Results 2,901-2,920 of 4,339 for speaker:Seán Canney

Written Answers — Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment: Fishing Licences (13 May 2020)

Seán Canney: Commercial fishing for salmon is by way of public licence which does not confer any rights on the holder. In that regard the issue of compensation does not arise. In order to comply with the EU Habitats Directive and the principles of the North Atlantic Salmon Conservation Organisation (NASCO), the Government decided in 2006 to cease all indiscriminate commercial fishing in the sea and...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Local Authority Staff Data (13 May 2020)

Seán Canney: There are currently Broadband Officers working within each of the 31 Local Authorities in Ireland. Broadband Officers were appointed on foot of a recommendation of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce in 2016 and their posts are co-funded by my Department. The Broadband Officers act as a single point of contact within their Local Authorities for the public, telecommunications companies...

Environmental Policy: Motion [Private Members] (18 Dec 2019)

Seán Canney: I thank all who contributed to the debate and the Labour Party for raising these important matters. My colleague, the Minister, Deputy Bruton, has already demonstrated that this Government remains committed to dealing with these issues, for the health and environmental benefits of all. I will reiterate some of the points made by the Minister and make some additional points. With regard...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Charities Regulatory Authority Expenditure (10 Dec 2019)

Seán Canney: The Charities Regulatory Authority was established in October 2014 pursuant to the Charities Act 2009. The authority is responsible for registering and regulation of the charity sector. Responsibility for the regulator, which is fully independent in the performance of its statutory functions, has been assigned to the Department of Rural and Community Development. The following table below...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Reform (5 Dec 2019)

Seán Canney: I agree with the Deputy that we need to recalibrate towards smaller farmers. I come from a rural area in east Galway where there are lots of small farmers who are struggling. The Deputy referred to climate action and supporting the transition to a more sustainable agricultural sector in the context of CAP. It is also important to reiterate that the LEADER programme operates under CAP and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Reform (5 Dec 2019)

Seán Canney: Project Ireland 2040 recognises that the agrifood sector is critical to the broader social and economic well-being of Ireland. In recognition of the importance of agriculture to Ireland's economy, there will be a focus on this topic in the new rural policies being introduced. One example of this is the Bia Innovator Campus at Athenry, which will be constructed soon, hopefully. It has been...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Common Agricultural Policy Reform (5 Dec 2019)

Seán Canney: The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is the lead Department responsible for negotiations on the CAP reform process. However, as CAP impacts significantly on rural Ireland, my Department has a strong interest in developments in CAP reform. The LEADER programme, which my Department administers, is also funded through the CAP. In June 2018, the European Commission launched...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: LEADER Programmes (5 Dec 2019)

Seán Canney: The feasibility study involved an investigation into the possibility of creating a scenic driving route linked to the Wild Atlantic Way and taking in Lough Mask and Lough Corrib. The study has been completed. They may decide to put in cycling routes as well as driving routes. I am not so sure what they will come back with in the aftermath of this feasibility study. The important thing is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: LEADER Programmes (5 Dec 2019)

Seán Canney: The Great Western Lakes feasibility study referred to by the Deputy was funded under the co-operation strand of the LEADER Programme. The study was a pre-development phase project which precedes the full co-operation project. It allows local action groups, project promoters and other contributors to investigate the merit and potential to develop concrete actions that could form a full...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: LEADER Programmes (5 Dec 2019)

Seán Canney: The local authority partners for the project are FORUM Connemara in west Galway and Mayo Local Community Development Committee, LCDC, through its implementation partner, South West Mayo Development Company. They have done the feasibility study, which involved the investigation of the possibility of creating this scenic driving route linking through counties Galway and Mayo, termed the Great...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Island Communities (5 Dec 2019)

Seán Canney: The Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, which has responsibility for the islands, is developing a national islands policy for publication in 2020. Our Department participates on the interdepartmental working group established to provide inputs to the development of the policy. Island communities face similar challenges to other rural areas. However, they also face...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Island Communities (5 Dec 2019)

Seán Canney: Our current policies are guided by the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, which has responsibility for the islands. We work closely with those responsible. The cross-Government departmental committee for island development has been established and is chaired by the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. Our Department actively participates in this group to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Island Communities (5 Dec 2019)

Seán Canney: I repeat that we are working closely with the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht and we will have a new rural policy in early 2020. Deputy Connolly asked about our policy. Current actions include the LEADER programme 2014-20, which supports island programmes. The programme has funded 129 projects and €880,000 has been allocated. The social inclusion and community...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan (5 Dec 2019)

Seán Canney: I thank Deputy Calleary for the question. The broadband connection point, BCP, initiative will see high-speed broadband services bought to more than 300 sites in remote and rural areas across the country as a first phase of the national broadband plan. BCPs are typically community centres, schools and sports clubs that will act as access hubs for local people, providing on-site access to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan (5 Dec 2019)

Seán Canney: It will be within the first year of the broadband contract, which was signed last week. We are talking about 12 months from the signing of the contract. To explain where the broadband connection points will be located, they will be in places such as community centres, schools, sports clubs, heritage and tourism sites, businesses and miscellaneous sites. There are four different types of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: National Broadband Plan (5 Dec 2019)

Seán Canney: First, I reassure the Deputy that a process is in place. The procurement has begun. The cost of it will be determined by the procurement, as he knows well. There is a budget within the overall broadband cost but we will not know the cost until we get the tenders back. Second, I assure the Deputy that every one of the broadband officers in the 31 local authorities is working closely...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Charities Regulation (5 Dec 2019)

Seán Canney: My Department has overall policy responsibility for the Charities Regulator. However, the Charities Regulator is fully independent in the performance of its statutory functions, including its consent to the disposition of charity lands. The Charities Regulator has two main obligations in the sale of lands in these cases: 1. To ensure market value is obtained for the land/property 2. To...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Interdepartmental Working Groups (5 Dec 2019)

Seán Canney: In 2018, a Working Group of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce was established to explore the feasibility of developing a standardised policy for accessing and utilising State assets for the deployment of telecommunications infrastructure.  The Taskforce noted in its original 2016 Report that the State is the largest owner of land and property assets in the country....

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: National Volunteering Strategy (5 Dec 2019)

Seán Canney: Supporting the role of volunteers in our society is an important element of my Department's work in developing vibrant, sustainable and inclusive communities. Consequently, the development of a National Volunteering Strategy is a key priority for my Department. The first step in the development of the strategy was a Call for Input paper launched last December. The responses received were...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Broadband Service Provision (5 Dec 2019)

Seán Canney: I am interpreting the Deputy's question as relating to telecommunications connectivity. My role as Minister of State with responsibility for Community Development, Natural Resources and Digital Development means that I work across both the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment. The Department of...