Results 1,521-1,540 of 4,700 for speaker:Noel Ahern

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (28 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: The Social Finance Foundation is the responsibility of the Department of Finance and my Department has no formal role in relation to the initiative.

Written Answers — Drug Treatment Programme: Drug Treatment Programme (28 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: The research referred to by the Deputy is part of the Research Outcome Study in Ireland (ROSIE) which was commissioned by the National Advisory Committee on Drugs (NACD). The Study aims to assess the effectiveness of treatment for drug users over a period of time and the overall message emerging is that current treatment of opiate users is having significantly positive effects. The ROSIE...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (28 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: The provisional expenditure figure for this scheme in 2006 was €4.8 m. (This compared with an estimate of €3 m.) The Programme of Grants for Locally-Based Community & Voluntary Organisations was re-advertised in August last. A closing date of 25 September 2006 applied for applications under the Scheme of Equipment Grants and the Scheme of Training, Education and Research Grants. No...

Written Answers — Security of the Elderly: Security of the Elderly (28 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: The purpose of the Scheme of Community Support for Older People is to encourage and assist the community's support for older people by means of a community based grant scheme to improve the security of its older members. The funding available in 2007 is €3 million. This Scheme is open to people aged 65 and over who have a genuine need for assistance and it is administered by community and...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (28 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 48 of 5 October 2006. My Department is currently developing new White Paper funding schemes to replace the current schemes due to cease mid-2007. I expect to be in a position to advertise these new funding schemes in the near future.

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (28 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 116 and 126 together. I want to acknowledge, with regret, the tragic deaths late last year of a number of heroin users in Dublin. They illustrate again the inherent dangers associated with drug misuse. In order for the exact cause of these deaths to be ascertained, toxicology reports were initiated. However, I understand the results of these tests are not...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (28 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: The Emerging Needs Fund was established to facilitate a flexible and timely response to evolving needs in regard to drug misuse in Local Drugs Task Force (LDTF) areas. To date, I have allocated almost €4m under the Fund to 67 projects, 63 of which are based in Dublin LDTF areas. A wide variety of projects are involved, including cocaine and poly-drug use projects, rehabilitation...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (28 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: As the Deputy is probably aware, research is one of the five pillars of the National Drugs Strategy 2001-2008. The key objectives under this pillar are to have valid, timely and comparable data available on the extent of drug misuse amongst the population. In this context, the National Advisory Committee on Drugs (NACD) was established in 2000 to advise Government in relation to prevalence,...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (28 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: Under the Community Development programme, multi-annual funding is provided to locally based voluntary and community groups involved in anti-poverty and social inclusion initiatives. Since June 2002 my Department has provided funding of approx €6.8 million to Community Development Projects in County Cork. Details of the funding and the projects involved are shown in the table below. It is...

Written Answers — Educational Disadvantage: Educational Disadvantage (28 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: Disbursements from the Dormant Accounts Fund are designed to assist three broad categories of persons: those affected by economic and social disadvantage; those affected by educational disadvantage; and persons with a disability. Within the overall allocation of €60 million in 2006, the Government ring-fenced €18 million from dormant accounts to support projects tackling educational...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (28 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: The Local and Regional Drugs Task Forces bring together all Departments and State Agencies involved with tackling problem drug use, as well as the community and voluntary sectors. It is imperative that there is full engagement by all parties to ensure the success of the Task Forces and the co-ordinated implementation of the National Drugs Strategy. I have not been notified of any issue in...

Written Answers — Support for Older People: Support for Older People (28 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: Any local voluntary or community based organisations, especially those working with or providing support for older people, can apply for funding under the Scheme of Community Support for Older People. Full information on the Scheme is publicly available on my Department's website at www.pobail.ie, including lists of organisations already funded under the Scheme. In addition, for the last...

Written Answers — Community Support Grants: Community Support Grants (28 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 221 and 222 together. The Programme of Grants for Locally-Based Community and Voluntary Organisations was launched in August 2006 and to date approximately 1,300 applications have been received. While a closing date of 25th September applied to the Scheme of Equipment and the Scheme of Training, Education and Research, no closing date applies to the Scheme of...

Written Answers — Support for Older People: Support for Older People (28 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: The purpose of the Scheme of Community Support for Older People is to encourage and assist the community's support for older people by means of a community based grant scheme to improve the security of its older members. This Scheme is open to people aged 65 and over who have a genuine need for assistance and it is administered by community and voluntary organisations throughout the country...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (28 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 227 to 229, inclusive, together. The majority of current expenditure allocated to community groups through my Department for drugs initiatives is channeled through the Local Drugs Task Forces (including the Emerging Needs Fund), the Regional Drugs Task Forces and the Young People's Facilities and Services Fund. The combined current expenditure on these in 2006...

Written Answers — Dormant Accounts Fund: Dormant Accounts Fund (28 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: Dormant Accounts legislation provides for an annual transfer by credit institutions and insurance undertakings of monies in dormant accounts into the Dormant Accounts Fund. Since the establishment of the Fund in May 2003, a total of €373.2 million has been transferred, of which €112.6 million has been reclaimed. At this juncture, it is difficult to estimate what the inflows to the Fund...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (28 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: My Department supports the Safe Home Programme which aids returning Irish emigrants in securing social housing supports where they are eligible for them. Under an amendment made to the terms of my Department's voluntary housing Capital Assistance Scheme in November 2001, up to 25% of accommodation in new projects provided throughout the country by individual voluntary housing bodies with...

Written Answers — Home Improvement Grants: Home Improvement Grants (28 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: There are no specific grants available from my Department or local authorities for energy retention improvements to homes. However, Sustainable Energy Ireland, under the auspices of the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources, operates a Low Income Housing Programme. This was set up to help establish and implement a national plan of action to address the problem of fuel...

Seanad: Traffic Calming Measures. (28 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: I thank Senator Dooley for raising this matter. I accept traffic control is an important issue which could contribute so much to the quality of life in residential developments. Providing homes to people in sustainable communities is at the heart of the Government's policy as set out in the new detailed housing policy statement launched recently. The Government's policy includes a strong...

Seanad: Occupational Injuries Benefits Scheme. (28 Feb 2007)

Noel Ahern: I thank the Senator for raising this issue and will respond to it on behalf of the Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Deputy Brennan. The social welfare code already provides for payments to former mine workers who suffered a loss of faculty arising from their employment as miners. Disablement benefit, payable under the occupational injuries benefit, OIB, scheme, is a compensation...