Results 861-880 of 1,441 for speaker:Ann Phelan

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme Funding (1 Apr 2015)

Ann Phelan: We cannot decide that we are going to make them independent and then attempt to micromanage them.

Topical Issue Debate: Housing Finance Agency Funding (2 Apr 2015)

Ann Phelan: I am in contact with many of the housing agencies and the difficulties have not been brought to my attention. The Deputy raises a very important issue. The Housing Finance Agency is a public limited company and in that context the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government has no function in the lending decisions and practices of that agency. The main function of the...

Topical Issue Debate: Housing Finance Agency Funding (2 Apr 2015)

Ann Phelan: I draw the attention of the House to the very substantial allocations given yesterday to the local authorities, including €65 million across my constituency, Carlow-Kilkenny. That will address 44% of the local authority housing list. That is one of the biggest allocations I can ever remember. They have also offered the local authorities the flexibility to do that under a lease, buy...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Redundancy Payments (2 Apr 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 details supplied, discussions between my Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform are on-going. There is also...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Scheme to Support National Organisations (2 Apr 2015)

Ann Phelan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 240 and 241 together. 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. Some...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Leader Programmes Funding (2 Apr 2015)

Ann Phelan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 248 to 251, inclusive, together. I refer to the reply to Question Nos. 617, 618, 620, 632, 633 and 635 on 31 March 2015 which sets out the position in this matter.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Higher Education Schemes (2 Apr 2015)

Ann Phelan: I thank the Senator. I am taking this Commencement Matter on behalf of the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan, who cannot be here this morning. Let me start by explaining the background to the current free fees scheme. Under the terms of the Department's free fees schemes, the Exchequer meets the cost of tuition fees in respect of eligible students who are pursuing...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Higher Education Schemes (2 Apr 2015)

Ann Phelan: I again draw the Senator's attention to the main conditions of the scheme, which include the condition that students are first-time undergraduates. I stand to be corrected but I think that students who seek to do a Master's degree are not funded under the free fees scheme. I will check that out for the Senator.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Farms Data (2 Apr 2015)

Ann Phelan: I thank the Senator for raising this important issue and understand his proposal. To be fair to the Minister, I do not think he would necessarily disagree with him in any way. Forward planning is always desirable, whether it is in agriculture or any other sector of the economy. Anticipating what is going to happen over the coming years is desirable. Yesterday marked one of the biggest...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Garda Deployment (2 Apr 2015)

Ann Phelan: I am replying to this matter on behalf of the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Frances Fitzgerald. The House will be aware that the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, transport and other facilities throughout the organisation. The Minister has no function in the matter. This allocation of resources is constantly...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Vaccination Programme (2 Apr 2015)

Ann Phelan: I thank Senator Whelan for raising this very important issue. I have constituents who suffer from this condition. Senator Whelan will understand that I am responding on behalf of the Minister for Health, Deputy Leo Varadkar, and I will undertake to pass on the Senator's concerns about meeting the support group. Senator Whelan provides me with an opportunity to update the House on this...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Vaccination Programme (2 Apr 2015)

Ann Phelan: Yes.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (15 Apr 2015)

Ann Phelan: My Departments Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP) concluded on 31 March 2015 and the new Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) was rolled out across communities on 1 April 2015. Overall funding reductions to the LCDP over the five year period of its operation amounted to some 29%. However, it should be noted that this was commensurate with the need to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Development Companies Administration (15 Apr 2015)

Ann Phelan: I recently briefed the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht on community and rural development issues. On that occasion, I emphasised to the Committee my commitment to supporting and building strong sustainable communities, including island communities. This remains the position. In relation to the Deputy’s specific query, the Deputy should note...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Funding (15 Apr 2015)

Ann Phelan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 757, 770, 823, 824 and 828 together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Leader Programmes Administration (15 Apr 2015)

Ann Phelan: Under the EU regulatory framework governing the Leader element of the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, each EU Member State must conduct an open and transparent process to select both the Local Development Strategies and the Local Action Group(s) for each sub-regional area. Accordingly, my Department is conducting a two stage process. The first stage, which is an Expressions of Interest...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Leader Programmes Administration (15 Apr 2015)

Ann Phelan: Ireland is reconfiguring the way in which local and rural development interventions are implemented. This is in line with Government policy to ensure that local government is well positioned to support the effective and efficient delivery of local and rural development. In this context , €220 million of the overall Leader programme complement for the 2014-2020 period has been allocated...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Leader Programmes Administration (15 Apr 2015)

Ann Phelan: Under the EU regulatory framework governing the Leader element of the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, each EU Member State must conduct an open and transparent process to select both the Local Development Strategies and the Local Action Group(s) for each sub-regional area. Accordingly, my Department is conducting a two stage process. The first stage, which is an Expressions of Interest...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Leader Programmes Expenditure (15 Apr 2015)

Ann Phelan: The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Leader Programmes Funding (15 Apr 2015)

Ann Phelan: The Leader element of the Rural Development Programme 2014 - 2020 will provide €250 million in financial resources to rural communities over the next 5 - 6 years. Ireland is reconfiguring the way in which local and rural development interventions are implemented. This is in line with Government policy to ensure that local government is well positioned to support the effective and...