Results 5,501-5,520 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Rates (14 Jun 2023)

Heather Humphreys: In providing this response it should be noted that Domiciliary Care Allowance is paid on a monthly basis. The estimated full year cost of increasing Disability Allowance, Domiciliary Care Allowance (DCA) and Carer's Allowance by €10, €12, €15, €20 and €25 is as follows: Increase Disability Allowance (Weekly payment) Carer's...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Contracts (14 Jun 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The media article referenced by the Deputy, concerning a Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) carried out in respect of an upgrade to software used by my Department, misrepresents the contents of that DPIA, and I am happy to have this opportunity to set out the facts in this matter. The DPIA makes no adverse finding relating to the legal basis for the processing of personal data. ...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Clár Forbartha Tuaithe (13 Jun 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 78 and 84 together. The CLÁR programme provides funding under a number of different measures for small-scale infrastructural projects in designated rural areas. As Minister for Rural and Community Development, it gives me great satisfaction to visit these projects. I get around to a good few of them and see at first hand the excellent work that has...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Schemes (13 Jun 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputies. They are both right. Plenty of money is available. It has been made available to local authorities to identify these buildings and to purchase them. Now of course my Department is providing €100,000 per annum to each local authority for a town regeneration officer. The Department is committed to providing this funding for a fixed three-year period. Some 24...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Schemes (13 Jun 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I do not think my Department can do anything in regard to perfecting title on properties but what we can do is support individuals through the Croí Cónaithe fund administered by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. That is a popular fund. The threshold has now been increased to €50,000 for a vacant property and €80,000 for a derelict property....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Funding (13 Jun 2023)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputies have all said, this is a very popular scheme. I announced the funding last month. There is €50 million allocated. It is up to the local authorities along with the community groups to get the projects delivered as quickly as possible. They need to start spending. There is no point coming back looking for more money if they have not spent what they have. I mean...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Funding (13 Jun 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I am just looking here at some of the projects in Cork city. Ballyphehane Togher Community Development Project got €48,000 to replace a community bus. That should not take them too long. Douglas Street in Cork city got a pocket park development and signage for a historic trail. There is some stuff here and they should be able to do it fairly smartly. Another community bus,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Funding (13 Jun 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Togher community got equipment and the Carraig Centre in Ballincollig got room dividers. I am just giving the Deputy examples. There are some bigger projects and they will take longer. That is why it is a €50 million fund and €30 million this year and €20 million next year is how we want it spent. I would say to anybody who can spend it to get at it now boys and do...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Schemes (13 Jun 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. The Town Centre First policy is a major cross-government policy that aims to tackle vacancy, combat dereliction and breathe new life into our town centres. It supports the Our Rural Future vision for a thriving rural Ireland, which is integral to our national economic, social, cultural and environmental well-being and development. A key aim of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Funding (13 Jun 2023)

Heather Humphreys: We work with people and we have a degree of flexibility and common sense, to be fair. Again, we engage with the Department or with Pobal at the minute. It all comes from my Department. For the new build in Glanmire, I suggest that Deputy O'Sullivan should work with the local authority. It needs to engage. The local authority has been asked to engage with communities and to help to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Funding (13 Jun 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy. In May I announced details of €50 million in funding for more than 880 projects under the community recognition fund. At its core, the community recognition fund recognises the efforts of communities who have gone above and beyond what might be expected during a very challenging period. It will support towns and villages nationwide that have shown such generosity...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Funding (13 Jun 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputies for their input. Initially, the fund for the upgrade of the community centres was €45 million. A lot of applications came in. It was initially anticipated that there would be €15 million in this fund but I was able to find savings from other areas. I know this is an important one and that many communities are benefiting. I was even out in Deputy...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Island Communities (13 Jun 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I launched the strategy only last week. I will engage with islanders and there will be representation on the interdepartmental group. They have welcomed it. As I was about to say earlier, this is a living document and, as with any policy, it can change. I want to hear from islanders on the interdepartmental group at which they will be represented, regarding what is working and how we can...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Island Communities (13 Jun 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I am well aware of these issues, given I visited the islands within the past year or two. I walked the pier and I know all about the matter. There have been the first two phases of the Inis Meáin project, as we know, and the simulation has now finished. I wanted to make that clear because it took a long time, given these waves cause problems. When the second phase began, a problem...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Funding (13 Jun 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 69, 85 and 99 together. The Government recognises the important role community centres play in community life, bringing people together and engaging with those who may be marginalised or disadvantaged. I am always struck by the immense pride communities have in their locality. The community centre should be a safe, positive and accessible space for all...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Policies (13 Jun 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Let this policy settle now and see how it goes. I am happy that we will make progress.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Schemes (13 Jun 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue - an issue that is close to my heart too. The LIS supports the improvement of rural roads and lane-ways that are not normally maintained by local authorities. As part of Our Rural Future, the Government is committed to ensuring that the LIS is funded into the future. The scheme was reintroduced by my Department in 2017 following a number of...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Schemes (13 Jun 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy. All I can say to him is - and I think he will acknowledge this - I have been pumping the money into the LIS. Over the past five years, my Department has allocated €114 million. In fairness to the former Minister, Deputy Ring, he started the ball rolling.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Schemes (13 Jun 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I know what it is like if the milk lorry cannot get in to get the milk or the meal lorry cannot get in to delivery the meal. I fully understand that. I grew up on a farm and I lived on a lane that was a mile long. There were potholes on it sometimes and you would nearly get lost - bicycle and all. I explain to the officials in the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Schemes (13 Jun 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I appreciate that Kerry is a large county but so, too, are the resources we have allocated to it. As I have said, since 2017, at more than €7 million, it is the fifth highest allocation in the country. I have put a call out now and Kerry needs to put in what it is capable of doing.