Results 7,521-7,540 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

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

Heather Humphreys: As part of Our Rural Future, the Government is committed to ensuring that the Local Improvement Scheme is funded into the future. The scheme makes an important contribution to connectivity in rural Ireland. As I outlined earlier, the scheme was reintroduced in 2017 following a number of years with no dedicated funding. From 2017 to 2022, my Department has allocated over €100m to...

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

Heather Humphreys: The Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce was re-established in December 2021 with an inaugural meeting co-chaired by myself and Minister of State Ossian Smyth TD, involving participation from all key State stakeholders. In April 2022, we held a full meeting of the Taskforce with both State and Industry representatives. After this meeting the Terms of Reference and Work Programme for 2022-2023...

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

Heather Humphreys: The Government is fully aware of the challenges facing community and voluntary organisations at the moment and I was delighted to secure €20 million in funding under Budget 2023 to continue the Community Centres Investment Fund. The huge interest in this fund in 2022 shows how important community centres are for communities throughout Ireland. This Government is committed to...

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

Heather Humphreys: The Local Improvement Scheme, or 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 improving connectivity for rural...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Harbours and Piers (15 Dec 2022)

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 both developments. With regards to progress on the Inis Oírr...

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

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 26 and 54 together. A vital part of my Department's mission is to support the creation of vibrant and sustainable communities across this country. Budget 2023 provides a 4% increase in my Department’s allocation, which will deliver significant support for rural and community development next year. The increased budget provision for 2023 of over...

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

Heather Humphreys: The Department of Education has primary responsibility for the provision of funding for school facilities. While the range of schemes operated by my Department are not targeted at upgrading school buildings per se, there may be limited instances where projects located on school grounds may be supported. Such projects need to be fully open and accessible to local communities in order to be...

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

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. Calls for applications to the Fund are sought under two categories – Category 1 and Category 2. Category 1 relates to large scale ambitious capital projects with all necessary planning and other consents in place,...

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

Heather Humphreys: 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. Calls for applications to the Fund are sought under two categories – Category 1 and...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Island Communities (15 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy will be aware, the Government is committed to publishing a 10 year policy on island development with associated three year action plans. Indeed the Programme for Government includes a commitment in this regard and, as Minister with responsibility for the islands, I am determined to ensure the policy is delivered. The Deputy will be aware that an extensive consultation process...

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

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 (15 Dec 2022)

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: Departmental Schemes (15 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: My Department has provided a range of supports which both Men's and Women’s Sheds have availed of, depending on the works being completed. For example, in 2018 the Community Enhancement Programme provided capital funding for community groups which included €0.5m that was ring-fenced for Men's Sheds and again in 2019, €0.5m was ring-fenced under the programme for both...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Cross-Border Co-operation (15 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Our Rural Future is the national policy for the development of rural Ireland and guides the government’s approach to building vibrant and sustainable rural communities across the country, including in border regions. In this regard, my department meets with rural development counterparts in the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs via the North-South Rural Policy...

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

Heather Humphreys: Details of funding provided by my Department for Cavan and Monaghan in 2021 and 2022 to date, as requested by the Deputy, are set out below. Details of successful individual projects can be found on my Department’s website www.drcd.gov.ie. Scheme/Programme 2021 2022 Connected Hubs Cavan €236,016 Monaghan €354,925...

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

Heather Humphreys: No breed of dog is banned in Ireland. However, the relevant legislation in this area, the Control of Dogs Acts 1986 to 2014, sets out a range of requirements for all dog owners or any other person in charge of a dog. The Control of Dogs Regulations 1998, S.I. 442/1998 set out further requirements that owners of specific breeds of dogs, including strains or crosses of those breeds, have to...

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

Heather Humphreys: My Department provides a wide range of funding and supports for rural areas through the Local Authorities under schemes such as the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF), Town and Village Renewal Scheme, Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme and the Local Improvement Scheme. This targeted investment supports rural regeneration, facilitates new working opportunities, and fosters...

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

Heather Humphreys: Our Rural Future was published in March 2021 and is the most ambitious rural development policy for Ireland in decades. It contains more than 150 measures for delivery, for both short-term recovery and longer-term sustainable economic and social development, and environmental and cultural well-being. The vision of Our Rural Future is of a thriving and vibrant rural Ireland, with the key...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Road Projects (15 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Local Improvement Scheme, or 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 improving connectivity for rural...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Flexible Work Practices (15 Dec 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Our Rural Future, Ireland’s Rural Development Policy was launched in early 2021. The policy recognises the opportunity for rural rejuvenation that remote working presents and commits to establishing a comprehensive and integrated national network of 400 remote working hubs by 2025. In furtherance of this commitment, my Department’s focus to date has been on strategically...