Results 2,221-2,240 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Other Questions: Departmental Functions (1 Jun 2016)

Heather Humphreys: Yes.

Other Questions: Departmental Functions (1 Jun 2016)

Heather Humphreys: I will answer Deputy Toíbín's question first. Most of the functions will be transferred next week. The transfer of all the rural affairs functions from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government will be done next week. The broadband provision and rural post offices functions will be done very shortly, and probably the following week, but the transfer of the...

Other Questions: Departmental Functions (1 Jun 2016)

Heather Humphreys: Rural transport remains in the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport but I will be co-ordinating all of the Departments in terms of the focus on rural Ireland. Rural transport is a tremendous benefit to rural Ireland. We all have our local transport companies and one sees how successfully it regenerates small towns when people are brought in on pension day. It is great for towns and...

Other Questions: Departmental Functions (1 Jun 2016)

Heather Humphreys: That is different.

Other Questions: National Monuments (1 Jun 2016)

Heather Humphreys: The work being undertaken by the State to honour the 1916 leaders was designed to fully conserve Nos. 14 to 17 Moore Street and to provide a 1916 commemorative centre on the site. The intended works would have involved major underpinning and stabilisation of the buildings as well as re-roofing and a programme of comprehensive repairs that would have retained all pre-1916 fittings, fixtures...

Other Questions: National Monuments (1 Jun 2016)

Heather Humphreys: I want to see a solution here. As Deputy Burton said, I have already committed to buying, and got agreement from Government to buy, Nos. 14 to 17 Moore Street. I have committed taxpayers' money to this important and historic project. As a Government, we were taking four buildings which were the national monument. They are the ones that were designated as a national monument. We spent...

Other Questions: National Monuments (1 Jun 2016)

Heather Humphreys: Some €4 million.

Other Questions: National Monuments (1 Jun 2016)

Heather Humphreys: Sorry-----

Other Questions: National Monuments (1 Jun 2016)

Heather Humphreys: I had nothing to do with the shopping centre. Planning permission for it was given by Dublin City Council. It is in private ownership and the site was not a national monument at the time. I want to be clear about having had nothing to do with the shopping centre, as there is misinformation to the effect that we are levelling Moore Street and erecting a shopping centre, which is not a fact....

Other Questions: Rural Broadband Scheme (1 Jun 2016)

Heather Humphreys: Delivering the national broadband plan is a top priority for the Government, as reflected in the programme for a partnership Government. The allocation of new responsibilities at Cabinet level signals the Government's firm intention to address broadband and other telecoms challenges in rural Ireland. To this end, I will be working closely with the Minister for Communications, Energy and...

Other Questions: Rural Broadband Scheme (1 Jun 2016)

Heather Humphreys: No.

Other Questions: Rural Broadband Scheme (1 Jun 2016)

Heather Humphreys: A procurement process is ongoing and I am working closely with the Minister, Deputy Naughten, on this matter. It is important that the procurement process proceed. As Deputy Ó Cuív knows, it is a complicated one. Approximately five consortia will bid for three lots. This process will deliver the national broadband plan. Where I come in is in the rural aspect. Once the...

Other Questions: Rural Broadband Scheme (1 Jun 2016)

Heather Humphreys: I am just getting my head around this brief, but I understand 30 Mbps will be the minimum.

Other Questions: Rural Broadband Scheme (1 Jun 2016)

Heather Humphreys: I understand it will be the minimum.

Other Questions: Rural Broadband Scheme (1 Jun 2016)

Heather Humphreys: I cannot say there will be fibre broadband to every home. There is a procurement process ongoing. When one is putting something out to tender, I do not know whether one can state the specific type of broadband one wants.

Other Questions: Rural Broadband Scheme (1 Jun 2016)

Heather Humphreys: I will not go into the detail because I cannot give the Deputy a definitive answer. I will be better able to answer whenever the responsibility is transferred to my Department. Regarding the county and regional broadband task forces, there is a lot we can do with what we have. People want to know when they can have broadband. Under the national broadband plan, broadband is now expected...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Arts in Education Charter (1 Jun 2016)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 39 and 66 together. While the provision for arts in the education system is primarily a matter for the Department of Education and Skills, I am firmly committed to continuing the work of the ongoing partnership between that Department, my own Department and the Arts Council, in line with the Arts in Education Charter. In this regard, I am pleased that the...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Functions (1 Jun 2016)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 40 and 42 together. As indicated by the Taoiseach in his statement to Dáil Éireann of 6th May, my Department will, in its new configuration, retain all of the functions previously assigned to it, in addition to taking on a number of new functions in relation to rural affairs and regional development. This continuing commitment is reflected in the...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Arts Funding (1 Jun 2016)

Heather Humphreys: As I set out in my reply to Priority Question No 32, the Programme for a Partnership Governmentcontains a very important commitment to work to progressively increase funding to the arts, including the Arts Council and the Irish Film Board, as the economy continues to improve. Other priorities, in line with the Programme for a Partnership Government, include: - The publication of Culture 2025,...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Wildlife Protection (1 Jun 2016)

Heather Humphreys: As I indicated in my reply to Question No 171 on 26 May 2016, I am very aware that the Bull Island is a hugely important amenity resource for the people of Dublin, as well as being of very high nature value. Clearly, the concept of sustainable use is important in the management of such areas, particularly if there is a long history of such amenity use by the local population. It has been...