Results 5,141-5,160 of 6,728 for speaker:John Curran
- Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (16 Dec 2009)
John Curran: The Report of the Working Group on Drugs Rehabilitation, which was chaired by my Department, was completed in 2007. It led to the establishment of the National Drugs Rehabilitation Implementation Committee (NDRIC) which is charged with overseeing and monitoring the implementation of the recommendations of the Report. As part of fulfilling the lead role in rehabilitation, the HSE chair this...
- Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (16 Dec 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 have been delivered through separate local structures. As I outlined previously to the House, for some time now my Department has been aware of the need to...
- Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (16 Dec 2009)
John Curran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 246 and 247 together. As the Deputy will be aware, the majority of expenditure allocated to voluntary and community groups for drugs initiatives through my Department, is channelled through the Local and Regional Drugs Task Forces. Overall, there will be a reduction of 11% in the funding available for drugs programmes in 2010 through my Department's Vote....
- Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (16 Dec 2009)
John Curran: As the Deputy is aware, the remit of my Department includes community development in all communities, irrespective of location or socio-economic development. While the overall cut of 14% across the Developing Communities subheads of my Department's Vote will have an impact, my Department will be endeavouring to protect front-line services as far as possible. Every saving that can be made...
- National Drugs Strategy. (16 Dec 2009)
John Curran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 26 and 30 together. I am satisfied that the objectives of the National Drugs Strategy 2009-2016 will be achieved despite the cuts in funding for 2010. When the strategy was launched in September last, it was clear that its implementation would have to be achieved in the context of more limited funding in the short to medium term. At that time I identified...
- National Drugs Strategy. (16 Dec 2009)
John Curran: How long do I have to answer these questions?
- National Drugs Strategy. (16 Dec 2009)
John Curran: Bear with me. I will be as quick----
- National Drugs Strategy. (16 Dec 2009)
John Curran: I will try to be as direct as possible.
- National Drugs Strategy. (16 Dec 2009)
John Curran: To answer the last question on funding from other Departments for the drugs strategy, I understand the project to which Deputy Byrne referred is one which was funded by the Department of Education and Science. I will answer the question in that context, but if it is not I will revert to the Deputy after the debate. Our drug advisory group met today. Unfortunately I could not attend the...
- National Drugs Strategy. (16 Dec 2009)
John Curran: From the data available on the general prevalence of use, illegal drug use seems to be increasing slightly.
- Community Development Programmes. (16 Dec 2009)
John Curran: As I outlined previously to the Dáil and Seanad, my Department has seen the need to redesign its community development and social inclusion programmes, particularly the local development social inclusion programme, LDSIP, and the community development programme, CDP, drawing on best international practice, and to support their ongoing evaluation. The LDSIP and the CDP are my Department's...
- Community Development Programmes. (16 Dec 2009)
John Curran: I will try to respond to several of the points made. I refer to the appeals mechanism. The staff involved in the appeals are from completely different sections and have not hand, act or part in-----
- Community Development Programmes. (16 Dec 2009)
John Curran: I make this point specifically. While any appeal need not be submitted until the middle of January, the CDPs unsuccessful in the review were not only informed that they were unsuccessful, but they were informed of the reasons. This will subsequently assist them during any appeal. We have also make a commitment to these CDPs to help them with finance and funding during the course of their...
- Community Development Programmes. (16 Dec 2009)
John Curran: I refer to the question of meeting various groups. I wish to put that on the record because it is important. Both I and my officials, at different times and in different ways, do this. To clarify one point, I did not select the staff within the Department who were to make the appeals.
- Community Development Programmes. (16 Dec 2009)
John Curran: I take the Deputy's point but I wish to clarify this for the record. It was not a question of the Minister coming in and saying, "You, you and you". It was senior management within the Department.
- Community Employment Schemes. (16 Dec 2009)
John Curran: I strongly support the participation of recovering drug users on community employment schemes as part of the rehabilitation process. I am aware of the importance of such schemes in the recovery paths of many and I wish to acknowledge the role played by FÃS in that regard. Recovering drug users participate, for the most part, in special drugs-related CE projects, though some participate in...
- Community Employment Schemes. (16 Dec 2009)
John Curran: I thank the Deputy for her contribution. I believe these particular CE schemes are crucially important, both for the individuals and their families but also for people who have a drug addiction because they are given hope for the future. I recently met Mr. Paul O'Toole, the director general of FÃS, to discuss this. A point the Deputy might not realise is that there are 1,000 ring-fenced...
- Community Employment Schemes. (16 Dec 2009)
John Curran: As I said, I met with FÃS to ask the organisation to review the workings of this scheme and in that context I shall keep this matter under review for Deputy Byrne.
- Written Answers — Garda Training: Garda Training (15 Dec 2009)
John Curran: I am informed by the Garda Authorities that the number of recruits in Templemore on the latest date for which figures are readily available is 326. It is expected that over 100 of these will attest as sworn members in December 2009 with the remainder attesting in 2010. While the moratorium on Public Service recruitment applies to Garda recruitment, I intend to review the position during the...
- Written Answers — Bogus Charities: Bogus Charities (15 Dec 2009)
John Curran: The Garda SÃochána Act 2005 makes provision for the compilation and publication of crime statistics by the Central Statistics Office, as the national statistical agency, and the CSO has established a dedicated unit for this purpose. I have requested the CSO to respond directly to the Deputy in relation to the statistics sought by him.