Results 121-140 of 16,380 for are speaker:Heather Humphreys

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....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Community Development Projects (9 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: ...with their local authority. In this case, it is Cork City Council, which has a community section, like all local authorities. I would say to that local community to come together and come forward with a plan. There are different places they can apply to get funding to put together a proposal. For example, LEADER has been very good in the past at providing money for a feasibility study....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Community Development Projects (9 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I often find it is good if communities talk to other communities that have been successful. I have seen over the years that some communities are better than others at completing application forms. There has to be capacity building, which I accept. Cork City Council submitted an application for a new-build community centre at Newton Heights, Boherboy Road, Cork city, and that was...

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

Heather Humphreys: ...on 6 March. The relevant Departments and agencies provided progress updates at that meeting, particularly in respect of actions with a timeline of quarter 3 or quarter 4 of 2023. Further updates are expected at the next meeting of the monitoring committee, which is scheduled for 23 May. Some examples of the progress being reported to date under the action plan are as follows: a new...

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

Heather Humphreys: ..., we have waited a long time for the islands policy. The purpose of the monitoring committee is to ensure that the specific measures in the Our Living Islands policy and its associated action plan are put in place and acted on by the relevant Government Departments and agencies. The committee has a role to play. If it is not being acted upon, that will obviously be highlighted. The...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Tidy Towns (9 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: ...sponsor of the competition, and with our highly skilled and competent panel of adjudicators. My Department's role is to facilitate the administration of the adjudication process, but my officials are not actively involved in the formal adjudication of competition entries. Adjudication of competition entries typically takes place during the months of June and July over an intensive...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Tidy Towns (9 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: ...been a debate around posters. Personally, I would not lose any sleep if no posters were put up, but I recognise that first-time candidates want to get their face out there and I can see why they are needed. It is part of our democratic process, so I am not going to wade into any debate on that one. It has long been a tradition in Irish politics. It was only after midnight on Tuesday...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Tidy Towns (9 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The Deputy is right. We all have teams who put up and take down the posters. There is a need to be careful because sometimes posters have been put up low on the pole first as it is easier, and then you have to go up and up until you are at the top of the pole. I am always very conscious of the possibility of somebody slipping and falling. Those putting up the posters need to be careful....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Community Development Projects (9 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: ...community facilities. The development of large-scale new facilities on greenfield or brownfield sites was the focus of the community centre investment fund projects that I also announced last month. There are 12 projects supported with funding of €30 million. No application was received in respect of a community centre in Fair Hill, County Cork, but I expect there will be other...