Results 9,741-9,760 of 14,886 for speaker:Dara Calleary

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Plant Certification: Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (2 Apr 2019)

Dara Calleary: The developers or promoters have engaged renowned international consultants whose view on this is completely different to that of the CRU. Has the CRU compared and contrasted its views with those of the aforementioned consultants? Would the CRU be able to provide its opinion on the views of these consultants so that the promoter can see where the differences lie and try to address them?

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Energy Plant Certification: Commission for the Regulation of Utilities (2 Apr 2019)

Dara Calleary: I ask that the CRU correspond with this committee following its meeting with the developers. We have spent over two hours here today but I believe the committee will need to assess this matter again.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: LEADER Programmes Data (3 Apr 2019)

Dara Calleary: 54. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount spent to date under the 2014 to 2020 LEADER programme between project and administration costs; the amount spent to date on projects by each local action group, LAG; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15596/19]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: LEADER Programmes Data (3 Apr 2019)

Dara Calleary: This is my regular question. Unfortunately, the situation is not improving despite the Minister's work and effort. I want to know the breakdown between project costs and administration costs. In addition, we are still not really breaking the back in terms of LEADER expenditure. The figures for the end of quarter 1 of 2019 do not show any major improvement in terms of project expenditure....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: LEADER Programmes Data (3 Apr 2019)

Dara Calleary: There are a number of difficulties. First, there are changes to this particular roll-out of LEADER which the feedback from the ground suggests are making it harder to draw down project expenditure. The Minister made some changes when he came into office. Have those changes made any difference with regard to expenditure? Second, the area I want to focus on is the inconsistency in LEADER...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: LEADER Programmes Data (3 Apr 2019)

Dara Calleary: We are in year six of a seven-year programme and I know there will be an extension at the end of it to draw down funding. However, the reality is that €10 million more is spent on administration than on project expenditure, which is a figure that has to be kept in mind. As we go into the renegotiation of a new Common Agricultural Policy programme, along with a new LEADER programme,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Telecommunications Infrastructure (3 Apr 2019)

Dara Calleary: 56. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the role of the regional telecommunications development unit in his Department with regard to the national broadband plan; the progress to date on the provision of a map of black spots in mobile phone coverage undertaken by the mobile phone and broadband task force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15597/19]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Telecommunications Infrastructure (3 Apr 2019)

Dara Calleary: To pick up on the Minister's last point, we need to make it easier for communities to spend that money. Communities are struggling to draw down that money. I know the Minister has made some changes to LEADER but we need to make it easier across all the programmes. This question is in respect of the national broadband plan and mobile phone coverage and the role in the Minister's...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Telecommunications Infrastructure (3 Apr 2019)

Dara Calleary: I thank the Minister of State. He commented that one of the duties of the unit was to prepare rural communities for the roll-out of high-speed broadband. As he knows rural communities are prepared for that roll-out but the Department is not and the Government keeps delaying the roll-out. What is the involvement of the regional telecommunications development unit in the preparation for the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Telecommunications Infrastructure (3 Apr 2019)

Dara Calleary: We are particularly fortunate that we have an excellent broadband officer. However, clearly 14 of his colleagues are not doing their job in providing the Minister of State with information. As he has said he meets them, can he not challenge them to provide him with the information? What is the view in the Department of Rural and Community Development on the schedule for the roll-out of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Action Plan for Rural Development (3 Apr 2019)

Dara Calleary: 60. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the progress to date in the Action Plan for Rural Development on the pilot scheme to encourage residential occupancy in rural towns and villages as committed to under the plan. [15474/19]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Action Plan for Rural Development (3 Apr 2019)

Dara Calleary: In January 2017, the pilot scheme for residential occupancy in rural towns and villages was announced. In October 2018, the Minister announced the six towns in the pilot scheme. Can the Minister provide the House with an update on the progress of the pilot scheme? Will it be completed by the end of 2019? In the context of homelessness figures rising above 10,000 last week, including over...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Action Plan for Rural Development (3 Apr 2019)

Dara Calleary: Is the pilot scheme on schedule? When will we be in a position to learn the lessons of the pilot scheme, given that the commitment to run it was made in January 2017? It was due to be completed by quarter 3 of 2017 but it took a long time to commence and the towns were only announced in quarter 3 of 2018. When will we have the lessons? I am aware that some projects have been announced in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Action Plan for Rural Development (3 Apr 2019)

Dara Calleary: I know the Minister is sending money to local authorities for plans. There are many plans and not much action, which I know frustrates the Minister. We have all these empty spaces, even in towns and cities that are relatively healthy. As Deputy Connolly spoke, I thought of Galway. There is a lot of space above retail units that previously contained homes. With a little thinking outside...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: CLÁR Programme (3 Apr 2019)

Dara Calleary: 71. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the review of the CLÁR programme; the take-up and drawdown in funding to date since it was re-established; and the status of the drawdown in funding to date of the town and village renewal scheme since established. [15472/19]

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (3 Apr 2019)

Dara Calleary: 100. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of applications made under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund to date by category; the number of applications granted funding by category; the funding approved for the scheme in 2019; the number of payments made to date for approved projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15473/19]

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Broadband Scheme (3 Apr 2019)

Dara Calleary: 86. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the discussions he has had with the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment with regard to broadband provision in rural areas; the progress of the provision of a map of blackspots in mobile coverage undertaken by the mobile phone and broadband taskforce; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15471/19]

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Broadband Scheme (3 Apr 2019)

Dara Calleary: 94. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the role of the regional telecommunications development unit in his Department with regard to the national broadband plan. [15470/19]

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (4 Apr 2019)

Dara Calleary: We saw another press release from the Government announcing a new national oral health policy called Smile agus Sláinte. Only Fine Gael could try to make dental treatment sound fluffy. The new policy implements one of the recommendations of the Sláintecare report. All children will receive eight oral healthcare packages while medical card holders who are over 16 years will also...

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions (4 Apr 2019)

Dara Calleary: I am sceptical.