Results 3,161-3,180 of 4,700 for speaker:Noel Ahern

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (28 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 82, 85, 108 and 142 together. While I am aware of the Dublin City University report referred to by the Deputies, I do not consider that anything of significance can be concluded on the basis of the information therein. The sample of notes used would appear to have been quite small and such surveys can give dramatic outturns, particularly given the potential...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (28 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: The introduction of a law to make it an offence to incite someone to take drugs is a matter for my colleague Michael McDowell T.D. Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. However, I would be of the opinion that such legislation would not represent an appropriate, or effective, response to tackling the problem of drug misuse. In this context, the Deputy should note that prevention and...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (28 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: I am aware of the approach adopted in the Netherlands, which facilitates the use of cannabis under specific conditions, and in Portugal, where there is an emphasis on dealing with problem drug users through treatment procedures rather than through the courts in the first instance. However, these approaches have not been taken into account in shaping the current National Drugs Strategy. It is...

Written Answers — Drug Treatment Programme: Drug Treatment Programme (28 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: The Deputy will appreciate that primary responsibility for drug treatment rests with my colleague, Mary Harney T.D., the Minister for Health and Children. However, I understand that the Health Service Executive (HSE) provides addiction services in nine locations in the Midlands region. The range of services provided includes methadone maintenance, counselling, education/awareness programmes...

Written Answers — Drug Seizures: Drug Seizures (28 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 93, 125, 129 and 145 together. Overall Garda figures for 2006 relating to drugs have yet to be finalised and we must await the annual report of An Garda Síochána for last year before a final judgement can be made on the overall level of seizures across the full range of illicit drugs. However, I am aware that provisional Garda figures indicate that 136kgs...

Written Answers — Drug Treatment Programme: Drug Treatment Programme (28 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: Issues around the provision of methadone by pharmacists are primarily a matter for the Health Service Executive (HSE). However, I am aware of the concerns expressed by the Irish Pharmaceutical Union (IPU), having been contacted by a representative of that Union recently. I understand from the HSE that these issues, as well as various other matters raised by the IPU, are being followed up in...

Written Answers — Suicide Prevention: Suicide Prevention (28 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: Funding to assist suicide prevention initiatives was one of the priority funding measures approved by Government for support from the Dormant Accounts Fund in 2006. In this regard, details concerning the allocation of almost €1 million from the Dormant Accounts Fund to support twenty suicide prevention projects were announced on 23 October 2006. The key objective of this funding measure is...

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (28 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: The Social Finance Foundation is the responsibility of the Department of Finance and my Department has no formal role in relation to the initiative.

Written Answers — Drug Treatment Programme: Drug Treatment Programme (28 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: The research referred to by the Deputy is part of the Research Outcome Study in Ireland (ROSIE) which was commissioned by the National Advisory Committee on Drugs (NACD). The Study aims to assess the effectiveness of treatment for drug users over a period of time and the overall message emerging is that current treatment of opiate users is having significantly positive effects. The ROSIE...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (28 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: The provisional expenditure figure for this scheme in 2006 was €4.8 m. (This compared with an estimate of €3 m.) The Programme of Grants for Locally-Based Community & Voluntary Organisations was re-advertised in August last. A closing date of 25 September 2006 applied for applications under the Scheme of Equipment Grants and the Scheme of Training, Education and Research Grants. No...

Written Answers — Security of the Elderly: Security of the Elderly (28 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: The purpose of the Scheme of Community Support for Older People is to encourage and assist the community's support for older people by means of a community based grant scheme to improve the security of its older members. The funding available in 2007 is €3 million. This Scheme is open to people aged 65 and over who have a genuine need for assistance and it is administered by community and...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (28 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 48 of 5 October 2006. My Department is currently developing new White Paper funding schemes to replace the current schemes due to cease mid-2007. I expect to be in a position to advertise these new funding schemes in the near future.

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (28 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 116 and 126 together. I want to acknowledge, with regret, the tragic deaths late last year of a number of heroin users in Dublin. They illustrate again the inherent dangers associated with drug misuse. In order for the exact cause of these deaths to be ascertained, toxicology reports were initiated. However, I understand the results of these tests are not...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (28 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: The Emerging Needs Fund was established to facilitate a flexible and timely response to evolving needs in regard to drug misuse in Local Drugs Task Force (LDTF) areas. To date, I have allocated almost €4m under the Fund to 67 projects, 63 of which are based in Dublin LDTF areas. A wide variety of projects are involved, including cocaine and poly-drug use projects, rehabilitation...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (28 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: As the Deputy is probably aware, research is one of the five pillars of the National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008. The key objectives under this pillar are to have valid, timely and comparable data available on the extent of drug misuse amongst the population. In this context, the National Advisory Committee on Drugs (NACD) was established in 2000 to advise Government in relation to prevalence,...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (28 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: Under the Community Development programme, multi-annual funding is provided to locally based voluntary and community groups involved in anti-poverty and social inclusion initiatives. Since June 2002 my Department has provided funding of approx €6.8 million to Community Development Projects in County Cork. Details of the funding and the projects involved are shown in the table below. It is...

Written Answers — Educational Disadvantage: Educational Disadvantage (28 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: Disbursements from the Dormant Accounts Fund are designed to assist three broad categories of persons: those affected by economic and social disadvantage; those affected by educational disadvantage; and persons with a disability. Within the overall allocation of €60 million in 2006, the Government ring-fenced €18 million from dormant accounts to support projects tackling educational...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (28 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: The Local and Regional Drugs Task Forces bring together all Departments and State Agencies involved with tackling problem drug use, as well as the community and voluntary sectors. It is imperative that there is full engagement by all parties to ensure the success of the Task Forces and the co-ordinated implementation of the National Drugs Strategy. I have not been notified of any issue in...

Written Answers — Support for Older People: Support for Older People (28 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: Any local voluntary or community based organisations, especially those working with or providing support for older people, can apply for funding under the Scheme of Community Support for Older People. Full information on the Scheme is publicly available on my Department's website at www.pobail.ie, including lists of organisations already funded under the Scheme. In addition, for the last...

Written Answers — Community Support Grants: Community Support Grants (28 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 221 and 222 together. The Programme of Grants for Locally-Based Community and Voluntary Organisations was launched in August 2006 and to date approximately 1,300 applications have been received. While a closing date of 25th September applied to the Scheme of Equipment and the Scheme of Training, Education and Research, no closing date applies to the Scheme of...