Results 721-740 of 1,441 for speaker:Ann Phelan

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Leader Programmes Funding (18 Feb 2015)

Ann Phelan: The original value of the LEADER element of the Rural Development Programme 2007- 2013 was €427 million. The Programme commenced in counties Cavan and Monaghan in May 2009 and at that time Cavan Monaghan LEADER, the Local Action Group contracted by my Department to deliver the Programme in these counties, was allocated €12,035,118. In late 2011 the European Commission offered...

Topical Issues: Private Rented Accommodation Costs and Controls (24 Feb 2015)

Ann Phelan: I thank the Deputies for raising this very serious and important issue. The private rental sector is regulated by the Residential Tenancies Act which sets out the rights and obligations of landlords and tenants, including relating to rent, security of tenure and the termination of tenancies. The Act was passed in 2004 and represented the most significant legislative reform in the private...

Topical Issues: Private Rented Accommodation Costs and Controls (24 Feb 2015)

Ann Phelan: I thank the Deputies for raising this very important issue. I take on board the issue of rent and instability in the rental market. I would have spoken at great length about the need for stability in the rental market citing France, Germany and Italy, which has a very stable rental market, as examples. We should look at carrying out some research on this because we need to address this...

Topical Issues: Fishing Industry (24 Feb 2015)

Ann Phelan: I am responding to this Topical Issue on behalf of the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Coveney. I thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue. Scientists from the Marine Institute carry out weekly testing of shellfish under the national shellfish biotoxin monitoring programme on behalf of the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority and the Food Safety...

Topical Issues: Fishing Industry (24 Feb 2015)

Ann Phelan: I thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue. I understand it is a huge local issue for him and I undertake to speak to the Minister, Deputy Coveney, and ask him to refer to the Deputy directly on what plans he has for the compensation scheme. He has not closed the door and I encourage the Deputy to pursue it.

Income and Living Conditions: Motion [Private Members] (24 Feb 2015)

Ann Phelan: I move amendment No. 1:To delete all words after “Dáil Éireann” and substitute the following: “acknowledges that the consolidation effort necessary to correct what had become an unsustainable fiscal position has necessarily led to a reduction in incomes and living standards for all groups in society; notes that: — the Budgets 2009-2015 had the greatest...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Seniors Alert Scheme (24 Feb 2015)

Ann Phelan: My Department manages the Seniors Alert Scheme which encourages community support for vulnerable older people in our communities by providing grant assistance towards the purchase and installation of personal monitored alarms to enable older persons, of limited means, to continue to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind. The scheme is administered by...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (24 Feb 2015)

Ann Phelan: A scheme covering trail maintenance on National Way Marked Ways and other priority walks of national or regional significance was operated by my Department in both 2013 and 2014, and the recipients of funding under the schemes are listed in the tables below. A decision regarding the implementation of a similar scheme in 2015 will be made later this year. Trail Maintenance Scheme Recipients...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (24 Feb 2015)

Ann Phelan: The funding Scheme to Support National Organisations (SSNO) in the community and voluntary sector aims to provide multi-annual funding to national organisations towards core costs associated with the provision of services. Applications for a new round of funding, which commenced on 1 July 2014, were subject to an appraisal process. 55 applications were approved for funding for the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Redundancy Payments (24 Feb 2015)

Ann Phelan: My Department has no role in the internal operations of any private organisations and, therefore, does not have a role in relation to staff or employment matters, which are for the Board of the company, as the employer, to manage. In relation to the Deputy’s query regarding the payment of redundancy in the community and voluntary sector, discussions between my Department and the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Voluntary Sector Funding (24 Feb 2015)

Ann Phelan: The funding scheme to support national organisations in the community and voluntary sector aims to provide multi-annual funding to national organisations towards core costs associated with the provision of services. My Department is providing funding under the scheme of in excess of €8 million over a two year period to mid–2016. This represents an increase in funding of more...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (24 Feb 2015)

Ann Phelan: My Department’s Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP) superseded the Local Development Social Inclusion and the Community Development Programmes in 2010. LCDP is the largest social inclusion intervention of its kind in the State and is being implemented on a transitional basis until the end of March 2015, pending the roll out of the new Social Inclusion and Community...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Rural Communities: Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (24 Feb 2015)

Ann Phelan: I am delighted to be here to inform the joint committee about my work areas and future plans to support the sustainable development of rural communities throughout Ireland. As committee members will appreciate, the issues concerning rural areas are many and diverse and I will oultine briefly the main areas of focus. As committee members are aware, I have responsibility for managing the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Rural Communities: Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (24 Feb 2015)

Ann Phelan: The Government has recently commenced a public consultation on a proposed framework policy for local and community development. The purpose of the policy is to underpin a whole-of-government approach to the planning, oversight and delivery of local and community development programmes at national or local level. When approved, it will provide a framework for supporting and investing in...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Rural Communities: Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (24 Feb 2015)

Ann Phelan: There are challenges arising from the CEDRA report. In dealing with rural areas and issues, it is not a case of one size fits all, so different communities have nuanced requirements. Even if I decide on a certain priority, it may not necessarily be what communities want. There is an interdepartmental group and all Departments are extremely committed to implementing the CEDRA report...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Rural Communities: Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (24 Feb 2015)

Ann Phelan: I thank members for their questions. While I have been given responsibility for the portfolio for rural affairs, the issues are challenging. I believe that if we identify the issues and try to deal with them in a realistic manner, we will make progress. Deputy Cowen spoke about the demise of rural towns and villages. I am hugely conscious of this issue. We have a rural towns stimulus...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Rural Communities: Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (24 Feb 2015)

Ann Phelan: I will deal with Deputy Stanley's issues first. I will address the broadband issue first. There is much happening in this area. The Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, Deputy Alex White, and his Department are very determined that broadband is rolled out. I draw the committee's attention to the monthly magazine issued on the Department's website that provides...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Rural Communities: Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (24 Feb 2015)

Ann Phelan: That is exactly what I mean. The Deputy also raised the diminution of services in rural Ireland. I am exercised about this. I know the services to which he referred. We are coming up with a protocol on the provision of services, be it Government or private services. We propose to introduce provision for a protocol whereby the service provider has a conversation with the community on the...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Rural Communities: Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (24 Feb 2015)

Ann Phelan: Deputy Dowds initiated the Access to the Countryside Bill 2013.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Rural Communities: Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (24 Feb 2015)

Ann Phelan: On the bus service, I take the Deputy's point about how we learned about it. To put it mildly, I have expressed my concern about that. This is exactly what I am talking about. In rural communities, one does not go in and pull the rug out from under their feet. This caused considerable concern, anxiety and stress merely due to the lack of coming to the community and saying that we must...