Results 5,781-5,800 of 6,728 for speaker:John Curran

Drug Treatment Programme. (18 Nov 2008)

John Curran: Responsibility for the development of treatment services for young offenders, where required, in and out of the prison setting, falls to the Irish Youth Justice and Probation Services. These services come under the remit of the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, but overarching responsibility for the development of appropriate services will lie with the office of the Minister of...

Drug Treatment Programme. (18 Nov 2008)

John Curran: I appreciate that this is a matter of serious concern to Deputy Ring and the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Finneran, both of whom have raised it with me previously. To give the Deputy a straight answer, I was not aware in advance of the decision on Harristown House and, as I stated publicly, I was not contacted on the issue. While this concerned me somewhat, I do not want to rehearse a...

Substance Misuse. (18 Nov 2008)

John Curran: I launched bulletin 4 of the all-Ireland drug prevalence survey, focusing on cocaine, on behalf of the National Advisory Committee on Drugs last month and I am fully aware of its findings. This bulletin gives an in-depth analysis of cocaine use in the country and helps to deepen our understanding of such use. While the findings that 5.3% of all adults aged 15 to 64 years and 8.2% of those...

Substance Misuse. (18 Nov 2008)

John Curran: We do not view cocaine in isolation as it is associated with polydrug use with the result that people do not tend to have only a cocaine problem. The way to address the problem is through the national drug strategy, which has a number of key elements, including tackling the supply side, an issue to which the Deputy alluded. Another key element is prevention, education and awareness and our...

National Drugs Strategy. (18 Nov 2008)

John Curran: The Government has been, and remains, firmly committed to tackling the problem of drug misuse in our society. This is evidenced by the fact that between 2003 and 2008, there was a doubling of funding targeted at community-based initiatives, through my Department's Vote, from €31.5 million to over €64 million. The reduction in the 2009 funding allocation to the Department for the drugs...

National Drugs Strategy. (18 Nov 2008)

John Curran: I welcome the opportunity to clarify the answer. Deputy Byrne quoted from budget day when I said, "my emphasis is to maintain frontline services". It is true that funding for the drugs subhead in the Department has been cut by 5%, but the drugs taskforces, which deliver the community-based projects the Deputy mentioned, will receive precisely the same amount of money in 2009 as they did in...

National Drugs Strategy. (18 Nov 2008)

John Curran: While my officials consulted with the Irish Pharmaceutical Union during the comprehensive consultation process that was undertaken earlier in the year on the development of a new national drugs strategy, the issue of the production of crystal meths was not raised in that context. Nor have I engaged with the Ministers for Health and Children or Justice Equality and Law Reform to explore the...

National Drugs Strategy. (18 Nov 2008)

John Curran: On the seizures, the Garda would say that currently crystal meths is not a major feature of the Irish drug market. There were two seizures, the one the Deputy mentioned in the midlands, which was considered a major seizure, and a second seizure in the south of the country. Crystal meths must be dealt with as one of the illegal substances with which we deal. There will be an action, under...

National Drugs Strategy. (18 Nov 2008)

John Curran: Experts say that crystal meths is one of the most addictive street drugs and one of the hardest to treat. Therefore, it is a serious concern. As Deputy Ó Snodaigh said, it is regarded in the US as one of the more common hard core drugs. With regard to its effects, it is seen as a euphoric sex and dance culture drug, but has significant adverse consequences. It can lead to paranoia,...

Written Answers — Security of the Elderly: Security of the Elderly (13 Nov 2008)

John Curran: My Department manages the Scheme of Community Support for Older People, which assists qualifying older people, aged 65 years and older, by means of a community-based grant scheme. Funding is provided towards the once-off cost of installing monitored alarm systems, door and window locks, door chains, security lighting, smoke alarms and in the case of qualifying older people living on our...

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Nov 2008)

John Curran: It is increasing ahead of inflation next year.

Social Welfare (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2008: Second Stage (Resumed) (12 Nov 2008)

John Curran: We are talking about next year's payments and next year's inflation figures.

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (6 Nov 2008)

John Curran: The group in question applied to my Department for funding to refurbish a Community Centre under the Programme of Grants for Locally-Based Community and Voluntary Organisations. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the group's application has been successful and funding of €35,050 is being allocated to them under the Programme. The group will be formally notified of the grant in the...

Order of Business (6 Nov 2008)

John Curran: It is experience.

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (5 Nov 2008)

John Curran: I propose to take Questions Nos. 301 and 302 together. My Department funds two Programmes aimed at supporting the activities of community and voluntary groups with a focus on addressing disadvantage or where evidence of need has been clearly identified in their communities. The first Programme provides grants to smaller community and voluntary groups to support refurbishment work and the...

Charities Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (5 Nov 2008)

John Curran: The chief superintendent has power to impose certain conditions relating to any collection he or she authorises. It is also within his or her remit to monitor collections and ensure they take place in accordance with the terms he or she has imposed. As we discussed earlier, it is important for us not to put undue burdens and additional work on the charities. The proposed amendment places...

Charities Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (5 Nov 2008)

John Curran: We have already amended the Bill to provide that more than one permit for a non-cash collection can be given in an area, which obviously means that the situation would be slightly different. We have had discussions with representatives of the Garda, who did not flag this as an issue. From the point of view of completeness and fairness I will ensure that our departmental officials will check...

Charities Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (5 Nov 2008)

John Curran: I move amendment No. 96: In page 63, line 11, to delete "a number" and substitute the following: "the number assigned in respect of the collection and specified in the collection permit concerned".

Charities Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (5 Nov 2008)

John Curran: I move amendment No. 97: In page 63, line 26, to delete "manner."." and substitute the following: "manner.", and (b) the insertion of the following subsection: "(1A) The following provisions shall apply to all non-cash collections: (a) the collector shall wear a garment that is visible at all times to members of the public and that— (i) in the case of a non-cash collection on behalf of a...

Charities Bill 2007: Report Stage (Resumed). (5 Nov 2008)

John Curran: It is already an offence under section 3 of the Street and House To House Collections Act 1962 to collect without a valid permit. Therefore the first part of amendment No. 98 is not necessary. I cannot accept an amendment to provide that the form and operation of the permit system shall be determined by a consultative panel. The permit system is determined by primary legislation in the...