Results 661-680 of 1,441 for speaker:Ann Phelan

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Seniors Alert Scheme (5 Mar 2015)

Ann Phelan: My Department manages the Seniors Alert Scheme which encourages community support for vulnerable older people in our communities by providing grant assistance towards the purchase and installation of personal monitored alarms to enable older persons, of limited means, to continue to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind. The scheme is administered by...

Topical Issue Debate: Seniors Alert Scheme (4 Mar 2015)

Ann Phelan: Over the next 30 years, the number of people in Ireland over the age of 65 is predicted to double to between 1.3 million and 1.4 million while the number over 80 is expected to quadruple to about 440,000. The Government recognises that quality of life and enabling older people to live life to the full at every stage will become increasingly important as the numbers of older people increase....

Topical Issue Debate: Seniors Alert Scheme (4 Mar 2015)

Ann Phelan: My Department manages the seniors alert scheme, SAS, which encourages community support for vulnerable older people in our communities by providing grant assistance towards the purchase and installation of personal monitored alarms to enable older persons over the age of 65 and of limited means to continue to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind. The...

Other Questions: Water Charges Administration (4 Mar 2015)

Ann Phelan: The Deputy will get an A for that.

Other Questions: Rural Development Plan (4 Mar 2015)

Ann Phelan: I assure the Deputy that rural development programme funding will be examined in order to support the CEDRA report's recommendations. That report has been allocated a budget of €1 million for specific innovation projects. The roll-out of rural development zones is imminent and we will be working closely with local authorities on local development strategies. We must align all that...

Other Questions: Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (4 Mar 2015)

Ann Phelan: My Department's local and community development programme, LCDP, is the largest social inclusion intervention of its kind in the State. It is being implemented on a transitional basis until the end of this month, pending the roll-out of the new social inclusion and community activation programme, called SICAP, on 1 April this year. In accordance with the public spending code, legal...

Other Questions: Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (4 Mar 2015)

Ann Phelan: Funding begins on 1 April with the roll-out of SICAP. I have met with the public representatives concerned, but when one is doing a tendering process it is not possible to meet directly with those who will be involved in the process. We have been through these situations before and I know the hiatus that occurs. I also know all about the uncertainty, particularly when one is dealing with...

Other Questions: Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (4 Mar 2015)

Ann Phelan: The big concern about the tendering process was that private companies could come in and win the tenders, but that did not happen. Some 44 of the 50 companies won the SICAP programme. I take the Deputy's point on the Leader partnership in Dublin. We are working with county councils under the new LCDC structure to see how we can address the concerns of people who do not fit into the SICAP...

Other Questions: Rural Development Plan (4 Mar 2015)

Ann Phelan: The Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas, CEDRA, published its report in 2014. The report contained 34 recommendations focussed on supporting the medium-term economic development of rural areas in the period up to 2025. I was appointed Minister of State with responsibility for rural affairs in July 2014, and in line with the recommendations in the CEDRA report, I...

Other Questions: Rural Development Plan (4 Mar 2015)

Ann Phelan: I can assure Deputy Tom Fleming of my commitment to rural Ireland. I come from the rural parts that we are trying to energise. I have seen, not just since this Government was established but over the past number of years, where these rural communities were completely forgotten and left abandoned, and it is now my job to energise those. The announcement on pilot schemes for the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Property Tax (4 Mar 2015)

Ann Phelan: That will be interesting.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Leader Programmes Administration (4 Mar 2015)

Ann Phelan: The LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 will provide €250 million in financial resources to address poverty reduction, social inclusion and economic development in rural areas. LEADER is delivered through the medium of Local Development Strategies (LDS) by Local Action Groups (LAGs ) and the selection process for both the LEADER Local Development Strategies and...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (4 Mar 2015)

Ann Phelan: My Department’s Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP) superseded the Local Development Social Inclusion and the Community Development Programmes in 2010. LCDP is the largest social inclusion intervention of its kind in the State and is being implemented on a transitional basis until the end of March 2015, pending the roll out of the new Social Inclusion and Community...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Funding (4 Mar 2015)

Ann Phelan: The funding Scheme to Support National Organisations (SSNO) in the community and voluntary sector aims to provide multi-annual funding to national organisations towards core costs associated with the provision of services. Applications for a new round of funding, which commenced on 1 July 2014, were subject to an appraisal process. 55 applications were approved for funding for the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme Administration (4 Mar 2015)

Ann Phelan: My Department’s Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP) is the largest social inclusion intervention of its kind in the State and is being implemented on a transitional basis until the end of March 2015, pending the roll out of the new Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) on 1 April 2015. In accordance with the Public Spending Code, legal advice,...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Departmental Funding (4 Mar 2015)

Ann Phelan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 199 and 200 together. The funding Scheme to Support National Organisations (SSNO) in the community and voluntary sector aims to provide multi-annual funding to national organisations towards core costs associated with the provision of services. Applications for a new round of funding, which commenced on 1 July 2014, were subject to an appraisal...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Community Development Projects (4 Mar 2015)

Ann Phelan: My Department’s Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP) is the largest social inclusion intervention of its kind in the State and is being implemented on a transitional basis until the end of March 2015, pending the roll out of the new Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) on 1 April 2015. There is no funding available under LCDP or SICAP for the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (4 Mar 2015)

Ann Phelan: My Department’s Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP) is the largest social inclusion intervention of its kind in the State and is being implemented on a transitional basis until the end of March 2015, pending the roll out of the new Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) on 1 April 2015. In accordance with the Public Spending Code, legal advice,...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Rural Development Programme Projects (4 Mar 2015)

Ann Phelan: In line with the ‘bottom-up’ approach to rural development under the LEADER elements of the Rural Development Programme 2007-2013, the Local Action Groups (LAGs) are the principal decision-makers in relation to the allocation of project funding. Such decisions are made in the context of the Local Development Strategy of the LAG and in line with the operating rules and EU...

Committee on Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht: Select Sub-Committee on the Environment, Community and Local Government: Estimates for Public Services 2015
Vote 34 - Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government (Revised) (3 Mar 2015)

Ann Phelan: The Leader programme from 2007 to 2014 received €235 million from the EU and €135 million from the Exchequer, totalling €370 million. There was a change because commitments were already made. The funding for the new programme is €250 million, with the rate of co-funding still to be finalised. The rural development programme is still being signed off at European...