Results 3,021-3,040 of 4,700 for speaker:Noel Ahern

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (25 Jan 2006)

Noel Ahern: My Department has responsibility for a range of community-based schemes, including the young people's facilities and services fund. Through the young peoples facilities and services fund allocations are made towards the construction and running costs of community facilities which are specifically aimed at attracting "at risk" young people in disadvantaged areas into activities that will...

Written Answers — Security of the Elderly: Security of the Elderly (25 Jan 2006)

Noel Ahern: A grant of €5,670 was paid to the group in question in respect of its application for the provision of security equipment including socially-monitored personal alarms under the 2005 scheme of community supports for older people.

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (25 Jan 2006)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 908 and 909 together. As I outlined in my reply to Question No. 247 on 14 December 2005, the emerging needs fund was devised to address an evolving situation in regard to the misuse of drugs on a flexible basis and in a timely manner. To date I have allocated almost €850,000 under the fund to 14 projects. I hope to be in a position to make further...

Written Answers — Dormant Accounts Fund: Dormant Accounts Fund (25 Jan 2006)

Noel Ahern: Disbursements from the dormant accounts fund are designed to assist three broad categories of persons; those who are socially or economically disadvantaged, those who are educationally disadvantaged and persons with a disability. The Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Act 2005 provided for significant changes in relation to the disbursement of funds from dormant accounts. Under this new...

Written Answers — Dormant Accounts Fund: Dormant Accounts Fund (25 Jan 2006)

Noel Ahern: Disbursements from the dormant accounts fund are designed to assist three broad categories of persons; those who are socially or economically disadvantaged, those who are educationally disadvantaged and persons with a disability. While it is my intention that the focus of dormant accounts funding should be directed towards tackling disadvantage in Ireland, the Government is committed to...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (25 Jan 2006)

Noel Ahern: I assume that the Deputy is referring to Mulranny Western Holdings from which group an application has been received under the 2005 programme of grants for locally-based community and voluntary organisations. Each application received under the scheme was assessed by Pobal on behalf of my Department by reference to the criteria set out in the published guidelines, and scored accordingly. The...

Written Answers — Drugs Treatment Programme: Drugs Treatment Programme (25 Jan 2006)

Noel Ahern: Under the National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008, each of the 14 local drugs task forces, including that for Tallaght, has in place an action plan to tackle drug misuse in their area, based on their own identified priorities. Specifically focusing on cocaine, I approved funding of almost €400,000 for four pilot cocaine treatment projects and a training initiative operating in various drugs task...

Written Answers — National Heritage Areas: National Heritage Areas (25 Jan 2006)

Noel Ahern: I assume that the question refers to natural heritage areas, which are designated under the provisions of the Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000. To date 148 NHAs, mainly comprising raised bog and blanket bog habitats, have been statutorily designated. The Act provides for the imposition of restrictions on the carrying out of works, usually referred to as notifiable actions, which are likely to...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (25 Jan 2006)

Noel Ahern: The first resale of houses sold under the tenant purchase scheme requires the consent of the local authority. This condition, which applies for a period of 20 years from the original date of the tenant purchase, requires a housing authority to satisfy itself that a person purchasing the house is in need of housing. The condition would also preclude the first resale of a tenant purchase house...

Written Answers — Safe Home Programme: Safe Home Programme (25 Jan 2006)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1445 and 1452 together. Under the amendment made to the terms of my Department's voluntary housing capital assistance scheme in November 2001, up to 25% of accommodation in projects provided throughout the country by individual voluntary housing bodies with funding under the scheme may be allocated to elderly returning emigrants who satisfy...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (25 Jan 2006)

Noel Ahern: In December 2005, with the approval of the Government, I announced a new housing policy framework. This sets out the fundamentals of the Government's vision for housing policy over the coming years. One of the elements in this framework is the introduction in 2007 of a new tenant purchase scheme for local authority tenants. Further details will be made available later in the year.

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (25 Jan 2006)

Noel Ahern: Houses sold under the various affordable housing schemes at a discount from market value contain a claw-back provision which is necessary to ensure there is no short-term profiteering on the resale of a house. Traditionally, local authorities were the sole supplier of mortgage finance for affordable housing and they registered the clawback as a charge on the mortgage deed, or in the case of...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (25 Jan 2006)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1465 and 1473 together. It is likely that legislative changes will be required to support reforms to the social housing sector outlined in my Department's housing policy framework, Building Sustainable Communities, published in December 2005. Decisions on the nature and extent of legislative change required will be taken later this year following the...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (25 Jan 2006)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1466 and 1467 together. Details as regards private house completions, as well as those provided by the State, both under the local authority housing programme and by the voluntary and co-operative housing sector, and of the number of single houses are set out in my Department's housing statistics bulletins, copies of which are available in the Oireachtas...

Written Answers — Local Authority Funding: Local Authority Funding (25 Jan 2006)

Noel Ahern: In September 2005 my Department issued approval in principle to North Tipperary County Council to carry out works under the remedial works scheme in eight estates namely, Ard Mhuire, Templetuohy, Derrynaflan, Littleton, Cois Carraig, Roscrea, MacDonagh Avenue, Cloughjordan, Ardarra, Portroe, Grange Road, Ballina, Clohessey Place, Bouladuff and Towerhill, Borrisokane. Works to be carried...

Written Answers — Housing Grants: Housing Grants (25 Jan 2006)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1507, 1508 and 1512 together. The disabled persons and essential repairs grant schemes are intended, like a number of other housing grant schemes operated by my Department, to assist works which provide additional or adapted accommodation in private houses. However, they are not designed to cover the full cost of works for all applicants. Local authorities may...

National Drugs Strategy. (15 Dec 2005)

Noel Ahern: I thank Deputy Rabbitte for raising the issue and I acknowledge the contribution that Mr. Fergus McCabe has made through his membership as community representative of the national drugs strategy team. He has been involved, as Deputy Rabbitte said, since the start of the drugs issue. His efforts against drugs misuse over many years have been known and that work is greatly appreciated....

Climate Change. (15 Dec 2005)

Noel Ahern: The UN climate change conference concluded last week in Montreal. The Minister, Deputy Roche, and the Minister of State, Deputy Batt O'Keeffe, represented the Government and Ireland also had an important role in the EU negotiating team throughout the conference. There is general agreement that the success of the conference is a significant milestone in the effort to tackle global warming. The...

Climate Change. (15 Dec 2005)

Noel Ahern: Second, a proportion of the required reduction will be allocated to Irish participants in the EU emissions trading scheme. Third, the Government will avail of the mechanisms in the Kyoto Protocol, which allow it to meet part of its obligation by purchasing credits for carbon reductions elsewhere in the world.

Climate Change. (15 Dec 2005)

Noel Ahern: This is a sensible approach to take given the target that Ireland must achieve and having regard to the guiding principles of the national climate change strategy to promote sustainable development, to ensure sectoral equity and to protect economic development and competitiveness. Ireland, like its fellow EU member states, remains committed to meeting its greenhouse gas emission reduction...