Results 13,601-13,620 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Regional Development (15 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Minister of State, Deputy O'Donovan, and the OPW are looking at how they can identify suitable State-owned properties which are no longer being used and could be passed over to the community. It could be, for example, an old Garda station lying idle. Rather than letting that property fall into disrepair, why not give it to the community? Through schemes like the town and village...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Regional Development (15 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I have had engagement and meetings with the Minister of State on the issue of properties. Some of these properties could be acquired for remote working hubs or a number of other uses. It is up to local communities and local authorities to work together. When they make propositions, I am never found wanting. Good projects always get funding and different streams of funding are available. ...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Vacant Properties (15 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 89, 93 and 127 together. The refurbishment of vacant properties is being addressed by a number of initiatives delivered by my Department, in line with the commitments contained in Our Rural Future. In April, I announced investment of €81 million for 25 landmark projects for funding under category 1 of the rural regeneration and development fund,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Vacant Properties (15 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Deputy Kerrane has submitted a question on town centre first officers, which we will get to presently. I will come back on that specific point when I answer that question. The town centre first group has been set up under the chairmanship of the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke. My Department feeds into that interdepartmental group and much of its work is on the suggested actions...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Vacant Properties (15 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Some of the specific actions that are being considered by the interdepartmental group include incentivising the use of vacant buildings through taxation strategies, exploring financial disincentives in respect of vacancy and underuse, examining alternative models for access to finance for the adaptive reuse of vacant buildings, resourcing and supporting local authorities to invest and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Schemes (15 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. Our Rural Future sets out a blueprint for the development of rural Ireland over the next five years. It is supported by some 150 commitments based on the challenges and opportunities identified for rural communities. A key element of Our Rural Future is the commitment to develop and deliver a collaborative town centre first approach to put the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Schemes (15 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: As I stated, the working group chaired by the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke, will come forward with recommendations in the coming months. As part of budget 2021, I secured €2 million to help these towns develop master plans. It is very important that they have a plan in order to ensure there is joined-up thinking, which is part of making it a success. It is one thing to have...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Schemes (15 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: As I said, in fairness to local authorities, many different demands are being made of them. Many funding opportunities are available for schemes, whether it is the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and the Media's scheme for outdoor dining, the Minister for Transport's schemes for cycling and walking infrastructure or schemes from my own Department in town and village...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Schemes (15 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 100 and 102 together. The local improvement scheme provides funding for work on rural roads and laneways, as Deputy Griffin well knows. He has raised this matter with me on a number of occasions. These particular laneways are not normally maintained by local authorities. They are normally private and go into agricultural land and houses. This...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Schemes (15 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: There is a long list of roads that need repaired. I know there are many such roads in counties Kerry, Cavan and Monaghan, Mayo and all over the country. We have contacted the local authorities. We have asked them to outline what they can deliver before the end of the year. I want the money allocated to be spent on the roads. The allocations will be looked at by my Department. We will...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Broadband Infrastructure (15 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 103 and 108 together. I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. The mobile phone and broadband task force was launched in July 2016 with the objective of improving access to high-quality mobile phone coverage and broadband services in rural Ireland. Since its inception, the task force has addressed more than 70 targeted actions, worked on removing...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Broadband Infrastructure (15 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: We have the task force and it has worked very well. We are looking at how we can repurpose it. A great deal of work is happening. I spoke to the task force only recently. It acknowledge the great work with the local authorities and local broadband officers, who have been able to bring a wide range of solutions there. I agree with the Deputy on the wider structure. The Department of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Schemes (15 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy is aware, we try to be as fair as possible when allocating the funds. The officials will come forward with recommended allocations in due course. They are currently engaging with the local authorities on the matter. In fairness to the Deputy, it will not be his fault if Kerry does not get a fair share of the cake, as it were. It is an issue the Deputy has raised with me...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: National Broadband Plan (15 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The National Broadband Plan (NBP) will bring reliable high-speed broadband to approximately 540,000 premises across the State, primarily in rural and isolated areas. These premises include homes, farms, community and health facilities, schools, and businesses. The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications has contracted National Broadband Ireland to deliver the NBP in...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Road Projects (15 Jul 2021)

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 Local Authorities. I launched the 2021 LIS on 14th May. I have also recently announced the allocation of an additional...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (15 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The increased shift to remote working as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic has given us the opportunity for a greater regional distribution of jobs and to support a better quality of life for many people who previously spent many hours in long commutes. This is a key focus of the Government's new rural development policy Our Rural Future. Remote working, supported by appropriate...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (15 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The €945,000 COVID-19 Social Enterprise Regeneration Programme is a Dormant Accounts Funded Programme exclusively for social enterprises that will assist them to re-purpose or diversify their trading income while adapting to the COVID-19 operating environment. Social enterprises are businesses that work primarily to improve the lives of people. Their core objective is to achieve a...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Tidy Towns (15 Jul 2021)

Heather Humphreys: l was delighted to be in a position to launch the 2021 Supervalu TidyTowns competition on 21st May last. After the cancellation of the competition last year, I know that the launch of the 2021 competition was greeted with much relief and enthusiasm by the countless number of TidyTowns volunteers around the country. Special arrangements have been put in place to ensure the return of the...