Results 3,121-3,140 of 4,700 for speaker:Noel Ahern
- National Drugs Strategy. (30 Nov 2005)
Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 54 and 61 together. The Government has allocated in excess of â¬95 million to support more than 450 projects contained in the plans of the task forces since 1997. In addition to the moneys available under the action plans in this way, the premises initiative is designed to meet the accommodation needs of community based drugs projects, the majority of which...
- National Drugs Strategy. (30 Nov 2005)
Noel Ahern: I have often repeated that the Government's priority is to tackle the drugs problem and support local drugs task forces but people seem to want me to repeat it hour after hour. The Government commitment is thereââ
- National Drugs Strategy. (30 Nov 2005)
Noel Ahern: Maybe the Deputy adds noughts on to every figure he considers.
- National Drugs Strategy. (30 Nov 2005)
Noel Ahern: This year, although inflation is under 3%, there was an 18% increase in funding. I doubt any other budget heading got such an increase. The Estimates two weeks ago contained an 8% increase. That does not include the forthcoming budget and the Revised Estimates in January. It was brought to my attention last year that, as the drugs situation evolves, additional funding would be needed to deal...
- National Drugs Strategy. (30 Nov 2005)
Noel Ahern: We are discussing key emerging needs.
- National Drugs Strategy. (30 Nov 2005)
Noel Ahern: That is additional to what is there at present. The proposals are being examined. I have only received some of them so far and many more are due to arrive. They will be examined and assessed in conjunction with the funds and the other demands on the budget available.
- National Drugs Strategy. (30 Nov 2005)
Noel Ahern: Nobody is ignoring the scale of the problem.
- National Drugs Strategy. (30 Nov 2005)
Noel Ahern: The funding that comes through the local drugs task force and the Department is to deal with gaps in existing services. Services are provided across a range of Departments. A sum of approximately â¬50 million is spent on projects that started at local drugs task force level. In fact, the scale of Government investment is such that I do not believe people who are actively involved ever dreamt...
- National Drugs Strategy. (30 Nov 2005)
Noel Ahern: People must realise that if I say â¬5 million or â¬10 million, I mean â¬5 million or â¬10 million. Certainly, in the next year if there are good proposals, we will try to fund more. We are carrying out significant work, with almost â¬50 million of projects initiated at local drugs task force level, taking in almost 600 people. However, all that can be thought about is bringing in even...
- National Drugs Strategy. (30 Nov 2005)
Noel Ahern: The funding approved for this year, 2005, was an 18% increase, which was enormous. The amount contained in the Estimates was an 8% increase, and we must wait for the Revised Estimates in January. The regional drugs task forces are up and running, and their funding has been approved, some before the summer and some in September. They have drawn down only a small portion allocated to them for...
- National Drugs Strategy. (30 Nov 2005)
Noel Ahern: I do not consider myself as having failed. We have provided enormous resources and there is much good work happening on the ground. We have not yet solved the problem, but we are providing many services under a range of headings. Good plans that come in will be considered, and some will get through.
- National Drugs Strategy. (30 Nov 2005)
Noel Ahern: The fund is not there to deal with the Government's whole social inclusion programme. Some people in drugs task forces believe that every plan and measure should be brought forward. While I state that we spend approximately â¬50 million on projects that begin on local drugs task force level, the Department of Health and Children and the HSE spend more than that every year on treatment. There...
- National Drugs Strategy. (30 Nov 2005)
Noel Ahern: There is a problem, with cocaine being an example. This is coming in from South America, mainly from Colombia, and I know the Deputy has some contacts there. We are trying to deal with that problem.
- National Drugs Strategy. (30 Nov 2005)
Noel Ahern: I accept this situation is changing, evolving and moving all the time and we are dealing with it.
- Leaders' Questions. (30 Nov 2005)
Noel Ahern: The Deputy's numbers are wrong.
- Written Answers — Housing Policy: Housing Policy (29 Nov 2005)
Noel Ahern: In the context of its continuing commitment to meeting the range of housing needs, the Government has given careful consideration to the Ninth Progress Report of the All Party Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution, APOCC, concerning private property, as well as Report No. 112 of the National Economic and Social Council, NESC, Housing in Ireland: Performance and Policy, and a report by...
- Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (29 Nov 2005)
Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 22, 29, 86 and 113 together. The publication of the Abridged Estimates Volume, AEV, is the first step in the Estimates process and does not take account of any further adjustments, particularly in relation to capital provision which may be announced on budget day. The 5% increase in the 2006 provision for housing, announced in the AEV, corresponds to an...
- Written Answers — Housing Policy: Housing Policy (29 Nov 2005)
Noel Ahern: The Government has been making substantial progress in addressing the concerns raised in the NESC report, with increased housing output levels and record investment in social and affordable housing measures. New measures have already been announced to accelerate the delivery of affordable housing and to maximise the availability of land for social and affordable housing programmes. The...
- Written Answers — Homeless Persons: Homeless Persons (29 Nov 2005)
Noel Ahern: I am aware of the Settlement First report published by the Simon Communities of Ireland in July 2005. The independent evaluation of the integrated and preventative homeless strategies commissioned by my Department has addressed the implementation of the homeless strategies and their associated action plans. The outcome of this review, together with publications-submissions by other agencies...
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (29 Nov 2005)
Noel Ahern: Details of next year's capital funding for disabled persons and essential repairs grant schemes will be made available in the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2006 which will be published early in the new year.