Results 6,801-6,820 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Development Contributions (28 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund provides funding for the development and construction of capital projects in towns and villages and rural areas across Ireland. To date, 215 projects have been approved for funding of €395 million for projects costing €542 million. Calls for applications to the Fund are sought under two categories – Category 1 and Category...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Public Procurement Contracts (28 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Details of awards made by my Department and by the bodies under the aegis of my Department to the consultancy firms referred to by the deputy are outlined in the table below. KPMG YEAR DRCD or Body under Aegis Purpose / Description of award Value of the award Total amount paid Timeline/timeframe of the contracts Desired/completed...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Public Procurement Contracts (28 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: My Department’s ICT infrastructure is procured through the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO). Any contracts in place are therefore a matter for the OGCIO. Regarding the agencies under the Department's aegis, Water Safety Ireland, POBAL, the Western Development Commission and the Charities Regulator have confirmed that no contracts were awarded to Microsoft for...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (28 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Community Centres are the cornerstone of community life in towns, villages and parishes across the country. Since my appointment as Minister for Rural and Community Development, I have placed a key focus on the development of these important facilities. In 2022, I launched the new Community Centres Investment Fund. Grants of up to €300,000 were available for the upgrade and...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (28 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Our Rural Future, Ireland's Rural Development Policy 2021 – 2025, creates an overarching vision for a thriving rural Ireland which is integral to our national economic, social, cultural and environmental well-being and development. My Department's mission is to promote rural and community development and to support vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities throughout Ireland....

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (28 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The Local Improvement Scheme supports the improvement of rural roads and laneways 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 years with no dedicated funding. I am committed to improving...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (28 Feb 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: Rural Schemes (28 Feb 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. In 2022 the Programme's Mobility and Cancer Care Transport Measure facilitated the purchase of vehicles by voluntary organisations...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Harbours and Piers (23 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: All I can say is Galway County Council is doing the business plan. It knows the steps under the public service code. As I understand it, based on the findings of the simulation, some changes may have to be made to the feasibility study. That is my understanding of it and I want to see this moved on. It is in the national development plan, NDP, the money will be provided when the plans...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Community Development Projects (23 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy. He is dead right. This is a good example of how we can have real and meaningful community engagement that delivers for people. Deputy Kerrane mentioned Ballaghaderreen. The local development company is providing support to the direct provision centre there. In fairness, these local development companies have done good work throughout the country. In my constituency,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Harbours and Piers (23 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. As she is aware, Galway County Council is the responsible authority for the maintenance and development of pier infrastructure on the Aran Islands. A steering committee consisting of representatives from my Department and Galway County Council meets regularly to monitor progress on the development of the piers on the Aran Islands and held its most...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Harbours and Piers (23 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy. She is correct. Plans for phase 3 of the Caladh Mór pier in Inis Meáin were initially drafted in 2009. They involved an extension to the breakwater and the dredging of a substantial section of the harbour. The project then stalled. In 2019, Galway County Council began to amend the draft business case, in line with the public spending code, based on a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Harbours and Piers (23 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I do my best.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Community Development Projects (23 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: This is a €50 million fund. It is separate in its objectives and scope from any other public funding streams which aim to support the development of public service needs arising from the significant number of arrivals from Ukraine. The funding is specifically targeted at projects located in communities, towns and villages that are hosting the beneficiaries of temporary protection or...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Community Development Projects (23 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I thank Deputy Kerrane. The chairs of the community response forums will be the liaison persons and the point of contact for communities that want to engage. I encourage them to engage with the local councillors as well because they will be aware of this funding that has come into the county. In regard to Roscommon County Council, under this specific fund, it has been allocated...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Schemes (23 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I thank Deputies Dillon and Durkan. Both of them are raising the issue of community involvement and I absolutely agree with them because I believe what we need and continue to need is that local ground-up approach. It is about talking to people on the ground about what they need in their community. These applications for town and village are processed through the local authorities and the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Schemes (23 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I acknowledge what all of the Deputies have said. As they know we have the community centres fund and that was a very successful fund. It was initially a fund of €15 million but the demand was so much that we increased that to more than €40 million in allocations. In fact the applications that came in for that particular fund were for more than €70 million. A lot of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Community Development Projects (23 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 14 and 62 together. I thank Deputy Kerrane for raising this matter. On 24 January I launched the €50 million community recognition fund which aims to support the development of community infrastructure and facilities in recognition of the contribution being made by communities across the country in welcoming and hosting significant numbers of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Schemes (23 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 11, 47 and 64 together. I thank the Deputies for raising this matter. Our Rural Future - Rural Development Policy 2021-2025 creates an overarching vision for a thriving rural Ireland which is integral to our national economic, social, cultural and environmental well-being and development. My Department's mission is to promote rural and community...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Community Development Projects (23 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Deputy Stanton has discussed men's and women's sheds with me on many occasions. He is a strong advocate for the great work they do. My Department provides a range of supports which is available to men's and women's sheds. Since 2018, under the community enhancement programme, more than 1,200 men's sheds projects have received funding of over €2 million and 60 women's sheds projects...