Results 621-640 of 14,252 for speaker:Dara Calleary

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Road Projects (19 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1937 to 1941, inclusive, together. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Control of Dogs (19 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: As I advised the Deputy in my response to his previous question on this matter (Dáil question number 871) on 18 February 2025, I believe it is important for dog owners to be aware of their responsibilities - not just to the general public but also to their dogs. In November 2023, new regulations increased ‘on-the-spot’ fines for a range of offences under the Control of...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (19 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: Rural Schemes (19 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS) was introduced in 2016 and is one of a number of measures designed to rejuvenate rural towns and villages throughout Ireland. Since the launch of the scheme over €177 million has been allocated to almost 1,800 projects. The scheme targets funding primarily at towns and villages outside of city metropolitan areas, and with populations of less...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (19 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: Last week I approved over €26 million for 369 community centres under Category 2 of the Community Centre Investment Fund 2024. Funding of up to €100,000 will be provided to each successful community centre to support vital refurbishment and enhancement works. The projects include building renovations, enhanced amenities, accessibility measures and energy upgrades which cab help...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Men's Sheds (19 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: My Department provides funding to Men's Sheds under various funding streams, namely the Community Enhancement Programme/Local Enhancement Programme and its various iterations, SICAP, LEADER, Scheme to Support National Organisations (SSNO) and via the Irish Men’s Shed Association (IMSA). Men’s sheds apply individually for most of the schemes mentioned above. The funding...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Men's Sheds (19 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: My Department provides a range of supports which are available to Men's Sheds. 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 Activation...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Library Projects (19 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: The provision of library services, including the provision of library buildings, is primarily a matter for local authorities in their capacity as library authorities under the Local Government Act 2001. Accordingly, the delivery of a new library in Athenry is primarily a matter for Galway County Council. In April 2023, my Department invited all Local Authorities to submit proposals for...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Staff (19 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: My Department mainly recruits staff through the Public Appointments Service who carry out Garda vetting on all individuals who join the Civil Service. Where necessary, my Department also carries out checks, which can include checks regarding identification, qualifications and the right to work in Ireland. As such, all those recruited to work in my Department are fully vetted. There are...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (19 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: My Department's Community Services Programme (CSP) currently supports over 430 community-based organisations, with a budget of €55.4m in 2025, to provide local services through a social enterprise model. The CSP Progamme provides an annual co-funding contribution towards each full-time equivalent (FTE) position being supported and, where warranted, towards the cost of employing a...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Library Projects (19 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: The provision of library services including new library buildings is primarily a matter for Local Authorities in their capacity as library authorities under the Local Government Act 2001. Notwithstanding this, investing in our public library services is a key priority for me, as Minister with responsibility for the development of library policy. This is reflected in the National Public...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (19 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: Last week I approved over €26 million for 369 community centres under Category 2 of the Community Centre Investment Fund 2024. Funding of up to €100,000 will be provided to each successful community centre to support vital refurbishment and enhancement works. The projects include building renovations, enhanced amenities, accessibility measures and energy upgrades which can help...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (19 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: Last week I approved over €26 million for 369 community centres under Category 2 of the Community Centre Investment Fund 2024. Funding of up to €100,000 will be provided to each successful community centre to support vital refurbishment and enhancement works. The projects include building renovations, enhanced amenities, accessibility measures and energy upgrades to help build...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Men's Sheds (19 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: My Department provides a range of supports which are available to Men's Sheds including those referred to by the Deputy. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Men's Sheds (19 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: My Department provides a range of supports which are available to Men's Sheds including those referred to by the Deputy. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Contracts (19 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department has no contracts with the company referenced.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Animal Breeding (19 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: I can confirm a Dog Breeding Establishment National Register containing information for 2024 is available on my Department’s dog control page on gov.ie. My officials are in the process of requesting updates for the database from all local authorities for 2025, and once all returns are received, collated and analysed they will be published on gov.ie. The Dog Breeding Establishments...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (19 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: In respect of the project referred to by the Deputy, I can confirm that €264,000 was awarded to Kildare County Council through the Community Recognition Fund 2024 as a contribution to the purchase of the building in which this project is to be located. Kildare County Council have advised that the purchase process is progressing. I understand that my colleague, Darragh O'Brien TD,...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Staff (19 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: Information with regard to the annual amount of travel and subsistence which was claimed by special advisors over the period from 1st March 2020 to date in 2025, is detailed in the table below. No claims have been made to date in 2025. With regard to individual trips or journeys, the Department is not in a position to provide this information, in the context of the General Data Protection...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Contracts (19 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: Information and Communications Technology (ICT) services for my Department are provided by the Office of the Government Chief Information Office (OGCIO) and there is, therefore, limited use of external ICT services. On occasion, the Department procures external ICT services to supplement the managed desktop service and helpdesk provided by the OGCIO. This includes, for example, support to...