Results 381-400 of 14,252 for speaker:Dara Calleary

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

Dara Calleary: The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) is a capital investment fund that is key to the delivery of Ireland's rural development policy, Our Rural Future 2021-2025. RRDF provides funding for the development and construction of capital projects in towns and villages in rural areas across Ireland. Funding is allocated to local authorities and other State-funded bodies, who take the...

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

Dara Calleary: There are 5 separate contracts in place for subsidised transport services for Árainn Mhór and Oileán Thóraí. They are not PSO contracts but 'Contracts for Services', procured on the open market, that provide those island communities with a range of passenger and cargo ferry services along with a seasonal helicopter service (in conjunction with the HSE). The current...

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

Dara Calleary: As the Deputy is aware, the land in question, on which the Inishbofin airstrip is situated, was transfered to my Department in October 2024. The Deputy will recall that these lands were acquired by Galway County Council on behalf of the Department by way of a Compulsory Purchase Order, which was originally initiated over 20 years ago. The Chief State Solicitor's Office has been acting on...

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

Dara Calleary: I recognise the importance of providing appropriate community and youth facilities across the country. Funding is available for community facilities, including those used by youth clubs, under a range of schemes provided by my Department. Under the Community Centre Investment Fund (CCIF), which was established in 2022, funding of over €109 million has been approved for the...

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

Dara Calleary: The Local Enhancement Programme (LEP) 2025 was announced in November 2024, with funding of €7 million to assist thousands of community groups across the country by providing capital and current supports. The LEP is targeted to the specific challenges facing local community groups and delivers immediate, tangible supports where they are needed most. Under the Local Enhancement...

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

Dara Calleary: My Department has developed a range of funding schemes and interventions which support projects across the country. While some schemes have an exclusively rural focus, many support both rural and urban areas. These include: the Community Centre Investment Fund the Community Recognition Fund the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme the Local Enhancement Programme the...

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

Dara Calleary: The CLÁR programme provides targeted investment for small scale infrastructural projects in defined rural areas. In recent years Measure 1 of the programme has funded the development of community facilities and amenities, with €11.4 million approved last year for over 260 projects. The focus of the 2025 scheme is currently being reviewed by my officials and I expect to launch...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Public Participation Networks (27 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: A Public Participation Network (PPN) provides representation for the community sector in Local Authority policymaking structures, giving local volunteers a greater say in local government decisions which affect their own communities. PPNs were established following the enactment of the Local Government Reform Act 2014. There are now 31 PPNs across the country, feeding into local policies...

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

Dara Calleary: My Department provides funding to Men's Sheds and Women’s (Sister) Sheds under various funding supports, including: The €7 million Local Enhancement Programme (LEP) 2025 which allowed Men's Sheds and Women’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....

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

Dara Calleary: The Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) supports improving non-public rural roads and laneways not usually maintained by local authorities. Since its establishment in 2017, almost €170 million has been provided by the Government to local authorities for LIS. In April 2024, €40 million in funding was announced for LIS across all local authorities to cover 2024/2025. My officials...

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

Dara Calleary: The Community Centre Investment Fund has provided in excess of €109 million since 2022 for the enhancement and refurbishment of existing community centres and the construction of new centres. Over €33 million has now been approved for in excess of 770 projects nationwide under the 2024 fund. However, given the very significant level of demand, not all applications were...

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

Dara Calleary: I propose to take Questions Nos. 130 and 434 together. My Department is responsible for the Seniors Alert Scheme which encourages community support for vulnerable older people in our communities through the provision of personal monitored alarms to enable them to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind. Funding is available under the scheme for the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Dormant Accounts Fund (27 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: My Department published the 2025 Dormant Accounts Fund Action Plan in November 2024. It outlines measures and funding across 10 Departments, with total funding of €44.8 million to support 51 measures. These measures progress throughout the year, with funding generally drawn down from the Dormant Accounts Fund towards the end of year as measures complete. Each Department is...

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

Dara Calleary: My Department has a strong focus on building the capacity of organisations within the community and voluntary sector. One of the strategic objectives of the Government's strategy for the community and voluntary sector Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities, is to develop the capacity of organisations supporting communities, with a specific focus on marginalised communities. An...

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

Dara Calleary: Last November, my Department launched the Local Enhancement Programme 2025 (LEP), with funding of €7 million to assist community groups across the country. The LEP is targeted to the specific challenges facing local community groups and delivers immediate, tangible supports where they are needed most. There was a particular focus on small capital works/improvements, and the...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (27 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Pandemic Unemployment Payment was introduced in 2020 to provide support to people who had lost their employment due to the public health restrictions introduced in response to the Covid-19 Pandemic. Under Section 68L (1) (d) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 (as amended), PUP is not payable where a person is engaged in insurable employment, that is, works as an employee. My...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Cybersecurity Policy (27 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: My Department implements a security-by-design and defence-in-depth approach to cyber security. The department monitors and responds to cyber security events on a continual basis, working alongside industry partners and other government agencies. For operational and security reasons, we do not disclose arrangements in place in relation to cyber security tools and services and my Department...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Appeals (27 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Social Welfare Appeals Office is an Office of the Department of Social Protection which is responsible for determining appeals against decisions in relation to social welfare entitlements. Appeals Officers are independent in their decision-making functions. The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an Appeals Officer, having fully considered all of the available evidence,...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Cybersecurity Policy (27 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Department implements a security-by-design and defence-in-depth approach to cyber security. Each stage of the project lifecycle from business case, funding approval, project initiation and service introduction through to the development and implementation of ICT systems and networks must pass through numerous steps to satisfy cyber security and information security policies....

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (27 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: Carer's allowance (CA) is a means-tested social assistance payment made to a person who is habitually resident in the State and who is providing full-time care and attention to a child or an adult who has such a disability that, as a result, they require that level of care. An application for CA was received from the person concerned on 13 June 2024. As part of the decision process, the...