Results 14,401-14,420 of 15,117 for speaker:Dara Calleary

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Meetings (29 Apr 2025)

Dara Calleary: I can confirm that I have not had any meetings with the Polish Ambassador to Ireland to date in 2025.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Social Enterprise Sector (29 Apr 2025)

Dara Calleary: I would like to acknowledge See My Skills and their valuable work which is having a meaningful impact on the lives of people living with disabilities by making workplaces more accessible. Listed below are a number of available resources that may be useful for organisations like See my Skills. It is recommended that any organisation seeking supports should contact their nearest Local...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Information and Communications Technology (29 Apr 2025)

Dara Calleary: I can confirm that all IT systems in use within my Department can accommodate an síneadh fada.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: EU Directives (29 Apr 2025)

Dara Calleary: There are currently no EU Directives awaiting transposition by my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Properties (29 Apr 2025)

Dara Calleary: My Department has not rented office space since its establishment in 2017. It currently occupies office space at Trinity Point, Dublin 2, and Government Buildings, Ballina, Co. Mayo. Both offices are in the ownership of the Office of Public Works (OPW). My Department also has responsibility for the Islands, with a small staffing complement based in Na Forbacha, County Galway. This...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Contracts (29 Apr 2025)

Dara Calleary: I propose to take Questions Nos. 2620 and 2621 together. My Department contracts cleaning and security services for its head office in Trinity Point, Dublin 2. There are three relevant contracts currently in place, as detailed in the table below. As lead tenant of the building my Department manages one contract for the cleaning of common areas and another contract for reception/security...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (29 Apr 2025)

Dara Calleary: I propose to take Questions Nos. 2622, 2623, 2624, 2625 and 2626 together. The Town Centre First (TCF) Policy is a major cross-government policy that aims to tackle vacancy, combat dereliction and breathe new life into our town centres. TCF supports the Our Rural Future vision for a thriving rural Ireland by setting out a framework to facilitate and resource the regeneration of Irish towns...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Regeneration Projects (29 Apr 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Town and Village Renewal Scheme places particular emphasis on projects that had a renewed focus on town centre economic and social recovery and regeneration. On 19 March last I was delighted to launch the 2025 TVRS scheme which is now open for applications. Under this round of the TVRS and in a further effort to transform and regenerate town centres, the call for applications...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Men's Sheds (29 Apr 2025)

Dara Calleary: The emergence of Men’s Sheds has been a very positive development for communities across Ireland. They provide a safe, comfortable and inclusive environment where people of all ages can share skills, work on meaningful projects and connect with their communities. I am fully committed to supporting Men's Sheds in the valuable work they do. The Programme for Government includes a...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Staff (29 Apr 2025)

Dara Calleary: My Department is an equal opportunities employer and is fully committed to supporting the health and safety needs of all employees, including employees with disabilities. Section 47(1) (a) of the Disability Act 2005 requires public bodies to take all reasonable measures to promote and support the employment of persons with disabilities. To assist the Department in fulfilling its obligations...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (29 Apr 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) supports improving 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. Over €40 million in national funding was announced in April 2024 for the 2024 and 2025 Schemes. Under the terms of the Scheme, eligible...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Social Enterprise Sector (29 Apr 2025)

Dara Calleary: I would like to recognise the valuable work being done at Dunhill Ecopark, providing space and facilities for 35 businesses, including social enterprises, to operate while also providing a number of services to the local community. The National Social Enterprise Policy Trading for Impact aims to cultivate and sustain strong and impactful social enterprises in Ireland to enrich the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Regeneration Projects (29 Apr 2025)

Dara Calleary: TVRS is delivered by local authorities who work with community organisations to identify and develop suitable projects and submit applications for funding in respect of initiatives in their areas. The scheme, which sees our local authorities work with community actors, primarily targets funding at rural towns and villages with populations of less than 10,000. On 19 March last I was...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Control of Dogs (29 Apr 2025)

Dara Calleary: Please see Table below, showing the number of XL Bully Certificates of Exemption granted nationally and by Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council since the introduction of the XL Bully type dog ban. Number of Certificates of Exemption Granted – Nationally 990 Number of Certificates of Exemption Granted – Dún Laoghaire Rathdown...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (29 Apr 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. To further support communities, a further €50 million in funding was announced under the Community Recognition Fund in March...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Men's Sheds (29 Apr 2025)

Dara Calleary: My Department provides funding to Men's Sheds and Women’s (Sister) Sheds under various funding supports, including: The €7 million Local Enhancement Programme (LEP) 2025 which allowed Men's Sheds and Women’s Sheds to apply for running costs as well as small capital works for the purchase of equipment for their facilities. LEP 2025 has recently closed for applications.The...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (29 Apr 2025)

Dara Calleary: In April 2024, €40 million in funding was announced for LIS across all local authorities to cover 2024/2025. While the Department provides funding for LIS, the scheme is administered by local authorities responsible for selecting and prioritising roads. Applications are received directly by local authorities, who engage with scheme beneficiaries. A number of factors are considered...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Regeneration Projects (29 Apr 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Town and Village Renewal Scheme, which was introduced in 2016, has to date allocated over €177 million to almost 1,800 projects nationally. The scheme, which sees our local authorities work with community actors, primarily targets funding at rural towns and villages with populations of less than 10,000. Since 2016, over €9.5 million in funding has been allocated to Cork City...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (29 Apr 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Community Centre Investment Fund (CCIF) has provided in excess of €109 million since 2022 for the enhancement and refurbishment of existing community centres and the construction of new centres. In early 2024, funding of €30 million was approved for the construction of 12 new community centres covering nine counties. County Cork had one successful project under this fund....

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (29 Apr 2025)

Dara Calleary: In 2023, the Community Enhancement Programme (CEP) was replaced by the Local Enhancement Programme (LEP). The LEP 2025 was launched last November with €7 million available to assist thousands of community groups across the country by providing capital and current supports. The LEP is targeted to the specific challenges facing local community groups and delivers immediate, tangible...