Results 2,141-2,160 of 4,700 for speaker:Noel Ahern

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (16 May 2006)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 105, 342 and 343 together. Decisions on the disbursements of funds from dormant accounts under the initial round of funding were a matter for the Dormant Accounts Fund Disbursements Board, an independent body established under the Dormant Accounts Acts. Under this round, the Board approved 521 projects for funding totalling over €60 million; 101 of these...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (16 May 2006)

Noel Ahern: The allocation of €4,836,927 in 2005 for cohesion and volunteering measures is shown in the following tabular statement. Included in this sum is €566,100 in respect of cohesion projects relating to the 2004 round of funding and €1,463,400 in respect of volunteering measures. In furtherance of the cohesion process commenced in 2004, in line with the Government decision on the review of...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (16 May 2006)

Noel Ahern: While I am in regular contact with the National Drugs Strategy Team, I have not had specific discussions with them on drug use among undergraduate students in full-time third level education. However, I can assure the Deputy that I am in on-going contact with all those involved in efforts to disrupt the distribution and consumption of illegal drugs throughout society. The primary focus of the...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (16 May 2006)

Noel Ahern: I am aware that Blanchardstown Local Drugs Task Force, with funding provided by my Department through the National Drugs Strategy, has recently launched a confidential anti-drug dealing telephone help-line. I understand that the local response to this initiative has been positive and I will await with interest the outcome of the evaluation of the service.

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (16 May 2006)

Noel Ahern: I can assure the Deputy that my officials have on-going contact with representatives of An Garda Síochána, through the implementation structures of the National Drugs Strategy, and the prevalence of crack cocaine in the country is discussed periodically. Furthermore, I met with representatives of the Gardaí at the last meeting of the Interdepartmental Group on Drugs in April. The Gardaí...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (16 May 2006)

Noel Ahern: Ten Regional Drugs Task Forces (RDTFs) have been established in areas not covered by Local Drugs Task Forces. Thus all parts of the country are now serviced by a Drugs Task Force. The overall role of the RDTFs is to prepare and implement regional Actions Plans which identify existing and emerging gaps in services in relation to education/prevention, curbing supply, treatment and...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (16 May 2006)

Noel Ahern: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Questions Nos. 66, 75 and 99 of 21 March 2006. The position is that Government approval of the General Scheme for the Charities Regulation Bill 2006 has been secured and the Scheme has been published on my Department's website www.pobail.ie; priority drafting of the Bill is under way in the Office of the Attorney General; I would hope that this should...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (16 May 2006)

Noel Ahern: My Department has overall responsibility for co-ordinating the implementation of the National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008. This incorporates the work of the Local and Regional Drugs Task Forces and the Young People's Facilities and Services Fund. Through these initiatives a broad range of community and voluntary groups are funded to tackle drug misuse. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (16 May 2006)

Noel Ahern: Under the Health Act, 2004, the management and delivery of health and personal social services is the responsibility of the Health Services Executive. My Department has overall responsibility for the co-ordination of the implementation of the National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008. The Mid-Term Review of the National Drugs Strategy calls on the HSE to continue to prioritise increasing the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (16 May 2006)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 340 and 341 together. Over 6,500 individuals have been approved for funding under the 2005 Scheme of Community Support for Older People. Of these, over 5,000 were approved for socially monitored alarms; almost 1,600 for equipment designed to strengthen points of entry to the dwelling; almost 3,000 for security lighting and in the region of 1,600 for smoke...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (16 May 2006)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 346, 347, 349 and 350 together. My Department has overall responsibility for the co-ordination of the implementation of the National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008, which aims to tackle drugs misuse in a comprehensive way. The National Drugs Strategy Team plays a vital role in overseeing the work of the Local and Regional Drugs Task Forces. Twelve of the 14 Local...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (16 May 2006)

Noel Ahern: The organisation in question is funded by my Department under the White Paper funding scheme for Federations and Networks. Funding totalling €198,000 is provided over the period 2003 to 2006. The funding provision under the White Paper schemes expires at the end of November, 2006. A review of the effectiveness of the current spend under the White Paper is in progress in my Department and it...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (16 May 2006)

Noel Ahern: My Department is awaiting proposals from Sligo Borough Council on the scope of the overall regeneration work to Cranmore Estate and it is understood that these proposals are currently being finalised by the Council. The question of committing funding to this project is dependent of my Department's assessment of these proposals. In the meantime, my Department is currently examining tender...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (16 May 2006)

Noel Ahern: In December 2005, with the approval of the Government, I announced a New Housing Policy Framework: Building Sustainable Communities. This sets out the key elements of the Government's vision for housing policy over the coming years. One of these elements is the introduction in 2007 of a new tenant purchase scheme for local authority tenants, which will allow for the sale of local authority...

Written Answers — Housing Aid for the Elderly: Housing Aid for the Elderly (16 May 2006)

Noel Ahern: I assume that the Question refers to the special Housing Aid for the Elderly Scheme which is operated by the Health Service Executive, formerly the Health Boards, in line with various guidelines issued from time to time by the Task Force who administer the scheme under the aegis of my Department. Under the scheme, aid is provided to improve the housing conditions of elderly persons living...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (16 May 2006)

Noel Ahern: The management, maintenance and improvements to their rented dwellings is the responsibility of each local authority and the funding of such works is provided by local authorities from their own resources as part of their ongoing maintenance programmes. My Department does, however, provide capital funding for substantial major refurbishment work to local authority dwellings under the Remedial...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (16 May 2006)

Noel Ahern: Affordable housing is provided under a number of schemes viz., the Shared Ownership Scheme, the 1999 Affordable Housing Scheme, Part V of the Planning & Development Acts 2000 — 2004 and under the Affordable Housing Initiative as provided for in the Sustaining Progress Partnership Agreement. These schemes are targeted to meet a range of affordable housing needs and to assist lower income...

Written Answers — Women's Refuges: Women's Refuges (16 May 2006)

Noel Ahern: The Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, through its role as chair of the National Steering Committee on Violence against Women, has overall responsibility for issues relating to violence against women. My Department has responsibility for homelessness, and as part of this, provides some funding, for accommodation related costs, to refuges for victims of domestic violence. My...

Written Answers — Housing Aid for the Elderly: Housing Aid for the Elderly (16 May 2006)

Noel Ahern: The special housing aid for the elderly scheme is administered by a Task Force under the aegis of my Department and operated at local level by the Health Service Executive. An initial allocation of €5 million for the scheme was notified to the Western region, which includes County Galway, in February 2006 and it is a matter for the HSE Directorate of Services for Older People, which has...

Written Answers — Housing Policy: Housing Policy (17 May 2006)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 298, 299, 302, 303 and 305 together. The new Housing Policy Framework: Building Sustainable Communities published in December 2005 sets out the key principles underpinning housing policy over the coming years. The Framework proposes an integrated approach to housing in Ireland for the 21st Century, taking account of the demands of a increasing population. It...