Results 1,461-1,480 of 2,551 for speaker:Pat Carey
- Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (14 Feb 2008)
Pat Carey: The issue of alcohol policy is primarily one for my colleague, Mary Harney, T.D., Minister for Health & Children. Consequently, I have not had meetings with the drinks industry in relation to the issues you mention. At the same time, I recognise that there is significant potential for synergies between the National Drugs Strategy and the approach to the abuse of alcohol in our society....
- Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (14 Feb 2008)
Pat Carey: I propose to take Questions Nos. 53 and 153 together. Arising from concerns expressed about the emergence of cocaine in our society in 2005, including through the report of the Joint Committee on Arts, Sport, Tourism, Community, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs, my predecessor as Minister for State with responsibility for the National Drugs Strategy, Mr. Noel Ahern, T.D., requested the National...
- Written Answers — Security of the Elderly: Security of the Elderly (14 Feb 2008)
Pat Carey: Officials in my Department have ongoing discussions with a range of groups concerned with the welfare and security of older people, including the Garda authorities and groups who administer the Neighbourhood Watch/Community Alert Schemes. However, my Department has no role in relation to the installation of landline equipment. My Department operates the Scheme of Community Support for Older...
- Written Answers — Dormant Accounts Fund: Dormant Accounts Fund (14 Feb 2008)
Pat Carey: Among the priority measures approved by Government for assistance under the 2007 Dormant Accounts Programme is one providing funding for community based supports for older people. The closing date for receipt of applications was late November 2007 and over 360 applications were received, including one from the organisation in question. The applications are currently being assessed and as...
- Written Answers — Youth Services: Youth Services (14 Feb 2008)
Pat Carey: As the Deputy will be aware my Department provides funding for a wide range of projects and services, through a number of programmes and schemes in Co. Kildare, including projects with a particular reference to "youth services". Funding is available for "youth services" projects under the Programme of Grants for Community and Voluntary Organisations, the LEADER programme, RAPID programme,...
- National Drugs Strategy. (14 Feb 2008)
Pat Carey: My Department has commenced work on the development of the new national drugs strategy for the period 2009 to 2016. I have established a steering group, comprising representatives of the key statutory, community and voluntary interests involved in tackling problem drug use, to make recommendations on a new strategy to me as the responsible Minister. The first meeting of the steering group...
- National Drugs Strategy. (14 Feb 2008)
Pat Carey: With regard to the publication of the drugs strategy, the public consultation process and the evaluation, by consultants, of the strengths and weaknesses of the current drugs strategy should be completed by the end of July. I estimate that approximately 30 meetings will take place, in various parts of the country with different interest groups. The draft strategy will then be discussed by...
- National Drugs Strategy. (14 Feb 2008)
Pat Carey: I will convey to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the Deputy's wish that a more open system for the disposal of drugs is put in place. The Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Ãamon à CuÃv, the Taoiseach and I attended a meeting of the British-Irish Council this morning, which was held in the Royal Hospital in Kilmainham. Attending were...
- National Drugs Strategy. (14 Feb 2008)
Pat Carey: I welcome the major drugs find in County Kildare, to which the Deputy refers, and congratulate the Garda SÃochána on the seizure. I also welcome the recent overall significant level of drugs seizures and associated arrests made by the Garda. I understand that the recent Garda successes are directly attributable to increased law enforcement at all levels, through intelligence-driven...
- National Drugs Strategy. (14 Feb 2008)
Pat Carey: The matter of safehouses to which Deputy Wall referred is of serious concern. In that regard and in respect of other matters, we have been engaging with the Garda at the interdepartmental committee on drugs and elsewhere. The Garda and the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform are represented at the former, which I chair. The most effective system of policing is the...
- National Drugs Strategy. (14 Feb 2008)
Pat Carey: Without pre-empting the next strategy, I thank Deputy Wall for raising this matter because more attention must be paid to the arc to which he refers â the Drogheda-Navan-Arklow area. I call them the new commuter towns, those that are within 50 km of Dublin city. The resources provided, including community policing, which has been a significant factor in bettering the situation in areas...
- Drug Treatment Programmes. (14 Feb 2008)
Pat Carey: At 31 December 2007, a total of 8,595 people were recorded on the central methadone treatment list prepared by the Drug Treatment Centre Board. This is the national register of those in receipt of methadone and records the number in treatment nationwide. The register covers the four Health Service Executive regions, including those in treatment in prisons and directly through the Drug...
- Drug Treatment Programmes. (14 Feb 2008)
Pat Carey: To a certain extent, the Deputy almost answered the question she raised. We need to establish a variety of treatment options which are appropriate on medical grounds. Methadone should not be a life sentence and options should be available to allow people to leave the programme. These options include detoxification and medical alternatives such as suboxone and naloxone currently under...
- Drug Treatment Programmes. (14 Feb 2008)
Pat Carey: The report of the mid-term review of the national drugs strategy, commonly known as the Rehab report, was published last May. Its recommendations form part of the programme for Government. As I indicated, I am determined to ensure the essential continuum of care is available. I started this process this year in the allocations I made to a number of projects and will continue with this...
- Voluntary Work. (14 Feb 2008)
Pat Carey: The report of the task force on active citizenship, which was completed last year, provides research indicators on trends in volunteering over recent years. In comparing the 2002 and 2006 surveys carried out by the ESRI, the report notes that participation in volunteering among Irish people increased from 17% in 2002 to 23% in 2006. Active community involvement is also up from 22% to 29% in...
- Voluntary Work. (14 Feb 2008)
Pat Carey: Part of the issue is due to the fact that a vast range of voluntary organisations are now in existence. Some of them are much smaller than the large organisations which existed in years gone by. I was in the Leas-Cheann Comhairle's county town last Friday, when I also visited Carlow and Kilkenny. I met with nine organisations during the course of the day and every one of them were driven...
- Voluntary Work. (14 Feb 2008)
Pat Carey: I am not sure legislative measures are needed. Among the supports volunteer centres provide are advice on issues such as adequate insurance and governance. We wondered if the vetting of volunteers would have reduced their numbers but it has not. A structure is being put in place to assist the volunteer centres and the organisations which will support the retention of volunteers. If...
- Community Allotment Schemes. (14 Feb 2008)
Pat Carey: Good news.
- Scéimeanna Tógála Scoile. (14 Feb 2008)
Pat Carey: Tá mé ag tabhairt freagra ar an Athló ar son an Aire Oideachais agus EolaÃochta, an Teachta Nà AinifÃn. Is mian liom buÃochas a ghlacadh leis an Teachta as ucht deis a thabhairt dom seasamh na Roinne a léiriú don Dáil maidir le sÃneadh a chur le Scoil Chonaill, An Bun Beag, Contae Dhún na nGall agus an scoil a athchóiriú. Tá an sÃneadh agus an t-athchóiriú atá beartaithe...
- Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (13 Feb 2008)
Pat Carey: The National Drugs Strategy Team (NDST) was set up in late 1996 to help co-ordinate a response to the drug problem. The NDST is a cross-sectoral Team, with representatives from Government Departments and Agencies and from the community and voluntary sectors. The main purpose of the NDST is: to ensure effective co-ordination in implementing the Government's National Drugs Strategy; to oversee...