Results 5,181-5,200 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Control of Dogs (13 Jul 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Recommendation 14 of the working group report proposes the establishment of a stakeholders group on control of dogs issues. This group will be convened by my Department, with representation from DAFM and will provide a forum for stakeholder organisations to express their views on issues and possible solutions related to dog control issues. The draft terms of reference and a list of...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (13 Jul 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The CLÁR Programme provides funding for small-scale projects in designated rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population over a defined period. Since the programme was relaunched in 2016, it has supported a wide range of measures. The CLÁR 2022 programme awarded a record €12.2 million with 292 projects supported. A review of CLÁR areas...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Budgets (13 Jul 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Following a supplementary estimate in November 2022, the gross capital allocation for the Department of Rural and Community Development in 2022 was €193.9 million. The gross capital allocation in 2023 is €231 million. This information is provided below in tabular format. €, m 2022 2023 Gross capital budget allocation ...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (13 Jul 2023)

Heather Humphreys: My Department fully supports the roll out of the Public Service Apprenticeship Recruitment Plan and will engage with the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in relation to the roll out of apprenticeship programmes within the Department. DRCD places a lot of importance on programmes which can provide pathways for people with disabilities and those in...

Seanad: Care Payments: Motion [Private Members] (12 Jul 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I welcome the opportunity to discuss this important issue. I thank the Senators for their contributions and for bringing forward the motion. This is a timely discussion. I will host my Department's pre-budget forum next week when I will sit down with all the advocacy groups, including those representing carers. The Government is aware of the valuable work being carried out by family...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (12 Jul 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Community centres are the cornerstone of community life in many towns, villages and urban areas around the country. This Government recognises the important role they play in community life in Ireland, bringing people together and engaging with those who may be marginalised or disadvantaged.  With this in mind, my Department has put in place an integrated programme of supports for...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Expenditure (12 Jul 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Details requested by the Deputy, regarding amounts paid by my Department for outside/third-party reports in 2022 and to date in 2023, are outlined in the attached table. Project External service provider 2022 expenditure 2023 expenditure Public Participation Network Structural Review Mazars €21,504.09 Nil ...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Programmes (12 Jul 2023)

Heather Humphreys: My department's Community Services Programme (CSP) currently supports over 420 community-based organisations, to provide local services through a social enterprise model. CSP provides an annual co-funding contribution towards each full-time equivalent (FTE) position being supported, and, where warranted, towards the cost of employing a manager.   Qualifying organisations must be...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (11 Jul 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The CLÁR Programme provides funding for small-scale projects in designated rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population over a defined period. Since the Programme was relaunched in 2016, it has supported a wide range of measures. The CLÁR 2022 Programme awarded a record €12.2 million with 292 projects supported. I launched the 2023 Programme in...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (11 Jul 2023)

Heather Humphreys: My Department provides a range of supports which are available to Men's Sheds, depending on the works being completed. Last November, I was delighted to announce funding of €800,000 to support Men’s Sheds throughout the country with running costs, such as electricity and insurance bills. The individual grants were distributed to the Men’s Sheds via its representative...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Staff (11 Jul 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The appointment of special advisers is made in line with the provisions of Section 11 of the Public Services Management Act, 1997 and subject to the Government approval. The special advisers employed in the Department of Rural and Community Development are outlined below: MinisterSpecial Adviser Name Minister Heather HumphreysNiall O’Connor Email: Niall.O'Connor@drcd.gov.ie Minister...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Grant Payments (11 Jul 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 887 to 889, inclusive, together. My Department provides a range of supports which are available to Men's Sheds, depending on the works being completed. Last November, I was delighted to announce funding of €800,000 to support Men’s Sheds throughout the country with running costs, such as electricity and insurance bills. The individual...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (11 Jul 2023)

Heather Humphreys: A key aim of my Department’s Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS), in line with Our Rural Futureand the Town Centre First policy, is addressing vacancy and dereliction and bringing buildings back into use as multipurpose community spaces, including for such use as Men’s Sheds. The 2022 scheme prioritised projects that brought buildings back into use, both under the main...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (11 Jul 2023)

Heather Humphreys: My Department's mission is to promote rural and community development and to support vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities throughout Ireland. The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), overseen by my Department, is our country’s primary social inclusion programme which aims to reduce poverty and promote social inclusion and equality by supporting...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (11 Jul 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Details requested by the Deputy, regarding funding provided by my Department for rural schemes, since the formation of this Government, are outlined in the attached tables. Details include a breakdown of funding allocated to respective local authorities, for years 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 (to date) in respect of the following rural schemes- CLÁRLEADERLocal Improvement SchemeOutdoor...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (11 Jul 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The CLÁR Programme provides funding for small-scale projects in designated rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population over a defined period. Since the Programme was relaunched in 2016, it has supported a wide range of measures. Funding of €7.85m has been allocated for the 2023 CLÁR programme an increase of €0.5m on 2022. I launched the 2023...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Data (11 Jul 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The Department of Rural and Community Development was established in July 2017 and has not operated a barter account since its formation. There are four agencies under my Department’s remit: the Western Development Commission, Pobal, Irish Water Safety, and the Charities Regulator. In respect of these bodies, information relating to such financial matters is a matter for the bodies...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (6 Jul 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising the matter. Of course, there will be a lot of demands between now and October in terms of the budget. I said it before and will say it again this year, there will be a lot of kites flying. I am going to be like an octopus trying to keep them all down.

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (6 Jul 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I would not dream of it. The Department's pre-budget forum will take place on 19 July. I will be meeting all those stakeholders and will hear their views, which the Deputy articulated clearly. He will appreciate that I will not give any commitment today because my good colleagues, the Ministers for Finance and Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, would not...

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (6 Jul 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I thank Deputy Smith for raising this issue. We are all aware of the work that carers do. However, the Department is about giving people a basic income. We increased in last year's budget the means test threshold for the carer's allowance so that more people are able to benefit from it. In fact, we increased it to €750, which is the highest it has ever been. We will continue to...