Results 3,761-3,780 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Other Questions: Action Plan for Rural Development Implementation (2 May 2017)

Heather Humphreys: Realising our Rural Potential, the Government's Action Plan for Rural Development, was launched in January this year. The plan contains over 270 actions to be delivered by a range of Government Departments, State agencies and other bodies over the next three years to support the economic and social development of rural Ireland. My Department is leading on more than 60 of the actions in...

Other Questions: Action Plan for Rural Development Implementation (2 May 2017)

Heather Humphreys: The Minister, Deputy Denis Naughten, is rolling out the national broadband plan which is in the procurement process. It will address areas where commercial operators will not provide a service. It was welcome news that Eir was to provide high-speed broadband for 300,000 more homes. It is most important to have a monitoring committee because the action plan for rural development is a...

Other Questions: Action Plan for Rural Development Implementation (2 May 2017)

Heather Humphreys: A lot of work has been done in my Department by the Minister of State, Deputy Michael Ring, on post offices. A post office working group was established and we worked with stakeholders to identify opportunities to increase services in post offices, which is what we want to see. We want a post office service which is sustainable and will be used in towns and villages across the country. We...

Other Questions: Broadband Service Provision (2 May 2017)

Heather Humphreys: The mobile phone and broadband task force identified the importance of each local authority assigning an officer with responsibility for broadband and mobile services in its respective administrative area to liaise with operators on coverage and the roll-out of telecommunications infrastructure. My Department has provided funding for each local authority to support the appointment of an...

Other Questions: Broadband Service Provision (2 May 2017)

Heather Humphreys: I have provided funding to all local authorities to co-finance an officer with responsibility for broadband in each local authority area. Twenty-nine of the 31 local authorities have appointed broadband officers. We understand that the remaining two are South Dublin County Council and Wicklow County Council, and they are in the process of appointing officers. The broadband officers work...

Other Questions: Broadband Service Provision (2 May 2017)

Heather Humphreys: The mobile broadband task force has outlined a number of issues which need to be addressed at local level, and we have raised these matters regarding levies and planning fees with the local authorities. We are trying to achieve uniformity throughout the country because some counties were doing things differently. We have been able to work with local authorities. The job of the broadband...

Other Questions: Cultural Policy (2 May 2017)

Heather Humphreys: I understood that the Deputy wanted to speak about the national cultural strategy.

Other Questions: Cultural Policy (2 May 2017)

Heather Humphreys: Last July, I published-----

Other Questions: Cultural Policy (2 May 2017)

Heather Humphreys: -----the draft framework policy, Culture 2025 – Éire Ildánach, which was submitted to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs for input. I understand that the committee is currently preparing a report on the draft framework policy which I will consider when received. I have also received submissions from various organisations...

Other Questions: Cultural Policy (2 May 2017)

Heather Humphreys: I acknowledge the Deputy's contribution when she was Tánaiste prior to 2016. Capital investment continues in our cultural institutions. Some €10 million is committed to the National Library. That is the first phase. Some €8 million is committed to the National Archives. I recently announced the €9 million arts capital scheme for across the country. That was...

Other Questions: Cultural Policy (2 May 2017)

Heather Humphreys: No, that was not. Having said all that, one of the five pillars of the Creative Ireland programme is to invest in our cultural infrastructure. We are sitting down with all the cultural institutions and asking them to come forward with their capital plans for the next number of years and what they want to do. I am delighted that the two new wings of the National Gallery are almost complete....

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Arts Promotion (2 May 2017)

Heather Humphreys: I am aware of the issue regarding the provision of affordable studio space, particularly in Dublin as a result of the changing property market.  In general, I would consider that local approaches driven by artists, local arts officers are best suited to respond to the specific local circumstances involved and provide the most effective outcomes. However, my Department is in discussion...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Arts Promotion (2 May 2017)

Heather Humphreys: My Department will continue to support a broad range of programmes and initiatives across its remit to promote Ireland’s national image, including under the recently published Creative Ireland Programmeand Action Plan for Rural Development. The Department’s Culture Irelandprogramme in particular will promote Irish culture on the world stage. The Ireland 2016 Centenary...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Heritage Projects (2 May 2017)

Heather Humphreys: Local authority arts and heritage officers, archivists and librarians have great experience in working with local communities on initiatives to archive old records in their locality. In this respect, they can use funding available from within their local authority including funds that may be available from the Arts Council or Heritage Council. In this context Pillar 2 of the Creative Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Heritage Projects (2 May 2017)

Heather Humphreys: My role, as Minister, with regard to the protection and management of our architectural heritage, is set out in the provisions of relevant legislation, as are the roles of local authorities and the responsibilities of owners as regards heritage assets. I am aware that a Conservation Plan for the project mentioned by the Deputy was launched in February and that the group are now seeking to...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Invasive Plant Species (2 May 2017)

Heather Humphreys: My Department is responsible for implementing the Wildlife Acts and the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 477/2011), which together provide the legislative framework on invasive alien species issues. In 2014, a new EU Regulation on invasive alien species (no. 1143/2014) came into force and my Department is the lead authority with respect to the...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Arts Funding (2 May 2017)

Heather Humphreys: I recently announced details of grants of over €9 million in capital funding for arts and cu lture centres across the country. This capital scheme is the most significant investment in arts and cultural centres in a decade and will target investment at a range of different facilities, including arts centres, theatres, galleries and museums, as well as artists’ studios and...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Wild Fires (2 May 2017)

Heather Humphreys: Significant environmental damage is caused by wildfires and the issue has become more acute in recent years. The primary responsibility in terms of fire fighting lies with the Fire Service and the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government. With regard to gorse fires in particular, my Department is one of a number of agencies represented on the Inter-Agency Gorse Fire...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: National Concert Hall (2 May 2017)

Heather Humphreys: The National Concert Hall in conjunction with the Office of Public Works is working on the preparation of a Master Plan which will, amongst other things, maximise the use of the historic site and ensure that the National Concert Hall is fit for purpose in the 21stcentury. My Department has been supportive of the preparation of this work in the context of Pillar 3 of the Creative Ireland...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Expenditure (2 May 2017)

Heather Humphreys: Provision is made in the Revised Estimates Volume for the carryover of unspent Capital funding from the previous year, subject to a Ministerial Order being made by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform before 31stMarch in the year of carryover. The amount of capital funding carried over into 2017 for my Department was €13.548 million. Since the making of the relevant Order by...