Results 5,521-5,540 of 6,728 for speaker:John Curran

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (4 Mar 2009)

John Curran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 45 and 62 together. At the outset, I want to assure the Deputies that the roll-out of the new National Drugs Strategy (NDS) will not be postponed. Work is ongoing on the formulation of the Strategy for the period 2009-2016. As the Deputies are aware, a Steering Group, comprising representatives of the statutory, community and voluntary sectors, is currently...

Written Answers — Drugs Seizures: Drugs Seizures (4 Mar 2009)

John Curran: An Garda Síochána and the Customs Service of the Revenue Commissioners have achieved significant success in recent years in relation to the number of drugs seizures, and the amount and value of the drugs involved, and I congratulate both organisations in this regard. The increase in seizures reflects the greater emphasis placed on the drugs problem during the period of the current National...

Written Answers — Drugs Use: Drugs Use (4 Mar 2009)

John Curran: The joint National Advisory Committee on Drugs (NACD) and National Drug Strategy Team (NDST) report, "An Overview of on Cocaine Use in Ireland", published in 2007, identified cocaethylene as a dangerous naturally occurring by-product of using cocaine and alcohol together. When people mix these substances, the human liver combines them in the system to form cocaethylene and this is more toxic...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (4 Mar 2009)

John Curran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 65, 81 and 82 together. As the Deputies may be aware, I launched the Dial-to-Stop Drug Dealing Campaign in September 2008. The first phase was run across five Local and Regional Drugs Task Forces areas with funding being provided by my Department (€100,000) and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform (€50,000). The confidential number used in...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (4 Mar 2009)

John Curran: In February 2008, my predecessor, Minister of State, Pat Carey TD, launched the National Awareness Campaign on Drugs, "The Party's Over". This campaign was developed by the HSE, in consultation with many of the key Departments and Agencies involved in tackling problem drug use, including my own Department. The initial aim of the campaign was to communicate the dangers of cocaine use, with a...

Written Answers — Drugs Task Forces: Drugs Task Forces (4 Mar 2009)

John Curran: Drugs Task Force projects have been approved funding for the first six months of 2009 and this expenditure will be reviewed before allocating the remaining six months funding. Until that exercise is complete, I cannot say if further savings will be required in the context of available funding this year. In the context of the current economic climate, all Drugs Task Forces have been asked to...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (4 Mar 2009)

John Curran: As the Deputy will be aware, the HSE has statutory responsibility for the provision of treatment services for under-18s who report with problem substance use. I understand from them that under-18s are prioritised for treatment as they present. Three actions in the current National Drugs Strategy relate to provision of treatment services for young people. These involve the development and...

Written Answers — Drugs Use: Drugs Use (4 Mar 2009)

John Curran: The Early Warning Emerging Trends Committee of the National Advisory Committee on Drugs meets regularly to monitor emerging trends in problem drug use and they signal issues and concerns as they arise. The Alcohol and Drug Research Unit of the Health Research Board (HRB), who are represented on that Committee, also provides up-dates on any developments on international drugs markets that may...

Written Answers — Drugs Task Forces: Drugs Task Forces (4 Mar 2009)

John Curran: There are 14 Local and 10 Regional Drugs Task Forces currently in place. The locations are listed in the Appendix. The work of the Drugs Task Forces is overseen by the National Drugs Strategy Team (NDST). The NDST is a cross-sectoral Team with representatives from relevant Government Departments and Agencies, including my own and the community and voluntary sectors are also represented on it....

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (4 Mar 2009)

John Curran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 130 and 135 together. As I have previously advised the Deputy, funding for the Local and Regional Drugs Task Forces in 2009 will be approximately €34.6m. Of this, over €23m is being allocated to the LDTFs while over €11m is being earmarked for the Regional groups. In relation to Co. Kildare, which is part of the South West RDTF area, the following...

Drug-related Deaths. (4 Mar 2009)

John Curran: The publication last November of the National Drugs-Related Death Index by the Health Research Board provided for the first time a comprehensive understanding of the death toll associated with problem drug use in Ireland. The Index, which has been compiled to the highest European standard, was commissioned under the national drugs strategy by the Departments of Health and Children and...

Drug-related Deaths. (4 Mar 2009)

John Curran: I am pleased the figures have come to light because I spoke with a number of people over a period of time who clearly felt what was reported regarding drug-related deaths was significantly understated. This is the first comprehensive report and is very detailed and thorough. The numbers, as the Deputy said, are staggering. In 2005 alone 400 people died as a result of drugs. When we...

Drug-related Deaths. (4 Mar 2009)

John Curran: The figure Deputy Wall stated on the numbers using methadone is correct. Not everybody who uses methadone uses it exclusively. A combination of other drugs can be used and that appears to be the case. The HSE, which is specifically charged with responsibility for the matter, is in the process of implementing a national overdose prevention strategy which would address the issue of...

Drugs Task Forces. (4 Mar 2009)

John Curran: The Government is firmly committed to tackling the problem of drug misuse in society. This is evidenced by the fact that the funding targeted at community-based initiatives funded through my Department's Vote doubled from 2003 to 2008, increasing from €31.5 million to more than €64 million. The relative reduction in the 2009 funding allocation to my Department for the drugs initiatives...

Drugs Task Forces. (4 Mar 2009)

John Curran: I agree with many of the Deputy's comments. However, it is important to clarify. In 2008, the funding available to the task forces was €34.776 million. This year, the figure is €34.6 million, a slight reduction. Task forces must make choices between projects, but it is also worth noting that the total spend including statutory agencies has increased significantly over the years. It is...

Community Development. (4 Mar 2009)

John Curran: The community development programme was established in 1990 in recognition of the role of community development in tackling the causes and effects of poverty and disadvantage. It aims to offer new opportunities to enable people to use and develop their skills, knowledge, experiences and common purpose to improve the quality of their own lives and the good of their community. A total of 184...

Community Development. (4 Mar 2009)

John Curran: No, I cannot. It would not be possible for me to make such a promise in advance of whatever will happen later in the month. Neither my Department nor any other will be immune to what is happening in the economy. I am aware of the work undertaken by these community development groups and other groups that work in communities. I will endeavour to work with all groups to ensure the services...

Community Development. (4 Mar 2009)

John Curran: As I said, I will work to ensure these services are provided. We constantly evaluate and monitor what is going on. These organisations do not work in isolation to other community groups, partnerships and so on. It is important that we achieve the maximum value for money. In the current economic climate, in which we face the prospect of cutbacks in all Departments, I cannot say in advance...

Community Development. (4 Mar 2009)

John Curran: I acknowledge the work that has been done under the community development programme. There are 184 of these projects throughout the State. I will work tirelessly to ensure the services, particularly front line services, they provide are maintained. Funding is a separate matter. It is important to ensure that we constantly evaluate and monitor what these groups are doing rather than just...

Community Development. (4 Mar 2009)

John Curran: The programme of support for locally based community and voluntary organisations provides funding towards the costs of refurbishing and equipping community facilities. Given the volume of applications received to date, the level of commitments to projects approved for funding to the end of 2008 and the reduced level of funding available this year, I regret that I have had to suspend the...