Results 10,181-10,200 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Interest Rates (14 Jun 2022)

Heather Humphreys: As regards the four agencies under my Department's remit, I have provided details below in respect of Pobal and the Western Development Commission (WDC). The Charities Regulator and Water Safety Ireland have not incurred any interest charges for savings on deposits in financial institutions since negative interest rates were introduced.   I am not in a position to respond in respect...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Staff (14 Jun 2022)

Heather Humphreys: My Department was established in July 2017 to provide a renewed and consolidated focus on rural and community development in Ireland.  I can confirm that since its establishment, no former Secretary General has been seconded from my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Sports Funding (14 Jun 2022)

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. Multi-Use Gaming Areas (MUGAs) and astro-turf facilities were eligible under Measure 1 of the CLÁR 2022 Programme. This measure is administered...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Animal Breeding (14 Jun 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 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: Library Services (14 Jun 2022)

Heather Humphreys: 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, progress on the works in Ballaghaderreen Library, and the timeline for completing the project is, first and foremost, a matter for Roscommon County Council.   ...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Library Services (14 Jun 2022)

Heather Humphreys: On 28 September 2020, my Department approved Small Scale Capital Works Programme funding of €40,000 for Roscommon County Council to support the upgrade of windows and flooring in the Strokestown Library. The plans also included a number of changes to the library layout along with the installation of new shelving and furniture to create more usable spaces in the main library and allow...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Sports Facilities (14 Jun 2022)

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. I launched this year's programme in February with a total budget of €7 million.  This represents an increase of €1.5 million on the budget for...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Programmes (14 Jun 2022)

Heather Humphreys: 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, progress on the works in Ballaghaderreen Library, and the timeline for completing the project are, first and foremost, a matter for Roscommon County...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (14 Jun 2022)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy will be aware, responsibility for the Islands transferred to this Department in 2020. The Government's objective is that sustainable, vibrant communities can continue to live on the country’s offshore islands. My Department recognises that for this to be achieved it is essential that investment is made in the maintenance and upgrading of island infrastructure. To this...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (14 Jun 2022)

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. I launched this year's programme in February with a total budget of €7 million.  This represents an increase of €1.5 million on the budget for...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (2 Jun 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Blind Pension is a means-tested payment for people aged 18 years to 66 years who are habitually residing in the State. One of the conditions for receipt of Blind Pension is that a person’s vision is impaired to such an extent that they cannot perform any work for which eyesight is essential or cannot continue in their ordinary occupation. The original ophthalmic report submitted was...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Radon Gas Levels (2 Jun 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Using the new radon map for workplaces issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the last 2 weeks, my Department has identified 50 offices as being located in high radon areas. In high radon areas, the EPA predicts that 10% or more of homes and other premises will exceed the national reference level for radon, 200 Becquerels per cubic metre. ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: School Meals Programme (2 Jun 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 292 and 293 together. The school meals programme provides funding towards the provision of food to some 1,506 schools and organisations benefitting 230,000 children.  The objective of the programme is to provide regular, nutritious food to children who are unable, due to lack of good quality food, to take full advantage of the education provided to...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Benefits (2 Jun 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Under the terms of the arrangements currently in place, a person who is absent from work on the grounds of having being diagnosed with Covid-19 may receive Enhanced Illness Benefit for a maximum period of 10 weeks subject to continued certification by their GP. If the  person remains out of work after the 10 week period they may be entitled...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Payments (2 Jun 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance scheme provides a once-off payment to eligible families to assist with the costs of clothing and footwear when children start or return to school each autumn.  The scheme operates from June to September each year. The allowance is payable in respect of eligible children between the ages of 4 and 17 in respect of whom a qualified...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Inspections (2 Jun 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 300 and 301 together. Social Welfare Inspectors are appointed under the provisions of Section 250(1) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 by “The Minister, or an officer authorised in that behalf by special or general directions of the Minister...” Under Section 250(2) of the Act “every Social Welfare Inspector shall...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Inspections (2 Jun 2022)

Heather Humphreys: As part of its efforts to prevent and detect social welfare fraud, the Department has always had a process of conducting reviews of claims in payment.  Cases for review of entitlement may be selected on a random or risk-based basis, or where specific information comes to the attention of the Department, for example, through inspection of employer records, inspections of places of...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Digital Hubs (2 Jun 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Our Rural Future, Ireland’s Rural Development Policy 2021-2025, recognises the opportunity for rural rejuvenation that remote working presents and commits to establishing a comprehensive and integrated network of remote working hubs over the lifetime of the policy to 2025. To date my Department has invested some €100m in the development of remote working facilities across a...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (2 Jun 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The LEADER Programme is one of the key interventions of Our Rural Future, the Government’s Policy for rural development launched last year. LEADER is administered by 29 Local Action Groups (LAGs) which deliver funding in accordance with Local Development Strategies that have been agreed for each LAG area. Each LAG has a defined funding allocation for the duration of the programme....

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Radon Gas Levels (2 Jun 2022)

Heather Humphreys: My Department occupies offices in Trinity Point, Dublin 2 and Government Buildings in Ballina, Co. Mayo.  The location of our offices in Ballina is in an area where radon tests are required for workplaces.  The building is in the ownership of the Office of Public Works (OPW) and is occupied by a number of Government Departments.  The OPW undertook radon mitigation works at...