Results 20,021-20,040 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Community Development Projects (15 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I see the point the Deputy is making all right. In fairness, the majority of the applications that came in were from community owned ones. There are some local authority owned ones. However, I take the Deputy's point that if there is an obligation on the local authorities to support those centres, they should be honouring that obligation. At the same time, we want to make sure that we...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Schemes (15 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I thank Deputy Canney for raising this. The local improvement scheme, LIS, supports the improvement of rural roads and laneways that are not normally maintained by local authorities. As part of Our Rural Future, the Government is committed to ensuring that the LIS is funded into the future. The scheme makes an important contribution to connectivity in rural Ireland. I am also committed to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Schemes (15 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I agree with Deputy Canney. The Deputy is correct that it is active travel. Where I was reared, it was a lane a mile long. It was very active when one was late for the bus, I can tell the Deputy. The Deputy is correct because many people use those ways. They are safe places to walk in rural Ireland because it is not safe to walk on the main road. There are laneways, for example,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Schemes (15 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I will give the updated figures on Galway. It has secured combined funding of over €3.26 billion over the past two years. Forty-nine roads were upgraded in 2021 and a further 50 this year. Of course, resources are finite but I am tackling the situation. I doubled the LIS roads allocation originally envisaged in last year's budget and this year alone, I invested €22...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Island Communities (15 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I thank Deputy Connolly. I know this is something she is very committed to. As the Deputy is aware, the Government is committed to publishing a ten-year policy on island development with associated three-year action plans. The programme for Government includes a commitment in this regard. As Minister with responsibility for the islands I am determined to ensure the policy is delivered. ...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Island Communities (15 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I thank Deputy Connolly. The final draft will be submitted to me by the end of the year. We are very close to the end of the year and I want that draft. With regard to the next steps after that, I hope, if I am still here, to take the draft to a Cabinet committee early in the new year and then to the Government. What is most important is that we have a strong policy at the end of the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Island Communities (15 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: No.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Island Communities (15 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I thank Deputy Connolly. I will address the issue on LEADER in response to a later question. No islander is putting us under pressure to get this done. What they are putting us under pressure for is a policy document with actions that will deliver and make a difference to their lives. This is what they tell us. I will get the draft submitted to me by the end of the year. The next step...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Library Projects (15 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I thank Deputy O'Dowd for raising this matter. The Department is responsible for policy on public libraries. The provision of library services, including the provision of library buildings, is primarily a matter for local authorities in their capacity as library authorities under the Local Government Act 2001. Accordingly, the development of a new public library in Dunleer is, first and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Library Projects (15 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: It was great that under the building acquisitions measure, some €300,000 was approved for Louth County Council to purchase the old Bank of Ireland building in Dunleer. Funding under the measure is for the purchase of derelict and vacant buildings. That money is only for the purchase of buildings, but if Louth County Council decides to develop the building into a library - the Deputy...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Library Projects (15 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: It is expected a call for proposals for the new libraries capital programme will be issued in the new year. That will run from 2023 to 2027. I would say to the Deputy to get Louth County Council looking at this. It should get the finger out and get the plans in because the call will be issued. I am happy to support the council in any way I can but it will have to come from the council....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Library Projects (15 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: When I was the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, they were great contributors to the arts. What they contributed to this country in philanthropic support has been outstanding. The Deputy has a good man in his corner there. I have no doubt he will see the railway station, even though it is not under the remit of my Department, there very soon.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Schemes (15 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. The CLÁR programme provides funding for small-scale projects in designated rural areas that have experienced significant levels of depopulation over a defined period. Since the programme was relaunched in 2016, it has supported a wide range of measures. The CLÁR 2022 programme was launched in February this year and I am delighted to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Schemes (15 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Deputy and I both know the benefits of CLÁR funding well. The Deputy has been on to me about different projects. Kilnaleck recently received €50,000 for the upgrade of the playground and St. Anne's National School's parents' association got €45,000 to build a multi-use games area, MUGA. Lavey Community Group got €50,000 to provide wheelchair access. The...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Schemes (15 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I will come back to the Deputy.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Schemes (15 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I am happy to take on board the Deputy's suggestions of other criteria we can look at for areas that are not included. We did a review and we found the population had actually increased, which is good to see, but it is also important to say there are other funding streams from my Department. The Deputy will be very familiar with the community centres investment fund and the good support...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Island Communities (15 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The LEADER programme is a key intervention which will help underpin the Government's rural development goals as outlined in Our Rural Future. I am happy to confirm that preparations are now well advanced for the implementation of the new LEADER programme for the period 2023 to 2027. As these preparations have progressed, the Department has engaged on an ongoing basis with the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Island Communities (15 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: We listened, but certain stakeholder groups have expressed their preference that the new LEADER would include a dedicated LAG for island communities. A dedicated island LAG is not included in the model for the new LEADER programme. However, I am aware island communities have particular needs and priorities and the LEADER programme can play a key role here in the context of the emerging...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Schemes (15 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. The town and village renewal scheme aims to assist with the rejuvenation of rural towns and villages throughout Ireland, making them more attractive places to live, work and visit. In line with the commitment in Our Rural Future, the 2022 scheme prioritised the renovation of derelict and vacant buildings in our town centres with a view to bringing...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Schemes (15 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy. I was delighted to visit Balla. The Deputy brought me there and I saw exactly what people are trying to do with the redevelopment of that space. That is what the town and village renewal scheme is about. As I continue to say, it is about engaging with communities and helping them realise their vision for their areas. It is the ground-up approach that makes the...