Results 11,001-11,020 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Island Communities (5 Apr 2022)

Heather Humphreys: If you take away a service, you have a duty to put in a replacement. The council did not engage with us, but when it did, we got a solution. I recognise the work of Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan and Senator Lombard, who worked hard to find solutions. Regarding what I have done for the islands, there has been unprecedented investment in the islands. I was on Bere Island in the summer....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Island Communities (5 Apr 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I have visited a good few of the islands and I absolutely understand the concerns of the islanders. I have been there and listened to them.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Island Communities (5 Apr 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I saw the video about the concerns of the people on Dursey Island. We responded when an approach was made to us.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Policies (5 Apr 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy. When I was appointed Minister in this Government I made the decision that the Department of Rural and Community Development would be kept as a stand-alone Department. That is a strong signal of this Government's commitment to rural development. It is a great Department and I am proud to be part of it. On rural-proofing, we need to find the formula that works for rural...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Island Communities (5 Apr 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. The Government's objective is that sustainable and vibrant communities can continue to live on the country's offshore islands. For this to be achieved, it is essential that investment is made in the maintenance and upgrading of island infrastructure. To this end, I have increased the allocation available for capital works on the islands from...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Policies (5 Apr 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I thank Deputy Kerrane for raising this matter. Our Rural Future is the most ambitious and transformational policy for rural development in Ireland for decades. The policy contains more than 150 measures for delivery across the whole of government, with the underlying theme of economic, environmental and societal sustainability. The policy has a vision of ensuring vibrant and thriving...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Policies (5 Apr 2022)

Heather Humphreys: As I said, the development of rural-proofing is a key commitment in Our Rural Future. We expect the consultants' report in the coming weeks. I have not seen the draft but when I get the final report I will consider it carefully. I want to make sure we put an effective model in place. We do not want it to be a box-ticking exercise. We have looked at the practice in other jurisdictions and...

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business (5 Apr 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue and I commend the work of the Vincentian Partnership. We take on board many of its recommendations when compiling budgets. That is why in the most recent budget I was delighted to be able to introduce a broad range of measures to support carers. We increased the means threshold and the capital allowance. A great deal of work has been done in this...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Strategies (5 Apr 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Our Rural Future 2021-2025, is the most ambitious rural development policy for Ireland in decades, and contains more than 150 measures across the whole of Government, for both short-term recovery and longer-term development. Updates on its implementation are provided by a series of Progress Reports. In addition, annual work programmes are published, which will allow for priorities to be...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (5 Apr 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 77 and 81 together. As part of Our Rural Future, the Government is committed to ensuring that the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) is funded into the future. The LIS supports the improvement of rural roads and laneways that are not normally maintained by local authorities. The scheme makes an important contribution to connectivity in rural Ireland. The scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Offshore Islands (5 Apr 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. Work on the policy is underway and my Department has now completed bilateral meetings with all relevant Government Departments. These bilateral meetings have provided an opportunity for detailed discussion of the issues raised by island...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Regeneration Projects (5 Apr 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Government recently published Town Centre First - A Policy Approach for Irish Towns. This represents a whole of Government policy and aims to tackle vacancy, combat dereliction and breathe new life into our town centres. It contains 33 actions, which will give our towns the tools and resources required to become viable, vibrant and attractive places to live, work, and socialise. The...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Telecommunications Services (5 Apr 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 86 and 89 together. In December 2021, Minister of State Smyth and I reconvened the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce. We set out our priorities for the Taskforce in 2022 and beyond, and we made it clear that the new Taskforce will be expected to tackle some of the more complex and longer-term issues that are standing in the way of better mobile and...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Regeneration Projects (5 Apr 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The Government recently published Town Centre First - A Policy Approach for Irish Towns. This publication represents a major new policy that aims to tackle vacancy, combat dereliction and breathe new life into our town centres. The policy contains 33 actions which will give our towns the tools and resources they need to become more viable and attractive places in which to live, work,...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Budgets (5 Apr 2022)

Heather Humphreys: The allocated gross budget and actual gross expenditure for the Department is provided below in tabular format for each of the years since 2017. While the Department of Rural and Community Development was established in July 2017, the figures for 2017 reflect the full budget and expenditure for that year, for the functions transferred at that time. It is also worth noting that since the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (5 Apr 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Whole-of-government collaboration requires us all to work together across our organisations to develop better co-ordinated public services and policy which enables delivery of the Programme for Government. This is a key element not just of national policies, such as the National Planning Framework, but also in the achievement of sectoral strategies, for example the rural development policy,...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Foreshore Issues (5 Apr 2022)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy is aware, Galway County Council is the responsible authority for the maintenance and development of infrastructure on the Aran islands, including Céibh an Chóra in Inis Meáin. Galway County Council has been in contact with my Department and a meeting was held between officials from my Department and Galway County Council on 29 March 2022 to discuss various...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (5 Apr 2022)

Heather Humphreys: As part of Our Rural Future, the Government is committed to ensuring that the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) is funded into the future. The LIS supports the improvement of rural roads and laneways that are not normally maintained by local authorities. The scheme makes an important contribution to connectivity in rural Ireland. The Scheme was reintroduced in 2017 following a number of years...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (5 Apr 2022)

Heather Humphreys: As part of Our Rural Future, the Government is committed to ensuring that the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) is funded into the future. The LIS supports the improvement of rural roads and laneways that are not normally maintained by local authorities. The scheme makes an important contribution to connectivity in rural Ireland. I launched the 2021 scheme with an initial budget of €10.5...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Harbours and Piers (5 Apr 2022)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy is aware, Galway County Council is the responsible authority for the maintenance and development of 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 Consulting...