Results 1,461-1,480 of 6,728 for speaker:John Curran

Written Answers — Services for People with Disabilities: Services for People with Disabilities (13 Oct 2009)

John Curran: I can inform the Deputy that my Department is committed to providing a high quality Customer Service to all customers including those with a disability and that a wide range of documents on matters of concern to people with disabilities are published in large print, Braille, Audio, plain English and/or easy read pictures. Examples of these include documents such as the Disability Act, the...

Written Answers — Security of the Elderly: Security of the Elderly (13 Oct 2009)

John Curran: My Department processed all eligible applications for support submitted in 2008 under the Scheme of Community Support for Older People, including an application submitted by the group referred to by the Deputy. I understand that the group in question submitted an application for funding for the installation of 62 monitored units, amounting to almost €18,000, on 15th April 2009. As with...

Written Answers — Security of the Elderly: Security of the Elderly (13 Oct 2009)

John Curran: I would refer the Deputy to my reply to questions numbered 125, 161 and 165 on 6 October 2009.

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (14 Oct 2009)

John Curran: As the Deputy is aware, as with many Government Programmes and initiatives, the economic realities reflected in the Supplementary Budget allocations in April 2009 inevitably mean that the amount of funding available for the Community Development Programme is considerably less than in recent years. My Department is aware that this presents significant challenges for Community Development...

Written Answers — Security of the Elderly: Security of the Elderly (14 Oct 2009)

John Curran: As I indicated to the House last week, the draft report is in the process of being prepared and, as agreed with the key stakeholders, will be made available to them in the first instance prior to making it more widely available. You will appreciate that any recommendation resulting from the review will need to be carefully considered before revising the current Scheme. I do not expect...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (20 Oct 2009)

John Curran: I will communicate my decision on the funding in question to Dublin City Council shortly.

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (20 Oct 2009)

John Curran: The funding provided by my Office is focused on local authorities, who have the option of using it to assist groups in their area, major national sporting bodies and faith-based groups. As funding is necessarily limited, the intention is to provide it to the bodies with the greatest potential to involve large numbers of migrants in their activities. It is an EU requirement that Community...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (20 Oct 2009)

John Curran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 335 and 336 together. The organisation to which the question refers was allocated €50,000 from a special integration initiative originally introduced in 2006. This provided for seed-funding in relation to integration initiatives for legally-resident immigrants. As was made clear in the official guidelines for this special fund, support was provided on a...

Written Answers — Visa Applications: Visa Applications (20 Oct 2009)

John Curran: In the context of the Deputy's Question, it is being assumed that the Deputy is seeking an update on the figures provided to him in my Reply to Parliamentary Question No. 284 of Wednesday, 8 July, 2009. Against that background, the updated positions are as set out hereunder. All figures relate to the positions as they applied at 30 September 2009 with all twelve month figures based on the...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (20 Oct 2009)

John Curran: The Scheme is open to all community groups who are eligible under the existing criteria. In the interest of ensuring an equitable distribution of support nationwide I am prioritising support for those groups that have not received funding so far in 2009 and have fulfilled the administrative criteria attaching to the Scheme. Applications from groups that have received funding already in 2009...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (20 Oct 2009)

John Curran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 399 and 400 together. I refer the Deputy to my responses to Question Nos. 153 and 790 on 6 October 2009 in which I indicated my view that there should be a single focussed social inclusion/community development programme with a single delivery structure. In relation to services provided by Community Development Projects, it is my intention that my Department...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (20 Oct 2009)

John Curran: The Local Development Social Inclusion Programme (LDSIP) and the Community Development Programme (CDP) are my Department's two main social inclusion/community development programmes. Both have a community development element and both are delivered through separate local delivery structures. I have already indicated that my strong view is that a single focussed programme with a single...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (20 Oct 2009)

John Curran: I propose to take Question Nos. 408 and 409 together. I refer the Deputy to Question Nos. 153 and 790 on 6 October 2009. As I indicated in those replies, while I cannot be specific at this stage about the impact on specific bodies in particular areas, disadvantaged communities will benefit from a more focussed programme with clear objectives and simplified and streamlined delivery structures.

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (21 Oct 2009)

John Curran: I refer the Deputy to Question Nos. 153 and 790 on 6 October 2009. As I indicated in those replies, while I cannot be specific at this stage about the impact on specific bodies in particular areas, disadvantaged communities will benefit from a more focused programme with clear objectives and simplified and streamlined delivery structures.

Written Answers — Citizenship Applications: Citizenship Applications (3 Nov 2009)

John Curran: Valid applications for certificates of naturalisation from the persons referred to in the Deputy's Question were received in the Citizenship Division of my Department in February 2008. All valid applications are dealt with in chronological order as this is deemed to be the fairest to all applicants.The average processing time from application to decision is now at 24 months. More complicated...

Written Answers — Garda Operations: Garda Operations (3 Nov 2009)

John Curran: In the time available it has not been possible for the Garda authorities to provide the information requested by the Deputy. I will be in contact with the Deputy when the information is to hand.

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (3 Nov 2009)

John Curran: As the Deputy is aware, the Dial to Stop Drug Dealing Campaign was launched on September 30th 2008. Since then, over 5,300 calls have been made to the phone line and over 1,450 information reports relayed to the Gardaí as a result. The Gardaí have confirmed that there have been 17 reports received to date in relation to Westmeath, of which 9 relate to Athlone. All of those reports contained...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (3 Nov 2009)

John Curran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 798, 802, 803, 806, 809 and 814 together. I have previously indicated that my strong view is that a single focussed programme with a single integrated delivery structure is appropriate in order to maximise the impact of the Local Development Social Inclusion and Community Development Programmes, which serve disadvantaged communities. My overall aim is to...

Written Answers — Care of the Elderly: Care of the Elderly (3 Nov 2009)

John Curran: My Department is responsible for the Scheme of Community Support for Older People. The Scheme supports qualifying older people, aged 65 and older, by providing funding towards the once-off cost of installing monitored personal alarms and other items of security and safety equipment. Applications should be made through the individual applicants local community or voluntary organisation. My...

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (3 Nov 2009)

John Curran: The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs is responsible for a range of schemes, which provide assistance, including financial assistance, to the youth services sector. However, while not having direct responsibility for the area, my Department implements and funds some measures that have a positive impact on the provision of services and facilities for youth. The Deputy will be aware that...