Results 41-60 of 24,447 for speaker:Jerry Buttimer

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Library Projects (10 Jul 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: I propose to take Questions Nos. 407 and 410 together. The provision of library services is primarily a matter for local authorities in their capacity as library authorities under the Local Government Act 2001. Accordingly, the upgrade to St. Joseph's Library, Mayfield, Cork city is a matter for Cork City Council in the first instance. The proposal in respect of the library element of...

Transparency for Supermarket Profits: Motion [Private Members] (9 Jul 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: I am responding on the motion on behalf of the Minister of State, Deputy Dillon. I thank the members of the Social Democrats for their contributions this morning and thank all Members of the House for their varied and interesting comments. I begin by reiterating that the Government fully acknowledges the concerns raised in this Private Members' motion regarding the rising cost of...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Public Transport (9 Jul 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: I again thank Deputy John Connolly for his remarks and contribution. He is right that there is a need for co-ordination between all the different agencies and stakeholders to ensure we deliver for citizens and residents. I thank him for raising the matter, which is of huge importance to him, the people of Galway and the wider community. It has an impact on life and impinges on the quality...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Flexible Work Practices (9 Jul 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank Senator Scahill for raising this important matter. He is right; it is about putting in place sustainability for rural Ireland and tackling the issues he rightly addressed. It is about ensuring we have a future in rural Ireland that is based on the needs of the people. I am taking this matter on behalf of the Minister, Deputy Calleary. As the Senator will be aware, we have...

Seanad: Nithe i dtosach suíonna - Commencement Matters: Flexible Work Practices (9 Jul 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: Again, I thank Senator Scahill for his very valuable contribution. The Government is committed to the concept of remote working and is firmly of the view that it is about delivering real benefits in rural communities. As the Senator said, it is about high-paid, knowledge-based jobs and working with people like Tracy in Grow Remote to achieve that fourth pillar he rightly spoke about. We...

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate: Public Transport (9 Jul 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank Deputy Connolly for raising this very important matter. I am taking it on behalf of the Minister for Transport. The Department of Transport has responsibility for the provision of funding and setting of policy in relation to transport issues, including active travel. The NTA has responsibility for the allocation of funding to projects at local authority level and works with local...

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Community Development Projects (9 Jul 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: The Government's five-year strategy to support the community and voluntary sector, Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities, was published in 2019.  This is a whole of government strategy led by my Department, which is implemented collaboratively with the sector through the Cross Sector Group (CSG) on Local and Community Development. The CSG also sets priorities in...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (8 Jul 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: As Minister of State at the Department of Transport with special responsibility for Rural Transport I recognise the importance of boosting connectivity in County Clare. In the new Programme for Government, Securing Ireland's Future, this Government has committed to continuing the roll-out of the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan. The National Transport Authority (NTA) has statutory...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (8 Jul 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: As Minister of State at the Department of Transport with special responsibility for Rural Transport I recognise the importance of boosting connectivity in Counties Galway and Roscommon. In the new Programme for Government, Securing Ireland's Future, this Government has committed to continuing the roll-out of the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan. The National Transport Authority...

Select Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (Revised) (2 Jul 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank Deputy Roche for his comments and also for the work he and the development company do in his area. The budget for SICAP this year was €52.5 million, which represents an increase of €1.5 million on last year. At its core, it is about supporting and working with community groups, becoming more involved in areas and helping people to be able to avail of other Government...

Select Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Estimates for Public Services 2025
Vote 42 - Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (Revised) (2 Jul 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: I support the Minister, Deputy Calleary, and Deputy Aird regarding the LIS. It is an important scheme and I commend the Minister on his proactivity in trying to get extra funding. It is important. Deputy Aird is right. It is even an issue in my constituency of Cork South-Central, which has a rural part. A considerable number of people are enquiring. Last week we did one because of the...

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Rural and Community Development Matters: Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (2 Jul 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank Senator Rabbitte for the question. She is right that it is an issue that needs to be continually addressed and evolved. As she knows, the Minister, Deputy O'Brien, and I have announced 175 new charging points around the country as part of the wider plan to build a reliable charging network. The NTA has announced 186 sites for electric vehicles, one of which will include buses. I...

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Rural and Community Development Matters: Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (2 Jul 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: I join the Deputy in thanking and paying tribute to the Waterford Area Partnership, which does great work. On the day we met them, one would have to be blown away by the wonderful array of services and supports available. Regarding the question on the community centres investment fund, CCIF, that is the Minister, Deputy Calleary's responsibility. I am sure we will look at all applications...

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Rural and Community Development Matters: Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (2 Jul 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: The national forum of women's sheds met with officials from our Department on 25 June to discuss how it might be further supported to become a national organisation. Meetings were also attended by the Department of Health and engagement is ongoing. Women's sheds under the LEP were awarded €76,000 but the Minister and I are working to put in place a mechanism to support them because...

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Rural and Community Development Matters: Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (2 Jul 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: First, the regulator is independent. Second, there is frustration around some cases taking a longer time than normal for registration and completion of the process. The Charities Regulator has a duty to go through each case individually and to assess it minutely and carefully under the Charities Act. In some more complex cases, there is a delay. There has been an increase in allocation to...

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Rural and Community Development Matters: Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (2 Jul 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: All I can say is the regulator has been given an additional €470,000 to enable it to perform its statutory duties. A number of additional staff have been appointed to assist in terms of compliance, enforcement and registration functions. The increase in staff allocation takes into account the additional responsibilities the regulator has because of the implementation of the Charities...

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Rural and Community Development Matters: Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (2 Jul 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: I join the Minister in complimenting the Senator on the work she did around social farming during her tenure in the Department of Health. Where a local development company identifies a need, social farming initiatives are funded under the PsyCap programme. In certain parts of the country, such as County Kerry, great work is being done. In other areas, social farming is funded by the HSE....

Joint Committee on Social Protection, Rural and Community Development: Rural and Community Development Matters: Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (2 Jul 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank the Chair for raising the issue of the next generation mobile library vehicles. Our Department is expending €2.6 million on 12 next generation mobile library vehicles. I highlight to the committee a genuine position, which is that each of those vehicles has to be specially constructed. That leads to difficulties with delivery time because of global supply chain issues. Our...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Bus Services (2 Jul 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: As Minister of State at the Department of Transport with special responsibility for Rural Transport I recognise the importance of the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan. In the new Programme for Government, Securing Ireland's Future, this Government has committed to ensuring that public transport operators provide safe and accessible access for all passengers. To address specific...

Written Answers — Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport: Public Transport (2 Jul 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: As Minister of State at the Department of Transport with special responsibility for Rural Transport I recognise the importance of boosting connectivity in County Donegal. In the new Programme for Government, Securing Ireland's Future, this Government has committed to continuing the roll-out of the Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan and continued investment in new town bus services. In...