Results 11,301-11,320 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Broadband Infrastructure (3 Feb 2021)

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.  The sites will be provided with a high-speed broadband service for onsite community use.  After a site...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Town and Village Renewal Scheme (3 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Since the launch of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme in 2016, over €93 million of funding has been approved for more than 1,340 projects across Ireland. From an initial allocation of €10 million in 2016, the capital budget for the Town and Village Renewal Scheme grew to €15 million in 2019 and 2020. The funding for 2020 was increased by €10 million to...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (3 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Since the launch of the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) in 2016, my Department has invested over €55.2 million in over 920 projects across Ireland. The capital budget allocation for the scheme in 2019 and 2020 was €10 million. Recognising the importance of outdoor recreation to our physical and mental wellbeing, particularly at this time, I secured a...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Employment Schemes (3 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The type of posts referred to by the Deputy are linked to the Walks Scheme which is administered by my Department.  The scheme currently facilitates the development and maintenance of 39 walking trails through modest payments to almost 2,000 landholders for maintenance works undertaken in line with agreed work plans. In 2019, my Department invited Expressions of Interest for the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: LEADER Programmes (3 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The communication referred to by the Deputy was provided to my Department through the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine as the Managing Authority in Ireland for the Rural Development Programme, of which LEADER is one element. The document is part of a deliberative process between my Department, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the European...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (3 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The allocation of Rural Regeneration and Development funding is overseen by my Department with a view to supporting the development and delivery of ambitious and strategic projects which contribute to sustainable rural regeneration and development in towns and villages with a population of less than 10,000 and outlying areas.  To date, 139 projects around the country have been allocated...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Dog Breeding Industry (3 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: My Department has overall policy responsibility for the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010.  The Act 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...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Library Services (3 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The provision of library services is primarily a matter for local authorities in their capacity as library authorities under the Local Government Act, 2001.  There are currently no proposals to provide funding for the delivery of a library lending service on a trial basis via the postal service. However, I understand that Kildare libraries have been providing a delivery...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Remote Working (3 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: My Department has invested significantly in co-working spaces and enterprise hubs over the last number of years though programmes such as the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund. Investments approved include a digital hub in Mountmellick and an enterprise hub in Mountrath, Co, Laois.  A Food hub is also being supported in Athy, Co. Kildare. My...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Remote Working (3 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Remote, or connected working has the potential to transform rural Ireland, allowing people to continue to live in their communities while building careers in good quality jobs.  Remote working also provides an opportunity for others to move to, or return to, rural areas to work and raise their families, and we are increasingly seeing people making this choice since the onset of...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Family Resource Centres (3 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, administers the Family Resource Centre (FRC) Programme. I understand that a specific allocation of Tusla's funding in 2021, including in respect of family support services, will be finalised in Tusla’s Business Plan for 2021 which is currently in development. Funding may be available through the LEADER Transitional Programme for the type of...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Broadband Scheme (3 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) are among the first premises to be connected in the State intervention area under the National Broadband Plan (NBP).  They are publicly accessible premises, such as community centres, libraries and sports clubs in more isolated or remote rural areas, including some of our off-shore islands.  The BCPs will make onsite broadband access available for...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: LEADER Programmes (3 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The European Union Recovery Instrument (EURI) is a Fund established by the European Union to support recovery in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.  €190 million is to be allocated to Ireland from the Instrument over the period 2021-2022 for agriculture and rural development.   The funding must be programmed into the CAP Rural Development Programme...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Disability Allowance (4 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Following a review of the entitlement of the person concerned, it was found that he had a decrease in his means from his previous assessment. Based on the information provided to my Department, a maximum rate of disability allowance (DA) was awarded with effect from 9 September 2020. A letter issued to the person concerned informing him of this on 22...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (4 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: In a state pension entitlement review following the death of the recipient, the Department, for reasons of confidentiality, can only correspond or communicate with the legal representative or personal representative of the deceased. According to the records of the Department, the person on whose behalf the Deputy is enquiring is not the named executor or personal...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: State Pensions (4 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal in respect of the person concerned was registered by that Office on 25 June 2020. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. The file papers were received from the Department on 30 October 2020 and...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (4 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. I am advised by the Chief Appeals Officer that it is currently not possible to facilitate in-person oral hearings due to Covid-19 restrictions.  However, the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Fraud (4 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Department's policy is to consider for prosecution all cases of fraud against the social welfare system. In considering which cases to prosecute, the Department applies defined and recognised practice standards, set by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Social Welfare Legislation cases finalised successfully in Court - 2018-2020   Year  2018 ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Maternity Benefit (4 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: A decision to extend the duration of maternity leave, including that for families with multiple births, would be the responsibility of my colleague the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.  My Department has responsibility for the payment of any associated maternity benefit which is provided for in the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (as...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Disability Allowance (4 Feb 2021)

Heather Humphreys: A review was carried out on the means of the person concerned and they were awarded an increased rate of disability allowance (DA) with effect from 13 May 2020. A letter informing them of this decision issued to them on 28 May 2020. A further review of the entitlement of the person concerned was carried out on 1 February 2021 and it was found that she had an...