Results 1-20 of 16,601 for speaker:Dara Calleary

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Men's Sheds (16 Oct 2025)

Dara Calleary: Through the scheme to support national organisations, we do support the IMSA in its infrastructure and scaffolding so that it can distribute the funding. I have commitments and responsibilities in terms of the expenditure of money. I have to be sure the money is spent properly and appropriately and so, when we engage in multi-annual funding with any organisation, it is important for us to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Men's Sheds (16 Oct 2025)

Dara Calleary: Certainty is in what we have given to date. Funding has been provided over a number of years. There is certainty through the scheme to support national organisations and that gives the backup for the infrastructure. We work very closely with the IMSA. It has just finished a consultation process with local men's sheds as to what it will be looking for grant-wise. We want that process to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Programmes (16 Oct 2025)

Dara Calleary: As the Deputy knows, the LEADER programme is a multi-annual funding programme. It is cofinanced by the European Commission under the Common Agricultural Policy, CAP. The current LEADER programme is operational across the country as we speak, with total funding of €180 million allocated across local action groups to cover the period 2023 to 2027. When considering LEADER...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Programmes (16 Oct 2025)

Dara Calleary: Absolutely. Since 1991, LEADER companies around the country have made a huge difference. LEADER projects have made a massive difference. It was the former Tánaiste and former Commissioner, Ray McSharry, and the former Minister of State and MEP Mark Killilea. Ireland's fingerprints are very much associated with LEADER and the success of LEADER to date. I will be working to ensure our...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Men's Sheds (16 Oct 2025)

Dara Calleary: I thank the Deputy. The emergence of men’s sheds and women's sheds has been an enormously positive development for communities across Ireland. The Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, and I are fully committed to supporting men's and women's sheds in the valuable work they do. My Department provides funding to men's and women’s sheds under various supports, including the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Irish Language (16 Oct 2025)

Dara Calleary: Le bheith soiléir, tá mé chun an cheist a fhreagairt as Béarla-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Irish Language (16 Oct 2025)

Dara Calleary: -----ionas nach mbeidh botún san eolas. My Department provides a subsidy under scéim na bhfoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge which is payable to qualifying Gaeltacht households providing accommodation for those attending an Irish course in any of the 40 or so Irish-language colleges that operate under the scheme. The scheme was established over 50 years ago in order to foster language...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Irish Language (16 Oct 2025)

Dara Calleary: Absolutely. I want students to learn Irish and to enjoy the experience of attending a summer college. Tá scéim na bhfoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge bunaithe ar dhaltaí ag dul go dtí an Ghaeltacht chun taithí foghlama agus taithí chónaithe sa Ghaeltacht a fháil. Tá sé tábhachtach go bhfuil an Roinn oideachais páirteach sa phróiseas...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Irish Language (16 Oct 2025)

Dara Calleary: Iarraim ar an Teachta na sonraí a chur chugam. Tá sé tábhachtach go mbaineann gach aon rud laistigh den scoilbhliain leis an Roinn oideachais. Nuair atá sé taobh amuigh den scoilbhliain, tá seans againn é a phlé. When it is inside the existing school year, the Department of education, I think we all agree, must have approval over that. We will...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Irish Language (16 Oct 2025)

Dara Calleary: -----that anything within the school year is a matter for the Department of education initially, and if it approves, then we will examine it. Tá scéim na bhfoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge thar a bheith tábhachtach. Tá méadú mór déanta agam agus scéim nua agam an tseachtain seo le cinntiú go mbeidh daoine a bhí sa scéim roimh 2019 in ann...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Funding (16 Oct 2025)

Dara Calleary: The former Minister, Healther Humphreys, did not slash any budget. Within the 2023 to 2027 programme, 38 projects have been funded across all the LAGs in Galway, the vast majority of which - 24 - are actually in Galway East. I have spoken about the work that is under way with the Minister, Deputy Heydon, as Minister for agriculture, but also with the Minister of State, Deputy Thomas Byrne,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Schemes (16 Oct 2025)

Dara Calleary: I thank the Deputy for his question. As part of the ongoing process of co-ordinated scheme delivery across my Department, schemes such as the outdoor recreation infrastructure scheme, ORIS, involve a well-established process of issuing calls for applications, project evaluation and project selection. In general, my Department's schemes are administered on a competitive basis, which...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Schemes (16 Oct 2025)

Dara Calleary: I could not agree with the Deputy more on outdoor recreation. The focus of the ORIS scheme is to support outdoor recreation infrastructure. It funds projects such as walkways, cycleways, blueways, water and cycle trails, mountain-access routes and open water amenities of bogs, rivers, lakes and beaches, including tidal pools. Projects are generally located in the countryside under the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Schemes (16 Oct 2025)

Dara Calleary: We funded 59 projects in Galway since 2020 under ORIS with an investment of €4.944 million. There are some really good ones, including the Creggs mountain walk and the Glinsk Heritage Park, which are two really good examples. In relation to the LIS, since 2020 we have funded 195 roads in Galway, an investment of €10.04 million. That is money well spent. As regards ORIS,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Vacant Properties (16 Oct 2025)

Dara Calleary: As the Deputy knows, last week we announced €20 million in rural regeneration and development funding for 30 projects across Ireland, including in his home town. I thank Deputy McCarthy for his work in lobbying for that. Fermoy will see the €772,000 development of a derelict site. This is something that the Deputy and the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, worked closely...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Vacant Properties (16 Oct 2025)

Dara Calleary: My Department has funded 26 town centre first plans which are focused on existing facilities and buildings within town centres. They are concerned with what we call the public realm and aim to enhance the town centre experience. I make the point regularly, and did so again when I spoke at a national conference in Leitrim on Monday, that we have to come up with new reasons for people to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Funding (16 Oct 2025)

Dara Calleary: As the Deputy knows, my Department is responsible for the existing LEADER programme which is part of Ireland’s CAP strategic plan covering 2023 to 2027. It is co-funded by the EU and the Exchequer. The LEADER programme is administered by local action groups on behalf of my Department and has been at the heart of rural development in Ireland for over 30 years. It plays a vital role...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Funding (16 Oct 2025)

Dara Calleary: Under the current LEADER programme, Galway has an allocation of €9 million. Approximately €5.5 million of that is allocated to Galway East for both projects and administration costs. A number of factors are considered when deciding on the funding allocations. These include providing a minimum allocation of €3 million to each sub-regional area. The remaining funding is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Irish Language (16 Oct 2025)

Dara Calleary: Aontaím go bhfuil fuinneamh iontach i gcúrsaí Gaeltachta agus Gaeilge ag an bpointe seo. Tá sé sin iontach le feiceáil. Táimid díreach tar éis an méadú is mó le blianta a thabhairt don bhuiséad don Ghaeltacht agus do chúrsaí Gaeilge le haghaidh an chéad bhliain eile, 2026. Bhí comhrá agus plé...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Irish Language (16 Oct 2025)

Dara Calleary: Tá athrú ag tarlú ar na figiúirí sin. Sa bhuiséad do 2026, tá ardú 22% ar mhaoiniú do chúrsaí Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta. Is féidir é sin a chur i gcomparáid le hardú 7% nó 8% ar chaiteachas Stáit go ginearálta. Is ceann de na harduithe is mó le haghaidh aon rud sa Rialtas in 2026 é sin....