Results 24,401-24,420 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

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

Heather Humphreys: I do not accept that. I am very familiar with planning guidelines and there are some areas in which people cannot build one-off houses in rural Ireland, under planning legislation brought introduced in 2008 or 2009. People are sometimes not allowed to build in areas under strong urban pressure but there is an alternative, which is to live in the centre of towns. If you have vibrant towns...

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

Heather Humphreys: This action plan was developed as a result of widespread consultation and comes on foot of the CEDRA report, chaired by Pat Spillane. One of the first recommendations of the commission was that the Government reinvigorate its approach to support for rural economic development by preparing a clear and committed rural economic development policy statement. That is what the action plan is....

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

Heather Humphreys: On 23 January , the Government's action plan for rural development, Realising our Rural Potential, was launched in Ballymahon, County Longford. The plan is a whole-of-Government initiative and contains over 270 actions across five thematic pillars, to be delivered by Government Departments, State agencies and other groups. The action plan contains a number of measures which have the...

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

Heather Humphreys: I never said there was an application process.

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

Heather Humphreys: I am referring to the pilot scheme to get people back into towns and villages. I never mentioned an application process. I said I was looking at developing a pilot scheme, to be rolled out in the latter half of this year, to encourage people to take up residential occupancy in rural towns and villages. The details of the scheme will be finalised through collaboration with relevant...

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

Heather Humphreys: The tax incentive to which the Deputy refers is the help-to-buy scheme and that relates to first-time buyers of newly-built homes. I am referring to something completely different, about trying to get people back in to the centre of towns to live. I will roll out a pilot scheme in the latter half of this year. The pilot scheme will examine grant-aiding people who want to move into vacant...

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

Heather Humphreys: We launched the Government's action plan for rural development, which includes town, villages and rural areas, in Ballymahon, County Longford last Monday week. The action plan will act as an overarching structure for the co-ordination and implementation of initiatives right across Government, which will benefit rural Ireland. Supporting towns and villages is only one element of a much more...

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

Heather Humphreys: I certainly do not want to push anybody out of rural areas because I would be the first person to be pushed out. I live in a one-off house in Aghabog, a rural parish in County Monaghan. I am very much aware of the community ethos to which the Deputy referred. Far from seeking to damage our rural parishes and communities, this action plan will support them. The CLÁR programme is...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Arts in Education Charter (31 Jan 2017)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. I know she has a particular interest in it. A Programme for a Partnership Government commits to the continued implementation of the arts in education charter and my Department is working closely with the Department of Education and Skills and the Arts Council to deliver the objectives of the charter. The work of the two Departments and the Arts...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Arts in Education Charter (31 Jan 2017)

Heather Humphreys: Yes, it is in the programme for Government. Also, a key priority in 2017 will be the advancement of the Creative Ireland programme, in particular pillar one, which is enabling the creative potential of every child element. A key feature will be the launch of "Creative Children", which will be an integrated implementation plan, and the creative schools programme in September. My Department...

Ceisteanna - Questions (Resumed) - Priority Questions: Arts in Education Charter (31 Jan 2017)

Heather Humphreys: Regarding the local arts in education partnership, the Arts Council has got additional funding and it is now taking the lead in rolling out the actions in the arts in education charter. That came about as a result of that charter. It was a very useful pilot in Monaghan, and the Deputy is very familiar with it, which highlighted the benefits of working together. However, having succeeded in...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Greenways Development (31 Jan 2017)

Heather Humphreys: The Tourism sector supports many thousands of jobs in rural areas and the Action Plan for Rural Development recognises that the sector offers further opportunities to support economic development in rural communities. The Plan sets out 50 actions designed to maximise our rural tourism and recreation potential. It also places a particular emphasis on the development and promotion of Activity...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Capital Expenditure Programme (31 Jan 2017)

Heather Humphreys: My Department is providing €8m for the first phase in a three-phase capital development plan to address deficiencies in the National Archives premises in Bishop Street and is working with the National Archives and the OPW to advance this project. The OPW has appointed a design team to the project and work is ongoing to finalise the design. It is expected that this will be completed...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Heritage Promotion (31 Jan 2017)

Heather Humphreys: The Heritage Council, in collaboration with my Department, has led the development of a best practice approach to the development of Community-Led Village Design Statements. In tandem with a number of local authorities and village communities, the Council has prepared a toolkit which was launched in October 2012 at the inaugural community-led workshop. In many ways, the approach followed is...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Arts Funding (31 Jan 2017)

Heather Humphreys: I was very pleased to be able to provide €1 million in capital funding from my Department for the development of the new Irish Arts Center in New York. The Irish Arts Center is one of two key partners which promote Irish arts abroad and which my Department supports on an ongoing basis through the Culture Ireland programme. The other is the Centre Culturel in Paris. In both cases my...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Local Authority Funding (31 Jan 2017)

Heather Humphreys: The Government recently launched the Creative Ireland Programme – Clár Éire Ildánach 2017 – 2022. This is a cross-Government initiative to mainstream culture and creativity in the life of the nation and to promote individual, community and national wellbeing. This will focus on boosting cultural provision and participation in communities and harnessing the...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Gorse Burning (31 Jan 2017)

Heather Humphreys: Section 40 of the Wildlife Acts 1976, as amended, prohibits the cutting, grubbing, burning or destruction of vegetation, with certain strict exemptions, from 1 March to 31 August. Following a review of Section 40, which involved, inter alia, consideration of submissions from interested parties, I announced proposals in December 2015 to introduce legislation to allow for managed hedge...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Built Heritage Investment Scheme (31 Jan 2017)

Heather Humphreys: The Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS), which I launched in 2015, is one of a number of State financial supports that provide for the conservation and preservation of heritage structures. The scheme was developed to assist with the repair and conservation of structures that are protected under the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended). In certain cases, the scheme is also...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Rural Development Plan (31 Jan 2017)

Heather Humphreys: Tourism is of key importance to the economic wellbeing of rural Ireland and the sector supports many thousands of jobs in rural areas. The Action Plan for Rural Development recognises the further growth potential that tourism presents for rural communities. It sets out 50 distinct actions designed to maximise our rural tourism and recreation potential. These actions will support the...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Film Industry Development (31 Jan 2017)

Heather Humphreys: The facility to which the Deputy refers is owned jointly by Enterprise Ireland in conjunction with other private entities. My colleague, the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, has responsibility for Enterprise Ireland. However, I am aware of the issue and my Department is keeping in contact with the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation in relation to the issue.