Results 16,521-16,540 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Digital Hubs (5 Apr 2022)

Heather Humphreys: In terms of funding for remote working hubs, the local authority can apply to my Department for the town and village renewal scheme or the rural regeneration scheme for the infrastructure. In terms of the kitting out of the facilities, you can apply to the connected hubs but, if you want to do so, you have to register to use the app. We have 223 hubs on board and aim to have 400 on board...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Harbours and Piers (5 Apr 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. Galway County Council is the responsible authority for the maintenance and development of infrastructure on the Aran Islands. The development of the pier on Inis Oírr is listed among the strategic objectives set out in Project Ireland 2040. A steering committee consisting of representatives from my Department, Galway County Council and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Harbours and Piers (5 Apr 2022)

Heather Humphreys: These things take a long time. I wish they could be done sooner. I have been on Inis Oírr, visited the island and know the problems the residents highlighted to me. We want to try to sort them out. We have to do the environmental study. The foreshore licence and environmental studies are the sort of things required for this type of project. My Department is meeting fortnightly with...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Harbours and Piers (5 Apr 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I am aware of the safety concerns relating to the pier, particularly during the summertime, when the number of people using it increases. The day-to-day maintenance of piers, including the development and enforcement of the by-laws, is primarily an issue for the relevant local authority, in this case Galway County Council. Officials have been in contact with our colleagues on that council...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Urban Development (5 Apr 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. The Government recently published "Town Centre First - A Policy Approach for Irish Towns". This publication represents a major new policy that aims to tackle vacancy, combat dereliction and breathe new life into our town centres. It contains 33 actions that will give our towns the tools and resources they need to become more viable and attractive...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Urban Development (5 Apr 2022)

Heather Humphreys: No. Next week, we will advertise for the position of the head of the national Town Centre First office. I am not sure where the office will be located, but I am sure a space is being organised for it somewhere. In a few weeks' time, we will ask local authorities to hire town regeneration officers. It is a good job with an attractive remuneration package. We are putting these...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Urban Development (5 Apr 2022)

Heather Humphreys: As I said, I am expecting that in a few weeks we will ask local authorities to hire the people to get them in place as soon as possible. As the Deputy knows, funding was also provided by my Department to consider a specific town in every single county. Some €100,000 was provided to look at that. The town regeneration officers will work with all the towns and villages in their area....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Strategies (5 Apr 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Our Rural Future represents the Government's blueprint for the development of rural Ireland up to 2025. It provides the framework to achieve the vision of transforming the quality of life and opportunity for people living in rural areas. It was published in March 2021 and contains more than 150 measures across the whole of government for short-term recovery and long-term development. ...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Strategies (5 Apr 2022)

Heather Humphreys: NBI is rolling out the national broadband plan. There are probably many more connections than had initially been anticipated. Its representatives said that to me when I spoke to them informally. They said there was a lot of demand for connections and NBI is rolling them out. The good thing about NBI being on the ground is that it means other providers are also stepping up to the plate....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Strategies (5 Apr 2022)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy knows, the Tánaiste is bringing forward legislation on the right to request remote working. It is possibly before one of the Oireachtas committees at present - I am not sure where it is - but that is welcome. It is important we have that conversation with employers and employees. We want to encourage them because this has to be a win-win for employers and employees....

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Strategies (5 Apr 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Our Rural Future 2021-2025, is the most ambitious rural development policy for Ireland in decades, and contains more than 150 measures across the whole of Government, for both short-term recovery and longer-term development. Updates on its implementation are provided by a series of Progress Reports. In addition, annual work programmes are published, which will allow for priorities to be...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (5 Apr 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 77 and 81 together. As part of Our Rural Future, the Government is committed to ensuring that the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) is funded into the future. The LIS supports the improvement of rural roads and laneways that are not normally maintained by local authorities. The scheme makes an important contribution to connectivity in rural Ireland. The scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Offshore Islands (5 Apr 2022)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy will be aware, the Government is committed to publishing a 10 year policy on island development with associated three year action plans. Work on the policy is underway and my Department has now completed bilateral meetings with all relevant Government Departments. These bilateral meetings have provided an opportunity for detailed discussion of the issues raised by island...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Regeneration Projects (5 Apr 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Government recently published Town Centre First - A Policy Approach for Irish Towns. This represents a whole of Government policy and aims to tackle vacancy, combat dereliction and breathe new life into our town centres. It contains 33 actions, which will give our towns the tools and resources required to become viable, vibrant and attractive places to live, work, and socialise. The...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Telecommunications Services (5 Apr 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 86 and 89 together. In December 2021, Minister of State Smyth and I reconvened the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce. We set out our priorities for the Taskforce in 2022 and beyond, and we made it clear that the new Taskforce will be expected to tackle some of the more complex and longer-term issues that are standing in the way of better mobile and...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Regeneration Projects (5 Apr 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Government recently published Town Centre First - A Policy Approach for Irish Towns. This publication represents a major new policy that aims to tackle vacancy, combat dereliction and breathe new life into our town centres. The policy contains 33 actions which will give our towns the tools and resources they need to become more viable and attractive places in which to live, work,...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Budgets (5 Apr 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The allocated gross budget and actual gross expenditure for the Department is provided below in tabular format for each of the years since 2017. While the Department of Rural and Community Development was established in July 2017, the figures for 2017 reflect the full budget and expenditure for that year, for the functions transferred at that time. It is also worth noting that since the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (5 Apr 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Whole-of-government collaboration requires us all to work together across our organisations to develop better co-ordinated public services and policy which enables delivery of the Programme for Government. This is a key element not just of national policies, such as the National Planning Framework, but also in the achievement of sectoral strategies, for example the rural development policy,...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Foreshore Issues (5 Apr 2022)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy is aware, Galway County Council is the responsible authority for the maintenance and development of infrastructure on the Aran islands, including Céibh an Chóra in Inis Meáin. Galway County Council has been in contact with my Department and a meeting was held between officials from my Department and Galway County Council on 29 March 2022 to discuss various...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (5 Apr 2022)

Heather Humphreys: As part of Our Rural Future, the Government is committed to ensuring that the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) is funded into the future. The LIS supports the improvement of rural roads and laneways that are not normally maintained by local authorities. The scheme makes an important contribution to connectivity in rural Ireland. The Scheme was reintroduced in 2017 following a number of years...