Results 2,301-2,320 of 4,700 for speaker:Noel Ahern

National Drugs Strategy. (14 Jun 2006)

Noel Ahern: The figures are impressive. The Minister said that by Christmas there will be 14,000 gardaí when one includes those in training. In 18 months' time there will be 14,000 trained gardaí. There is a great deal of action. There are a few pilot joint policing committees in some areas of the city. The guidelines for same will come from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform in the...

National Drugs Strategy. (14 Jun 2006)

Noel Ahern: In regard to the Young Peoples Facilities and Services Fund, in Dublin after the local and regional drug task forces were set up, we established a development committee comprising members from a drug task force, a local authority and a VEC, which looked at prevention. It is a case of trying to develop ideas that would help to provide facilities to give an alternative to young people. That...

Drugs and Crime in Ireland Report. (14 Jun 2006)

Noel Ahern: I am aware of the Health Research Board's report, Drugs and Crime in Ireland, which was published at the end of May as the third in its overview series. The publication had been flagged a number of months in advance at the consequences sub-committee of the National Advisory Committee on Drugs, which operates under the aegis of my Department, and on which my Department is represented. The...

Drugs and Crime in Ireland Report. (14 Jun 2006)

Noel Ahern: I accept there is more cocaine coming into the country, though much of the usage is on the recreational level. Not many more people are seeking services in the area, and those who are were on heroin already and were in contact with the staff. Clearly there are links between drugs and violence, and that was the case in the past, certainly anecdotally in Dublin constituencies. The attitude is...

Drugs and Crime in Ireland Report. (14 Jun 2006)

Noel Ahern: It is not today or yesterday that there has been geographic discrimination, certainly in Dublin city. Some people would have used their grannies' addresses when applying for jobs. That is not new and we have all lived with it in parts of Dublin. There are incentives, though not monetary, for employers to take on certain people. I saw at least two projects in operation recently which were...

National Drugs Strategy. (14 Jun 2006)

Noel Ahern: The working group on rehabilitation was established in September 2005 and includes representatives from a range of Departments and agencies involved in delivering rehabilitation services, as well as representatives from the national drugs strategy team, NDST, the national advisory committee on drugs, NACD, and the community and voluntary sectors. The terms of reference of the group include...

National Drugs Strategy. (14 Jun 2006)

Noel Ahern: Certainly, it appears that our projections were a bit optimistic. The group is continuing its work which has proven to be a bigger job than originally expected. I am informed that the recommendations will be finalised in the coming months. Much work has been done. The group has probably gone into the matter in far more detail than was expected and it has had a great deal of consultation with...

National Drugs Strategy. (14 Jun 2006)

Noel Ahern: It may be the case that too many people are involved. The group is chaired by my Department and it includes representatives from the Departments of Health and Children, Education and Science, the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, and Justice, Equality and Law Reform as well as representatives from the national drugs strategy team, the national advisory committee on drugs, FÁS, the...

Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (14 Jun 2006)

Noel Ahern: Gateways.

Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (14 Jun 2006)

Noel Ahern: Is the Deputy for the Bill?

Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (14 Jun 2006)

Noel Ahern: Then what are all the "ifs" and "buts" about?

Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (14 Jun 2006)

Noel Ahern: The Deputy is going around in circles.

Planning and Development (Strategic Infrastructure) Bill 2006 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed). (14 Jun 2006)

Noel Ahern: That matter was addressed in Private Members' time and has been referred to a committee.

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (14 Jun 2006)

Noel Ahern: I understand that the National Drugs Strategy Team are currently working on the preparation of their Annual Report for 2005 and that it will be completed later in the year.

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (14 Jun 2006)

Noel Ahern: On the 9th of March of this year I announced Government approval of the General Scheme for the Charities Regulation Bill 2006 and its publication on my Department's website, www.pobail.ie. The Government also agreed that the General Scheme should be sent to the Office of the Attorney General for priority drafting. As I informed the House on 21st March, I hope that priority drafting should...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (14 Jun 2006)

Noel Ahern: The Emerging Needs Fund was established in 2005 to facilitate a flexible and timely response to evolving needs in regard to drug misuse in Local Drugs Task Force areas. To date a total of 54 projects have been approved for funding of over €3.1m. Thirty nine of these, with a total value of €2,268,302, have been approved since 8 February.

Written Answers — Dormant Accounts Fund: Dormant Accounts Fund (14 Jun 2006)

Noel Ahern: I refer the Deputy to my replies to Questions Numbers 105, 342 and 343 of 16th May 2006 in relation to spending to date from the Dormant Accounts Fund. Disbursements from the Fund in 2004 amounted to €14 million. In 2005 disbursements from the Fund were €14.4 million and €7 million has been paid during 2006 to date. It is anticipated that during the remainder of 2006 further significant...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (14 Jun 2006)

Noel Ahern: The main contact between Local Drugs Task Forces, and projects developed under their aegis, with third level institutions is through engagement by projects with those institutions to facilitate the development of an appropriate range of education and training courses. Among these are addiction studies courses that are accredited by the National University of Ireland. Many Task Forces also...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (14 Jun 2006)

Noel Ahern: I have not had discussions with the Michael McDowell, T.D., Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform specifically on the "Drugs and Crime in Ireland" report published in late May by the Health Research Board. However, it should be noted that this report was discussed at some length at the meetings of the Consequences Sub-committee of the National Advisory Committee on Drugs, on which...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (14 Jun 2006)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 66 and 71 together. My Department has overall responsibility for co-ordinating the implementation of the National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008. This Strategy contains 108 individual actions, under the four original pillars of supply reduction, prevention, treatment and research, with rehabilitation added as a fifth pillar. The various actions fall to be...