Results 7,501-7,520 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

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

Heather Humphreys: The Deputy and I both know the benefits of CLÁR funding well. The Deputy has been on to me about different projects. Kilnaleck recently received €50,000 for the upgrade of the playground and St. Anne's National School's parents' association got €45,000 to build a multi-use games area, MUGA. Lavey Community Group got €50,000 to provide wheelchair access. The...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Island Communities (15 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I thank Deputy Connolly. I know this is something she is very committed to. As the Deputy is aware, the Government is committed to publishing a ten-year policy on island development with associated three-year action plans. The programme for Government includes a commitment in this regard. As Minister with responsibility for the islands I am determined to ensure the policy is delivered. ...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Island Communities (15 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I thank Deputy Connolly. The final draft will be submitted to me by the end of the year. We are very close to the end of the year and I want that draft. With regard to the next steps after that, I hope, if I am still here, to take the draft to a Cabinet committee early in the new year and then to the Government. What is most important is that we have a strong policy at the end of the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Island Communities (15 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: No.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Island Communities (15 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I thank Deputy Connolly. I will address the issue on LEADER in response to a later question. No islander is putting us under pressure to get this done. What they are putting us under pressure for is a policy document with actions that will deliver and make a difference to their lives. This is what they tell us. I will get the draft submitted to me by the end of the year. The next step...

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

Heather Humphreys: I thank Deputy O'Dowd for raising this matter. The Department is responsible for policy on public libraries. The provision of library services, including the provision of library buildings, is primarily a matter for local authorities in their capacity as library authorities under the Local Government Act 2001. Accordingly, the development of a new public library in Dunleer is, first and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Community Development Projects (15 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I see the point the Deputy is making all right. In fairness, the majority of the applications that came in were from community owned ones. There are some local authority owned ones. However, I take the Deputy's point that if there is an obligation on the local authorities to support those centres, they should be honouring that obligation. At the same time, we want to make sure that we...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Schemes (15 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I thank Deputy Canney for raising this. The local improvement scheme, LIS, 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 makes an important contribution to connectivity in rural Ireland. I am also committed to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Schemes (15 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I agree with Deputy Canney. The Deputy is correct that it is active travel. Where I was reared, it was a lane a mile long. It was very active when one was late for the bus, I can tell the Deputy. The Deputy is correct because many people use those ways. They are safe places to walk in rural Ireland because it is not safe to walk on the main road. There are laneways, for example,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Schemes (15 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I will give the updated figures on Galway. It has secured combined funding of over €3.26 billion over the past two years. Forty-nine roads were upgraded in 2021 and a further 50 this year. Of course, resources are finite but I am tackling the situation. I doubled the LIS roads allocation originally envisaged in last year's budget and this year alone, I invested €22...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rural Schemes (15 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: As I said, the development of a rural-proofing model is a key commitment in Our Rural Future and work is progressing well on this. In conjunction with other Departments, we have identified the areas we wish to focus on as part of a pilot project. This includes sustainable tourism, which is an aspect that has a major impact on rural economies. We have, of course, launched the national...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rural Schemes (15 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: It is important to clarify that there was no downgrading of the north and western region by the European Commission from the status of a region in transition. This region in transition designation was decided in 2018 based on GDP per capita in the region over the previous three years and has been used to calculate European funding allocations for the region from 2021 to 2027. Separately,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Community Development Projects (15 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Government is fully aware of the challenges facing community and voluntary organisations now and I was delighted to launch the €15 million community centres investment fund earlier this year. The huge interest in this fund shows how important community centres are for communities throughout Ireland. Under the 2022 fund, applications were invited under three categories, with...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Community Development Projects (15 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I had a great day in Hartstown last week with the Deputy, the Tánaiste and the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration, and Youth, Deputy O'Gorman, and the Minister of State, Deputy Chambers. There was a good turnout on the day. It was a lovely event. I thank all the local volunteers and the committee in Hartstown for the work they put into the application. This was...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Community Development Projects (15 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The grant of €300,000 will ensure that the centre does not just survive but thrives in future. The centre in Hartstown was in the ownership of the diocese, but it is now being taken over by Fingal County Council. This is a good thing. The support of the local authority will be of great help in future. We are happy to work together. I come from a rural area, and the community...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rural Schemes (15 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: This is a sad morning. I offer my condolences to the family of the young Irish soldier who lost his life in Lebanon. Our thoughts and those of the Government are with his family and with the other brave soldiers injured in this attack, their families and their colleagues in Óglaigh na hÉireann. Our Defence Forces' tradition of peacekeeping with the UN is a proud one and these...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Control of Dogs (15 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: At the outset, I would like to say that my thoughts are with Alejandro Mizsan and his family and friends following the horrific ordeal that he endured. I was utterly shocked at the awful events in Wexford last week. And in recent days we heard of a serious dog attack on sheep on a farm in Offaly, which is devastating for the farmer and his family. I believe that now is the time to...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Strategies (15 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: On 28th November I was delighted to launch Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors2023 - 2027, the new five year National Outdoor Recreation Strategy in Castlecomer Discovery Park, Co Kilkenny. This Strategy was developed in collaboration with Comhairle na Tuaithe and is a cross-Government, stakeholder-led strategy. It reflects the views of stakeholders, the public and the whole of Government...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (15 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: My Department has provided a range of supports over recent years which both Men's and Women’s Sheds have availed of. In 2020, under the Community Enhancement Programme,124 men’s sheds projects benefited and received funding to the value of €207,836, and 15 women's sheds projects benefited and received funding to the value of €23,956. In 2021, under the same...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Greenways Provision (15 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) provides funding for the development of new outdoor recreational infrastructure and for the maintenance and promotion of existing infrastructure. In February 2020, Louth County Council was approved funding of €200,000 under ORIS to develop and enhance the Boyne Greenway. To date no funding has been drawn down on this project. ...