Results 341-360 of 14,252 for speaker:Dara Calleary

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Harbours and Piers (27 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: Tá sé agam anseo go bhfuaireamar the tender report on Monday. Ní fhaca mé céard a leagadh amach ar Tuairisc, ach táimid ag iarraidh é seo a dhéanamh chomh luath agus is féidir. Dúirt mé le hoifigigh mo Roinne, nuair a phléifear an cheist seo, go gcaithfear é a dhéanamh go cúramach ach go sciobtha mar táimid ag...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Harbours and Piers (27 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: Gan dabht. Tá sé tábhachtach go mbeidh Gaeilge ag aon duine atá ag obair ar an togra seo agus go mbeidh siad ag fanacht ar an oileán.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Road Projects (27 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: The local improvement scheme supports improving non-public rural roads and laneways not usually maintained by local authorities. Since its re-establishment in 2017, almost €170 million has been provided by the Government to local authorities under the scheme. In recent years, my Department has increased the year-on-year base funding for the scheme and has redirected savings from...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Enterprise Sector (27 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: I thank the Deputy. Having just transferred from the Department of enterprise, I understand the rationale for his question. The Department of Rural and Community Development has had policy responsibility for social enterprise since the Department was established in 2017. Trading for Impact: National Social Enterprise Policy 2024-2027 was launched in July 2024. This policy was the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Enterprise Sector (27 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, and I look forward to working with the Local Development Companies Network, which has just rebranded. This will be a key area of focus. The Deputy touched on the issue of management capability. People have really good ideas but, unfortunately, the execution of this can often be a challenge and can often intimidate people from taking the step. I...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Policies (27 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: I am anxious to get the views of younger people in rural areas. Part of the consultation will be specifically focused on them and getting them to engage with the review. Housing is a major issue. Táimid ag plé cúrsaí tithíochta i gcomhthéacs cúrsaí Gaeltachta freisin ach ní fadhb Ghaeltachta amháin í. Is fadhb í i ngach ceantar...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Policies (27 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: We agree on a lot. I also point out that, as the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, has just said, the RRDF is helping in terms of building community revitalisation to assist in housing as well. We announced 30 RRDF projects last year, worth €164 million. A total of €20 million was spent under the town and village renewal scheme. That window is open again this year. We are...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Community Development Projects (27 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: I thank Deputy Quaide for the question. There is no doubting the importance of playground facilities in communities. That is the reason my Department supports such facilities through the CLÁR programme, the local enhancement programme, the LEADER programme, the community recognition fund and the town and village renewal scheme. The CLÁR programme provides funding for...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Community Development Projects (27 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: I welcome the fact that the initiative has been taken locally. The funding options are available to Cork County Council to support and fund that work. I direct the Deputy to the town and village renewal scheme, which is currently open. As it has funded playgrounds, skate parks, MUGAs, etc. in the past, it is definitely worth having a look at that. I encourage the Deputy to engage with...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Community Development Projects (27 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: I could not agree more with the Deputy. Parents are very busy, but it is not the job of the Department either. We have put the funding initiatives in place and the local authorities can engage with us on them. They are best suited to that role in such developments given their skills and knowledge of what is needed in each area. Under CLÁR alone, we funded 17 projects in Cork in 2023....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Policies (27 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta McGuinness as a bheannachtaí. Táim ag tnúth le hobair leis ar chúrsaí a bhaineann leis an Roinn seo agus leis an nGaeltacht. Our Rural Future was launched in 2021 and over its five year duration has provided vital investment and support, strengthened local economies and improved the lives of many people across rural Ireland....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Income Inequality (27 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as a ceist. Working to address economic and social Inequality in urban and rural areas is a core part of the work of our Department. The Department’s budget for 2025 is €472 million. Of this, €212 million is allocated to the rural development programme, supporting our rural areas to thrive socially and economically. The funding...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Income Inequality (27 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: To give the Deputy an example regarding the community services programme, we are working with various companies around the country. We are contributing wage contribution to fund more than 2,000 positions in 430 community organisations. With regard to community centres, we have just finalised funding announcements for community centre refurbishments. That was community-led, rather than us...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Income Inequality (27 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: To build on the previous figures regarding SICAP, we delivered funding of approximately €51 million, which supported 2,500 community groups and 27,000 individuals in 2024. I have already spoken about the community services programme. As LEADER relaunches this year, 46,000 people have completed LEADER-funded training, which allowed 16,000 jobs to be sustained in rural areas. We...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (27 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Community Recognition Fund was introduced to support the development of community infrastructure and facilities for the entire community. This is both to recognise the efforts of communities across the country in welcoming new arrivals and to ensure that there is sufficient infrastructure in place to respond to the needs of these communities. The scheme is delivered through local...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (27 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: The 2023-2027 LEADER Programme supports a broad range of enterprises and community groups to develop projects which improve the quality of life and economic activity in rural areas. The Tipperary Local Action Group, for which North Tipperary Development Company is an implementing partner, has an allocation of €7.8 million for the period 2023-2027. The funding is allocated to the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Urban Development (27 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: I propose to take Questions Nos. 88 and 124 together. My Department is responsible for a range of initiatives tackling deprivation and revitalising communities in both rural and urban areas. Key programmes include the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), the Empowering Communities Programme and providing funding for the Dublin North East Inner City initiative. My...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Weather Events (27 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: Storm Éowyn was an unprecedented event which brought significant challenges to many communities, in particular in rural areas. The Government has been working to ensure that we take on board the lessons learned, in anticipation of similar weather events in the future. In the immediate aftermath of the storm, those impacted were able to access basic services through local community...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Policies (27 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: Our Rural Future has been in place for almost five years and has provided vital investment and supports, strengthened local economies and improved the lives of many people across rural Ireland. As the Deputy will be aware, the Programme for Government includes a commitment to publish and implement a new Our Rural Future policy from 2026, and I am glad to say that the process of...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Men's Sheds (27 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: My Department provides a range of supports which are available to Men's Sheds and these supports include: The €7 million Local Enhancement Programme (LEP) 2025 which allowed Men's Sheds to apply for running costs as well as small capital works for the purchase of equipment for their facilities. LEP 2025 has recently closed for applications. The Social Inclusion and Community...