Results 921-940 of 4,673 for speaker:Seán Canney

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Development Policy (11 Dec 2018)

Seán Canney: The Department of Rural and Community Development was established to support the creation of vibrant and sustainable communities across the country, which supporting the development and promotion of the modern and efficient services needed for such communities to thrive is key to achieving. The Department provides a wide range of supports to communities in rural Ireland, including in the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Development Policy (11 Dec 2018)

Seán Canney: LEADER, the social inclusion and community activation programme, SICAP, community services, CLÁR, townland and village and outdoor recreation are departmental schemes to enhance communities and to make them more vibrant. Of course, we need to do more because we have had a significant deficit in the rural areas and they have suffered most. CLÁR is there to help the areas where...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Development Policy (11 Dec 2018)

Seán Canney: The Deputy's sentiments are the same as the Minister's, mine and other Deputies present. It is exactly what we want to do. We want to provide equal opportunities for people. There are many opportunities for us. The Minister, myself and the Department meet regularly with local authorities. The very good councillors in the municipal districts bring forward the issues. There is a huge...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Dormant Accounts Fund (11 Dec 2018)

Seán Canney: The review of the Dormant Accounts Fund disbursement scheme, which was published in July 2018, set out 15 recommendations aimed at improving the management and administration of current and future disbursement schemes. One of the recommendations was to establish an interdepartmental group for the Dormant Accounts Fund to meet on a six-monthly basis. The stated purpose of the group is to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Dormant Accounts Fund (11 Dec 2018)

Seán Canney: The Deputy is right. As recommended by the Comptroller and Auditor General, my Department completed a review in 2017. The 15 recommendations seek to improve information gathering, simplify the operation of the fund and ensure that funding is used by the Departments or returned to the fund for use in other projects. Some good progress has been made, with comprehensive information on the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Dormant Accounts Fund (11 Dec 2018)

Seán Canney: I again thank the Deputy . She is right. The diligence of the committee in coming up with the 15 recommendations has to be lauded. It is important that we take the recommendations on board. As the Minister of State with responsibility for the disbursement of the Dormant Accounts Fund, I will certainly be ensuring that everything is transparent. I repeat that €30 million - a not...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Western Development Commission (11 Dec 2018)

Seán Canney: The Western Development Commission, WDC, was established on a statutory footing in 1999 under the Western Development Commission Act 1998. The main aim of the commission is to promote, foster and encourage economic and social development in the western region, covering the counties of Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, Mayo, Roscommon, Galway and Clare. A Programme for a Partnership Government...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Dormant Accounts Fund Management (11 Dec 2018)

Seán Canney: The Dormant Accounts Action Plan 2017, published in July 2017 approved funding for a measure entitled access to services and amenities in rural Ireland. At that time, it was envisaged that this measure would support older people and people with disabilities in accessing services, amenities and activities within the community. It was also envisaged that the measure would support community...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Reviews (11 Dec 2018)

Seán Canney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 49 and 62 together. Pobal is a not for profit company which was originally established by Government in 1992 as Area Development Management (ADM) Ltd. Charitable status was granted to the company by the Revenue Commissioners on the 20th November 1996. In 2005 ADM was re-named Pobal. In accordance with Section 40 of the Charities Act, 2009, Pobal was...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Mobile Telephony Services (11 Dec 2018)

Seán Canney: The Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce was established in July 2016 to examine broadband and mobile phone coverage deficits in Ireland and identify tangible actions to improve the quality of these services. The Taskforce Report was published in December 2016, and included 40 actions to alleviate barriers to mobile phone reception and broadband access. An Implementation Group was...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Dormant Accounts Fund (11 Dec 2018)

Seán Canney: In February 2017, under the umbrella of the Dormant Accounts Fund, the then Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs announced a competitive call for proposals from social enterprises that provide services to, or employment opportunities for, disadvantaged people, particularly in rural areas. The aim of the Social Enterprise measure supported by the Dormant...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Regional Development Initiatives (11 Dec 2018)

Seán Canney: The Programme for Partnership Government and the Action Plan for Rural Development both commit to progressing the Atlantic Economic Corridor initiative to support the development of the western part of the country, from Donegal to Kerry. The objective of the AEC project is to maximise the assets along the western seaboard and connect the economic hubs, clusters and catchments of the...

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Exploration Licences (11 Dec 2018)

Seán Canney: There are no plans to change Government policy in respect of offshore oil and gas exploration. In the context of Ireland's transition to a low carbon energy future, it is accepted that Ireland will continue to need oil and particularly gas for quite some time, though their use must significantly reduce. Ending all future oil and gas exploration in Irish waters and placing a full...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Development Policy (11 Dec 2018)

Seán Canney: The Programme for a Partnership Government and the Action Plan for Rural Development both commit to progressing the Atlantic Economic Corridor initiative to support the development of the western part of the country, from Donegal to Kerry. The objective of the AEC project is to maximise the assets along the western seaboard and connect the economic hubs, clusters and catchments of...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Charities Regulation (11 Dec 2018)

Seán Canney: The Charities Regulatory Authority was established in October 2014 pursuant to the Charities Act 2009. The key functions of the Regulator are to establish and maintain a public register of charitable organisations operating in Ireland and ensure their compliance with the Charities Acts.  I understand that, as of 31 October 2018, there were 9,722 charities on the Register...

Seanad: Children's Digital Protection Bill 2018: Second Stage (12 Dec 2018)

Seán Canney: It is my maiden voyage.

Seanad: Children's Digital Protection Bill 2018: Second Stage (12 Dec 2018)

Seán Canney: I thank Senator Freeman and her co-sponsors for introducing this Private Members' Bill. As has been said, the online world brings enormous benefits. We see these benefits in our everyday lives, from small business owners using new technologies to improve their products and services to families communicating with loved ones abroad in an instant. However, as the online world becomes more...

Seanad: Children's Digital Protection Bill 2018: Second Stage (12 Dec 2018)

Seán Canney: That is it.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Alternative Energy Projects (18 Dec 2018)

Seán Canney: The national mitigation plan published in July 2017 was an important first step. It signposted the direction in which Ireland must travel, while openly recognising that it was not a roadmap for delivery. The national development plan has provided a significant part of the roadmap. Specifically in relation to the decarbonisation of electricity, the plan envisages investments to support...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Alternative Energy Projects (18 Dec 2018)

Seán Canney: Investment is being made, including €30 billion provided in the national development plan. We have significant potential in this area, including offshore wind. However, this technology is costly to develop, especially on the west coast where there are deep seas and wind factors. Although prices are dropping in Europe, it is likely that subsidies will be required if there is to be...