Results 1,281-1,300 of 6,728 for speaker:John Curran

Written Answers — School Placement: School Placement (14 May 2009)

John Curran: The new community national schools welcome and respect children of all faiths and none. They recognise and aim to accommodate the wishes of parents to have their children receive religious education within the school day and also cater for parents who do not wish their children to receive religious education based on any one particular faith. Therefore the admission form for the community...

Written Answers — Security of the Elderly: Security of the Elderly (19 May 2009)

John Curran: The Deputy will be aware that the Scheme of Community Support for Older People was suspended on 7th April. This was done with a view to affording my Department the opportunity to review its operation over the next few months and re-launching it later in the year. I am hopeful that the review process can begin in May and be completed by mid September.

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (19 May 2009)

John Curran: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Questions Nos. 520 to 522, inclusive, on 22 April last and to Question No. 98 on 9 April. My Department, together with Pobal, recently undertook a community consultation which will inform future decisions in relation to the area. In addition, I have agreed proposals that Pobal assign a staff member, in the short-term, to work to develop and support the...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (19 May 2009)

John Curran: As the Deputy may be aware, a review of the Community Development Programme is currently underway. The issue of resources for the project in question will be considered in the context of this review and resources available to my Department generally.

Written Answers — Security of the Elderly: Security of the Elderly (19 May 2009)

John Curran: The Scheme of Community Support for Older People was suspended on 7th April 2009. This was done with a view to affording my Department the opportunity to review its operation over the next few months and re-launching it later in the year. An application was received from the group in question on the 21st April 2009. As with all such applications received after the suspension of the...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (19 May 2009)

John Curran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 312 to 314, inclusive, together. DRUGS The South Inner City Local Drugs Task Force includes the Dublin 8 area and funding has been provided through the Task Force to the following groups: Project: Nature of funding: Mercy Family Centre Family Support Worker Whitefriar Street Community Centre Family Support Worker CAP Oliver Bond Family Support Worker...

Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland (Protection of Debtors) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (20 May 2009)

John Curran: I will respond on behalf of the Government to Deputy Charles Flanagan's proposed Private Members' Bill. I will begin by responding to one point raised by Deputy O'Mahony, where he made reference to those in prison for the non-payment of fines. This issue is being dealt with specifically in the Fines Bill. It is an appropriate point to make and Deputy O'Mahony was correct to do so but I...

Seanad: Property Services (Regulation) Bill 2009: Second Stage (21 May 2009)

John Curran: I thank Senators for their contributions to the debate. It is clear the Government's objective of high standards in the provision and delivery of property services, which the proposals in the Bill are designed to achieve, are broadly shared on all sides of the House. I have listened for the last hour and a half to the contributions of Senators and they broadly support the Bill's objectives....

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (26 May 2009)

John Curran: The Dial-to-Stop Drug Dealing Campaign was officially launched on 30 September 2008. The first phase ran across five Local and Regional Drugs Task Forces areas with funding provided by my Department (€100,000) and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform (€50,000). The second phase ran across a further five Task Forces and the third phase, which I have launched in the last...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (26 May 2009)

John Curran: At the outset, I would like to advise the Deputy that expenditure on alcohol services rests with my colleague, Mary Harney T.D., Minister for Health and Children. The table below sets out the expenditure from my Department's Vote on tackling drugs misuse for each of the years 2007, 2008 and the 2009 allocation. The main areas of expenditure covered include current and capital initiatives...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (26 May 2009)

John Curran: The group in question applied to my Department for funding under the Programme of Grants for Locally-Based Community and Voluntary Organisations. Funding of €60,000 was approved for refurbishment works with a further €7,000 approved for equipment for the community centre. An advance of €36,300 issued to the group on the 19th of May and the balance of the funding will be paid in...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (27 May 2009)

John Curran: I understand that the steering committee appointed by the then Minister of State with responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy, Deputy Pat Carey, to develop proposals and make recommendations for a new National Drugs Strategy covering the period 2009-2016, has yet to report to the current Minister of State with this portfolio, Deputy John Curran. My Department is playing a full role in...

Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Second Stage (Resumed) (28 May 2009)

John Curran: The Minister has asked me to express his appreciation to Deputies from all sides of the House for their contributions to the debate on this Bill and for the constructive remarks which have been made on some of the proposals contained in this measure. On the comments on the firearms proposals made by Deputies Charles Flanagan and Rabbitte in their capacity as justice spokespersons for their...

Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2009: Referral to Select Committee (28 May 2009)

John Curran: I move: That the Bill be referred to the Select Committee on Justice, Equality and Women's Rights, in accordance with Standing Order 122(1) and paragraph 1(a)(i) of the Orders of Reference of that committee.

Decentralisation Programme. (28 May 2009)

John Curran: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and I will respond this afternoon on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Ó Cuív. Under the decentralisation programme, it is been agreed that the headquarters of the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs will relocate to Charlestown, County Mayo. The decentralisation programme is...

Water and Sewerage Schemes. (28 May 2009)

John Curran: I welcome the opportunity to clarify the position on this important scheme on behalf of my colleague the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Kildare town sewerage scheme is included for funding in the current water services investment programme 2007-09 at an estimated cost of €21.4 million. The scheme will provide for the expansion of the existing wastewater...

Criminal Assets. (28 May 2009)

John Curran: I thank Deputy Costello for raising this matter on the Adjournment. I will respond on behalf of my colleague, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, who has asked me to set out the Government's position on this matter. The proposal to ring-fence and use assets seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau to fund drug services has been raised and discussed in this House on a number of...

Written Answers — EU Funding: EU Funding (9 Jun 2009)

John Curran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 346 and 348 together. Following a call for proposals by Pobal on behalf of my Office for the years 2007 and 2008, projects entailing expenditure of €542,220 from the European Fund for the Integration of Third-Country Nationals are being implemented. This is less than the amounts Ireland was entitled to receive which were, for 2007, €748,000 and, for 2008,...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (9 Jun 2009)

John Curran: I am currently reviewing the structure of the proposed Ministerial Council on Integration and I will make an announcement as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Charities Act: Charities Act (9 Jun 2009)

John Curran: The Charities Act 2009, which was signed into law on 28 February 2009, demonstrates the Government's commitment to deliver reform of the law relating to charities to ensure accountability and protect against abuse of charitable status and fraud. The Act is intended to boost public confidence in the sector through increased transparency and proportionate regulation. It will provide a...