Results 7,481-7,500 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (18 Jan 2023)

Heather Humphreys: My Department's mission is to support vibrant and sustainable communities across the country, and in doing so to deliver on a wide range of strategic interventions and policies to support rural and urban. In delivering on this mission, I am happy to say that my Department has in recent years put in place extensive supports for communities including sports clubs, youth groups and voluntary...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (18 Jan 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The Government is aware of the challenges facing community and voluntary organisations and I was delighted to secure €20 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: Rural Schemes (18 Jan 2023)

Heather Humphreys: The CLÁR programme provides funding under a number of different measures for small-scale infrastructural projects in designated rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population over a defined period. Since the CLÁR programme was relaunched in 2016, it has supported a wide range of measures. Funding of over €57 million has been approved for almost 2,100...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Recreation Policy (18 Jan 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 fundsnew outdoor recreational infrastructure as well as providing for the necessary repair,...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Control of Dogs (18 Jan 2023)

Heather Humphreys: My Department has policy and legislative responsibility for dog control and the restricted breeds of dogs, that is those dogs that are required to be leashed and muzzled when in a public place. The relevant Acts, the Control of Dogs Acts 1986 to 2014, set out a range of requirements for all dog owners or any other person in charge of a dog. The Control of Dogs Regulations 1998 set out...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Offshore Islands (15 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputies for raising their concerns. Alignment with the counties benefits some islands and there is no doubt about that. I was in Árainn Mhór and the communities there benefited not only from a roads programme but also from development under rural regeneration funding that came through, and was driven by, the local authority in Donegal. There is a fabulous theatre on...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Schemes (15 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: May I come in? I thank my colleagues on the Opposition benches and wish everybody a happy Christmas. We will see what happens on Saturday. I thank the members of the Opposition. We have had good, constructive debates on issues relating to the Departments of Social Protection and Rural and Community Development. I thank them.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Schemes (15 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: It is important that this investment continues. It has been very successful in 2022. I will be considering its continuation in 2023 but no decisions will be made until the priorities for 2023 are decided on. The building acquisition measure has helped many towns across the country. We need to move with the times. Times are changing. These buildings are no longer being used for their...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Offshore Islands (15 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: As is the case with the current LEADER programme, the subregional areas for the new LEADER programme will correspond in the main with county boundaries. The offshore islands will continue to be included with their relevant county for the delivery of the LEADER programme. While an island-specific area is not provided for under the new LEADER programme, any group delivering the new LEADER...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Offshore Islands (15 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Officials from the Department are in regular communication with island representative groups, such as Comhdháil Oiléain na hÉireann, and it is intended that this practice will continue. Department representatives attended the Irish Local Development Network, ILDN, council meeting, which was attended by Comhar na nOileán, on 2 September. Department representatives met...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Schemes (15 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. The town and village renewal scheme aims to assist with the rejuvenation of rural towns and villages throughout Ireland, making them more attractive places to live, work and visit. In line with the commitment in Our Rural Future, the 2022 scheme prioritised the renovation of derelict and vacant buildings in our town centres with a view to bringing...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Schemes (15 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy. I was delighted to visit Balla. The Deputy brought me there and I saw exactly what people are trying to do with the redevelopment of that space. That is what the town and village renewal scheme is about. As I continue to say, it is about engaging with communities and helping them realise their vision for their areas. It is the ground-up approach that makes the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Schemes (15 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I will come back to the Deputy.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Schemes (15 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I am happy to take on board the Deputy's suggestions of other criteria we can look at for areas that are not included. We did a review and we found the population had actually increased, which is good to see, but it is also important to say there are other funding streams from my Department. The Deputy will be very familiar with the community centres investment fund and the good support...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Island Communities (15 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The LEADER programme is a key intervention which will help underpin the Government's rural development goals as outlined in Our Rural Future. I am happy to confirm that preparations are now well advanced for the implementation of the new LEADER programme for the period 2023 to 2027. As these preparations have progressed, the Department has engaged on an ongoing basis with the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Island Communities (15 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: We listened, but certain stakeholder groups have expressed their preference that the new LEADER would include a dedicated LAG for island communities. A dedicated island LAG is not included in the model for the new LEADER programme. However, I am aware island communities have particular needs and priorities and the LEADER programme can play a key role here in the context of the emerging...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Library Projects (15 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: It was great that under the building acquisitions measure, some €300,000 was approved for Louth County Council to purchase the old Bank of Ireland building in Dunleer. Funding under the measure is for the purchase of derelict and vacant buildings. That money is only for the purchase of buildings, but if Louth County Council decides to develop the building into a library - the Deputy...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Library Projects (15 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: It is expected a call for proposals for the new libraries capital programme will be issued in the new year. That will run from 2023 to 2027. I would say to the Deputy to get Louth County Council looking at this. It should get the finger out and get the plans in because the call will be issued. I am happy to support the council in any way I can but it will have to come from the council....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Library Projects (15 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: When I was the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, they were great contributors to the arts. What they contributed to this country in philanthropic support has been outstanding. The Deputy has a good man in his corner there. I have no doubt he will see the railway station, even though it is not under the remit of my Department, there very soon.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Schemes (15 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. The CLÁR programme provides funding for small-scale projects in designated rural areas that have experienced significant levels of depopulation over a defined period. Since the programme was relaunched in 2016, it has supported a wide range of measures. The CLÁR 2022 programme was launched in February this year and I am delighted to...