Results 3,961-3,980 of 4,700 for speaker:Noel Ahern

National Drugs Strategy. (22 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: I had proposed to take Questions Nos. 4 and 5 together anyway.

Voluntary Sector Organisations. (22 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 4 and 5 together. Funding of anti-poverty networks arises from the White Paper on a framework for supporting voluntary activity and was originally administered by the Combat Poverty Agency on a three-year contract basis. This function transferred to the Department from that agency late in 2003. The Department sought work plans for 2004 from each of the ten...

Voluntary Sector Organisations. (22 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: I assure the Deputy there is nothing vindictive or sinister in this decision. It was taken because the Department decided to focus its resources chiefly on the communities suffering disadvantage and isolation. We do not take decisions lightly, for good or bad. The other nine networks deal with specific groups: refugees, the unemployed, lone parents, people living in rural isolation,...

Voluntary Sector Organisations. (22 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: The Deputy may be right that some people see the CWC as being akin to a trade union, and maybe it is doing good work as trade unions do——

Written Answers — Drugs Task Forces: Drugs Task Forces (17 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: As I previously announced, €5 million per annum will be made available to the regional drugs task forces, RDTFs, to assist them in implementing their plans which are currently being drawn up. With regard to the plan for the south east RDTF, I understand that it is due to be submitted to the national drugs strategy team for consideration by the end of this month. The Deputy will appreciate...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (16 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: My Department supports the community and voluntary sector through a wide range of programmes and supports. Under the White Paper on supporting voluntary activity funding totalling €600,000 is provided in 2005 for training and support grants for community and voluntary organisations. In addition, estimated funding for 2005 of €1,827,000 will be provided this year to cover the...

Written Answers — Housing Aid: Housing Aid (16 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: The second Dublin homeless action plan, Making it Home, 2004-2006, which was published by the Homeless Agency in July 2004, sets out actions and objectives for the four Dublin local authorities for this period. The main elements of the south Dublin plan, drafted by the local authority and agreed by South Dublin County Council and its local homeless forum, are: the effective operation of the...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (16 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: Grants for communal facilities are available in projects providing accommodation under the voluntary housing capital loans and subsidy scheme, or the capital assistance scheme. While there is no decision to review the rate of assistance payable under the voluntary housing communal facilities grant scheme, it will be included when the grant rates available under the capital loans and subsidy...

Schools Amalgamation. (15 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: As the Deputy will be aware, agreement was reached some time ago on the rationalisation of post-primary education provision in Tuam. Agreement has been reached with the relevant trustees to form a single boys and a single girls school, each to cater for a long-term projected enrolment of 700 pupils. The vocational school is not part of either amalgamation process. The school planning section...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (15 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: As the Deputy is aware, I recently announced a further round of capital funding under the young people's facilities and services fund. A letter issued to the development groups in the 14 local drugs task force areas in early January asking that they submit proposals by the middle of March. Decisions on the funding will be made in due course.

Written Answers — Anti-Poverty Strategy: Anti-Poverty Strategy (15 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 369 and 370 together. I refer the Deputy to my reply to Questions Nos. 216 to 224, inclusive, and 226 and 227 of 1 February 2005.

Written Answers — Dormant Accounts Fund: Dormant Accounts Fund (15 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 has 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...

Written Answers — Local Authority Loans: Local Authority Loans (15 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 514 and 518 together. Local authority mortgages are provided to eligible low income households, who would not otherwise obtain finance. The lending is provided on a self-financing basis. The loans the question refers to were issued by local authorities prior to the introduction of variable rates in December 1987, and reflect the long-term costs of the funds...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (15 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: In cases where my Department provides funding for refurbishment work to schemes of houses in need of remedial works, it is usual that such work includes the replacement of defective windows. No separate financial allocations are provided to local authorities for the replacement of defective windows solely. In other instances where the replacement of windows is undertaken as a normal...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (15 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: I refer to the reply to Questions Nos. 1385 and 1389 of 26 January 2005. Discussions between officials of my Department and of Dublin City Council are continuing. The issues involved are complex and further engagement with Dublin City Council and other housing authorities is required. In these circumstances I am not yet in a position to say when final decisions on the city council's draft...

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (15 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: My Department provisionally estimates that some 3,500 housing units will be delivered from the various affordable housing schemes in 2005. Detailed information on the location of each of these affordable developments is not available in my Department.

Election Management System. (15 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: On foot of the Government decision in February 2000 to introduce electronic voting and counting and subsequent decisions with regard to the phased roll-out of the project, my Department has been tasked with developing and delivering the project in conjunction with returning officers. Voting machines for the two pilot polls were delivered in 2002, while the remaining order for the planned...

Schools Amalgamation. (15 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. I am replying on behalf of the Minister for Education and Science and I am not sure if the Deputy will get the answers he needs.

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (10 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Questions Nos. 216, 217, 218, 219, 220, 221, 222, 223, 224, 226 and 227 of 1 February 2005.

Written Answers — Anti-Social Behaviour: Anti-Social Behaviour (10 Feb 2005)

Noel Ahern: A number of measures have been put in place to ensure that local authorities have the capacity to fulfil their responsibilities under the Housing Acts for the management and maintenance of their housing stock. These measures include the enactment of the Housing (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1997 and the recently enacted Residential Tenancies Act 2004. The housing unit, which is funded by my...