Results 6,841-6,860 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (23 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 2....

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

Heather Humphreys: The Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD) was established in July 2017 to provide a renewed and consolidated focus on rural and community development in Ireland. While my Department has not deliberated on introducing the community wealth building systems approach to economic development, it is continuing to progress a number of national policies of relevance. Those...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Flexible Work Practices (23 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Our Rural Future, Ireland’s Rural Development Policy, recognises the opportunity for rural rejuvenation that remote working and digital access presents and commits to establishing an integrated national network of 400 remote working hubs by 2025. I am pleased to say that we are well on our way to meeting this commitment. There are now 310 hubs on-boarded to the connectedhubs.ie...

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

Heather Humphreys: The Town and Village Renewal Scheme was introduced in 2016 and is one of a number of measures designed to rejuvenate rural towns and villages throughout Ireland. The 2022 Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS) prioritised projects that bring vacant and derelict buildings back into use and promote residential occupancy in town centres. In recognition of the urgent need to transform and...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Official Engagements (23 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The Future Forum on Rural Development took place in Berlin on January 25-26. It is the largest national annual rural development conference in Germany, which each year features a partnership with another European country. I was delighted to accept the invitation for Ireland to be this year's partner. The conference this year was aligned with Green Week in Berlin and thus had a climate...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Library Services (23 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The provision of library services, including the provision of eBooks, is primarily a matter for local authorities in their capacity as library authorities under the Local Government Act 2001. However, my department has provided funding to support the provision of eBooks and eAudiobooks in public libraries. Funding of €168,000 was provided for this purpose in 2018, and further amounts...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: National Broadband Plan (23 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: Through the Broadband Connection Points (BCP) Initiative my department will establish 300 digitally-enabled community hubs. These hubs are based in community centres, GAA clubs and tourist sites across the country and are centres of community life. These BCPs will each have different offerings, some with a focus on remote work while others focused on education programmes and digital skills...

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

Heather Humphreys: The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) is funded by my Department under Our Rural Future. The Scheme is central to Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors, the new National Outdoor Recreation Strategy which is set to shape the future of outdoor recreation over the next five years. ORIS provides funding for the development and enhancement of outdoor recreational infrastructure such as...

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

Heather Humphreys: 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. The Scheme is administered through local authorities, who work closely with local communities and businesses to develop proposals that can make a lasting impact in revitalising rural towns and villages across the country....

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

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm to the Deputy that I have not received correspondence from representatives of the agricultural sector in relation to the matter raised which is primarily an issue for my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

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

Heather Humphreys: 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. It supports the Our Rural Future vision for a thriving rural Ireland which is integral to our national economic, social, cultural and environmental well-being and development. My Department co-chairs the National Oversight and Advisory...

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

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy will be aware, the Government is committed to publishing an islands policy, as per the Programme for Government commitment and the commitments made in Our Rural Future. The Cabinet agreed in July 2019 that a new Inter-Departmental Committee for islands be established to develop a national policy for the inhabited offshore islands. The committee was formed from 12 participating...

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

Heather Humphreys: The Government is aware of the challenges facing community and voluntary organisations and I was delighted to secure €21 million in funding under Budget 2023 to continue the Community Centres Investment Fund. This builds on the €15 million which was announced under the fund in 2022. The huge interest in this fund shows how important community centres are for communities...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Vacant Properties (23 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The Town and Village Renewal Scheme was introduced in 2016 and is one of a number of measures designed to rejuvenate rural towns and villages across Ireland in line with the objectives contained in Our Rural Future, Ireland's Rural Development Policy, and the Town Centre First policy. The 2022 Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS) prioritised projects that bring vacant and derelict buildings...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Legislative Reviews (23 Feb 2023)

Heather Humphreys: I met with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, T.D., on the 9thof January to discuss how our departments would address shared concerns regarding dog control and ownership. We instructed our officials to convene a working group on control of dogs issues and examine the various issues and consider all relevant legislative and enforcement issues in relation...

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

Heather Humphreys: 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. It supports the Our Rural Future vision for a thriving rural Ireland which is integral to our national economic, social, cultural and environmental wellbeing and development. My Department co-chairs the National Oversight and Advisory...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (23 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. The fund supports the objectives of Our Rural Future, the framework for the development of rural Ireland over the next five years. To date, 215 projects have been approved for funding of €395 million for projects...

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

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy will be aware, the Government is committed to publishing an islands policy, as per the Programme for Government commitment and the commitments made in Our Rural Future. I received a draft of the policy before Christmas. While it’s clear that a lot a work has been done in getting the draft policy to this stage, I believe there’s more work needed to firm up the...

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

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy 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, Galway County Council and the Consulting Engineers meets regularly to monitor progress on the work being undertaken. With regards to Inis Oírr, Galway County...

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

Heather Humphreys: The Government is aware of the challenges facing community and voluntary organisations and I was delighted to secure €21 million in funding under Budget 2023 to continue the Community Centres Investment Fund. This builds on the €15 million which was announced under the fund in 2022. The huge interest in this fund shows how important community centres are for communities...