Results 6,821-6,840 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

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

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy is aware, I always have to negotiate funding commitments with the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform at budget time. The work the men's sheds are doing is invaluable in terms of the network and social support provided. If someone is having a bad day, the best place he can go is up to the men's shed. He will get a good cup of tea and...

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

Heather Humphreys: If sheds are looking for premises, I always encourage them to work with their local authorities. Under the town and village renewal scheme, especially under the building acquisition measure, local authorities have been able to buy buildings in towns and villages, particularly former bank buildings. These buildings usually have a fine big space out the back and there is no reason they cannot...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Funding (23 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I thank Deputy Collins for raising this question. The rural regeneration and development fund, RRDF, 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 across the country. The fund is central to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Funding (23 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I hope to go back to Kinsale shortly to open that new library. I think the project is well on. Bandon has got funding - I think €5 million - for the town centre regeneration. I was in Bandon earlier in the year and met the Deputy's brother Danny down there. He is the cathaoirleach of Cork County Council. We had a great day there. There is a fabulous park in Bandon that we...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Funding (23 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I am looking here at the town and village renewal scheme funding alone, and west Cork has not been doing too badly. I look at Bantry, which got €216,000 on top of RRDF funding. Dunmanway got €96,000. Glengarriff got €100,000 for installing a new riverside walk. I was out on the Beara Peninsula, where they are doing wonderful work on the Beara walk and the equestrian...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Island Communities (23 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Ar ais linn arís. As the Deputy will be aware, the Government is committed to publishing an islands policy in line with the programme for Government commitment and the commitments made in Our Rural Future. I received a draft copy of the policy before Christmas. While it is clear that a lot of work has been done in getting the draft policy to this point, I am of the view that more work...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Island Communities (23 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy. In fairness, she has asked me about this islands policy a great deal. There has been extensive consultation on it. We have the policy. Policy is fine but we need the actions. I want to hold other Departments to account. I do not want fancy, flowery language. I want time-bound actions so that when Departments state they will do something, they will do it. From my...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Island Communities (23 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I have the policy but I need the actions. A number of Departments are critical in this regard. We all know them. I met representatives from Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann. There are issues around planning, sewerage, water, education and health. We need more nurses in particular and we need more GPs, primary care services and services for older people. There are many...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Community Development Projects (23 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The project in Newcastle has been brought to my attention by the Deputy. I have met him and his Oireachtas colleagues to discuss the matter. I fully understand and appreciate the need to support new communities. We need these facilities because communities are very much at the heart of areas. It is important that they have community centres in which they can meet, engage in sporting...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Community Development Projects (23 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy. As I stated, I met the Oireachtas Members to discuss the issue. The project in Newcastle seems to tick a lot of boxes but it has to go through a competitive assessment process. I am sure there will be plenty of demand for this fund of €21 million. As we all know, it costs a lot of money to build a community centre. It will be competitive. I knew there was an...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rural Schemes (23 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Before we begin proceedings, I wish to send my thoughts and prayers to Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell, the police officer shot in Omagh last night. A decent man, he was volunteering and training young children at sport, as happens in every community, North and South. He was off duty when he was shot down in front of his son. When he was on the ground, he was shot again. I condemn...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rural Schemes (23 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The development of a rural proofing model is a key commitment in Our Rural Future. In conjunction with other Departments, the work on it is progressing well. We have identified the areas we want to focus on as part of a pilot, including sustainable tourism, which has a significant impact on rural economies. We have also launched the national outdoor recreational strategy, which will have...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rural Schemes (23 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I do not have all of the figures to hand, but there has been unprecedented investment in the north and west. Like the Deputy, I am familiar with the region, given that we both live there. We have worked with Fáilte Ireland and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. For example, there is a good remote working hub called the Spool Factory in Boyle,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Community Development Projects (23 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. Community centres are the cornerstone of community life in towns, villages and parishes across the country. Since my appointment, I have placed a key focus on the development of these important facilities. In 2022, I launched the new community centres investment fund, with grants of up to €300,000 available for the upgrade and renovation...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Harbours and Piers (23 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy is aware, the relevant Local Authorities are responsible for the maintenance and development of pier infrastructure on our offshore islands. In County Galway, the Deputy will be familiar with the plans for the development of the piers on Inis Oírr and Inis Meáin, which are included in the National Development Plan. With regards to Inis Oírr, Galway County...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (23 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The Streetscape Enhancement Measure was introduced in 2021 as part of the commitment under Our Rural Future, Ireland's rural development policy. The Measure is delivered under the umbrella of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, and aims to improve the visual appearance of our urban streetscapes, which will bring about growth and increase confidence in our towns and villages. In line with...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (23 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: My Department provides a range of supports which are available to both Men's and Women’s Sheds, depending on the works being completed. Last November, I was delighted to announce funding of €800,000 to support Men’s Sheds throughout the country. The initiative will see grants of up to €2,000 provided to over 400 Men’s Sheds nationwide to assist them with...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Offshore Islands (23 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy will be aware from our previous discussions on this matter, as Minister with responsibility for the islands, I am determined to deliver on the Government commitment to publishing an islands policy. This is a commitment that I have made to this House and indeed to the Island Communities, publicly and during my visits to the islands, and is set out in both the Programme for...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (23 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: Departmental Programmes (23 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The LEADER programme is a key intervention implemented by my Department, which will help to underpin the Government's rural development goals as outlined in Our Rural Future. It forms part of Ireland's €10bn Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plan. Funding for the LEADER Programme is provided for the duration of the period rather than on an annual basis to allow more flexibility...