Results 17,381-17,400 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (31 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund provides funding for the development and construction of capital projects in towns and villages and rural areas across Ireland. To date, 191 projects have been approved for funding of €278 million for projects costing €377 million. Calls for applications to the Fund are sought under two categories – Category 1 and Category 2....

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Staff (31 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The information requested by the Deputy is available in the following table: Department of the Rural and Community Development Staff by Gender as at 23 May 2022 Grade Male Female Total Secretary General 0 1 1 Assistant Secretary 1 2** 2 Principal Officer 7...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Island Communities (31 May 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, as Chair of the Inter-Departmental Committee, is in regular contact with the other participating Government Departments regarding the development of the policy.  The first...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (31 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: 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. Key to this is the establishment of the National Implementation Office to assist in the delivery and implementation of the policy, and to co-ordinate stakeholder engagement at a national level. This office will be...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (31 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Outdoor Recreation and Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) provides funding for the development and enhancement of outdoor recreational infrastructure such as trails, walkways, cycleways, blueways and bridleways in rural areas. Earlier this year, I launched the 2022 Scheme with a budget of €15 million to support outdoor recreation projects nationwide. The Measures to be funded under this...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (31 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS) is part of a range of measures to support the revitalisation of rural Ireland. The scheme is funded under Project Ireland 2040 as part of “Our Rural Future”.  Since the introduction of the Scheme in 2016, almost €113 million has been approved for more than 1,400 projects across the country. In February, I...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (31 May 2022)

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

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Vacant Properties (31 May 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.  The publication of Town Centre First was  a key deliverable under Our Rural Future. The Town Centre First policy is underpinned by...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (31 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I launched the Community Centres Investment Fund on the 15th April 2022.  This is a €15m fund to support community groups, particularly in disadvantaged areas, with the upgrade of their community centre facilities. Applicants must register as 'users' at www.gov.ie/drcdin advance of submitting an application. The application process opens on 7 June 2022 with a closing date of 14...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Flexible Work Practices (31 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Our Rural Future, Ireland’s Rural Development Policy 2021-2025, recognises the potential of remote working hubs as key economic assets for our rural towns and villages. Notwithstanding the clear benefits to individuals and families in terms of quality of life indicators, remote working from hubs will also support local economies, reduce carbon emissions and may arrest or reverse the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Flexible Work Practices (31 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Our Rural Future, Ireland’s Rural Development Policy 2021-2025, recognises the opportunity for rural rejuvenation that remote working presents and commits to establishing a comprehensive and integrated network of remote working hubs over the lifetime of the policy to 2025. In recognition of this, my Department continues to invest heavily in the establishment and strategic...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (31 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 854 and 855 together. My Department’s mission is to promote rural and community development and support the creation of vibrant and sustainable communities across the country, including in Co Kildare. I am committed to the successful delivery of a number of programmes which provide financial and other supports to community groups and organisations....

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (31 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 856 to 858, inclusive, together. My Department's mission is to support vibrant and sustainable communities across this country, including in Kildare, and in doing so to deliver on a wide range of strategic interventions, funding programmes and policies to support urban and rural communities including youth groups and voluntary and community groups. ...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Digital Hubs (31 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 859, 860 and 862 together. Our Rural Future, Ireland’s Rural Development Policy 2021-2025, recognises the opportunity for rural rejuvenation that remote working presents and commits to establishing a comprehensive and integrated network of remote working hubs over the lifetime of the policy to 2025. In furtherance of this commitment, my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (31 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: In delivering on its mission, my Department provides a wide range of strategic interventions, funding programmes and policies to support communities. This includes measures to address the issue of isolation as referenced by the Deputy. Addressing the issue of individual isolation in communities became even more important during the COVID-19 pandemic. My Department continues to provide funding...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (31 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The LEADER Programme is one of the key interventions of Our Rural Future, the Government’s Policy for rural development launched last year. The 2014-2020 LEADER programme had a total allocation of €250 million. €225 million of this budget was allocated directly to the Local Action Groups (LAGs) who deliver the programme and approve projects at local level. This...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: School Meals Programme (1 Jun 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food to some 1,506 schools and organisations benefitting 230,000 children.  The objective of the programme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children who are unable, due to lack of good quality food, to take full advantage of the education provided to them.  The programme is an important component of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Ukraine War (1 Jun 2022)

Heather Humphreys: In accordance with the Temporary Protection Directive implemented in March 2022, people fleeing the war in Ukraine have been granted status to avail of the supports and services provided by my Department.  Ukrainian citizens and others fleeing the war are eligible for financial support.  Initially, they are being paid on a temporary basis under the Supplementary Welfare...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Ukraine War (1 Jun 2022)

Heather Humphreys: It is important that a person in receipt of a Social Welfare benefit or payment informs the Department of any change in their circumstances that may affect their entitlement.   Payments such as Supplementary Welfare Allowance or Jobseekers Allowance are not payable in respect of periods where a person is absent, whether temporarily or permanently, from the State.  However,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (1 Jun 2022)

Heather Humphreys: My Department provides a range of income supports for those unable to work due to illness or disability, the largest of which is the Disability Allowance scheme.  As at the end of April there were in excess of 155,600 people in receipt of this payment.   Following Budget 2022, the Disability Allowance personal weekly rate increased, in January, to €208 per...