Results 1,321-1,340 of 1,441 for speaker:Ann Phelan

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Community Development Initiatives (8 Dec 2015)

Ann Phelan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 550 and 551 together. The aim of my Department’s Local and Community Development Programmes was to tackle poverty and social exclusion in disadvantaged communities. The programme provided funding of €281 million to communities during the period January 2010 to end March 2015, when the new Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Rural Development Programme (8 Dec 2015)

Ann Phelan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 552 and 553 together. The number of full-time jobs supported through LEADER in the period 2011 to 2014, by county, is detailed in the following Table 1. The number of villages and communities benefitting from capital enhancement works is detailed in the following Table 2. As the Deputy will note, some of the Local Action Groups cover more than one county. 2014...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Seniors Alert Scheme (8 Dec 2015)

Ann Phelan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 563 to 566, inclusive, together. My Department is responsible for the Seniors Alert Scheme which encourages community support for vulnerable older people in our communities by providing grant assistance towards the purchase and installation of personal monitored alarms to enable older persons, of limited means, to continue to live securely in their homes...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Leader Programmes Administration (8 Dec 2015)

Ann Phelan: As the Deputy is aware, Ireland is conducting a two stage process for the selection of local development strategies to support the delivery of the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020. Stage one of the process is complete and those successful at stage one have moved to stage two of the process, which is the preparation of local development strategiesin each of the 28...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Planning Issues (8 Dec 2015)

Ann Phelan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 580 and 581 together. Responsibility for planning enforcement under the Planning and Development Act 2000, as amended, is a matter for the relevant local authority, in this case Westmeath County Council. Under section 30 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 Act, I am specifically precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to any...

Topical Issue Debate: Community Development Projects (9 Dec 2015)

Ann Phelan: I am pleased to have an opportunity to address the Dáil regarding funding for men's sheds. I agree with the Deputy's comments about the great work being done by these groups. I have visited many of them and the benefits for participants are clear to see. My Department provides support to the Irish Men's Sheds Association, IMSA, under the funding scheme to support national...

Topical Issue Debate: Community Development Projects (9 Dec 2015)

Ann Phelan: Funding under the scheme to support national organisations, SSNO, is provided to national organisations such as the Irish Men's Shed Association for core funding. My Department does not provide funding under the SSNO for local and regional branches of national organisations. The organisations funded under the SSNO reflect significant diversity in theme and in the target groups they support,...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Leader Programmes Applications (10 Dec 2015)

Ann Phelan: I accept the Deputy inquires regularly about the Leader programme. As he is aware, the preparation and submission of local development strategies under the Leader elements of the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 is under way in each of the 28 designated subregional areas. A minimum period of six months to the end of January 2016 has been allowed for the submission of strategies by all...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Leader Programmes Applications (10 Dec 2015)

Ann Phelan: Yes, I expect the bulk of the strategies to be submitted in January. Just six local development strategies have been received for evaluation, three of which will be considered next week by the panel of experts in the independent selection committee. It is a requirement that these strategies be subject to robust assessment by the committee. I appreciate the Deputy understands the programme...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Leader Programmes Applications (10 Dec 2015)

Ann Phelan: Yes.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Leader Programmes Applications (10 Dec 2015)

Ann Phelan: A long-drawn-out process is not desirable at all. I believe what will happen is that once strategies are approved and once the areas see that money is coming down to the communities, the other strategies will come in very quickly on the back of approval of contracts.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Climate Change Negotiations (10 Dec 2015)

Ann Phelan: I assure the Deputy that is Government is very serious about climate change. The 21st conference of the parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, known as COP21, is currently taking place in Paris and is scheduled to run until tomorrow when some 196 parties, including Ireland, will hopefully finalise a new legally binding global agreement on climate change. An...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Climate Change Negotiations (10 Dec 2015)

Ann Phelan: We were commended on our climate change legislation, which was debated at length in the House. It provides a statutory basis for the national objective of transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient and environmentally-sustainable economy by 2050. This has cross-Government support. The Minister made significant amendments to the legislation as it progressed through both Houses in...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Climate Change Negotiations (10 Dec 2015)

Ann Phelan: I have a detailed response regarding the whole-of-government response to the weather conditions over the past number of days. All the issues the Deputy has raised will be considered under the national mitigation plans and national adaptation frameworks and how we adapt what we are doing at the moment to how we respond to the weather events of the past number of days. There is an energy...

Other Questions: Water and Sewerage Schemes Provision (10 Dec 2015)

Ann Phelan: Last month, the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government outlined to the House the efforts he is making to address the funding issues associated with specific group water schemes in the Deputy's county. Although the specific issue has not been resolved conclusively with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the matter has been superseded by work on the...

Other Questions: Water and Sewerage Schemes Provision (10 Dec 2015)

Ann Phelan: I understand the Deputy's frustration. I know she has raised this issue a number of times in the House but I ask her to bear with us. We are making very good progress in this area and we expect to make an announcement before year end. I ask the Deputy to continue to keep in contact with her local authority because local authorities will be invited to bid for 2016 funding and are very much...

Other Questions: Water and Sewerage Schemes Provision (10 Dec 2015)

Ann Phelan: I do understand. These types of projects have been discussed by the working group. It is a matter for prioritisation and I again ask the Deputy to have a little more patience. We expect to be in a position towards the end of the year to deal with some of the projects to which she referred.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Rural Development Policy (10 Dec 2015)

Ann Phelan: I am fully committed to supporting the development and revitalisation of rural Ireland , through advancing the implementation of the recommendations in the report of the Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas, also known as the CEDRA report. As the Deputy will be aware, the first recommendation of the CEDRA report relates to the preparation of a clear and committed Rural...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Wind Energy Guidelines (10 Dec 2015)

Ann Phelan: In December 2013, my Department published proposed “draft” revisions to the noise, setback distance and shadow flicker aspects of the 2006 Wind Energy Development Guidelines.These draft revisions proposed: - the setting of a more stringent day and night noise limit of 40 decibels for future windenergy developments, - a mandatory minimum setback distance of 500 metres between a...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Contracts (10 Dec 2015)

Ann Phelan: My Department is responsible for the Seniors Alert Scheme which encourages community support for vulnerable older people in our communities by providing grant assistance towards the purchase and installation of personal monitored alarms to enable older persons, of limited means, to continue to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind. The scheme is...