Results 1,861-1,880 of 4,700 for speaker:Noel Ahern

Written Answers — Security of the Elderly: Security of the Elderly (9 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: I understand that the situation on which the Deputy's question is based is a particular and localised one and affects approximately 40/45 individuals with socially-monitored alarms in Co. Westmeath, where the 04 STD area underwent a number change under the 'National Numbering Scheme', which is managed and administered by ComReg. My Department has been in contact with the local groups and I...

Written Answers — Voluntary Sector Funding: Voluntary Sector Funding (9 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: Regarding the status of the White Paper on a Framework for Supporting Voluntary Activity, I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 48 of 5th October, 2006. The current status of funding schemes under the White Paper is as follows: Under the Funding Scheme to Support the Role of Federations, Networks and Umbrella bodies, 32 groups have been funded to a total of €6.78m over three and a...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (9 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 60 and 179 together. The Young Peoples Facilities and Services Fund was established in 1998 to assist in the development of facilities (including sport and recreational facilities) and services in disadvantaged areas where a significant drug problem existed or had the potential to develop. While some of the expenditure is for capital work on the provision of...

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

Noel Ahern: The 3-Source Capture Recapture Study of the prevalence of opiate use in Ireland, published by the National Advisory Committee on Drugs (NACD) in May 2003, was the source of the information. It estimated that 14,452 people in Ireland were using heroin in the 2000/01 period. Of these 12,456 were in the greater Dublin area. This represented a decrease on a 1996 figure, which estimated that...

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: There are inherent dangers in drug use, including the use of cocaine. In particular the consumption of cocaine with alcohol, which is converted in the body to cocaethylene and which is more toxic than either drug consumed separately, can be extremely hazardous. I believe that there are encouraging signs of progress over the past couple of years — be it in the areas of drug seizures, the...

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

Noel Ahern: Decisions on the disbursements of funds from dormant accounts under the initial round of funding were a matter for the Dormant Accounts Fund Disbursements Board, an independent body established under the Dormant Accounts Acts. Under this round, the Board received 1,649 applications and approved 521 projects for funding totalling over €60 million. The Board engaged Pobal (formerly Area...

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

Noel Ahern: Since the establishment of Local Drugs Task Forces (LDTFs) in 1997 over €122m has been allocated to the 14 LDTFs to implement action plans for their areas. This figure includes monies allocated to some LDTF projects before they were mainstreamed to other Departments and Agencies who now fund them. It also includes capital allocations under the Premises Initiative totalling €14m and...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (9 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 183 and 187 together. A substantial number of applications, including from the organisations referred to by the Deputy, have been received by my Department under the 2006 Programme of Grants for Locally-Based Community and Voluntary Organisations and these are currently being assessed. Decisions in respect of all applications will be made by me following this...

Written Answers — Community Development: Community Development (9 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: Funding has already been provided to community groups in respect of 46 applications under the Scheme of Community Support for Older People. The case mentioned by the Deputy is one of approximately 120 further applications that will be considered for approval shortly. Where an application is approved, payment will issue promptly. A further 80 applications approximately are in earlier stages...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (9 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: Following the enactment of the Dormant Accounts (Amendment) Act 2005, the Government approved the allocation of €60 million from the Dormant Accounts Fund in 2006 under the following headings: €24 million to support economic and social disadvantage measures; €18 million to tackle educational disadvantage; and €18 million to assist persons with a disability. Under the Economic and...

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

Noel Ahern: Since 1997, across the 14 Local Drugs Task Force areas, over 440 community-based projects have been established with funding in the region of €122m provided. These projects, some of which have been mainstreamed to other Departments and Agencies in the interim, employ more than 300 people. In the current year, 361 projects, including those under the Emerging Needs Fund, are receiving...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (9 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: The number of completions and acquisitions under the Local Authority Housing Measure of the National Development Plan 2000-2006 at 30 June 2006 was 28,340. Cumulative expenditure for the same period was €4.3 billion.

Written Answers — Private Rented Accommodation: Private Rented Accommodation (9 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: I propose to take Questions Nos. 277 and 283 together. All landlords have a legal obligation to ensure that their rented properties comply with the Housing (Standards for Rented Houses) Regulations 1993, which include an obligation to ensure that all out-offices, yards and forecourts within the curtilage of the building and all boundary walls, fences and railings are maintained in good...

Written Answers — Local Authority Housing: Local Authority Housing (9 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: All aspects of the tenant purchase scheme are currently under review in accordance with the Government's commitment in the housing policy framework — Building Sustainable Communities, announced in December 2005. Details of the revised scheme will be announced over the coming months.

National Drugs Strategy. (9 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: The mid-term review of the national drugs strategy recommended the development of a fifth pillar of the strategy focusing on rehabilitation. Arising from this, a working group on drugs rehabilitation was set up in September 2005 under the aegis of my Department to develop proposals to augment existing rehabilitation services. The working group includes representatives from a range of...

National Drugs Strategy. (9 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: What was the bit that was excluded?

National Drugs Strategy. (9 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: I did not know that part of the Deputy's question had been excluded.

National Drugs Strategy. (9 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: I do not even see any words that——

National Drugs Strategy. (9 Nov 2006)

Noel Ahern: The Leas-Cheann Comhairle might help the Deputy in that regard.