Results 2,801-2,820 of 4,700 for speaker:Noel Ahern

Written Answers — Traveller Accommodation: Traveller Accommodation (8 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: Travellers are accommodated in standard local authority accommodation funded through the local authority social housing programme as well as through the provision of Traveller specific accommodation. The Table sets out the funding provided by my Department to local authorities in respect of the provision of new, and the refurbishment of existing, Traveller specific accommodation in 2004, 2005...

Written Answers — Housing Policy: Housing Policy (8 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 354 and 355 together. The loan limit for the Shared Ownership Scheme was reviewed and increased with effect from 1 January 2006. The maximum loan that may be advanced by a local authority in respect of the share of the dwelling being purchased (minimum 40%) is €185,000. While the cost of a dwelling may substantially exceed this amount, the borrower's...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (8 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: The statutory assessment of housing need is undertaken by local authorities on a triennial basis. The most recent assessment of need for social housing was undertaken by local authorities in March 2005. The results of that assessment indicated that there were 43,684 households on local authority housing waiting lists. More comprehensive data in relation to the 2005 assessment at an...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (8 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: It is a matter for local authorities to decide on the level of funding to be provided for the essential repairs grant scheme in their area from within the allocation notified to them by my Department for disabled persons and essential repairs grants and to manage the operation of the schemes from within this allocation. Allocations are notified to county councils in respect of the all local...

National Drugs Strategy. (9 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: The mid-term review of the national drugs strategy recommended the development of a fifth pillar of the strategy focusing on rehabilitation. Arising from this, a working group on drugs rehabilitation was set up in September 2005 under the aegis of my Department to develop proposals to augment existing rehabilitation services. The working group includes representatives from a range of...

National Drugs Strategy. (9 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: What was the bit that was excluded?

National Drugs Strategy. (9 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: I did not know that part of the Deputy's question had been excluded.

National Drugs Strategy. (9 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: I do not even see any words that——

National Drugs Strategy. (9 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: The Leas-Cheann Comhairle might help the Deputy in that regard.

National Drugs Strategy. (9 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: Methadone is the main substitute form of treatment for heroin users. The National Advisory Committee on Drugs produced a major report on a form of medication called Subutex, which is a form of buprenorphine, two years ago. Subutex is used in a number of countries — it is almost as popular as methadone in some countries. The report was referred to the Minister for Health and Children at...

National Drugs Strategy. (9 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: Approximately 8,000 people are on methadone at present. It is estimated that there are approximately 14,500 heroin misusers in this country. Approximately 4,700 of the 8,000 methadone users are being treated in clinics, approximately 2,800 of them are being treated by their general practitioners and approximately 400 of them are being treated under prison-based methadone programmes. Some...

National Drugs Strategy. (9 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: I accept that. A great deal of good work is being done in the area of rehabilitation, but some unfocused work is also being undertaken. The working group will try to suggest some structures to pull it all together and develop best practice. Some of the rehabilitation work is not great, although most of it is great. It may be the case that more people on community employment schemes, for...

National Drugs Strategy. (9 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: I hope that they will have completed the job before Christmas, but I doubt we will be launching it or discussing it before then.

Dormant Accounts Fund. (9 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: Funding to assist suicide prevention initiatives is one of the priority measures approved by the Government for support from the dormant accounts fund in 2006. Details concerning the allocation of almost €1 million from the dormant accounts fund to support 20 suicide prevention projects were announced on 23 October 2006. The key objective of this funding measure is to provide interventions...

Dormant Accounts Fund. (9 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: A cross-departmental committee was set up this year on the dormant accounts fund and this was one of the projects mentioned. We have €60 million to spend this year, of which €24 million was spent on social and economic disadvantage. The next programme will probably cost €30 million and if the Deputy recommends it and we get good feedback, we will consider the project next year. We...

National Drugs Strategy. (9 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: Supply reduction is one of the cornerstones of the national drugs strategy and the operations of the Garda Síochána are central in this regard. In 2005, a total of 1,166 people were prosecuted for drug offences in County Cork. This represented a significant increase on the 867 prosecuted in 2004. I welcome the recent break up of a cocaine distribution operation in Cork and I congratulate...

National Drugs Strategy. (9 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: I agree with everything the Deputy said. There is no doubt that, while the gardaí and the customs and excise service have been very successful, large quantities of drugs are still getting through, and the price on the street is probably the most accurate measure of that. Any drugs seizure can seriously disrupt a given operation, put people out of business or foster disputes between them....

National Drugs Strategy. (9 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: Cocaine mainly originates in Colombia in South America and has traditionally been transported into Europe through Spain and Portugal. Spain is the main transit route and many Irish drug dealers live permanently in Spain in places such as Alicante. The Garda Síochána has international contacts and works with Interpol and other police forces. I do not know if it is the one to which Deputy...

National Drugs Strategy. (9 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: Two key studies are to be undertaken in the next year or so through which progress of the prevention pillar of the national drug strategy will be monitored. These will be comparable to studies that were carried out in 2000 and 2002. With specific respect to opiate users, and to the 5% target figure for 2007, the first benchmark study carried out was the National Advisory Committee on Drugs,...

National Drugs Strategy. (9 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: The money being spent through the Department increased dramatically in recent years. The figure for this year is €43 million, which represents an increase of 60% on the figure for two years ago.