Results 2,021-2,040 of 20,459 for speaker:Frances Fitzgerald

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (5 Apr 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: Each Local Drugs Task Force (LDTF) has an annual funding allocation from my Department for community-based drugs initiatives. From that allocation, each Task Force has the discretion to allocate funding to projects and initiatives based on the priorities it has identified for its respective area. Funding for these projects is channelled through a designated Department or State Agency. I am...

Written Answers — Offshore Islands: Offshore Islands (5 Apr 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The development of vibrant island communities is an important policy objective of my Department. In this context, my Department supports the well-being of island communities through a range of interventions which assist the social and economic development of island communities, particularly in relation to improving sustainability. Enhancing the quality of life of such communities and...

Written Answers — Tograí Caipitil: Tograí Caipitil (5 Apr 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: Is é€86 milliún leithdháileadh caipitil na Roinne Gnóthaí Pobail, Comhionannais agus Gaeltachta don bhliain 2011. Mar is eol don Teachta, ar bhonn athstruchtúrú na Ranna Rialtais a d'fhógair an Taoiseach an mhí seo caite, táthar chun deireadh a chur leis an Roinn sin agus a cuid feidhmeanna agus buiséid a aistriú chuig Ranna éagsúla eile. Dá réir sin, is faoin Roinn...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (5 Apr 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The following statutory agencies that are under my Department's remit at present operate independent payroll systems: - Údarás na Gaeltachta; - Waterways Ireland; - An Foras Teanga; and - The Western Development Commission. As the Deputy will be aware, on foot of the restructuring of Government Departments announced by the Taoiseach last month, the Department of Community, Equality and...

Written Answers — Forbairt Pobail: Forbairt Pobail (5 Apr 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: Mar is eol don Teachta, tá na feidhmeanna a ndéantar tagairt dóibh sa Cheist seo á n-aistriú go dtí Ranna eile i láthair na huaire, faoi réir fhógra an Taoisigh sa Teach seo ar 9 Márta 2011. Táthar ag súil go n-aistreofar na feidhmeanna sin chuig Ranna eile go luath agus glacaim leis go ndéanfar breithniú an uair sin ar an tsaincheist sin agus ar na saincheisteanna eile...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (6 Apr 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: Funding of €427m is to be made available under the Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2007-2013 for allocation to qualifying projects up to the end of 2013. One of the objectives of the RDP is to identify and provide appropriate amenity and leisure facilities to local communities not otherwise available to them. Accordingly, it is possible, in principle, that projects of the nature referred...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (7 Apr 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Scheme to Support National Organisations in the Community and Voluntary Sector, under which the organisation referred to by the Deputy has been funded, commenced in 2008 with the aim of providing multi-annual funding to national organisations which provide coalface services to disadvantaged target groups. The three-year contracts were concluded at the end of 2010. On 16 December 2010,...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (12 Apr 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: One retired public servant was employed on a short-term contract by my Department in October 2010 at a cost of €695. In relation to bodies funded from my Department's Vote Group, I am advised that 3 retired public servants were employed on short-term contracts during 2010 at a total cost of €154,957.

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (12 Apr 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: As the Deputy will be aware, my Department was established in June 2002. As set out in Table 1 below, a total of six special advisers were appointed by Ministers (5) and a Minister of State (1) during the period from that date until February 2011. The overall gender ratio was 4 male to 2 female. Table 1: Number of special advisers appointed June 2002 to February 2011 Position Period of...

Written Answers — European Council Meetings: European Council Meetings (12 Apr 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I assume that the Deputy is referring to meetings of the Council of the European Union held under its various configurations. During the period referred to by the Deputy, my Department did not hold primary responsibility in respect of any of the Council's configurations.

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (12 Apr 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: Each area designated under the programme referred to by the Deputy has a local implementation structure, which draws up a plan based on the particular needs of the area so that available funding can be targeted at where it will do the most good in the community. A co-ordinator has been in place in this case since January 2010 and I am advised that the inaugural meeting of the local...

Written Answers — Charities Act: Charities Act (13 Apr 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: The Charities Act 2009 is structured in such a way as to allow for commencement, by Ministerial order, of its individual provisions on different dates over a period of time. While commencement of the majority of the Act is contingent on a Charities Regulatory Authority and a Charity Appeals Tribunal being in place, a number of initiatives to regulate and enhance the transparency of the...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (13 Apr 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: Funding of €427m is to be made available under the Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2007-2013 for allocation to qualifying projects up to the end of 2013. One of the objectives of the RDP is to identify and provide appropriate amenity and leisure facilities to local communities not otherwise available to them. There are 36 Local Action Groups contracted, on my Department's behalf, to...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (13 Apr 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: Responsibility for co-ordinating policy on drugs is at present assigned to the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs. As the Deputy may be aware, the Government has agreed, with effect from 1 May 2011, to transfer the functions of the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs in relation to the National Drugs Strategy to the Minister for Health and Children. The...

Community Development (14 Apr 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I propose to take Questions Nos. 3 and 5 together. In relation to the Deputy's first question, I assume he is referring to the process of cohesion of local delivery structures which my Department has been pursuing in recent years, in order to simplify and enhance the effectiveness of the delivery of a range of local development programmes. In January 2010, the local development social...

Community Development (14 Apr 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: In the programme for Government, protecting the most vulnerable is a key priority and working with communities, especially disadvantaged communities, is central to that. In my reply, I outlined the funding for this sector for 2011 and how it has been protected. Nonetheless, there is a 3% decline in funding, but the amount of funding that has been allocated is indicative of the central role...

Community Development (14 Apr 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: If the Deputy supplies me with the details of those groups, I would be happy to follow up. In advance of establishing a single, integrated programme, the Department undertook an evaluation of individual community development projects in 2009. The objective of the review was to identify those projects that produce tangible, appropriate benefits for the communities they serve. Where projects...

Social Inclusion (14 Apr 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: Elimination of poverty is an objective of Government. We are committed to achieving the targets in the national action plan for social inclusion to reduce the number of people experiencing poverty. That target is to reduce the number of those experiencing consistent poverty to between 2% and 4% by 2012, with the aim of eliminating consistent poverty by 2016. The target is reiterated in the...

Social Inclusion (14 Apr 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: This is an extremely serious issue that brings huge pressure on many families. Many families face serious debt. The best way of protecting these families and the best way out of poverty is to create employment. Employment is the great protector. I point the Deputy towards the priority the programme for Government gives to providing access to employment, training and upskilling. Providing...

Social Inclusion (14 Apr 2011)

Frances Fitzgerald: I do not have the detailed figures Deputy Pearse Doherty requested. I will see if they are available and ensure he gains access to them. One of the priorities set in the programme for Government is to examine the interaction between the social welfare and taxation codes and make recommendations to ensure work is worthwhile. In particular, the commission will examine family and child income...