Results 101-120 of 16,368 for are speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Gender Recognition (14 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: ...adoption is registered in the State, They have become an Irish citizen by having their birth registered in the Foreign Births Register maintained by the Minister for Foreign Affairs , or They are ordinarily resident in the State. The application process was set up to cater for applicants born in the State, born abroad but ordinarily resident in the State and born and living abroad but...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Advertising (14 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The Department of Social Protection is committed to ensuring that members of the public are fully aware of the welfare supports and services available to them. Public information campaigns, including advertising in print media, are an important part of this work. The costs of print media advertising for my Department for each of the years 2020 to date is outlined below in tabular form....

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (14 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: ...has been allocated funding of almost €7 million for 73 projects. The most recent announcement saw Meath County Council allocated more than €1.1 million for 4 project. Details of approved projects are available on my Department's website. Local authorities have 18 months to deliver projects allocated funding under the 2023 Scheme, and in recognition of the difficulties...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (14 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: Community centres are a vital resource for any community. They are where we go for community activities and events, and for social supports and social interaction. They are home to many of our cultural and sporting clubs. They are also where communities come together in times of difficulty and in times of celebration. I have prioritised the development and enhancement of community centres...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (14 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: ...scheme which directly supports the objectives of Our Rural Future and the Town Centre First policy and provides funding for the development and construction of capital projects in towns, villages and rural areas across Ireland. This project will enhance the trail quality and visitor experience to make a positive economic and social contribution to local communities. The project will also...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Policies (14 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: ..., local authority officials and Town Teams. Amongst the initiatives supported by my Department under TCF is the development of TCF Plans which help rural towns develop a vision for their local areas and identify viable projects to realise this vision. The pilot programme consisted of 26 plans which are now all completed and can be viewed on the towncentrefirst.ie website. Last...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (14 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: ...(SICAP), the Community Services Programme (CSP), the Community Enhancement Programme and the Community Recognition Fund. Many of my Department’s programmes, particularly those that community groups may apply to, are administered by the Local Authorities/Local Community Development Committees (LCDC’s) or the Local Action Groups, allowing greater flexibility at local level...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Employment Rights (14 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: There have been no cases to date of bogus self-employment in my Department before the SCOPE section of the Department of Social Protection. There are four organisations under the aegis of my Department. These are Pobal, Water Safety Ireland, the Western Development Commission and the Charities Regulator. Similarly, none of these bodies have any cases that are before the SCOPE section of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Library Services (9 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I love libraries. They are wonderful places and do fantastic work. They are hives of activity for all the community. Older people learn computer skills. There are language classes for people who are looking to learn a new language. There are book clubs, which are a great way to meet people. A lot is happening in our libraries. We have 330 libraries across the country. They come in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Library Services (9 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: ...priority for me, as Minister, and this is reflected in the new public library strategy, The Library Is the Place, which I launched in July last year. The strategy recognises that public libraries are at the heart of our communities. My Department is supporting this by providing a wide range of funding for library buildings, mobile library vehicles and ICT equipment. Last month, I...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Schemes (9 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I agree. I go through towns, see vacant and derelict buildings and ask why we are not doing something with these. They are a resource now because they are serviced, they have electricity, sewerage and water. We have been doing a lot of work with local authorities trying to get more people back living in the centre of towns. I am a great supporter of that because I believe there are huge...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Schemes (9 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: ...town and village renewal scheme provides grants of up to €500,000 for large-scale projects. If you need more funding for bigger projects, there is the rural regeneration fund. The town centre first officers are making a difference, as is giving extra funding to town teams, which are local people. Local people know what towns need. They have a wealth of local knowledge as to who...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Control of Dogs (9 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The stakeholder group has had an initial meeting and a follow-up meeting as well. The members are looking at a number of issues. I am happy to hear what their views are. It is a diverse group and I will take on board the recommendations they put forward to me. Going back to the dog wardens, I have given more funding - an extra €2 million - to local authorities to upgrade the dog...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Schemes (9 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: ...of vacancy in town centres featured heavily in the applications under the 2023 scheme. The county of Cork is fortunate to have two local authorities, and I am delighted to confirm that the county has again fared well under the recent announcement of town and village renewal scheme funding. Since the inception of the scheme, Cork County Council has been allocated funding of more than...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Schemes (9 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputies for their contributions. I will ask the officials to speak to Kerry County Council. There is a big difference in the average cost of the of the lanes. Are there longer lanes in Kerry? That is the only thing I do not know.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Schemes (9 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: They seem to be doing fewer of them. We should look at the number of kilometres that are covered. That would probably be a good indication. I am happy to engage. I have reviewed the criteria. I will come back to Deputy Troy on the part about the second parcel of land needing to be a minimum of 1 ha. I am not sure; I am not across the finer details. We leave it up to the discretion...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Control of Dogs (9 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: ...Dogs Act, including trebling the fines for most serious offences from €100 to €300. Multiple fines can be issued where more than one offence occurs. It is important for dog owners to be aware of their responsibilities, not just to the general public but also to their dogs. For this reason, I have just launched a major national awareness campaign to alert dog owners to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Control of Dogs (9 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: ...group has a broad and diverse range of viewpoints. One member is a representative of Dogs Trust, which does excellent work. They bring important experience of what they see from an animal welfare point of view. Farming interests are also represented on the group. The Deputy mentioned livestock. It is not nice to see livestock being attacked by dogs. I expect they will talk about...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Island Communities (9 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: ...will get an update on Caladh Mór for the Deputy. There will be a question about the matter later. Progress is definitely being made on Inis Oírr and Inis Meáin. I have been out there and am aware of the need for investment in the piers. Roads were a big issue initially. I think I have managed to make good progress on the roads. Remote working has been a game-changer...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Schemes (9 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take questions Nos. 5, 7, 9, 28 and 41 together. The LIS supports the improvement of rural roads and laneways that are not normally maintained by the local authorities. I am acutely aware of the importance of the scheme to rural landowners and residents. That is why, as part of Our Rural Future, the Government is committed to ensuring that the LIS is funded into the future....