Results 741-760 of 1,441 for speaker:Ann Phelan

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's walking Bill is important to him. On access to the countryside and walking Bills, there is a lot going on in the Department and we are making a lot of progress on this issue. The former Minister, the Commissioner, Mr. Hogan, wrote to this committee stating that he did not have a difficulty with the committee having a specific session to do with this Bill. I would go along...

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: It is in the committee's work programme. I will make myself available for that.

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 speak on the subject of rural proofing. When I was given this role, among the first groups I met were IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland. I used to hear that the role of IDA and Enterprise Ireland was just to get the jobs into the country and that where the jobs went after that was not entirely their responsibility. I was very pleasantly surprised when they told me that rural...

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 not necessarily very prescriptive with the particular Departments, but the interdepartmental group is working in a parallel process on developing a strategy for rural Ireland. It is happening within the timeline for 2015 and the approach is one of "suck it and see". The evidence from the pilot programmes will inform the policies. I not being hugely prescriptive at this point. 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: We understand completely about the situation with regard to the islands. I have met people from the islands and I have heard their concerns. It is proposed that the islands will be looked after under the local authority and the LCDC structure. The alignment process will mean that everything has to fit into this local authority structure. The local authority will be responsible for 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: We envisage actions around the development of the rural economic development zones, REDZs. These will designate parts of the country as areas that need to be energised, which will get all the required government supports. We will bombard an area with government supports, working with the local authorities and with the State agencies to see how we can deliver jobs in that area. We will be...

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 have to revert to the Deputy on passenger numbers and subventions for Bus Éireann and Dublin Bus. To respond to his question on whether the Government is promising a fibre connection to every home, the answer is "No". The national broadband plan envisages dealing conclusively with the rural connectivity issues in order that the current generation and future generations will have...

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: My apologies. The Deputy was referring to the Leader programme. These matters are being addressed under the local community development committee, LCDC, structure. Given that the relevant legislation has been passed, this is a done deal and these matters will be addressed by the local authorities. I am not in the business of getting rid of anything or doing down anybody. We have...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Voluntary Sector Funding (25 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: National Trails Office (25 Feb 2015)

Ann Phelan: My Department has been in contact with the Local Development Company administering the Walks Scheme referred to in the Question. I am advised that the Local Development Company are examining the matter further and subject to ownership and entitlement being verified, it may be possible to facilitate this landowner.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Voluntary Sector Funding (26 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: Offshore Islands (26 Feb 2015)

Ann Phelan: Under the LEADER element of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013, my Department contracts Local Development Companies to deliver the programme locally in line with the ‘bottom-up’ approach to rural development. Comhar na nOilean is the Local Development Company which is responsible for delivery of the programme on Inishbofin Island, and it provided funding of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Voluntary Sector Funding (26 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: Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (26 Feb 2015)

Ann Phelan: I assume the Question refers to my Department’s Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP). 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...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Funding (3 Mar 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: Departmental Funding (3 Mar 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: Leader Programmes Applications (3 Mar 2015)

Ann Phelan: My Department recently completed a review of the project referred to and has forwarded its findings to Mayo North East Leader Partnership. I am advised that Mayo North East Leader Partnership will be in contact with the project in relation to its application in due course.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Leader Programmes Applications (3 Mar 2015)

Ann Phelan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 554 to 556, inclusive, together. In line with agreed procedures, the applications referred to in the Questions have been submitted to my Department for review by Mayo North East Leader Partnership. I expect that the reviews in question will be completed by my Department shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Seniors Alert Scheme (3 Mar 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: Rights of Way Provision (3 Mar 2015)

Ann Phelan: The majority of Ireland’s trails and walking routes are “permissive access routes” that have been developed with the agreement of private landowners, both public and private. This consensus approach is underpinned by the principle of mutual respect between landowners and recreation users, with the acceptance of the rights of landowners regarding access to their land and...