Results 261-280 of 1,441 for speaker:Ann Phelan

Topical Issue Debate: Medical Card Delays (7 Oct 2015)

Ann Phelan: I thank the Deputies for raising these important matters. At the outset, I am keen to acknowledge the work and effort of health staff that has resulted in Ireland's cancer survival rate improving consistently in recent decades. I have no doubt the national cancer strategy steering group set up to advise on developing a new national cancer strategy for 2016 to 2025 will build on positive...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Health Services Staff Recruitment (7 Oct 2015)

Ann Phelan: I thank the Senator for raising the matter. I am taking this on behalf of the Minister for Health who is on government business elsewhere. The policy of the Government is to support older people to live in dignity and independence in their own homes and to keep them in their communities for as long as possible.If it becomes necessary for older people to move to a nursing home, appropriate...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Health Services Staff Recruitment (7 Oct 2015)

Ann Phelan: I understand the Senator’s frustration and will undertake to contact the Minister’s office. The answer states this matter “will be pursued as a priority”.

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects Status (7 Oct 2015)

Ann Phelan: I am taking this debate on behalf of the Minister for Education and Skills, Deputy Jan O'Sullivan. I thank the Deputy for raising the matter as it provides me with an opportunity to clarify the position on the major capital project at Scoil Mhuire in Stranorlar. The Deputy will be aware of the demographic challenge facing the education system in the coming years. The Department's latest...

Seanad: Commencement Matters: Schools Building Projects Status (7 Oct 2015)

Ann Phelan: I thank the Senator and I will take on board some of his comments. I am keeping a close eye on this issue. While accepting the current position, I draw his attention to the fact that while Stranorlar and other schools have not been included in the five-year construction plan, they are being progressed to the final planning stages in anticipation of the possibility of further funds being...

Seanad: State Claims Agency: Motion (7 Oct 2015)

Ann Phelan: The debate up to now has been very reasoned. I would like to congratulate my Labour Party colleagues on bringing forward the motion. In response to the point made that it has taken us four and half years to get the motion on the table, anybody could have tabled the motion. Therefore, the Labour Party must be congratulated on doing so. The Labour Party has tabled a Seanad Private Members'...

Seanad: State Claims Agency: Motion (7 Oct 2015)

Ann Phelan: Before I continue with my speech, I shall reply to some of the issues that were raised. We have an opportunity here to examine whether a more person centred approach can be taken for catastrophic injury cases. Currently, the State Claims Agency can only operate within the constraints of the tort system. With that the courts expect due process under a tort system which, in many cases, can...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Leader Programmes Expenditure (7 Oct 2015)

Ann Phelan: It is expected that expenditure under the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 will be in the order of €370 million by end 2015. The following table sets out the funding provided under the programme to end 2014 and also sets out details of projected expenditure in 2015. Year Programme Expenditure 2009 €19.6m 2010 €44m 2011...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Leader Programmes Funding (7 Oct 2015)

Ann Phelan: Under the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme 2007 to 2014, Mayo North East Leader Partnership has committed €7.4 2m to projects and over €4.2m has been paid to completed projects to date .I can advise the Deputy that funding under the LEADER programme is not allocated on a calendar year basisand therefore the table below shows the funding committed and paid to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Leader Programmes Funding (6 Oct 2015)

Ann Phelan: The LEADER element of the Rural Development Programme 2014–2020 will provide €250 million in financial resources to support the development of sustainable rural communities. Under stage one of the selection process any entity who wished to be considered as a Local Action Group was invited to submit an expression of interest. For the purposes of the new Programme, there are...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Seniors Alert Scheme (6 Oct 2015)

Ann Phelan: My Department is responsible for the Seniors Alert Scheme which encourages community support for vulnerable older people in our communities by providing funding for the purchase and installation of personal monitored alarms to enable older persons, of limited means, to continue to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind. The monitoring costs (generally...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Community Alert Programme (6 Oct 2015)

Ann Phelan: The Community Alert Scheme is the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality. However, I assume the Deputy is referring to the recent announcement that an amount of €50,000 has been allocated towards the cost of a community led pilot rural CCTV initiative, with the possibility of the pilot being rolled out to one or two other locations in the near future,...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Leader Programmes Administration (6 Oct 2015)

Ann Phelan: A review of the project file referred to in the Question,has been undertaken by my Department, and the drawdown of aid for this project is ineligible as the project does not comply with the rules and regulations governing the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013. Section 2.3 of the operating rules governing the Programmeclearly states that “Any element or phase of activity commenced...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Schemes (6 Oct 2015)

Ann Phelan: On 23 September 2015, I was delighted to announce, with the Taoiseach and my colleague Minister Kelly, the new Town and Village Renewal Scheme. The scheme will be multi-annual in nature, commencing in 2016 and will have a budget of €30 million. This new scheme is part of a concerted effort to support the development of rural towns and villages, not only as a component of a broader...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Leader Programmes Applications (6 Oct 2015)

Ann Phelan: The Local Action Groups contracted to deliver the LEADER element of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013 throughout the country are the principal decision-makers in relation to the allocation of project funding under the Programme. Mayo North East Leader Partnership, South West Mayo Development Company and Comhar na nOilean Teo are the Local Action Groups contracted by my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Leader Programmes Administration (6 Oct 2015)

Ann Phelan: The LEADER element of the Rural Development Programme 2014–2020 will provide €250 million in financial resources to support the development of sustainable rural communities. Under stage one of the selection process, any entity who wished to be considered as a Local Action Group was invited to submit an expression of interest. Those successful at stage one have now moved to stage...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Environmental Schemes (6 Oct 2015)

Ann Phelan: The Government announced funding of €30 million under a new Town and Village Renewal Scheme on 23 September 2015. This new Scheme is part of a concerted effort to support the economic development of rural towns and villages, not only as a component of a broader approach to rural development but also to improve the environment of rural dwellers in a way that will increase their quality...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Leader Programmes Applications (1 Oct 2015)

Ann Phelan: The Local Action Groups contracted to deliver the LEADER element of the Rural Development Programme (RDP) throughout the country are the principal decision-makers in relation to the allocation of project funding. Mayo North East Leader Partnership (MNELP) is the Local Action Group contracted by my Department to deliver the RDP in the North Mayo area and the details of projects in excess of...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Rural Development Programme Projects (1 Oct 2015)

Ann Phelan: The Local Action Groups contracted to deliver the LEADER element of the Rural Development Programme (RDP) throughout the country are the principal decision-makers in relation to the allocation of project funding under the Programme. Mayo North East Leader Partnership is the Local Action Group contracted by my Department to deliver the Rural Development Programme in the North Mayo area and...

Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Bill 2015: Report Stage (Resumed) (30 Sep 2015)

Ann Phelan: While the Deputy says the pyramids are no longer of use, I recall that they were once one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. They were driving a very large tourism industry on which the Egyptian economy greatly depended.