Results 741-760 of 6,728 for speaker:John Curran
- National Drugs Strategy. (26 Jun 2008)
John Curran: I thank Deputy Wall for his kind comments at the outset. Prevention and awareness are two different aspects of the problem. We work with local authorities and sporting organisations. They play a key role, primarily from the point of view of being a deterrent. Local authorities work with soccer and GAA clubs, among other groups, through the young people's facilities and services fund on...
- National Drugs Strategy. (26 Jun 2008)
John Curran: I thank Deputy Ring for asking this question because since I was landed into the Department, that is what I have been occupied with in recent weeks. As part of the process of developing the next national drugs strategy to cover the period 2009 to 2016, the steering group chaired by my Department, which is overseeing the process, is currently completing a comprehensive series of consultation...
- National Drugs Strategy. (26 Jun 2008)
John Curran: I thank the Deputy. The figures to which he referred are lifetime figures for anyone who has ever used a drug and they do not accurately represent what is happening. We are more concerned with the figures for last month or last year. I accept the point Deputy Ring made about the trend increasing outside the Dublin area. The figures in the report published yesterday are very important...
- National Drugs Strategy. (26 Jun 2008)
John Curran: It is not a fair comment that the current national drugs strategy has not worked. Perhaps aspects of it did not work but, nonetheless, significant successes are apparent. On the Deputy's specific request, we are engaged in ongoing discussions with the HSE, and not just in the Deputy's area, as the strategy is a national one. However, the Deputy's points are well made and were reflected in...
- National Drugs Strategy. (26 Jun 2008)
John Curran: Against the background of the formulation of a new national drugs strategy for the period from 2009 to 2016, I have an open mind, at this stage, on a combined approach to tackling the problems associated with drugs and alcohol. However, I favour exploiting the potential for synergies that exist in our current approaches. In considering the five pillars of the national drugs strategy, it is...
- National Drugs Strategy. (26 Jun 2008)
John Curran: The issue of having a single policy has attracted considerable interest. There would be one concern if we were to have a combined strategy for misuse. How do we structure it and are the existing services such as local drugs task forces adequately resourced to deal with it? Different people have different views, but the one message coming across loud at all the meetings was the point the...
- Community Development. (26 Jun 2008)
John Curran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 7 and 51 together. The young people's facilities and services fund, YPFSF, aims to assist in the development of youth facilities, including sport and recreational facilities, and services in disadvantaged areas where a significant drug problem exists or has the potential to develop. The objective of the fund is to attract "at risk" young people in...
- Community Development. (26 Jun 2008)
John Curran: On the first question, it is up to each national organisation as to how it gets involved. The FAI has embarked on this in its scheme. However, it would be wrong to send out the signal that others do not. I am aware that the GAA in Dublin has development officers. Probably as a result of the structure of the GAA, there is only one GAA club in my village whereas there are several soccer...
- Community Development. (26 Jun 2008)
John Curran: It does not cover all of them.
- Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (26 Jun 2008)
John Curran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 20 together. Yesterday, I launched the 2nd Bulletin of the All Island National Drug Prevalence Survey 2006/07, which was undertaken by the National Advisory Committee on Drugs (NACD) in conjunction with their colleagues from Northern Ireland. The Bulletin looks at the regional spread of drug misuse in Ireland and the changes that have occurred since...
- Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (26 Jun 2008)
John Curran: There has been significant success in relation to the supply reduction pillar of the National Drugs Strategy and both An Garda SÃochána and the Customs Service of the Revenue Commissioners are playing key roles in this regard. Their levels of drugs seizures have been well in excess of the targets set out in the Strategy and they include a number of significant operations. The Garda...
- Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (26 Jun 2008)
John Curran: I expect that the formal processes relating to the Final Report of the Value for Money and Policy Review of the Local Development Social Inclusion Programme will be completed shortly. At that stage I will arrange for the report to be laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas and the provision of copies to the Select committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism and Community, Rural and Gaeltacht...
- Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (26 Jun 2008)
John Curran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 16 and 25 together. As part of the process of developing the next National Drugs Strategy, to cover the period 2009-2016, the Steering Group, chaired by my Department, is currently completing a comprehensive series of consultation meetings. I am attending as many of these meetings as possible as I see them as being a key part of the process of developing the...
- Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (26 Jun 2008)
John Curran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 21 and 36 together. My Department funds two Programmes aimed at supporting the activities of community and voluntary groups with a focus on addressing disadvantage or where evidence of need has been clearly identified in their communities. The first Programme provides grants to smaller community and voluntary groups to support refurbishment work and the...
- Written Answers — Regulation of Charities: Regulation of Charities (26 Jun 2008)
John Curran: In a reply to a similar question on 15 May, the House was informed that one of the key purposes of the Charities Bill 2007 is to enact a reform of the law relating to charities in order to ensure accountability and to protect against abuse of charitable status and fraud. It is vital for public trust and confidence in the sector to be safeguarded and maintained. However, any matters that might...
- Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (26 Jun 2008)
John Curran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 26 and 45 together. The Report of the Working Group on Drugs Rehabilitation, published in May 2007, made a series of recommendations for the development of a comprehensive rehabilitation pillar under the National Drugs Strategy. The Programme for Government also contains a commitment to implement these recommendations. As agreed by the Working Group, the HSE...
- Written Answers — Voluntary Sector: Voluntary Sector (26 Jun 2008)
John Curran: My Department has been steadily increasing support and funding to strengthen volunteering in Ireland over the past few years. Funding of the order of â¬6m is available this year to support volunteering programmes, which include the funding of 20 Volunteer Centres, including Volunteering Ireland, around the country. These Volunteer Centres encourage volunteering amongst all nationalities...
- Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (26 Jun 2008)
John Curran: My Department does not operate a grant scheme or programme specifically for the type of project referred to by the Deputy. However, some funding may be available from my Department for an element of such a project under the following grant schemes and programmes: Once-off Grants for Locally Based Community and Voluntary Organisations; Young Peoples Facilities & Services Fund; CLÃR Programme;...
- Written Answers — Security of the Elderly: Security of the Elderly (26 Jun 2008)
John Curran: Grants in respect of personal alarm systems are available for senior citizens as part of my Department's Scheme of Community Support for Older People. Local community and voluntary groups â with the support of my Department â administer the Scheme. Individual applicants must be 65 years of age or over and have a genuine need for the security equipment. A maximum individual grant of...
- Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (26 Jun 2008)
John Curran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 101 to 103, inclusive, together. As the Deputy will be aware, the majority of expenditure allocated to community groups through my Department for drugs initiatives is channelled through the Local and Regional Drugs Task Forces (RDTFs). The areas covered by the Drugs Task Forces are detailed below. Projects are submitted through Drugs Task Forces to the...