Results 3,081-3,100 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Appointments to State Boards (16 Dec 2016)

Heather Humphreys: Details regarding membership of relevant State Boards funded from my Department's Vote are outlined in the table below. It should be noted that the membership of a number of boards includes nominated or ex officio members in respect of which I have no input as Minister. In the case of the North South Implementation Bodies, members are appointed on a 50:50 basis from each jurisdiction. ...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: State Bodies Expenditure (16 Dec 2016)

Heather Humphreys: The Revised Estimates for 2017 (REV 2017), including the allocations for 2016 and 2017, were published today by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and are available on that Department’s website at:

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Staff Recruitment (16 Dec 2016)

Heather Humphreys: I am advised that staffing levels for 2017 are not set either in respect of my Department or for the bodies operating under its aegis. Instead, staffing levels in my Department and in the agencies under my remit are kept under regular review in line with emerging business needs and Government policy on public sector pay and staffing, as advised by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Expenditure (16 Dec 2016)

Heather Humphreys: In September 2015, the previous Government announced plans for a fund of €30 million over a six year period for a Town and Village Renewal scheme. While no expenditure was incurred on the scheme in 2015, the current Government included a commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government to support the development of rural towns and villages as part of its drive to revitalise...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas (16 Dec 2016)

Heather Humphreys: The Report of the Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas (CEDRA) was published in April 2014 and contained 34 recommendations to support the development of rural Ireland. Some of these recommendations had a direct associated programme cost, while others related to policy initiatives that could be taken to support rural economic development. The priority recommendation...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Leader Programmes Funding (16 Dec 2016)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 313 and 314 together. The LEADER programme plays a central role in the rejuvenation of rural communities throughout Ireland. The 2014-2020 LEADER programme has become operational this year, with Funding Agreements signed for the delivery of 28 Local Development Strategies. Funding under the 2014-2020 LEADER programme is allocated on the basis of...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Rural Development Policy (16 Dec 2016)

Heather Humphreys: The Charter for Rural Ireland was published in January 2016 and contained a number of commitments to support the economic, social and cultural development of rural areas. The Charter included a commitment to develop a policy framework which would feed in to the newNational Planning Framework (NPF) which is currently being developed by the Minister for Housing, Planning, Community and Local...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Rural Development Policy (16 Dec 2016)

Heather Humphreys: The Charter for Rural Ireland was published in January 2016 and contained a number of commitments to support the economic, social and cultural development of rural areas. The aim of the National Rural Development Forum which is referenced in the Charter was to ensure that rural stakeholders could contribute to the development of rural development policies and to highlight key issues that...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Inland Waterways Development (16 Dec 2016)

Heather Humphreys: Waterways Ireland manages and maintains the navigation on the River Erne in County Cavan as part of the Shannon – Erne Waterway. Waterways Ireland public jetties are provided in both Belturbet and Kilconny and the navigation channel is provided with navigation markers and signage as and where required. The upper limit of the managed navigation on the River Erne is just below Erne...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Inland Waterways Development (16 Dec 2016)

Heather Humphreys: Waterways Ireland manages and maintains the navigation on the River Erne up to Belturbet/ Kilconny in County Cavan as part of the Shannon – Erne Waterway. The upper limit of the managed navigation on the River Erne is just below Erne Bridge between Belturbet and Kilconny. I am working with Waterways Ireland on the waters upstream from Belturbet/Kilconny, the River Erne and Lough...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: National Broadband Plan Implementation (17 Jan 2017)

Heather Humphreys: Funding for an officer with specific responsibility for broadband has been provided to all local authorities and a Broadband Officer has been appointed in Tipperary County Council. The Broadband Officer will act as a single point of contact within Tipperary County Council for engagement with broadband providers. The officer will assist with the preparation for, and roll out of, the National...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Expenditure (17 Jan 2017)

Heather Humphreys: The Department of Public and Expenditure Reform Circular 13/2014 Management of and Accountability for grants from Exchequer fundsdetails all provisions in relation to the payment and management of grant funding. Whilst the default position in accordance with the Circular is that grants should be paid on the basis of vouched expenditure, the provisions of the Circular also provide for...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Funding (17 Jan 2017)

Heather Humphreys: In February 2015, my Department approved a grant to the local authority in question towards the cost of construction of the project referred to by the Deputy, subject to the standard conditions that apply to all such capital grants. I understand that the options for developing the proposed project are now under review. My Department is liaising with the local authority on the matter and will...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Invasive Plant Species (17 Jan 2017)

Heather Humphreys: I am very aware of the growing public concern about the impact of Japanese Knotweed. In this regard, I wish to advise that my Department is responsible for the enforcement of the Wildlife Acts and the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 477/2011), both of which prohibit the spreading of invasive species. In law, control of invasive species such as...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Schemes (17 Jan 2017)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 750 and 755 together. Given the constraints that apply in regard to providing detailed responses to ‘details supplied’ Questions, I am arranging for the relevant information to be forwarded to the Deputy directly.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Commemorative Events (17 Jan 2017)

Heather Humphreys: The Government will continue to mark significant events throughout the Decade of Centenaries. This will be based on the inclusive, open and consultative approach that has worked so well this year. Commemorating the period of the War of Independence and the Civil War will present its own challenges. However, I strongly believe the same open and honest approach which we used for this year's...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Forestry Sector (17 Jan 2017)

Heather Humphreys: As I previously advised the Deputy, the forestry activities referred to have been carried out under license from the Forest Service, which comes under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. While my Department was consulted by the Forest Service as the woodland concerned is situated adjacent to, and partially within, a Special Area of Conservation, it...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Functions (17 Jan 2017)

Heather Humphreys: Offences under the main nature conservation legislation (Wildlife Acts, Habitats Regulations) may generally be investigated and dealt with by officers of my Department or by An Garda Síochána and/or with both organisations working together. Depending on the circumstances of a case, including the nature of the suspected offence, cases may be investigated and litigation taken by...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Local Authority Funding (17 Jan 2017)

Heather Humphreys: It is not the practice of my Department, generally speaking, to provide capital funding to community groups to acquire accommodation. In many cases, such groups might be best advised to discuss their accommodation needs with their local authority. However, if the Deputy has a particular case in mind and wishes to forward additional information to me, I would be glad to look further into the...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Rural Enterprise Development Zones Data (17 Jan 2017)

Heather Humphreys: Rural Economic Development Zones (REDZ) are functional, rather than administrative, geographic areas that reflect the spatial patterns of local economic activity and development. They are, in effect, sub-county zones within which most people live and work. The central objective of the REDZ concept is to encourage development on a more collaborative and functional basis, using the synergies...