Results 24,981-25,000 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 33 - Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (28 Sep 2016)

Heather Humphreys: I cannot make that promise. That comes under the national broadband plan. The Chairman can bring in the Minister, Deputy Naughten, and question him on the details of the plan.

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 33 - Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (28 Sep 2016)

Heather Humphreys: In response to Deputy Danny Healy-Rae's question, in conjunction with the Department of Communications, Climate Change and Environment, the Minister, Deputy Naughten, and I chair a mobile phone and broadband task force, the role of which is to examine immediate measures we can take in the short-term to alleviate the broadband and the mobile phone service deficits right across the country....

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 33 - Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (28 Sep 2016)

Heather Humphreys: Deputy Ó Cuív made a point about confidentiality agreements and I understand where he is coming from. I inherited this position and I take his point on board. The Deputy is right about changing the narrative on rural areas. I am in the same position as the Deputy because I live in the middle of the country. When I speak to people in rural areas, I note there is no better sense...

Joint Oireachtas Committee on Regional Development, Rural Affairs, Arts and the Gaeltacht: Estimates for Public Services 2016: Vote 33 - Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (28 Sep 2016)

Heather Humphreys: Go raibh maith agaibh.

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: National Monuments (28 Sep 2016)

Heather Humphreys: My Department concluded a tendering process that was initiated when the property was under lien by NAMA in order to get conservation work underway as speedily as possible to prevent further deterioration to the fabric of the National Monument buildings. The tenders sought were in respect of the proposals for the conservation and restoration of these buildings for which consent was given by...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Invasive Plant Species (27 Sep 2016)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 517 and 518 together. I am very aware of the growing public concern about the impact of invasive species here, including Japanese Knotweed. In this regard, I wish to advise that my Department is responsible for the enforcement of the Wildlife Acts and the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 (S.I. No. 477/2011), both of which...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Planning Issues (27 Sep 2016)

Heather Humphreys: The Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs is a statutory consultee in relation to any proposed development under consideration by a planning authority, which may have an effect on the built or natural heritage. In such cases, my Department may make observations or recommendations, as appropriate, on referrals from the relevant planning authority. From 2011 to...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Community Development Initiatives (27 Sep 2016)

Heather Humphreys: The Programme for a Partnership Governmentcontains a suite of commitments for delivery across Government relating to the protection of local services in rural Ireland. The measures detailed in the Programme include the provision of next-generation broadband coverage, addressing the renewal of the Post Office network, supporting local jobseekers, and the provision of other services in areas...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Special Areas of Conservation Designation (27 Sep 2016)

Heather Humphreys: Officials of my Department and I have met with landowners representing the special protection area in question. My Department also wishes to move forward with a management plan for the site, to be developed in full consultation with landowners and the relevant local authority. My Department has recently been in contact with a representative of the landowners with a view to arranging another...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Wildlife Protection (27 Sep 2016)

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: Leader Programmes Funding (27 Sep 2016)

Heather Humphreys: The total amount of funding provided for the LEADER 2014-2020 Programme is €250 million. This funding is being provided by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) at the rate of 63% of total costs, with the remaining 37% in matching funding being provided by the Exchequer. The percentage matching funding provided, at 37%, is higher than the percentage applied under...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Rural Development Policy (27 Sep 2016)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 526 and 527 together. In September 2015, the then Government announced plans for a fund of €30 million over a six year period for a Town and Village Renewal scheme. While no expenditure was incurred on the scheme in 2015, the current Government has included a commitment in the Programme for a Partnership Government to support the development of rural...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Expenditure (27 Sep 2016)

Heather Humphreys: The total travel and subsistence costs incurred by my Department per annum from the establishment of my Department in June 2011 to 2016 to date is set out in the following table. Year Travel & Subsistence Costs incurred 02 June to 31 December 2011 €484,546.73 2012 €1,305,124.83 2013 €1,139,962.60 2014 €1,066,966.07 2015...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Data Protection (27 Sep 2016)

Heather Humphreys: Responsibility for the management of data protection policies and ensuring compliance with legislation in my Department is currently assigned to the Corporate Governance Unit. The officer responsible for data protection matters also performs other duties in this unit. My Department will be engaging in a review of its arrangements in light of the requirements of the new EU General Data...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: EU Directives (27 Sep 2016)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 530 and 531 together. Applications for derogation licences are considered on a case by case basis. Derogations may be granted only on specific grounds, including in the interests of public health. As outlined in my previous reply, an applicant would be required to show that a demonstrable risk to public health tied to a specific problem exists. My...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Staff Remuneration (27 Sep 2016)

Heather Humphreys: Salaries are paid to my Department’s staff, and to staff of bodies operating under its aegis, in line with policies and pay scales set by the Department for Public Expenditure and Reform. The estimated additional annualised costs of introducing the hourly salary rates specified by the Deputy are listed in the following table below. These estimates are based on current staffing and pay...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Departmental Staff Remuneration (27 Sep 2016)

Heather Humphreys: Salaries are paid to my Department’s staff, and to staff of bodies operating under its aegis, in line with policies and pay scales set by the Department for Public Expenditure and Reform. The estimated additional annualised costs of introducing the salary levels specified by the Deputy are listed in the following table. These estimates are based on current staffing and pay levels and...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Hen Harriers Threat Response Plan (16 Sep 2016)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 935 and 969 together. The Inter-Departmental Steering Group working on the development of the Hen Harrier Threat Response Plan was established in July 2014 and has now met on eight occasions. The main issues of land uses and the recovery of the hen harrier population have been investigated and discussed by the Steering Group and with the stakeholder...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Deer Culls (16 Sep 2016)

Heather Humphreys: Wild deer in the State are protected under the Wildlife Acts. There is an annual open season during which deer can be legally shot under licence. The open season for deer operates generally from 1 September to the last day of February, depending on the species and gender of deer. My Department carries out localised annual deer counts on State lands such as National Parks and I am aware that...

Written Answers — Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Leader Programmes Funding (16 Sep 2016)

Heather Humphreys: Funding under the LEADER programme is not allocated on the basis of electoral areas. LEADER funding for the 2007-2013 programming period was provided through individual Local Action Groups for the areas identified in their local development strategies. Funding under the LEADER 2014-2020 programme is allocated to sub-regional areas. Table 1 below details the funding provided from 2011 to 2015...