Results 10,961-10,980 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

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

Heather Humphreys: Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) are among the first deliverables of the National Broadband Plan (NBP) and will provide high-speed broadband connectivity to publicly accessible sites in rural and isolated areas of the country, including a number of our off-shore islands. These sites will be provided with a temporary wireless connection by National Broadband Ireland (NBI), the company...

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

Heather Humphreys: The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund established under the National Development Plan and managed by my Department supports large-scale investment in projects which can deliver sustainable economic and social development in rural areas. The third call for Category 1 applications closed on 1st December and 66 applications were received. The application process for the Fund is...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Tidy Towns Committees (17 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Since its inception in 1958 when it had 52 entrants, the TidyTowns competition has grown year-on-year to see a record number of 924 entrants in 2019. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, the 2020 SuperValu TidyTowns competition had to be cancelled on public health grounds. At that time, it would not have been possible for the TidyTowns Committees around the country to deliver their projects in...

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

Heather Humphreys: The LEADER programme, which is co-financed by the European Commission under Pillar 2 of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) has a total budget of €250 million over the programming period 2014-2020. €225 million of this funding has been allocated as core funding to each of the individual Local Action Groups (LAGs) who deliver LEADER. The remaining €25 million is...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Animal Breeding Regulations (17 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Dog Breeding Establishment Act 2010 provides a robust regulatory framework for, inter alia, the licensing, monitoring and inspection of dog breeding establishments by local authorities and, where a serious and immediate threat exists to public health or animal health and welfare, for the closure of such establishments. The day to day regulation of dog breeding establishments to ensure...

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

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 41, 55, 67 and 74 together. Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) are among the first deliverables of the National Broadband Plan (NBP) and will provide high-speed broadband connectivity to publicly accessible sites in rural and isolated areas of the country, including a number of our off-shore islands. These sites will be provided with a temporary wireless...

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

Heather Humphreys: Agri-food and Tourism are two of our strongest indigenous enterprise sectors. They are built on the natural and human capital found in rural areas and support many thousands of jobs nationwide. Ireland’s agri-food sector exports to over 180 countries, and these exports had a value of almost €14.5 billion in 2019. Over the last number of years, the the Wild Atlantic Way,...

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

Heather Humphreys: The LEADER programme is delivered through 29 Local Action Groups (LAGs) across rural Ireland. The programme includes a specific funding Theme to support Rural Economic Development, Enterprise Development and Job Creation. A total of 2,339 projects have been approved for €86 million under this Theme since the current LEADER programme became operational, effectively in 2016. Since...

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

Heather Humphreys: My Department is currently finalising a new rural development policy for the period 2021-2025. The policy will be forward-looking and ambitious, and will provide the framework to respond to the issues which will affect rural Ireland over the next five years. It will take a whole-of-Government approach to the economic and social development of rural areas and will include tangible measures...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Town and Village Renewal Scheme (17 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The regeneration and revitalisation of our rural towns and villages is a key priority for my Department. Since 2016, my Department has invested €78 million in approximately 1,200 projects under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme. The scheme was adapted this year to assist towns and villages to respond to the impact of COVID-19. The scheme, which had a budget of €25...

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

Heather Humphreys: Actions to meet and further the rights of persons with disabilities are delivered across a number of Government Departments and organisations, with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth having responsibility for the National Disability Inclusion Strategy which runs from 2017 to 2021. My Department has many funding programmes which groups can apply for,...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Town and Village Renewal Scheme (17 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The regeneration and revitalisation of our rural towns and villages is a key priority for my Department. Since 2016, my Department has invested €78 million in approximately 1,200 projects under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme. The Programme for Government includes a commitment to bring forward an expanded Town and Village Renewal Scheme to bring vacant and derelict buildings...

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

Heather Humphreys: The new Rural Development Policy, which is currently being finalised by my Department, will the Government’s blueprint for rural Ireland over the next five years. It will seek to address issues affecting rural areas through the implementation of measures designed to build and strengthen rural communities and rural economies. The new policy will reflect a strategic, whole-of-government...

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: Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (17 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme supports the development of new outdoor recreational infrastructure and the maintenance or enhancement of existing infrastructure. It provides vital funding for amenities such as walking trails, cycleways, blue ways and mountain access routes. Since the funding began in 2016, €52 million has been allocated to 747 projects countrywide. This...

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

Heather Humphreys: The CLÁR programme provides funding for small scale projects in rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population. The Measures being funded through this year's programme are: Measure 1: Support for Schools/Community Safety Measures Measure 2: Community Recreation Areas (new for 2020) Measure 3: Community Wellbeing Support (a) Meals on Wheels and linked services...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Flexible Work Practices (17 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Remote working has the potential to transform rural Ireland, allowing people to build careers in good quality jobs while continuing to live closer to home. It also provides an opportunity for those that moved away to return to their roots to raise their families. My Department is collaborating with the Western Development Commission (WDC) to develop a national integrated network of remote...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (17 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: COVID-19 has reminded us all of the importance of outdoor recreation amenities for our physical and mental wellbeing. Since 2016, my Department has invested €52 million in 747 projects under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) and its predecessor the Rural Recreation Scheme. ORIS provides funding for the development and/or enhancement of outdoor recreational...

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

Heather Humphreys: My Department’s mission is to promote rural and community development and support the creation of vibrant and sustainable communities across the country. This mission is delivered through a range of policies, programmes and initiatives, including the LEADER programme which focuses on rural areas. A feature of the LEADER programme is that it is based on a community-led, bottom-up...

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

Heather Humphreys: Prior to the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic my officials had been engaged in a process of consultation with island communities in relation to the development of a new Islands Policy. This consultation was carried out through public meetings on the islands. The consultation process had to be temporarily suspended due to COVID-19 travel restrictions and to avoid health risks for the...