Results 741-760 of 1,441 for speaker:Ann Phelan

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: National Volunteering Strategy (3 Feb 2015)

Ann Phelan: As the Deputy will be aware my Department supports the community and voluntary sector in its contribution to an active, democratic and pluralist society. There is a particular focus on supporting communities that are vulnerable, disadvantaged or under threat through a suite of schemes. In relation to the specific issue concerned, my Department’s policy and strategy is to promote...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Seniors Alert Scheme (3 Feb 2015)

Ann Phelan: My Department manages the Seniors Alert Scheme which encourages community support for vulnerable older people in our communities by providing grant assistance towards the purchase and installation of personal monitored alarms to enable older persons, of limited means, to continue to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind. The scheme is administered by...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Arts Funding (3 Feb 2015)

Ann Phelan: My Department provides supports and funding to communities, urban and rural, which enables them to identify and address issues and priorities for action in their own areas. In this regard, communities regularly identify the arts and creative industries as priorities for action in their areas and indeed many projects of this nature have been funded under the current Leader elements of the...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Local Development Companies Funding (29 Jan 2015)

Ann Phelan: I refer to the reply to Question No. 1 of 28 January 2015 which sets out the position on this matter.

Topical Issue Debate: Tribunals of Inquiry Recommendations (28 Jan 2015)

Ann Phelan: The Deputy has raised an important matter. It gives me the opportunity to remind the House that the Tribunal of Inquiry into Certain Planning Matters and Payments, known as the Mahon tribunal, was, as the Deputy said, established in November 1997 to investigate allegations of corrupt payments to politicians in respect of planning permissions and land zonings in the Dublin area in the 1990s....

Topical Issue Debate: Tribunals of Inquiry Recommendations (28 Jan 2015)

Ann Phelan: It is expected that day-to-day operations of the tribunal will be finally concluded during 2015, and as I indicated earlier my Department was advised by the tribunal in May 2014 that the estimated final cost of the tribunal would be approximately €159 million, once all of the costs have been agreed and paid. This estimate was prepared in accordance with standard accounting practice...

Other Questions: Leader Programmes Administration (28 Jan 2015)

Ann Phelan: The Deputy is very familiar with the process of establishing Leader companies and the potential for a hiatus at various points in the development of the programme. I have gone through the process on a number of occasions, and I know that it always comes out very well in the end. My job is to expedite the rural development programme and I assure the Deputy that we had an extremely positive...

Other Questions: Leader Programmes Administration (28 Jan 2015)

Ann Phelan: The Deputy is entitled to believe what he wants. All I can do is reassure him that we will be rolling out the rural development programme at the earliest opportunity. Expressions of interest are imminent and the details will be announced shortly.

Other Questions: Leader Programmes Administration (28 Jan 2015)

Ann Phelan: My Department is currently working with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the European Commission to finalise the text of the rural development programme with a view to commencing the Leader local development strategy selection process in the coming weeks. The Leader local development strategy selection process will be open and transparent and will consist of two...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Local Development Companies Funding (28 Jan 2015)

Ann Phelan: My Department’s local and community development programme, LCDP, is the largest social inclusion intervention of its kind in the State. The current programme officially ended at the end of 2013, having operated for four years with funding of €281 million over that period. It is being implemented on a transitional basis for 2014 with a budget of €47 million pending the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Local Development Companies Funding (28 Jan 2015)

Ann Phelan: The Deputy's concerns and those of the islands have been taken on board. We are working together with the two Departments. I am precluded from saying anything while we are in the tendering process. I am sure the Deputy understands this. Once we are through the tendering process, timelines and funding will become apparent and I will then inform the Deputy.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Local Development Companies Funding (28 Jan 2015)

Ann Phelan: As the tendering process is taking place, I am precluded from saying anything specific. The Deputy's concerns and those of the islands have been taken on board. Along with the Minister of State, Deputy Joe McHugh, I am working through these concerns. When the tendering process is over - which will be very soon - I will then be in a position to let the Deputy have more detail.

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (28 Jan 2015)

Ann Phelan: My Department’s Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP) superseded the Local Development Social Inclusion and the Community Development Programmes in 2010. LCDP is the largest social inclusion intervention of its kind in the State. The current Programme officially ended at the end of 2013 having operated for four years with funding of €281 million over that period....

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (28 Jan 2015)

Ann Phelan: My Department’s Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP) is the largest social inclusion intervention of its kind in the State. The current Programme officially ended at the end of 2013 having operated for four years with funding of €281m over that period. It is being implemented on a transitional basis until March 2015, pending the roll out of the new Social Inclusion...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (28 Jan 2015)

Ann Phelan: Within the constraints of the prevailing budgetary situation, I have been particularly conscious of the need to prioritise funding for the Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP), until March next, and for its successor, the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), from April next. My aim is to ensure that resources are allocated in the fairest way possible and to...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (28 Jan 2015)

Ann Phelan: My Department’s Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP) is the largest social inclusion intervention of its kind in the State. The current Programme officially ended at the end of 2013 having operated for four years with funding of €281m over that period. It is being implemented on a transitional basis until March 2015, pending the roll out of the new Social Inclusion...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (28 Jan 2015)

Ann Phelan: My Department’s Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP) is the largest social inclusion intervention of its kind in the State. The current Programme officially ended at the end of 2013 having operated for four years with funding of €281 million over that period.  It is being implemented on a transitional basis until March 2015, pending the roll out of the new...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Rural Development Programme Funding (28 Jan 2015)

Ann Phelan: Funding for start-up enterprises and associated training was eligible under the LEADER element of the Rural Development Programme 2007 – 2013. However, that Programme is now fully committed. I expect that the 2014-2020 Rural Development Programme will commence during 2015 and projects involving enterprise development and job creation, if identified as a priority in the Local...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Proposed Legislation (27 Jan 2015)

Ann Phelan: I can advise the Deputy that where new legislation is proposed the current requirement is that a Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA), which includes a rural impact assessment, should be carried out to assess the likely effects of the proposed legislation. As I have been recently assigned to the role of Minister for Rural Affairs, I hope to examine the practical implementation of the rural...

Written Answers — Department of Environment, Community and Local Government: Appointments to State Boards (27 Jan 2015)

Ann Phelan: I am advised that three members of the current Western Development Commission Board were former Fine Gael Councillors and one Board Member was a former Labour Party candidate. All of the appointments to the current Western Development Commission Board were made in line with section 9(2) of the Western Development Commission Act 1998. Each of the Board members has significant experience in...