Results 24,381-24,400 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Rural Development Policy (7 Feb 2017)

Heather Humphreys: The Government’s Action Plan for Rural Development, which was launched on 23rdJanuary, contains a number of measures which have the objective of rejuvenating Ireland’s rural towns and villages to make them more attractive places in which to live and work, and to increase their tourism potential. As part of the Town and Village Renewal scheme, I intend to launch a pilot project...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Communications (2 Feb 2017)

Heather Humphreys: As I advised the House in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 392 of 13 December last, official email business in my role as Minister is conducted via Department and Oireachtas email accounts. On occasion, when outside the office, I make use of a private g-mail account on my mobile phone to forward information of a non-sensitive nature to my private office, generally relating to diary...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Commencement of Legislation (2 Feb 2017)

Heather Humphreys: The information sought by the Deputy in respect of those Acts for which I have lead responsibility is set out in the following table. Title of Act Section(s)/Part(s) yet to be commenced & other relevant information Wildlife (Amendment) Act 2000 Section 36 provides for licensing of certain hunting activities on the part of commercial shoot operators. The commencement of this...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Rural Development Plan (1 Feb 2017)

Heather Humphreys: The Action Plan for Rural Development contains a number of measures which have the objective of rejuvenating Ireland’s rural towns and villages to make them more attractive places in which to live and work and to increase their tourism potential. As part of Budget 2017, I have secured funding of €12 million for an enhanced Town and Village Renewal scheme this year. This...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Funding (1 Feb 2017)

Heather Humphreys: I am advised that the list of economically valuable strategic investments of European significance compiled by the Special Task Force did not include any projects from my Department. My Department does seek to advance priority investment projects on an ongoing basis and particularly in the context of the annual Estimates process and the periodic reviews of Expenditure which occur from time...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Shooting Rights (1 Feb 2017)

Heather Humphreys: Officials in my Department are making contact with the person in question and I can assure the Deputy that if the person is available, a meeting will be arranged within the coming week.

Other Questions: Tourism Policy (31 Jan 2017)

Heather Humphreys: I have a brief one. The matter of the tourism official is a matter for the local authority. Perhaps the Deputy will liaise with the local authority in that regard. Much work is being done on tourism in counties Sligo and Leitrim. Some €100,000 was made available to the authorities in Carrick-on-Shannon to develop a Taste Leitrim food and enterprise zone. I have seen how...

Other Questions: Tourism Policy (31 Jan 2017)

Heather Humphreys: Maximising our rural tourism and recreation potential is one of the key pillars of the Government's action plan for rural development. The plan will act as an overarching structure for the co-ordination and implementation of initiatives across Government that will benefit rural Ireland. Tourism is of key importance to the economic wellbeing of rural Ireland and the sector supports many...

Other Questions: Rural Development Plan (31 Jan 2017)

Heather Humphreys: The answer to the Deputy's second question is "Yes". The plan contains 276 time-bound actions, with responsibility for each action assigned to a relevant Department and-or agency. Implementation of the actions will be monitored closely and progress reports will be published every six months on the delivery of each action and the addition of new actions in response to new challenges and...

Other Questions: Rural Development Plan (31 Jan 2017)

Heather Humphreys: I work closely with local authorities through which we have rolled out the town and village enhancement scheme and the Clár and rural recreation programmes. We will continue to work with them in implementing the action plan. This will be important as they are often the key to local communities. The plan takes a ground-up approach in which communities will devise plans based on what...

Other Questions: Post Office Network (31 Jan 2017)

Heather Humphreys: An action plan for rural Ireland.

Other Questions: Rural Development Plan (31 Jan 2017)

Heather Humphreys: The Action Plan for Rural Development is the first whole-of-Government strategy aimed at people living and working in rural Ireland. It aims to unlock the potential of rural Ireland through a framework of supports at national and local level which will ensure that people who live in rural Ireland have increased opportunities for employment locally and access to public services and social...

Other Questions: National Museum (31 Jan 2017)

Heather Humphreys: It is a matter for the board and management of the museum. I am not going to get involved in the day-to-day running of the museum. It is independent in that respect. I understand the chair of the board has been in contact with the Deputy and is keen for engagement, as are the members of the Oireachtas joint committee, in terms of addressing future developments at the museum.

Other Questions: Rural Development Programme Funding (31 Jan 2017)

Heather Humphreys: This is the first plan of its kind to take a cohesive and co-ordinated approach across the whole of Government to economic and rural development. Over the three-year period of the action plan for rural development, the Government will invest a significant level of funding in programmes which will support rural Ireland. Many of the funding components are new, or have only been announced in...

Other Questions: Rural Development Programme Funding (31 Jan 2017)

Heather Humphreys: The €60 million for investment in towns and villages to which the Deputy referred is only one aspect of this plan. There are many other aspects to it and billions of euro are being invested in rural Ireland. The Deputy referred to roads and infrastructure. They are a matter for the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport. There are commitments in the plan regarding rural and...

Other Questions: Rural Development Programme Funding (31 Jan 2017)

Heather Humphreys: Last week, the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Deputy Ross, announced a 9% increase in the allocation for local and regional roads. The Minister of State at that Department, Deputy Patrick O'Donovan, opened the sports capital programme with €30 million are available nationwide. The Deputy will, as do I, appreciate the significance of the sports capital programme to local...

Other Questions: National Museum (31 Jan 2017)

Heather Humphreys: The National Cultural Institutions Act 1997 establishes the National Museum of Ireland as an autonomous body. As Minister, I have no involvement in the day-to-day running of the National Museum of Ireland. Section 29 of the Act provides that the director of the museum shall carry on, manage and control generally the administration and business of the museum and perform such other functions...

Other Questions: National Museum (31 Jan 2017)

Heather Humphreys: I am very satisfied that the correct governance is in place. There is a board there and the oversight by the board. I cannot interfere with those functions of the museum which are properly those of the board and the director. I cannot get involved in the day-to-day running of the museum. It is not my job to do it and I do not intend to do it. The HR issues to which the Deputy refers are...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Rural Development Plan (31 Jan 2017)

Heather Humphreys: Can I answer that?

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Rural Development Plan (31 Jan 2017)

Heather Humphreys: Go raibh maith agat. I am working to devise that scheme. It is being worked on and if the Deputy has any suggestions I would be glad to hear them. It is a pilot scheme that will be rolled out in the latter half of this year. The details are to be decided.