Results 10,241-10,260 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Schemes (31 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I know exactly what the Deputy is talking about. When I was being reared on a farm, I lived on a lane that was a mile long. I know all about potholes on a lane. We had to swerve the bikes to get past them. I also know about septic tanks because I have a well and a septic tank.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Schemes (31 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The LIS was always funded by the Department of Transport. In fairness, my predecessor, Deputy Ring, brought the scheme back and I have continued it. We doubled the funding for LIS last year and increased the funding available in the budget for 2022. My county is the same as the Deputy's; it is rural and it has lots of roads but I have to cut my cloth to measure and divide up the pot we...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Schemes (31 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: 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 the scheme is funded into the future. The LIS was reintroduced in 2017 following a number of years with no dedicated funding in place. The scheme is administered locally by the...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Programmes (31 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The indicative budget of €180 million has been announced for the LEADER programme for the period 2023 to 2027. When taken together with the €70 million for 2021 and 2022 under the transition LEADER programme, a total of €250 million will be made available for the 2021 to 2027 period, thus maintaining the level of funding provided in the period 2014 to 2020. ...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Programmes (31 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Commission is talking specifically about CAP. We have all the other schemes the Government is putting money into to support rural Ireland, which is what the Commission wants to see also. It wants to see the governments are putting investment in. We have the rural regeneration and development fund, from which the sum of €347 million has been allocated to 164 projects since...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Broadband Infrastructure (31 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Yes, we are sharing.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Programmes (31 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. The LEADER programme is a key intervention of Our Rural Future, the Government's policy for rural development launched last year, which aims to deliver a range of actions to rural communities over the lifetime of the policy. Some €250 million has been made available for LEADER for the period 2021 to 2027. This comprises €70...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Official Engagements (31 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: My Department's Statement of Strategy sets out the vision, mission and strategic goals that will guide the work of my Department for the period 2021 to 2023. My Department’s mission is "to promote rural and community development and to support vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities throughout Ireland". The programme of work outlined under the strategy provides a roadmap for my...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Policies (31 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 25 together. My Department's 2022 budget allocation of €379 million supports rural and community development, including through investment in infrastructure and initiatives assisting the retention and attraction of jobs throughout the regions. The Programme for Government places a strong emphasis on balanced regional development. ...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (31 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 16, 19 and 28 together. 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 Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) is funded into the future. The scheme makes an important contribution to...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (31 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The development of rural areas and the provision of supports for our communities, both urban and rural, are priorities for Government. This has been clearly demonstrated through ambitious policies such as 'Our Rural Future' and through the increased funding delivered through my Department since its establishment.   As the Deputy is aware, my Department was established in 2017....

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Broadband Infrastructure (31 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Public BCP (Broadband Connection Point) programme is progressing well with 273 sites officially live and approximately 27 more to be declared live in the coming months. Sites are being completed almost every week and it is expected that around 300 sites will be live by the end of 2022. My Department works closely with Local Authority Broadband Officers,...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Flexible Work Practices (31 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 and 49 together. Our Rural Future places significant emphasis on remote working as a game changer for rural Ireland. As the Deputies will agree, remote working supports communities, local economies and families to thrive. It also allows many employers to hire the most talented workers, wherever they may happen to live. My Department has invested some...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Library Projects (31 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The delivery of public library services is a matter for each local authority in accordance with the Local Government Act, 2001. My department provides capital funding to supplement investment by local authorities in the public library service. Funding is provided as a contribution towards the cost of developing library buildings, ICT infrastructure, the provision of sensory facilities...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Flexible Work Practices (31 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Our Rural Future, Ireland’s Rural Development Policy 2021-2025, recognises the potential of remote working hubs as key economic assets for our rural towns and villages. Notwithstanding the clear benefits to individuals and families in terms of quality of life indicators, remote working from hubs will also support local economies, reduce carbon emissions and may arrest or reverse the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (31 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: 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 Scheme is funded into the future. LIS was reintroduced in 2017 following a number of years with no dedicated funding in place. The Scheme is administered...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Policies (31 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: My Department's mission is “to promote rural and community development and to support vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities throughout Ireland".  A key part of achieving this mission is ensuring that those most in need are able to access services and supports, and that we deliver outcomes that positively impact the quality of life of those living and working in our...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Harbours and Piers (31 May 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.  The development of the pier on Inis Oírr is listed amongst the strategic objectives set out in Project Ireland 2040.  A steering committee consisting of representatives from my Department, Galway County Council and the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Regional Development (31 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Our Rural Future – Rural Development Policy 2021-2025 is the most ambitious rural development policy for Ireland in decades. It was published in March 2021 and contained 152 measures for delivery across the whole of Government.  Delivery of Our Rural Future is monitored and implemented through a series of Work Programmes and Progress Reports.  The First Progress Report...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: State Bodies (31 May 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Charities Regulator is fully independent in the performance of its statutory functions. The Regulator has a budget of €4.6 million in 2022, of which €2.8m is in respect of pay.  The Regulator is currently operating with a full staff complement of 48.  The administration of the Regulator, including the personnel structure, is a matter for the Board and...