Results 581-600 of 15,374 for speaker:Dara Calleary

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Regeneration Projects (22 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: I thank Deputy O'Hara for his question on this project. As he will be aware, the RRDF is a major capital investment programme seeking to support large-scale, ambitious projects that can achieve sustainable economic and social development in rural areas. To date, the RRDF has allocated €588 million for 243 projects across the country. A fourth call for category 2 applications was...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Regeneration Projects (22 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: I have heard the Deputy's case and I note the project from his question. We have to ensure these projects are done properly. The documents have only been with us since 14 March and there will be engagement on the viability of the project. The core aspect about this specific measure is that it opens up potential funding again. There will be engagement with Galway County Council, which is...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Schemes (22 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: I would point out that, as the Deputy is aware, there is substantial current investment by my Department in Ballyhaunis through RRDF projects, the regeneration of a number of properties and the town centre management. I am very aware of the issues raised by the Deputy and I do not want any diminution of services in any part of the county. There is substantial investment under way in the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Regeneration Projects (22 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: It is great to see such cross-party co-operation across the two different constituencies. Launched in 2022, 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. TCF supports the Our Rural Future vision for a thriving rural Ireland by setting out the scaffolding and framework to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Regeneration Projects (22 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: I thank both Deputies. As they acknowledged, there is a town centre first officer in Kildare. The town centre first town plan under phase 1, which was announced in December 2021 for Kildare, includes Clane, and phase 2 includes Castledermot. Through the town centre first town team support funds, we are funding teams in Monasterevin, Kilcullen and Ballymore Eustace to do their work locally....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Ferry Services (22 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta. Tá mé chun freagra a thabhairt as Béarla, tá brón orm. My Department makes a significant annual investment in subsidised transport services to ensure our island communities can avail of reliable, affordable year-round ferry and heavy cargo services. In the case of Oileáin Thoraí, there are four separate subsidised...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Schemes (22 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: Absolutely. We will work with all the Departments on this. There is no point in us making this level of investment in rural communities unless we can encourage younger people to come back. I share the Deputy's frustration and agree with what he said about educating younger people. We must ensure they have the opportunities to bring them back. I point to the level of investment in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Schemes (22 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: As the Deputy says, agriculture is still the core of rural Ireland, not just economically but socially as well in terms of the leadership, skills and supply chain that are provided. I will engage with the farming organisations as we carry out the consultation process on Our Rural Future. We will be looking for their input and support. There have been various iterations of support from...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Schemes (22 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: I thank the Deputy. As he is aware, CLÁR is a very important funding stream for remote rural areas. In recent years it has funded a vast array of community amenities such as community centres, sporting facilities, playgrounds, sensory gardens and walking trails. As we already discussed, it is also a growing source of funding for vehicles to transport people with disabilities and to...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Schemes (22 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: I agree with the Deputy about that kind of funding. We will be looking at that from 2026 onwards. We have already funded sensory parks under CLÁR and we will continue to do that. We have also funded the upgrading and replacement of many facilities across the country, including in Mayo, to make equipment more suitable for children with disabilities and communities with disabilities....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Community Development Projects (22 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: Planning issues are a matter for the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. I agree that there should be a community element to all planning decisions. As regards Blarney, we allocated €204,000 in 2021 for the development of the Inch Park amenity. In 2023, €324,000 was allocated. This includes upgrades for the community centre. There was also €125,000...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Community Development Projects (22 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: In the overall context of any development such as the housing referred to by the Deputy, first it is a matter for the local authority to put the plans in place. It draws down development levies for all of that construction. It should put the plan in place to have that facility developed. My Department will then be more than happy to work with it to identify potential funding opportunities....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Schemes (22 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: Our Rural Future is the whole-of-government policy for sustainable rural development. It seeks to ensure that all rural areas are attractive for people to live, work and raise their families in. One of the high-level outcomes set out in Our Rural Future is to increase the number of people living in rural areas. Rural population trends, as we discussed earlier, in line with many of the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Schemes (22 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: The issue of rural isolation, especially among the elderly, is relevant to the work of several Government Departments. It is a complex issue and can undermine the physical and mental well-being of people in both rural and urban settings. Loneliness requires a wide range of responses, including health interventions, community policing, rural transport, which we discussed earlier, tackling...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Schemes (22 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Deputy makes a good suggestion and we will certainly look at it. The potential in the new Our Rural Future document is there to highlight rural isolation and what is happening. I encourage Deputy McCormack to attend the new in-person public consultation event on 17 June in Tullamore for Our Rural Future. As I said, we have a range of schemes and there are schemes within the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Schemes (22 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: There is nothing I disagree with in either Deputies approach. I met the postmasters last week and the post office report is a very solid report. It is not only about the post office but about the postmen and postwomen who go out to communities and houses. For many people, this is the only contact they may have, and let us be realistic about it. As I said, through the community services...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Community Development Projects (22 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: I thank Deputy Burke. In his previous role as Minister of State, he did much work on rural isolation and rural loneliness role and I acknowledge that. Regarding the Deputy's question, the development and enhancement of community facilities is a priority for me and full details of the capital supports available are on my Department’s website. The community centre investment fund...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Schemes (22 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: I have figures that show that at the end of 2024, 175 roads in Cork were awaiting repair, 264 have been completed since 2017 and 23 will be done in 2025. The full allocation will be used. That gives the Deputy a sense of the demand in Cork, but it is replicated across the country. LIS roads are very much part of my daily work. The scheme is very important to communities. That is why the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Voluntary Sector (22 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: I thank the Deputy. This question fits across both of my roles. This Government recognises and values the many contributions made to society by not-for-profit, voluntary and community organisations in Tipperary and I commend the Deputy's work in this space. The Department of Rural and Community Development supports the community and voluntary sector through a number of schemes, most...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Voluntary Sector (22 May 2025)

Dara Calleary: Despite all our GAA talk, we had managed to avoid last weekend until the Deputy's intervention. That suited me anyway. We have made announcements this week under the growing social enterprise fund. Borrisoleigh Community Centre in Tipperary has been awarded €15,000 for solar panel installation. Canon Hayes Recreation Centre, with which the Deputy is familiar, has been awarded...