Results 10,941-10,960 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Remote Working (17 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I agree with the Deputies. Remote working, or as I like to call it, connected working, will be a game changer for rural Ireland. Last October or November, I carried out a joint initiative with Tracy Keogh from Grow Remote. What was a concept is now a reality and because of Covid-19 it is a working reality for tens of thousands of workers. There is a huge opportunity here for regional...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Remote Working (17 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I am familiar with the Kishkeam project courtesy of Deputy Michael Moynihan. It is something we should explore, developing on what we do in post offices. It is a good project so I am happy to work with the Deputy on it. Deputy Cannon is right. There is a commitment in the programme for Government that 20% of public sector employees will be able to work remotely. My opinion is that we...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Town and Village Renewal Scheme (17 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for his question. The regeneration and revitalisation of our rural towns and villages is a key priority for my Department. Since 2016, the Department has invested €78 million in approximately 1,200 projects under the town and village renewal scheme. Large-scale projects that support town revitalisation are also funded through my Department's rural regeneration and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Town and Village Renewal Scheme (17 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I have a list with me. In 2020, funding of €424,000 was provided to 14 projects in Count Kerry under the town and village scheme as part of the Covid measures. While this was small money, it made a difference in providing outdoor seating, bicycle stands and moveable plant displays. Projects included an extension to the Green Street car park in Dingle; the creation of a picnic...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Town and Village Renewal Scheme (17 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy. I will keep fighting and I know I will have the support of the Deputy and other rural Deputies as well as Deputies from across the House because this scheme makes a difference and has an impact. I have €2 million for towns that are providing plans. That is important too because we need a joined-up approach. Working with local authorities, this funding will be...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Recreation Policy (17 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. I want to acknowledge the work he put in to setting this up when he was Minister in this Department. Covid-19 has reminded us all of the importance of outdoor recreational amenities for our physical and mental well-being. My Department provides substantial funding for outdoor recreational infrastructure through programmes such as the outdoor...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Recreation Policy (17 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: We have been working hard with the local authorities to develop a pilot insurance scheme. Indemnity has been a long running issue for farmers in upland areas. It was far too complex to provide a blanket indemnity scheme. We got advice from the Attorney General on it and we would have had to put amendments through several Acts. The problem was that it was getting complicated. Instead,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Recreation Policy (17 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The one thing I want to ensure, and I know the Deputy will agree with me, is that we do not want to give the farmers any problems in this space. The farmers are allowing people access to their lands. We want to try to facilitate and accommodate this. Most stakeholders in the sector share the view that a public liability policy has the potential to deliver the same benefits as an indemnity...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (17 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy. The outdoor recreation infrastructure scheme supports the development of outdoor recreational infrastructure. It provides vital funding for walking trails, cycleways, blueways and mountain access routes. The Deputy has all of these wonderful amenities in his county and we want to support them. He is absolutely committed to making sure they get the maximum support from...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (17 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy. There is always a big demand for support and funding to help these projects go ahead. Sometimes there is disappointment because we cannot fund every project. Often, when we have gone back to the project promoters and local authorities and said that perhaps we can improve it somewhat, I have seen cases where those projects were refused once but were able to make changes...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Transport Infrastructure Provision (17 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Programme for Government places a strong emphasis on improving our transport infrastructure to ensure that people can travel more safely by bicycle or by walking in our towns and cities. The Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan, recently announced a fund of €50 million to be made available to Local Authorities for investment in walking and cycling projects specifically targeted...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: National Disability Strategy (17 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: A Mid-Term Review of the National Disability Inclusion Strategy was published in January 2020. This review provided an opportunity to refresh the National Disability Inclusion Strategy, to modify existing actions, and to add new actions. Action 127 was a new commitment made within the context of the forthcoming rural development policy, to work to improve accessibility for people with...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: National Broadband Plan (17 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications has overall policy responsibility for the National Broadband Plan. However, my Department contributes to the delivery of the NBP in two important areas: the roll out of Broadband Connection Points and support for the national network of Local Authority Broadband Officers. Broadband Connection Points are among the first...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Development Plan (17 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: For many rural dwellers, access to essential services, including high-speed broadband, healthcare, and public transport, is a priority concern. The current pandemic has further demonstrated the importance of local services. My Department is currently finalising an ambitious new rural development policy to cover the period 2021–2025, which seeks to enhance the vibrancy of rural...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (17 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Meals on Wheels organisations make an invaluable contribution to community life in Ireland and have supported many vulnerable individuals during the pandemic. My Department provided a range of supports in 2020 which Meals on Wheels organisations could avail of to fund different aspects of their work. Some of the supports announced include: - In June, the Department launched the Community...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Local Improvement Scheme (17 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Local Improvement Scheme, or LIS, is a programme for improvement works on small private or non-public roads in rural areas which are not under the normal maintenance of the Local Authorities. The scheme is funded by my Department and is administered through the relevant Local Authorities. Since the LIS was re-launched in 2017, over €58 million has been allocated to Local...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: LEADER Programmes (17 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 21 and 79 together. Due to delays at EU level, there will be a delay between the end of the current LEADER programme, which was due to conclude at the end of this year, and the next EU programme which will not now commence until 2023. The Programme for Government includes a commitment to introduce a transitional LEADER programme to bridge that gap. Yesterday,...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Local Improvement Scheme (17 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 24, 37, 39, 49, 59, 77, 669 and 670 together. The Local Improvement Scheme, or LIS, is a programme for improvement works on small private or non-public roads in rural areas which are not under the normal maintenance of the Local Authorities. The scheme is funded by my Department and is administered through the relevant Local Authorities. Since the LIS was...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: LEADER Programmes (17 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy is aware, due to delays at EU level, there will be a delay between the end of the current LEADER programme, which was due to conclude at the end of this year, and the next EU programme which will not now commence until 2023. The Programme for Government includes a commitment to introduce a transitional LEADER programme to bridge that gap. Yesterday, I announced details of the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Harbours and Piers (17 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy will be aware, users of the pier on Inis Meáin, including a number of State subsidised ferry operators, have highlighted issues with capacity within the harbour, as well as with currents around the mouth of the harbour. Finding and developing a solution to these difficulties form part of Phase 3 of this project which is listed in the National Development Plan. In June...