Results 2,321-2,340 of 4,700 for speaker:Noel Ahern

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

Noel Ahern: The current year's allocation to my Department for expenditure on Drugs Initiatives and the Young Peoples Facilities and Services Fund is €43m which represents a substantial 37% increase on the 2005 initial allocation and an increase of 61% on the 2004 figure. These figures emphasise that tackling the drug problem is a key Government priority and that it will remain so. Local Drugs Task...

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

Noel Ahern: The National Advisory Committee on Drugs and the Drug and Alcohol Information and Research Unit (Northern Ireland) commissioned the first Drug Prevalence Survey in 2002/2003, the purpose of which was to establish the population prevalence of drug use on the island of Ireland. This study surveyed over 8,000 people aged 15-64 in Ireland and Northern Ireland between October 2002 and April 2003...

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

Noel Ahern: The Mid-Term Review of the National Drugs Strategy was published in June 2005. This report was the culmination of a comprehensive review, which included extensive consultation with Government Departments and agencies, the community & voluntary sectors and the public in general. The review was overseen by a Steering Group, chaired by my Department, and made up of representatives of the...

Written Answers — Voluntary Sector: Voluntary Sector (14 Jun 2006)

Noel Ahern: I understand that the address by the Secretary General of my Department at the recent Wheel Conference focused on shared challenges faced with the community and voluntary sector, some reflections relating to issues relevant to the sector that have arisen in the past, and factors which may influence volunteering. I am advised that no policy proposals were advanced by the Secretary General at...

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

Noel Ahern: Funding in excess of €1.7m. has been allocated to initiatives in support of volunteering by my Department for 2006. These allocations are, in the main, part of multi-annual commitments made to a range of volunteering related activities which I announced as part of a package of volunteering initiatives in March 2005. The allocations for 2006 are as follows: ∙Volunteer Centres Ireland,...

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

Noel Ahern: I can assure the Deputy that officials of my Department and myself are in ongoing contact with those involved in the implementation of the National Drugs Strategy. A comprehensive framework for a co-ordinated Government response to the issue of drug misuse is in place. The National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008 addresses the problem of drug misuse across a number of pillars — supply reduction,...

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (14 Jun 2006)

Noel Ahern: As I advised the Deputy in answer to Question 111 recently, the Young Peoples Facilities & Services Fund was established in 1998 to assist in the development of facilities (including sport and recreational facilities) and services in disadvantaged areas where a significant drug problem existed or had the potential to develop. To date, the focus of the Fund has been in the 14 Local Drugs Task...

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

Noel Ahern: As the Deputy is aware, the Report of the Steering Group on the Mid-term Review of the National Drugs Strategy was published in June 2005. The review sought to assess the impact and direction of the Strategy at this mid-point stage and, in this regard, the Group concentrated on identifying any necessary adjustments to the existing Strategy and on highlighting priorities for the second phase...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (14 Jun 2006)

Noel Ahern: My Department funds a Programme of Grants for Locally-Based Community and Voluntary Organisations, which supports the activities of local voluntary and community groups, addressing disadvantage in their community. The Programme makes funds available for small scale refurbishment of premises, for the purchase of essential equipment, including I.T. equipment, and for education, training and...

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

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 173 to 175, inclusive, together. My Department has overall responsibility for co-ordinating the implementation of the National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008. The setting up of treatment programmes is a matter for the Health Services Executive and the Tánaiste Mary Harney, T.D, Minister for Health and Children. The current year's allocation to my Department for...

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

Noel Ahern: The Building Societies (Amendment) Bill 2006 was published on 13 June 2006.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (14 Jun 2006)

Noel Ahern: Drogheda Borough Council recently submitted proposals to my Department for approval for the construction of seven houses at the location in question. My Department has raised a number of design and layout issues regarding the proposal with the Council, and a response is awaited.

Written Answers — Security of the Elderly: Security of the Elderly (20 Jun 2006)

Noel Ahern: My Department operates the Scheme of Community Support for Older People, which aims to encourage and assist the community's support for older people by means of a community based grant scheme to improve the security of older people in their own homes. The Scheme is administered by local community and voluntary groups with the support of my Department and is open to people aged 65 and over who...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (20 Jun 2006)

Noel Ahern: A replacement community representative has not been appointed to the National Drugs Strategy Team yet. Prior to the resignation of the previous community representative on the National Drugs Strategy Team, my Department wrote to the Team suggesting that they request the community representatives on both the Regional and Local Drugs Task Forces to consider putting forward a candidate for...

Written Answers — Local Authority Land Development: Local Authority Land Development (20 Jun 2006)

Noel Ahern: Ballina Town Council have a 15 acre site at Ard Na Rí which they are currently developing. In 2005, the Town Council completed construction of 71 local authority and voluntary houses on almost 9 acres of the site, availing of capital funding provided by my Department. It is understood from the Town Council that, in order to provide varied tenure types in the development, the Council...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (20 Jun 2006)

Noel Ahern: Information on the number of housing units provided under the various affordable housing schemes in each local authority area is published in my Department's Housing Statistics Bulletins, copies of which are available in the Oireachtas Library and also on the Department's website at www.environ.ie. While data is currently being compiled for the first quarter of 2006, provisional figures...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (20 Jun 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 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 alone in...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (20 Jun 2006)

Noel Ahern: Under the Improvement Works in Lieu of local authority housing scheme, a local authority may improve or extend a privately owned house to eliminate defects or to provide additional accommodation where it is necessary to eliminate overcrowding or to accommodate a person not at present residing in the house. Persons benefiting under the scheme are required to pay a weekly or monthly charge...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (20 Jun 2006)

Noel Ahern: The Social Housing Design Guidelines published by my Department include recommendations in relation to target floor areas and minimum room sizes for typical dwellings. These floor areas and room sizes were re-examined and amended in 2002 in light of changes to Part M of the Building Regulations which require that all new dwellings be visitable by people with disabilities. These Design...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (20 Jun 2006)

Noel Ahern: The Affordable Homes Partnership, established in August 2005, has been assigned responsibility for, inter alia, taking steps to bring forward additional land in the Dublin area for housing development, including land that, although not currently zoned for housing, may be suitable for that purpose. The Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has issued guidelines in...