Results 13,841-13,860 of 15,109 for speaker:Dara Calleary

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Public Procurement Contracts (25 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: In line with the Office of Government Procurement’s guidance (Public Procurement Guidelines for Goods and Services), and the procurement thresholds within that guidance, my Department maintains a register of all contracts with a value of over €25,000 (exclusive of VAT) entered into each year. The table below provides the information requested by the Deputy, based on that...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Bodies (25 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: There are two bodies under the remit of my Department which are quasi-judicial in nature. The Charities Regulatory Authority (the ‘Charities Regulator’) was established in October 2014 pursuant to the Charities Act 2009. The Charities Regulator is the State organisation responsible for registering and regulating all of Ireland’s charities, and, where necessary,...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Legislative Programme (25 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Dog Control Stakeholder Group established by my Department in 2024 have been tasked with considering the policy and legislative matters currently under the remit of my Department, specifically the Dog Control Acts and the Dog Breeding Establishments Act. The stakeholder group meet regularly and the work of the group is wide ranging and complex in nature. The group's remit includes...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Library Projects (25 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) is a strategic capital investment fund that is key to the delivery of Ireland's rural development policy, Our Rural Future 2021-2025. RRDF provides funding for the development and construction of capital projects in towns and villages and rural areas across Ireland. Funding is allocated to local authorities and other State-funded bodies, who...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Contracts (25 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has not had any contracts with the company referenced in 2024 and to date in 2025.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (25 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: As with other schemes of my Department, the Community and Voluntary Pillar (C&V Pillar) funding scheme is kept under continuous review. Notwithstanding this, over the last twelve months officials at my Department have engaged with members of the C&V pillar, both as a group and bilaterally, regarding the need to consider options for the future of the scheme. Department officials will...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Dormant Accounts Fund (25 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: The main purpose of the Dormant Accounts Acts is to reunite account holders with their funds. Unclaimed funds are transferred to the Dormant Accounts Fund, which is managed by the National Treasury Management Agency. The beneficial owner has a right to reclaim their money at any time. Legislation governing Dormant Accounts established an administrative framework within which Departments...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (25 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: I propose to take Questions Nos. 902, 903 and 907 together. The Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) supports improving non-public rural roads and laneways not usually maintained by local authorities. Since its establishment in 2017, almost €170 million has been provided by the Government to local authorities for LIS. In April 2024, €40 million in funding was announced for LIS...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (25 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: I propose to take Questions Nos. 904 and 905 together. Since its establishment, my Department has placed a strong emphasis on the development, publication and implementation of a range of strategic, stakeholder informed and evidence based policies. The development of a robust policy platform has focused the Department’s investment and drives progress in the areas of rural and...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Social Media (25 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: For the period in question, 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024, 100% of videos posted on my Department’s social media accounts included closed captioning/subtitling with a view to making these more accessible. None of the videos included Irish sign language (ISL) translations. There are four agencies under my Department’s remit: the Western Development Commission, POBAL, Water...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (25 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: I would like to reassure the Deputy that the schemes he refers to continue to be reviewed and revised in conjunction with stakeholders and in the context of the evolving needs of communities around the country. My Department's capital schemes operate on the basis of periodic ‘Calls for Proposals’. In advance of each call, the terms and conditions attached to each scheme are...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Library Projects (25 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: The provision of library services including new library buildings is primarily a matter for Local Authorities in their capacity as library authorities under the Local Government Act 2001. Notwithstanding this, in April 2024, I announced the new Libraries Capital Programme for the period 2023-2027, which will invest €22.6m in 11 state-of-the-art infrastructure projects and a further...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Regeneration Projects (25 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) is a strategic capital investment fund that is key to the delivery of Ireland's rural development policy, Our Rural Future 2021-2025. RRDF provides funding for the development and construction of capital projects in towns, villages and rural areas across Ireland. Funding is allocated to local authorities and other State-funded bodies, who...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (25 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Community Recognition Fund was first introduced in 2023 to recognise the huge efforts made by communities in welcoming and supporting people coming to Ireland. Through the 2023 allocation, funding of €50 million was approved for some 900 projects in cities, towns and villages nationwide. To further support communities, a further €50 million in funding under the Community...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Small and Medium Enterprises (25 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: I propose to take Questions Nos. 912 to 914, inclusive, together. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) play a vital role in the Irish economy, and the supports provided by Government recognise their importance. Such enterprises operate across every sector, often supporting larger enterprises in their activities. SMEs are also particularly important for rural areas, with many such companies...

Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner's Pension) Bill 2025: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: He normally does not need it.

Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner's Pension) Bill 2025: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: He has four of them on now.

Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner's Pension) Bill 2025: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: I thank the Ceann Comhairle. I did not think we would finish this quickly. I thank Deputy McAuliffe and all Deputies who gave me good wishes today. I have listened with interest to all of the contributions. We have taken notes. For Deputies who raised individual cases, I ask them to send me specific details and we will try to action them in as far as we can. It is clear that there is...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Schemes (26 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Humanitarian Assistance Scheme (HAS), administered by my department through the Community Welfare Service (CWS), was activated on 23 January 2025 to assist householders affected across the country by Storm Éowyn. Stage 1 of HAS is available to people who need immediate humanitarian support while they are without power and/or water. Payments under Stage 1 are not income tested...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (26 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: My Department provides a suite of income supports for those unable to work due to illness or disability. These include insurance-based schemes, based on Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) contributions, and means-tested social assistance schemes. The primary social assistance scheme for people who are blind or visually impaired is the Blind Pension, which is a means-tested payment...