Results 11,281-11,300 of 13,214 for speaker:Pat Gallagher

Seanad: Water and Sewerage Schemes (14 Feb 2008)

Pat Gallagher: I thank Senator Coffey for raising the matter and giving me the opportunity to clarify, on behalf of the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, the position on this important scheme. The Waterford grouped towns and villages sewerage scheme has been approved for funding by the Minister under his Department's water services investment programme 2007-09. The estimated...

Seanad: Water and Sewerage Schemes (14 Feb 2008)

Pat Gallagher: I certainly will pass on the Senator's views to the Department of Heritage and Local Government and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which has responsibility for foreshore licences.

Seanad: Fire Stations. (14 Feb 2008)

Pat Gallagher: I thank Senator Phelan for raising this issue and giving me the opportunity to respond on behalf of my colleague, the Minister of State, Deputy Killeen, who has responsibility for the fire services. I acknowledge the Senator's appreciation of the significant contribution the fire services have made and continue to make each day in safeguarding our communities. I am familiar with the fire...

Seanad: EU Directives (14 Feb 2008)

Pat Gallagher: I thank Senator Fiona O'Malley for raising the issue of data retention on the Adjournment today. It gives me an opportunity, on behalf of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, to outline the position, however briefly, with regard to data retention. Traditionally, telephony operators retained data for their own billing and marketing purposes for a considerable period — often...

Health Services. (13 Feb 2008)

Pat Gallagher: On behalf of the Minister for Health and Children, I am happy to have the opportunity to address the issue raised by Deputy Deenihan. As the House will be aware, the Health Act 2004 provided for the Health Service Executive, which was established on 1 January 2005. Under the Act, the executive has the responsibility to manage and deliver, or arrange to be delivered on its behalf, health and...

Physical Education Facilities. (13 Feb 2008)

Pat Gallagher: I thank Deputy Tom Hayes for raising this matter as it provides me with an opportunity to outline to the House, on behalf of the Minister for Education and Science, the Government's strategy for capital investment in education projects and the current position regarding the Abbey School, Tipperary town. Modernising facilities in our 3,200 primary and 731 post-primary schools is not an easy...

School Accommodation. (13 Feb 2008)

Pat Gallagher: I thank the Deputy for giving me the opportunity to outline the Department's position regarding the provision of a new primary school building for Passage West. It is proposed to build a new 16-classroom generic repeat design school, including a general purpose hall and ancillary accommodation, on a greenfield site. The process of appointing a design team to the school building project...

Road Safety. (13 Feb 2008)

Pat Gallagher: I thank Deputy Broughan for raising this matter and for giving me an opportunity to respond on behalf of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, who unfortunately is unable to be present. I assure the Deputy that the Minister and I share his concern and that of the public in general about the unacceptable level of fatalities and serious injuries on our roads. At the same time, we...

Written Answers — Alcohol Abuse: Alcohol Abuse (13 Feb 2008)

Pat Gallagher: As I indicated in my reply to the Deputy on 30 January last I have no plans to establish such an Office. However, I want to assure the Deputy that issues relating to the abuse of alcohol are being actively pursued by this Government. Arising from concerns in relation to the effect that alcohol consumption is having on public order, my colleague, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law...

Written Answers — Health Statistics: Health Statistics (13 Feb 2008)

Pat Gallagher: The Deputy's question relates to the funding, management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Health Services: Health Services (12 Feb 2008)

Pat Gallagher: The Deputy's question relates to the funding, management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Hospital Services: Hospital Services (12 Feb 2008)

Pat Gallagher: The Deputy's question relates to the funding, management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Veterinary Inspection Service: Veterinary Inspection Service (7 Feb 2008)

Pat Gallagher: Veterinary inspectors employed by local authorities, including Mayo County Council, are paid in accordance with salary scales determined by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. I am advised that Mayo County Council employs three whole-time veterinary inspectors. The cost to local authorities of providing food safety services under service contract to the Food Safety Authority...

Written Answers — Stroke Incidence: Stroke Incidence (6 Feb 2008)

Pat Gallagher: The Deputy's question relates to the funding, management and delivery of health and personal social services, which are the responsibility of the Health Service Executive under the Health Act 2004. Accordingly, my Department has requested the Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Executive to arrange to have this matter investigated and to have a reply issued directly to the Deputy.

Health Services: Motion (Resumed) (6 Feb 2008)

Pat Gallagher: I welcome the opportunity to conclude the debate on behalf of the Government and the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney. It has focused on developments in cystic fibrosis services and mental health services, in particular. Many points were made in respect of general health issues and local concerns. From the contributions of my colleagues, the Ministers of State, Deputies...

Health Services: Motion (Resumed) (6 Feb 2008)

Pat Gallagher: What happened last year, where funding was not fully used for mental health developments, is not to recur, and this has been made clear to and is accepted by all concerned. As in all areas of health, we are making progress in mental health. For example, admissions to Irish psychiatric units and hospitals are continuing to decline from 25,985 in 1997 to 20,288 in 2006 — a 22% decrease. The...

Seanad: National Waste Strategy: Statements (6 Feb 2008)

Pat Gallagher: I pay tribute to the parties who agreed to this cross-party motion. That there is a cross-party motion is a statement of how serious is the problem of alcohol misuse and illegal drug use. I thank the Members who contributed to this important debate. As the Minister of State with responsibility for health promotion I will focus on alcohol. The Minister of State with responsibility for...

Seanad: Health Services (6 Feb 2008)

Pat Gallagher: I apologise on behalf of the Minister for Health and Children, Deputy Harney, who is abroad on official business. Consequently, I am taking the adjournment on her behalf. The Minister acknowledges the need to improve services to persons with cystic fibrosis. The negative experience recounted recently by some patients is a matter of much concern. The Cystic Fibrosis Association of Ireland...

Seanad: Schools Refurbishment (6 Feb 2008)

Pat Gallagher: I apologise on behalf of the Minister for Education and Science who is unable to be with us this evening. I thank Senator Doherty for raising the matter as it provides me, on behalf of the Minister, with the opportunity to outline the Government's strategy for capital investment in education projects and to outline the current position on the 2008 summer works scheme. At the outset, as a...

Seanad: Schools Refurbishment (6 Feb 2008)

Pat Gallagher: As a Deputy for that constituency who has worked with many schools that have been successful in carrying out exceptional works under the summer works scheme and the devolved schemes for new buildings and extensions, I am well aware of the matter and I will continue to work with these schools to ensure a favourable outcome.