Results 9,861-9,880 of 14,886 for speaker:Dara Calleary

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan (29 May 2019)

Dara Calleary: The national broadband plan, if properly implemented, has the capacity to be a game changer for Ireland, offering economic opportunities and also offering opportunities for people to come home and work from rural locations for companies based in bigger centres. There are many caveats to the plan and my party has many concerns. What specific input does the Department of Rural and Community...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan (29 May 2019)

Dara Calleary: I said this is a potential game changer and a proper roll-out of this plan for many areas might be the last chance saloon. The Secretary General of the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment said at the end of April that after year ten of the national broadband plan all premises in the intervention areas will have access to high-speed broadband. The Government in its...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan (29 May 2019)

Dara Calleary: I ask the Minister of State to confirm again when the tender contract will be signed. Given that the contract has yet to be signed, I suggest that the Minister of State and the Minister work to ensure that local companies and local tradespeople are involved in the roll-out of the project to provide employment opportunities. If this is done properly - I always add that caveat, as we are still...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Regional Development Funding (29 May 2019)

Dara Calleary: 33. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the EU funding supports available for regional development. [22887/19]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Regional Development Funding (29 May 2019)

Dara Calleary: Is there any chance of a few bob for a microphone because somebody's microphone must not be working in view of all this roaring? Here is a fact for the Minister; the EU has downgraded the Border, midland and western, BMW, region from developed to a region in transition after an independent analysis of the GDP figures for the period 2015 to 2017. This proves what we all know but we now need...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Regional Development Funding (29 May 2019)

Dara Calleary: I would like more information on the EU's decision to downgrade the BMW region from developed to a region in transition. When was the Department informed of that decision and what will be the consequences of that decision? The Minister outlined the various funds to which the Department has access. There are proposals in the European Commission to reduce some of those funds. For example,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Regional Development Funding (29 May 2019)

Dara Calleary: I ask the Minister to address the issue of the downgrading of the BMW region. When was he informed of that and what consequences will it have? I agree with what the Minister just said but the fact remains that the funds to which he refers are under threat. Decisions on these funds will be made and the groundwork for the next EU budget will be done during the summer period. We need to know...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Regional Development Funding (29 May 2019)

Dara Calleary: Will the Government renominate him?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Regional Development Funding (29 May 2019)

Dara Calleary: Will the Minister write him a reference?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: LEADER Programmes Data (29 May 2019)

Dara Calleary: 35. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount spent to date under the 2014-2020 LEADER programme by project and administration costs, respectively; the amount expended to date on project costs by each local action group, LAG; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22890/19]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: LEADER Programmes Data (29 May 2019)

Dara Calleary: Here we are again with my usual question on the LEADER programme. I know that the Minister is going to give me all sorts of figures, tell me that everything is hunky-dory and that he is spending money like it is going out of fashion this year. However, the reality is that we are still way behind in LEADER spending this year. Has there been any discussion between the Department of Rural and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: LEADER Programmes Data (29 May 2019)

Dara Calleary: Funding of €69 million is approved and €26 million is in the process, yet only €21 million has been paid out. What is the Minister's anticipated figure for the amount that will actually be paid out by the end of 2019? We had a discussion previously about inconsistencies among LAGs nationally in terms of spend and performance. Following that discussion, the Minister was...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: LEADER Programmes Data (29 May 2019)

Dara Calleary: The Minister will receive support from the House to get those companies that are not performing up to speed. I ask him again for the likely expenditure figure in money paid out by the end of 2019. Have there been any discussions between the Department and the European Commission on the slow expenditure profile? How does our expenditure profile compare with the expenditure profiles of other...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Men's Sheds (29 May 2019)

Dara Calleary: I endorse everything that has been said. During the election campaign, the Minister and I were in Kiltimagh and Ballina with men's sheds. The local sheds are doing phenomenal work but the national organisation is struggling with success. The national organisation is an incredibly hard working team which is trying to co-ordinate all this activity. Some time ago, when Deputy Ó Cuív...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (29 May 2019)

Dara Calleary: 40. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of applications made under the rural regeneration and development fund to date per category; the number of applications granted funding per category; the funding approved for the scheme in 2019; the number and value of payments made to date for approved projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22891/19]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (29 May 2019)

Dara Calleary: I will not burst the Minister's bubble but I refer to the rural regeneration and development fund. The Minister and Deputy Michael Collins had an interaction, rather than a discussion, on this earlier. The reality is that only 38 of 280 applications were deemed successful for project funding. The Minister has a concept of a project being shovel ready, and I welcome that, but is the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (29 May 2019)

Dara Calleary: The Minister indicated that €24.4 million in expenditure was approved but when does he expect this to be drawn down? What is the timeline in the Department for that money to be drawn down? Like many funds in his Department, there are many announcements but they are not matched by the drawdown and the expenditure does not seem to match the hype. Is the Minister monitoring the scheme...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (29 May 2019)

Dara Calleary: Ready to turn the sod.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Broadband Scheme (29 May 2019)

Dara Calleary: 49. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of discussions he has had with the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment with regard to broadband provision in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22889/19]

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Expenditure (29 May 2019)

Dara Calleary: 67. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development his views on expenditure in his Department up until the end of quarter 1 of 2019 with regard to 2017 and 2018 allocation made for schemes (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22888/19]