Results 1,341-1,360 of 4,700 for speaker:Noel Ahern

Electoral (Amendment) (No. 2) Bill 2007: Second Stage (Resumed) (25 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: From my experience with my own children, many Dublin students returning from colleges outside the county do not come home as such. I never know when I will see my children.

Leaders' Questions (25 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: He did not say that.

Written Answers — Drug Abuse: Drug Abuse (24 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: I have become increasingly aware of the concerns about the level of use of cocaine in Ireland over the past few years, broadly reflecting the increase in the availability and use of cocaine in Europe generally. At my request, the National Advisory Committee on Drugs (NACD) and the National Drugs Strategy Team (NDST) recently prepared a joint briefing paper on cocaine, based on existing data...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (24 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: My Department's report to the Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion in October 2006 focused, in particular, on developments in regard to the following five issues: 1. Cocaine Briefing Paper I outlined the findings of the Cocaine Briefing Paper which was jointly prepared, at my request, by the National Advisory Committee on Drugs (NACD) and the National Drug Strategy Team (NDST). This...

Written Answers — Rural Development: Rural Development (24 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 50, 66, 71, 78 and 81 together. Despite continuing urbanisation, Ireland is still a comparatively rural country. About 40% of the population continue to live in rural areas and while the rates of population growth over the past decade have been greater in urban than in rural areas, population growth in the regions has still been strong. There is little...

Written Answers — Drug Abuse: Drug Abuse (24 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: To date, under the National Drugs Strategy, my Department has made substantial funding available to Ballyfermot Local Drugs Task Force (LDTF) and this will continue in 2007, with nearly €1.5m being allocated. It is estimated that in the region of 40% of the projects being supported by the Task Force have a rehabilitative focus, much of this relating to heroin. In total, the Ballyfermot...

Written Answers — Community and Voluntary Sector: Community and Voluntary Sector (24 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: The recommendations in the Taskforce Report and how best to implement them are under consideration. However, I am inclined to believe that it is a matter for the national network of C&V Fora to advance promoting the insurance scheme referred to by the Deputy. In this scenario, how the network might best be supported to carry out this task will require further thought and no doubt will be...

Written Answers — Drug Abuse: Drug Abuse (24 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 58 and 63 together. I am aware of the dangers that crack cocaine and crystal meth use can pose in terms of their potential to add hugely to the harm caused to individuals, families and communities. However, I am informed by the Garda authorities that, while there has been an increase in the number of seizures of crack cocaine over the past two years or so,...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (24 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 59, 60 and 702 together. The Report of the Working Group on Drugs Rehabilitation was approved by the Cabinet Committee on Social Inclusion last month. It is currently being printed and it is envisaged that the report will be launched in the next few weeks. The Working Group has taken a holistic view of rehabilitation and, while recognising the importance of...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (24 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: The Department's existing White Paper Grants Schemes provide for the core costs of applicant organisations. This includes provision for compliance costs, such as audit or governance requirements. Similarly the Department provides core funding to Partnership Companies, Community Development Projects, LEADER Groups, Community Services Projects, Rural Social Scheme Projects etc., which...

Written Answers — Drug Abuse: Drug Abuse (24 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: The Deputy will appreciate that statutory responsibility for childcare, and issues relating to childcare, rests with the Office of the Minister for Children which oversees the provision of services relating to legally adopting, fostering or otherwise caring for children whose parents — whether for reasons relating to problem drug use or otherwise — are incapable of rearing their children....

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (24 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 74, 83 and 700 together. The Report of the Steering Group on the Mid-term Review of the National Drugs Strategy was published in June 2005. The key conclusions of the Steering Group were that the aims and objectives of the Strategy were fundamentally sound and that progress was being made across the pillars. However, the Steering Group found that some...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (24 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 77 and 681 together. I understand that an application for additional funding has recently been made to the National Drugs Strategy Team (NDST) by the Project. I will consider any recommendation arising from this application if and when it is received in my Department from the NDST.

Written Answers — Dormant Accounts Fund: Dormant Accounts Fund (24 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: To date in 2007, the Government has approved funding in the sum of €19.978m from the Dormant Accounts Fund to support over 1,600 groups as per the table below: Funding Measures approved in 2007 Category Applications Approved Value of Approvals €m ICT Initiatives for Disadvantaged Young People Social & Economic Disadvantage 39 2.347 Projects addressing Alcohol Related Harm Social...

Written Answers — Charities Regulation: Charities Regulation (24 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: The Government has recognised that Irish charity law is in need of modernisation. To address this, the Charities Bill 2007 was published on 12th April last. This draft legislation has been developed to ensure accountability and to protect against abuse of charitable status and fraud. It also aims to enhance public trust and confidence in charities and increase transparency in the sector.

Written Answers — Summer Jobs Scheme: Summer Jobs Scheme (24 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: My Department has no current plans regarding the restoration of the Summer Jobs Scheme.

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (24 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: An application to the Dormant Accounts Fund from the group concerned under the Jointly Funded Flagship measure was received and is currently being processed. The applicant will be informed of the outcome of the process in due course.

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (24 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: An application to the Dormant Accounts Fund in respect of the project in question was made under the Jointly Funded Flagship measure. The applicant will be informed of the outcome of the assessment process quite shortly.

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (24 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: An application in respect of the Community Centre in question under the Young People's Facilities and Services Fund (YPFSF) was received in November 2006 from Blanchardstown Local Development Group. However, the Development Group subsequently contacted the Department to advise of its intention to withdraw that application and to submit a revised one, focusing more particularly on the...

Written Answers — Emigrant Support Services: Emigrant Support Services (24 Apr 2007)

Noel Ahern: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question Number 7 on 5 November 2006 relating to Exchequer funding for overseas emigrant groups. The position concerning support from the Dormant Accounts Fund for such groups has not changed.