Results 521-540 of 4,700 for speaker:Noel Ahern

National Drugs Strategy. (5 Oct 2004)

Noel Ahern: The spin put on that recent report was misleading. The figures referred to the numbers in treatment not usage. It is positive if the numbers in treatment in certain midlands towns went up by 400%. Under the strategy, we have been trying to achieve the provision of treatment so that we can attract abusers to the services. That the numbers in treatment have increased does not mean that usage...

National Drugs Strategy. (5 Oct 2004)

Noel Ahern: We will only know whether there has been an increase following the next capture-recapture study. However, that figure did not upset us because treatment has been provided, which is the aim of the strategy. Naturally, when services exist, people will be attracted to them, which is positive because it is only when people come forward that they can be treated to try to rid them of their habits.

Charities Regulation. (5 Oct 2004)

Noel Ahern: The Government decided it was unacceptable to continue to have a completely unregulated charities sector. In the programme for Government we undertook to enact a comprehensive reform of the law relating to charities to ensure accountability and to protect against abuse of charitable status and fraud. Some areas of charitable fund-raising are particularly vulnerable to abuse under the current...

Charities Regulation. (5 Oct 2004)

Noel Ahern: Yes. The programme for Government includes a provision for a totally new regime for charities. I am pleased this was included because the relevant legislation has been in force for more than 40 years. Since the 1990s, three reports have been drawn up to suggest the action we should take, including those drawn up by the Law Reform Commission and the Minister of State at the Department of...

Charities Regulation. (5 Oct 2004)

Noel Ahern: I do not think anything can be done in the interim. It is full steam ahead as far as the Department is concerned. However, this is not simple legislation. If we manage to get it published by the end of next year, we will be doing well. It will be a comprehensive Bill with more than 200 heads. Public consultations have been held and in recent days the independent evaluation of the submissions...

Community Development. (5 Oct 2004)

Noel Ahern: I informed the Deputy in reply to his Parliamentary Question No. 1284 last week that the community after schools project, Dublin 1, was originally funded by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform through Area Development Management. Following a decision in that Department that the project no longer met the criteria for funding through ADM under the equal opportunities child care...

Community Development. (5 Oct 2004)

Noel Ahern: Funding is secure for this year. I anticipate that next year funding will be provided either from the dormant accounts fund or by the Department. I cannot say what the position will be further into the future. This is a very good project. The fact the Department took it over is proof of that. I am not sure whether the Deputy has done it justice because some items he mentioned might be on a...

Community Development. (5 Oct 2004)

Noel Ahern: I hear what the Deputy says. Departments are rather structured and fund the groups in question within certain criteria. I do not believe the project is in any immediate danger. The fact that I can state that it is viewed as a good project indicates that. However, it is moving towards adult education. My Department is happy to fund the project under the heading of community development. It is...

Housing Aid for the Elderly. (5 Oct 2004)

Noel Ahern: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. It was also dealt with today under Question No. 443 in the name of her party colleague, Deputy Wall. I am pleased to have the opportunity to give her an update on the scheme. As the Deputy knows, the scheme was started in 1982 and is funded under the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government to undertake an emergency programme to...

Housing Aid for the Elderly. (5 Oct 2004)

Noel Ahern: Yes, nationally. The sum of €11.6 million is the overall figure. We paid out €11 million, so €600,000 is left and the source of funding is the national lottery. Funding levels for 2005 are being considered at present in the context of the Estimates. However, health boards are being requested, on the basis of funding being available next year, to arrange further jobs which will not arise...

Housing Aid for the Elderly. (5 Oct 2004)

Noel Ahern: That is up to the individual council. However, in recent weeks while there is a problem in giving extra funding for this scheme because of the sources of funds, approximately an extra €7 million has been offered to county councils under the disabled person's grant and the essential repairs grant schemes. It is up to the individual local authorities to determine the issues on which the money...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (5 Oct 2004)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 140, 152, 153, 156, 179, 212, 226 and 227 together. As the Deputies will be aware, the mid-term review of the national drugs strategy is currently under way. The review is examining the progress being made in achieving the overall key strategic goals set out in the strategy and will enable priorities for future action to be identified and a refocusing of the...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (5 Oct 2004)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 147 and 155 together. My Department's development of CSR in a community and local development context will be facilitated through a range of supports and structures such as partnerships, community development projects and Leader groups. This is an integral element of my Department's strategic objective of assisting communities, especially those suffering...

Written Answers — Voluntary Activity: Voluntary Activity (5 Oct 2004)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 148, 176 and 462 together. Considerable progress has been achieved in regard to implementation of recommendations in the White Paper on a Framework for Supporting Voluntary Activity and for Developing the Relationship between the State and the Community and Voluntary Sector. In September 2003, I announced some €7.3 million in funding to 56 organisations in...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (5 Oct 2004)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 150 and 200 together. I indicated in the press release, which I issued on 3 June last at the end of the public consultation, that the best estimate for a publication date for the draft legislation is the end of 2005.

Written Answers — Dormant Accounts Fund: Dormant Accounts Fund (5 Oct 2004)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 154 and 235 together. As the Deputies are aware, the Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Bill 2004 was published in June 2004, fulfilling a commitment given by Government in December last, following its review of arrangements in regard to dormant accounts funding. At that time, the Government committed itself to maintaining an open, transparent and accountable...

Written Answers — Charities Legislation: Charities Legislation (5 Oct 2004)

Noel Ahern: My Department does not have legislative proposals for a league table of charities to allow for more public information regarding the way in which money is spent by charities. Such a measure would be a matter for consideration by the proposed regulatory body to be set up under the draft charities legislation to be prepared by my Department.

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (5 Oct 2004)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 162 and 238 together. Under Partnership 2000 the Government committed itself to identifying 30 priority areas for inclusion in the community development programme. Some 15 of these priority areas were funded in 2003. A further 15 pre-development projects have been approved, in principle, for inclusion in the community development programme. A total of...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (5 Oct 2004)

Noel Ahern: As the Deputy will be aware, the role of the local drugs task forces, LDTFs, is to prepare local action plans, which include a range of measures in relation to such issues as treatment, rehabilitation, education, prevention and curbing local supply. In addition, the LDTFs provide a mechanism for the co-ordination of services in their areas, while at the same time allowing local communities...

Written Answers — Anti-Racism Measures: Anti-Racism Measures (5 Oct 2004)

Noel Ahern: The anti-racism information pack referred to by the Deputy was produced by asub-group of the community development pro-gramme, CDP, national advisory committee, which focuses on equality and anti-racism. The pack is not a departmental publication, but my Department provided €10,000 funding to facilitate the design, printing and dissemination of 500 packs. The pack is intended for use by...