Results 1,841-1,860 of 4,700 for speaker:Noel Ahern

Seanad: Homelessness: Motion (15 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: The resources are being provided. In tomorrow's Estimates, Members will see that more and more money is being provided for social housing. We are well ahead on our expenditure on the national development plan in that area. I accept that the figure for needs assessment is still at 43,000, but it is down 10%. Approximately 40% of those included are single. Senator Brady correctly pointed...

Seanad: Homelessness: Motion (15 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: The notion that we are doing nothing and the authorities are looking for money is wrong. I want units to be built and I expect something for providing the money. However, the authorities have given us their strategies and plans and we are resourcing that. If that is not enough, their officials should tell us. I welcome this debate. I thank the Senators for their contributions. We are all...

Seanad: Homelessness: Motion (15 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: ——but we are working with the groups. The motion was a bit unbalanced.

Seanad: Homelessness: Motion (15 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: It was not a true reflection of what has happened.

Seanad: Homelessness: Motion (15 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: The amendment gives us a better flavour of what has happened and where we are going.

Written Answers — Social and Affordable Housing: Social and Affordable Housing (14 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: Part V provides an important mechanism for the delivery of social and affordable housing as part of overall housing output. Local authorities have been urged to ensure the earliest possible delivery of output under Part V. In relation to individual developments, it is a matter for local authorities to ensure full compliance by developers with the conditions associated with the granting of...

Written Answers — Rural Regeneration: Rural Regeneration (14 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: Inspections in relation to 4 applications involving a number of properties by this company were carried out on 7 November 2006. The applicant was advised that additional works must be completed in respect of each of the properties concerned. On receipt of notification in writing that all specified works are completed a further inspection will be arranged.

Written Answers — Building Regulations: Building Regulations (14 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: A Floor Area Compliance Certificate can only issue where a house or apartment meets the conditions and standards specified by my Department and set out in the Explanatory Memorandum (HA1). In particular, the construction of a house or apartment must be in compliance with the requirements of the Building Regulations and Part C Technical Standards of the HA1. Where unconventional materials or...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (9 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 10 and 194 together. The 10 Regional Drugs Task Forces (RDTFs) that have been established to include all parts of the country not covered by a Local Drugs Task Force are charged with researching, developing, implementing and monitoring a co-ordinated response to illicit drug use at regional level. The South West RDTF has responsibility for County Kildare, West...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (9 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11, 40 and 43 together. I was pleased to launch the report, to which the Deputies refer, last week. The campaign was brought about through a unique alliance of groups and agencies working on the frontline on drugs issues in the area in question and funded by my Department through the Local Drugs Task Force. The main function of the campaign was to gather...

Written Answers — Dormant Accounts Fund: Dormant Accounts Fund (9 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: Disbursements from the Dormant Accounts Fund are for the purpose of assisting three broad categories of persons — those who are economically or socially disadvantaged; those who are educationally disadvantaged and persons with a disability. To date in 2006, the Government has approved the allocation of over €13.4 million from the Dormant Accounts Fund to support a range of funding...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (9 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: I would not accept the view that the National Drug Strategy is failing. Indeed, the main finding of the mid-term review of the Strategy was that the current aims and objectives were fundamentally sound and that progress was being made across all pillars of the Strategy. It would seem from newspaper reports that the Chief Executive of Merchants Quay Ireland, speaking at the launch of his...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (9 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: Ten Regional Drugs Task Forces (RDTFs) have been established to include all parts of the country not covered by a Local Drugs Task Force, thus achieving full coverage of the country. The RDTFs are charged with researching, developing, implementing and monitoring a co-ordinated response to illicit drug use at regional level. Each Task Force has an independent Chairperson and is made up of...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (9 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: The National Advisory Committee on Drugs is in the process of completing an update on Cocaine Use in Ireland and, while this research is still a work in progress, the indications are that the use of cocaine is increasing and that a small number of injecting drug users are combining cocaine and heroin (speedball). The National Drug Treatment Reporting System (NDTRS), which is an...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (9 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: Through the implementation structures of the National Drugs Strategy, my officials have ongoing contact with representatives of An Garda Síochána, and the prevalence of crack cocaine in the country is among the issues discussed from time to time. I also periodically meet senior officers of An Garda Síochána to review developments in regard to illicit drugs. The Gardaí have reported a...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (9 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: The recently published report of the Law Reform Commission (LRC) to which the Deputy refers related to the areas of Charitable Trusts and of Legal Structures for Charities. With regard to the issue of Charitable Trusts, the Deputy will be aware that, following the publication by my Department of its Consultation Paper on Establishing a Modern Statutory Framework for Charities, the LRC agreed...

Written Answers — Dormant Accounts Fund: Dormant Accounts Fund (9 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: The key objective in allocating funds from Dormant Accounts is to ensure that disbursements are targeted at those most in need in society. Funding from Dormant Accounts is designed to complement the range of Government programmes that address economic, social and educational disadvantage and assist persons with a disability. An innovative feature of the 2006 round of Dormant Accounts Funding...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (9 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 49 and 54 together. The study referred to by the Deputies, which was commissioned by the National Advisory Committee on Drugs (NACD) under Action 98 of the National Drugs Strategy, was an exploratory study of relatively small scale, aimed at assessing the nature and extent of drug use amongst the Traveller Community in Ireland. The study shows that Travellers...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (9 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 51 and 53 together. My Department and the bodies under its aegis co-operate with colleagues in Northern Ireland on an ongoing basis in relation to various aspects of the National Drugs Strategy. Prominent among the more formal links is the work of the British-Irish Council Sectoral Group on the Misuse of Drugs. As the Deputy is aware, the British Irish...

Written Answers — National Drugs Strategy: National Drugs Strategy (9 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: The all-island Drug Prevalence Survey 2006/07 is currently underway with fieldwork to be completed in April 2007. This will be followed by an analysis of the data, resulting in the publication of the first series of results in late 2007. The study will cover cocaine, including crack cocaine, and figures for the latter will be provided. A briefing paper on cocaine arising from the 2002/2003...