Results 5,401-5,420 of 6,728 for speaker:John Curran

Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (17 Jun 2009)

John Curran: At the outset, the Deputy should note that since 1st January 2009, responsibility for the Young Peoples Facilities & Services Fund (YPFSF) is a matter for my colleague, Barry Andrews T.D., Minister for Children and Youth Affairs. The National Assessment Committee (NAC) – on which my Department is represented - oversees the operation of the Fund, both administrative and financial. As part...

Written Answers — Care of the Elderly: Care of the Elderly (17 Jun 2009)

John Curran: I refer the Deputy to my response to Questions 68 and 69 on 29 April 2009. As indicated in that reply, the Scheme of Community Support for Older People was suspended on 7th April in order to afford my Department the opportunity to review its operation. I met with representatives of organisations involved with issues affecting older people and I have agreed with them the process setting the...

National Drugs Strategy. (17 Jun 2009)

John Curran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 29, 36, 50, 52 and 53 together. I am pleased to say that at yesterday's Cabinet meeting a new national drugs strategy for the period 2009 to 2016 was approved by Government. The new strategy, which will be published shortly, includes a provision to establish a dedicated office of the Minister for drugs. Arising from the Government decision of 31 March 2009...

National Drugs Strategy. (17 Jun 2009)

John Curran: The Deputy is well aware of the financial situation. In advance of the previous budgets we had meetings with the Minister for Finance and we will do so again in advance of this year's budget. The establishment of the office of the Minister for drugs will have one significant effect, namely, it will allow greater governance. This has been raised before by the Committee of Public Accounts....

National Drugs Strategy. (17 Jun 2009)

John Curran: An interim arrangement is in place at the moment. Following the Government decision yesterday, I hope the new office will be established in as short a time as possible, by which I mean within a number of weeks. Not dissimilarly to the arrangements for the previous national drugs strategy, staff will come in from the other key Departments on a shared basis and we will also have the current...

National Drugs Strategy. (17 Jun 2009)

John Curran: I will be the Minister of State with responsibility for the drugs strategy and will have the same senior Minister.

National Drugs Strategy. (17 Jun 2009)

John Curran: To reiterate, spending on the drugs programme across Departments in the current year is quite substantial, at €266 million. The main focus behind the establishment of a dedicated office is to ensure we avoid duplication, deliver effective outcomes, and base our decisions on evidence. That is important. The message should not go from here today that the drugs issue is not being tackled...

National Drugs Strategy. (17 Jun 2009)

John Curran: The establishment of the new office will facilitate much better co-ordination over a range of issues. With regard to head shops, the Deputy understands my personal view. I have grave concerns about these shops. As the Deputy knows, we have taken action on BZP and we will be considering other substances that are available. In case there is any misunderstanding, I will clarify that I am...

National Drugs Strategy. (17 Jun 2009)

John Curran: I am highly aware that involvement in sport can be a key factor in helping to prevent young people from becoming involved in problem drug taking. In this context and because of the other health and well-being benefits involved, I wholeheartedly support participation in sport. Under the current drugs strategy, a number of initiatives were developed on a local basis to promote sport among...

National Drugs Strategy. (17 Jun 2009)

John Curran: First, to clarify a number of points, there was a fairly extensive public consultation period. While individual sporting organisations were not contacted directly, many may have attended public meetings. The debates held in the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs and in the Seanad all highlighted the issue of sport. Government policy...

National Drugs Strategy. (17 Jun 2009)

John Curran: I reiterate that the new national strategy is an interim drug-related strategy. On 30 September last, the Government made the decision to have a joint drug and alcohol substance misuse strategy and work will begin on that process in September 2009. During that process, in specific response to Deputy Wall's remarks, I will consult with the sporting organisations as requested.

National Drugs Strategy. (17 Jun 2009)

John Curran: As the Deputy will be aware, the majority of expenditure allocated through my Department to community groups involved in drugs initiatives is channelled though the local and regional drugs task forces. Of the total drugs funding in my Department's Vote in 2009, more than 92% is targeted at task force-related activities. The revised allocation, following the supplementary budget in April, for...

National Drugs Strategy. (17 Jun 2009)

John Curran: I am not in a position to ring-fence funds from the Criminal Assets Bureau. I cannot give such a commitment. I have answered questions in this regard previously in the Dáil. While funding from the Criminal Assets Bureau would be highly symbolic, by its nature this is not easy to do. There is an onus on the State that funding is made available through the normal Vote and that the income...

National Drugs Strategy. (17 Jun 2009)

John Curran: I reiterate that the funds collected by the Criminal Assets Bureau are returned to the Exchequer, which funds many of the initiatives for which I have responsibility. I refer not only to the drug task forces, but also to a range of other facilities and funds that are aimed at safeguarding the well-being of society. Deputy Wall spoke about the importance of sport, which is generally funded...

Written Answers — Security of the Elderly: Security of the Elderly (11 Jun 2009)

John Curran: The Deputy will be aware that the Scheme of Community Support for Older People was suspended on 7th April 2009 with a view to affording my Department the opportunity to review the Scheme's operation and address concerns raised in respect of same. Although, applications received prior to the suspension of the Scheme are being processed and approved in accordance with current eligibility...

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

John Curran: I will share time with Deputies Sean Power, Michael McGrath and Michael Mulcahy.

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

John Curran: Deputy Ring spoke about the new Members being lively and he may not be listening to me but somebody might relate to him that some of the old Members are still quite lively given his own performance. I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the debate and I wish to use the opportunity to clarify a number of issues that have arisen under which I call "false circumstances". It has often been...

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

John Curran: The Deputy should stand up during the course of this debate and nail his colours to the mast.

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

John Curran: He should outline precisely the taxes-----

Confidence in Government: Motion (resumed) (10 Jun 2009)

John Curran: That is because they do not add up.