Results 761-780 of 4,700 for speaker:Noel Ahern

Anti-Poverty Strategy. (22 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: It has nothing to do with that whatsoever. The Deputy is playing the "25 counties against one" game. Decisions are based on who the groups work with, not on geography. The target groups, be they unemployed, refugees, elderly, Travellers——

Anti-Poverty Strategy. (22 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: It has nothing to do with where the staff are working. Last year savings were made by the Department and, at the end of year, these were provided for some groups in one-off funding.

Anti-Poverty Strategy. (22 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: We are satisfied that the work those organisations are involved in conforms to the purpose and programme of the Department. There is ongoing funding under the national anti-poverty networks. The spare funding was from other programmes from within the Department with no relationship to the programme. Funding came from end-of-year savings in the Department. At the end of each year, the...

Anti-Poverty Strategy. (22 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: The funding came from one-off savings. This is annual funding which is a different programme. The CWC may get funding from other sources but not under this programme.

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (22 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: As the Deputy will be aware, work on the mid-term review of the national drugs strategy has been ongoing since mid-2004. The review is being overseen by a steering group, chaired by my Department, and comprising representatives from a number of relevant Departments and agencies as well as the community and voluntary sectors. A comprehensive consultation process was undertaken as part of the...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (22 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: In June of last year, following successful completion of our public consultation on charities regulation, I gave end 2005 as the best estimate at that stage for publication of the draft legislation. While I would not like to predict with certainty that this ambitious target can still be met on the nail, I can assure the Deputy that work is proceeding as speedily as possible within my...

Written Answers — Dormant Accounts Fund: Dormant Accounts Fund (22 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: Decisions on the disbursement of funds from dormant accounts moneys are currently a matter for the Dormant Accounts Fund Disbursements Board, an independent body established under the Dormant Accounts Acts. The board engaged Area Development Management Limited, ADM, to administer the initial round of funding on its behalf. In June 2004, the Government announced an increase in the overall...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (22 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: In accordance with the commitment in An Agreed Programme for Government, a comprehensive reform of the law relating to charities will be brought forward to regulate the sector for the first time in Ireland. As I informed the House on 14 December 2004, the content of the draft legislation would be likely to reflect the proposals in the Government-approved Consultation Paper on Establishing a...

Written Answers — Security of the Elderly: Security of the Elderly (22 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: I am advised by my Department that, following representations received from the Deputy in September 2004, an application form was issued to the group in question for completion. The application form and documentation was returned by the group, but was seriously deficient in terms of the information and documentation required under the scheme of community support for older people. A letter...

Written Answers — Dormant Accounts Fund: Dormant Accounts Fund (22 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: Decisions on the disbursement of funds from dormant accounts moneys are currently a matter for the Dormant Accounts Fund Disbursements Board, an independent body established under the Dormant Accounts Acts. The board engaged Area Development Management Limited, ADM, to administer the initial round of funding on its behalf which involves the disbursement of up to €60 million from the fund....

Written Answers — Drugs Task Forces: Drugs Task Forces (22 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: My Department has responsibility for the work of the 14 local drugs task forces, the ten regional drugs task forces and the young people's facilities and services fund. Funding of €31.5 million is available in my Department to support and develop drugs projects through these programmes in 2005. In addition, approximately €20 million in funding is being provided on an annual basis to...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (22 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: The last full year for which actual social housing unit costs are available is 2003 and these are set out in the following table: 2003 National Dublin â'¬ â'¬ Local Authority 142,000 175,000 Voluntary and Co-operative (Capital Loan and Subsidy Scheme) 149,000 201,500

Written Answers — House Completions: House Completions (22 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 359 and 360 together. Details regarding total house completions, including those provided by the State, under the local authority housing programme and the voluntary and co-operative housing sector are set out in my Department's housing statistics bulletin, copies of which are available in the Oireachtas Library and on the Department's website at...

Written Answers — Housing Aid for the Elderly: Housing Aid for the Elderly (22 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: Under the special housing aid for the elderly scheme, which is operated by the Health Service Executive, formerly the health boards, in line with various guidelines issued from time to time by the task force which administers the scheme under the aegis of my Department, aid is provided to improve the housing conditions of elderly persons living alone in unfit or insanitary conditions. The...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (22 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: Information on the number of houses completed and started by Laois County Council for each of the years 2000 to 2004 under the local authority housing construction-acquisition programme is set out in the following table. Laois County Council — Housing Completions/Starts Year Completions Starts 2000 68 112 2001 128 163 2002 63 108 2003 57 68 2004 end September 149...

Written Answers — Flood Relief: Flood Relief (22 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: My Department has no direct role in relation to flood damage and compensation for householders or others who suffer losses as a result of flooding. The Office of Public Works has primary responsibility for devising and implementing such flood relief measures. No funds are available to the Department specifically to meet expenditure incurred by local authorities due to flooding. However, local...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (22 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: The revised scheme of letting priorities submitted by Dublin City Council has been the subject of ongoing discussions between my Department and the city council. A recent meeting was held at official level to progress matters further. A decision will be made on the matter as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (22 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: I refer to my reply to Question No. 521 of 8 February 2005. The additional information sought from Donegal County Council has recently been received and the application is being further considered by my Department. The council will be advised of the outcome as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Housing Policy: Housing Policy (22 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: The Irish housing stock was approximately 390 per 1,000 persons at the end of 2003. While we are moving closer to the EU 15 average of 440, such comparisons must take account of differences resulting from demographic, economic and cultural factors. The Government has not, therefore, set a housing target per head of population. The focus of policy is on seeking to ensure that supply meets...

Written Answers — Traveller Accommodation: Traveller Accommodation (22 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: Under the Housing (Traveller Accommodation) Act 1998, all relevant local authorities adopted Traveller accommodation programmes. The first programmes, covering the period 2000 to 2004, have just been completed. A second round of programmes, covering the period 2005 to 2008, is in the process of being adopted. The provision, under these programmes of new Traveller-specific accommodation and...