Results 801-820 of 1,441 for speaker:Ann Phelan

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Rural Recreation Promotion (24 Mar 2015)

Ann Phelan: My Department administers the Walks Scheme which was launched in 2008. This is a maintenance based scheme whereby landowners receive modest payments to maintain sections of walking trails that traverse their lands. Due to budgetary constraints it is not possible to develop new walks, such as the one referred to by the Deputy, under the existing Walks Scheme at this time. However, there...

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

Ann Phelan: My Department's Local and Community Development Programme (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 Activation Programme (SICAP) on 1 April 2015. In accordance with the Public Spending Code, legal advice, good...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Leader Programmes Expenditure (24 Mar 2015)

Ann Phelan: The criteria used in allocating funds under the LEADER element of the Rural Development Programme 2007 to 2013 was determined using four variables: (i) the population of each eligible area; (ii) the Local Action Group's (LAGs) Business Plan score; (iii) the population density of each area (as a proxy for its degree of rurality); and (iv) the total envelope of funds to be distributed. At the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Leader Programmes Funding (24 Mar 2015)

Ann Phelan: Westmeath Community Development Ltd. is contracted to deliver the LEADER element of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 (RDP) in Westmeath and is the decision-maker in relation to the allocation of project funding. This is in line with the 'bottom up' approach to rural development. Any correspondence submitted to my Department in relation to this matter to date has been replied to. ...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Rights of Way Registration (24 Mar 2015)

Ann Phelan: Section 7 of the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2010 requires the inclusion of a mandatory objective in an area's development plan for “the preservation of public rights of way which give access to seashore, mountain, lakeshore, riverbank or other place of natural beauty or recreational utility, which public rights of way shall be identified both by marking them on at least...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Planning Issues (24 Mar 2015)

Ann Phelan: I thank the Senator for raising this issue. I am taking this Commencement matter for the Minister, Deputy Alan Kelly. Under section 255 of the Planning and Development Act 2000, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government has certain investigatory powers in regard to the review of the performance by planning authorities of their functions under the Act.These powers are,...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Planning Issues (24 Mar 2015)

Ann Phelan: If I understand the Senator correctly what is at issue is not the decision on the planning application but the pre-planning process. Pre-planning meetings are often open to interpretation in that while one person says one thing, another person hears something else.I have dealt with some planning applications and put a lot of store in pre-planning meetings. I would always advise people to...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Public Area Enhancement Scheme (24 Mar 2015)

Ann Phelan: I thank the Senator for raising such an important scheme, of which I am a huge supporter. I thank him for providing me with the opportunity to address the House on the success of the public area enhancement scheme. As the Senator is aware, in March of last year the then Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government announced that a sum of approximately €3 million would...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Public Area Enhancement Scheme (24 Mar 2015)

Ann Phelan: I have some additional information which may be of benefit to the Senator. I will give it to him before I leave the Chamber.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Housing Provision (24 Mar 2015)

Ann Phelan: I thank the Senator for raising this very serious matter. I would point out, as he has done, that the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputy Alan Kelly, is directly responsible for the social housing strategy. This gives me an opportunity to congratulate the Minister, with whom I work closely, on the determination with which he is pursuing the social housing...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: General Practitioner Services (24 Mar 2015)

Ann Phelan: I thank Senator Whelan. I am taking this Commencement debate on behalf of the Minister. Senator Whelan raises an important issue. Given my role as Minister of State with responsibly for rural affairs, I can see why there are grave concerns in rural parts of Ireland where these situations may arise. The HSE is committed to the provision of high-quality general practitioner services through...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: General Practitioner Services (24 Mar 2015)

Ann Phelan: I assure the Senator that I will certainly take his case on board. I understand from my work in the rural affairs brief that the family GP is the very fabric of rural life. We will take this very important issue on board and we will refer it to the Minister for deliberation. I thank Senator Whelan.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: General Practitioner Services (24 Mar 2015)

Ann Phelan: Yes, it is very difficult.

An Bille um an gCúigiú Leasú is Tríocha ar an mBunreacht (Aois Intofachta chun Oifig an Uachtaráin) 2015: An Dara Céim - Thirty-fifth Amendment of the Constitution (Age of Eligibility for Election to the Office of President) Bill 2015: Second Stage (25 Mar 2015)

Ann Phelan: Tairgim: "Go léifear an Bille an Dara hUair anois." I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time". The Amendment of the Constitution (Age of Eligibility for Election to the Office of President) Bill 2015 provides for the amendment of Article 12 of the Constitution. It provides for the age at which a citizen becomes eligible for election to the office of President to be reduced from...

Topical Issue Debate: Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility (25 Mar 2015)

Ann Phelan: I thank the Deputy for raising this important issue and affording me an opportunity, on behalf of the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection, to provide the Dáil with a response. The jobseeker's allowance, JA, transitional arrangement was introduced in June 2013 in order to support lone parents with young children affected by the age reforms. Customers who have a youngest...

Topical Issue Debate: Jobseeker's Allowance Eligibility (25 Mar 2015)

Ann Phelan: I note the Deputy's concerns and reiterate that the Department of Social Protection is actively engaging with lone parents who are affected by the ongoing reforms. Lone parents who are on jobseeker's payments can access the full range of employment, educational and training supports available to improve their skill set and move towards sustainable employment. The positive impact of this...

Topical Issue Debate: Crime Levels (25 Mar 2015)

Ann Phelan: I thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue. I am speaking on behalf of the Minister for Justice and Equality who regrets very sincerely that she cannot be present for the debate this afternoon. The Minister wishes to thank the Deputy for raising this matter for debate today. I think everyone in the House can appreciate the particular difficulty and distress caused to...

Topical Issue Debate: Crime Levels (25 Mar 2015)

Ann Phelan: I will ask the Minister to respond directly to the Deputy's invitation to go on a walkabout. Crime and drug dealing in the city centre have not been peculiar to the term of this Administration. The centre of our capital city is important not only to those who live there but also to the many who work, shop and enjoy their leisure time there. It is also of importance from a tourism...

Topical Issue Debate: Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (25 Mar 2015)

Ann Phelan: The proposals outlined in Putting People First: Action Programme for Effective Local Government seek to position local government as the primary vehicle of governance and public service at local level leading economic, social and community development, delivering efficient and good value services and representing citizens and local communities effectively and accountably. As part of the...

Topical Issue Debate: Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (25 Mar 2015)

Ann Phelan: We must bear in mind that the tender process is a legal one which was open to everyone to submit an application. Having said that, I am very conscious that communities have been trying to get their heads around the LCDC structure, the changes and the alignment process, and that there are difficulties, both actual and perceived. I will ask my officials to contact both Deputies to see if we...