Results 3,301-3,320 of 4,700 for speaker:Noel Ahern

Written Answers — Voluntary Sector Funding: Voluntary Sector Funding (5 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: My Department's decision to approve to a grant of €1,095,218 for the provision of 10 units of accommodation at Mitchel Street, Thurles, was notified to North Tipperary County Council on 23 March, 2007.

Written Answers — Site Acquisitions: Site Acquisitions (5 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: My Department is not aware that the lands concerned have been made available for sale. A decision in this regard is a matter for the owners of the land in the first instance. In the event of the lands being made available for sale, their possible purchase for recreational or housing purposes would normally be a matter for the relevant local authority.

Written Answers — Housing Completions: Housing Completions (5 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: My Department does not collect floor area data in relation to new house or apartment completions.

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (5 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: Data on the number of house completions, including social and affordable housing, for each year from 2002 to 2005, are published in the Housing Statistics Bulletins, which are available in the Oireachtas Library and on the Department's website at www.environ.ie. Data for 2006 is currently being finalised. However, provisional indications are that of the new house completions of 93,419 some...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (5 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: A range of State and local authority lands were assigned to the Affordable Housing Initiative provided for under the Sustaining Progress social partnership agreement. These lands, together with 2,500 affordable homes to be delivered under Part V of the Planning and Development Acts 2000 to 2006, provide the basis for reaching the 10,000 affordable home target included in the agreement. While...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (5 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: Funding is provided under my Departments Capital Assistance Scheme and Capital Loan and Subsidy Scheme to approved voluntary and co-operative housing bodies to provide accommodation to meet housing needs as well as special housing needs such as the elderly, homeless or persons with disabilities. The administration of the schemes and the certification that particular projects comply with the...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (5 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 551 and 556 together. Information to end September 2006 on activity under Part V of the Planning and Development Acts 2000 to 2006 in each local authority area is published in my Department's Quarterly Housing Statistics Bulletins, copies of which are available in the Oireachtas Library, and is also available on my Department's website at www.environ.ie....

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (5 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: Detailed figures on the number of local authority houses constructed and acquired in 2006 will be published shortly in my Department's Annual Housing Statistics Bulletin for 2006 and on the Department's website at www.environ.ie.

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (5 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: Details of the revised housing adaptation grant schemes for older people and people with a disability were announced recently as part of the Government's new housing policy statement Delivering Homes, Sustaining Communities. My Department is currently preparing administrative guidance in relation to the operation of the revised schemes and this will be issued to local authorities in due...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (5 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: My Department recently met with Fingal County Council as part of the Housing Action Plan process for 2007. It is now a matter for the local authority to forward a programme of improvement works for 2007 to the Department.

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (5 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: The Government has approves the drafting of the Social Housing (Miscellaneous provisions) Bill 2006, which provides, inter alia, for the sale of local authority apartments to tenants under certain conditions. The drafting of the Bill is being advanced as quickly as possible and it is expected that it will be published by early summer this year.

Written Answers — Planning Issues: Planning Issues (5 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: My Department has issued comprehensive guidelines to assist local authorities in the implementation of Part V of the Planning and Development Acts 2000 to 2006 on a number of occasions since December 2000, with the most recent guidance issuing in November 2006. While I have no immediate plans to issue further guidance, the matter remains open for consideration on an ongoing basis in the...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (5 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: The certificates were issued by my Department on Tuesday 3 April 2007.

Drug Abuse. (24 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: Problem drug use remains one of the key challenges facing Irish society. However, through the implementation of the actions in the national drugs strategy in the first instance and, second, the projects and initiatives operated through the local and regional drugs task forces, problem drug use in our society is being addressed and the hardship caused to individuals and society is being...

Drug Abuse. (24 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: I was trying to summarise and my reply was very long. When the Deputy looks at my script, he will realise there was more to it than I stated. The strategy is mainly about heroin because that is where it all started. It was the drug of most concern in disadvantaged areas. I hear what the Deputy is saying about cannabis and other issues and I am not suggesting everything is perfect. On the...

Drug Abuse. (24 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: While there may not be enough places for young men such as the one referred to by the Deputy, there are places in Beaumont Hospital and Cuan Dara. There are a couple of dozen beds in private trusts and so on, but those in the medical field decide which cases are priorities. As another question has been asked on the issue of cocaine, in respect of which we commissioned a report, I will leave...

Drug Abuse (24 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: This will be a continuation of the reply to Priority Question No. 39 which I did not finish. I listed a number of major capital projects completed under the young people's facilities and services fund in Cabra, Ballywaltrim in Bray, St. Catherine's Community Sports Centre on Marrowbone Lane, St. Teresa's Hall on Donore Avenue and Donnycarney. In total, approximately 650 people are employed...

Drug Abuse (24 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: I stated the original strategy and local drugs task forces came out of problems in certain areas in the inner city and suburban communities of Dublin. These will always be a priority. Other people use cannabis and cocaine but they are from a range of various groups in society. The emphasis should always be on those who are most affected by drug misuse. A different view is taken on alcohol....

Written Answers — Drug Abuse: Drug Abuse (24 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: I have become increasingly aware of the concerns about the level of use of cocaine in Ireland over the past few years, broadly reflecting the increase in the availability and use of cocaine in Europe generally. At my request, the National Advisory Committee on Drugs (NACD) and the National Drugs Strategy Team (NDST) recently prepared a joint briefing paper on cocaine, based on existing data...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (24 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: My Department's report to the Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion in October 2006 focused, in particular, on developments in regard to the following five issues: 1. Cocaine Briefing Paper I outlined the findings of the Cocaine Briefing Paper which was jointly prepared, at my request, by the National Advisory Committee on Drugs (NACD) and the National Drug Strategy Team (NDST). This...