: Community Welfare Services (13 Mar 2014)

Brian Hayes: The suggestion of a meeting with officials is a very practical one. The manager of the local service should meet the Deputy to iron out some of these issues. We have five Intreo offices in County Mayo.

Topical Issue Debate: Community Welfare Services (13 Mar 2014)

Brian Hayes: I accept that the spread is more north and west than south. They are fine offices. I was recently in Castlebar for the opening of the Intreo office there and passed by the Achill office on my way to look at the flooding problems. The offices represent a much better way to transact business. People can use the five offices, which are open five days a week in Ballina and Castlebar, three...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Prevention Measures (13 Mar 2014)

Brian Hayes: The core strategy for addressing flood risk in the catchments of the Rivers Barrow and Slaney is the South Eastern Catchment Flood Risk Assessment & Management (CFRAM) Study. The CFRAM Programme, currently being undertaken by the Office of Public Works (OPW) with its technical consultants, and in partnership with local authorities and other stakeholders, entails comprehensive studies...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Coastal Protection (13 Mar 2014)

Brian Hayes: The Government decided on 11 February 2014 to make available up to €69.5 million (based on estimates provided by the local authorities concerned) for a programme of repair and remediation works to roads, coastal protection and flood defence and other public infrastructure damaged in the storms from 13 December 2013 to 6 January 2014. Of the total amount being made available up to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Tax Clearance Certificates (25 Mar 2014)

Brian Hayes: Under the terms of the lease with the Commissioners of Public Works, the landlord covenants to produce a Tax Clearance Certificate annually. In the event said Certificate is not produced, rent payments are withheld until such a time as the Tax Certificate is produced. The terms of the lease would be clearly understood by both parties. In the case outlined, payment issued following receipt of...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Relief Schemes Funding (25 Mar 2014)

Brian Hayes: As I stated in my reply to the Questions to which the Deputy refers, the appointment of members of Drainage Committees - whether the Committee concerned is the Athleague Flood Alleviation Committee, the River Suck Joint Drainage Committee or any other Drainage Committee - is the statutory responsibility of individual County Councils under the direction of the Minister for the Environment,...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Drainage Schemes Status (25 Mar 2014)

Brian Hayes: I propose to take Questions Nos. 404 and 405 together. Where a drainage scheme is carried out by the Office of Public Works (OPW) under the Arterial Drainage Acts 1945 and 1995, the OPW has responsibility for maintenance of the completed scheme. Local Authorities have responsibility for maintenance of Drainage Districts. Generally, the maintenance of rivers which do not form part of an...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Prevention Measures (25 Mar 2014)

Brian Hayes: It is a matter for Waterford County Council in the first instance to investigate and address coastal protection issues generally in the county, including remedial works required on foot of damage from the recent storms. The Government decided on 11 February 2014 to make available up to €69.5 million for a programme of repair and remediation works to roads, coastal protection and...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Prevention Measures (25 Mar 2014)

Brian Hayes: I propose to take Questions Nos. 410 to 412, inclusive, together. The Government decided on 11 February 2014 to make available up to €69.5 million for a programme of repair and remediation works to roads, coastal protection and flood defence and other public infrastructure damaged in the storms from 13th December 2013 to 6th January 2014 based on estimates provided by the local...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Prevention Measures (25 Mar 2014)

Brian Hayes: The River Laune is not a designated channel under an Office of Public Works (OPW) arterial drainage scheme and therefore the OPW is not responsible for its maintenance. The channel is in a Drainage District and its maintenance is the responsibility of Kerry County Council. The embankment in question, at Lower Bridge Street, is a former Land Commission embankment. As I outlined to the...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Drainage Schemes Status (25 Mar 2014)

Brian Hayes: The River Laune is not a designated channel under an Office of Public Works (OPW) arterial drainage scheme and therefore the OPW is not responsible for its maintenance. The channel is in a Drainage District and its maintenance is the responsibility of Kerry County Council. If the flooding problem in the location mentioned is due to a lack of maintenance by the Council then the OPW would...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Prevention Measures (25 Mar 2014)

Brian Hayes: The Office of Public Works (OPW) has no statutory responsibility for any embankments at Ballymacprior, Killorglin, County Kerry. The Government decided on 11 February 2014 to make available up to €69.5 million for a programme of repair and remediation works to roads, coastal protection and flood defence and other public infrastructure damaged in the storms from 13th December 2013 to...

Written Answers — Department of Public Expenditure and Reform: Flood Prevention Measures (25 Mar 2014)

Brian Hayes: The Office of Public Works (OPW) as the lead agency for flood risk management works closely with a wide range of other agencies and relevant parties to ensure a high level of co-ordination, co-operation and consultation in addressing flood risk nationally. One significant area of co-operation is in relation to the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme which the...