Results 11,021-11,040 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

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

Heather Humphreys: My Department recently published opening and closing dates, which are decided upon for DRCD investment programmes for 2022, at the following link assets.gov.ie/218465/a39f6b0f-38ef-4917-8c1a-4e17e4a3c676.pd f. In addition: - The proposed PEACE PLUS Programme 2021-2027 is awaiting approval by the EU Commission.It is anticipated that the programme will be launched during 2022 and managed by...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (5 Apr 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. An indicative budget of €180 million is allocated for the LEADER programme for the period 2023-2027. With the €70 million already provided for 2021 and 2022 under the Transitional LEADER Programme, a total of €250 million...

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

Heather Humphreys: My Department provides a wide range of investment programmes to support the development of rural areas, including through the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, the LEADER Programme, the Town & Village Renewal Scheme, the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme and the CLÁR programme. I would encourage potential applicants to engage with their local authority or LEADER...

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

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 101, 958 and 964 together. The National Hub Network currently comprises 223 remote and co-working facilities across the State. These facilities have been onboarded to connectedhubs.ie, the shared online platform that handles bookings and payments for member hubs and their users. It is expected that, in time, the National Hub Network and the...

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

Heather Humphreys: My Department has, for some time, been examining how best to introduce a scheme to indemnify private land owners in upland areas who allow access to their lands for recreational purposes. This is a complex issue and my Department has been advised that an indemnity scheme such as has been proposed would require legislative provision and that a number of separate pieces of legislation might...

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

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 104 and 962 together. Our Rural Future, the Government's Rural Development Policy, clearly recognises the transformative effect that remote working can have for employers and employees all across the country. In recognition of this, my Department continues to invest heavily in the establishment and development of remote work hub facilities through various...

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

Heather Humphreys: While my Department has not been directly engaged with the drafting of the report referred to, my officials have been active in this space for several years. The Smart Villages concept is primarily about rural communities making best use of both technology and social innovation to respond to ongoing and emerging challenges. In a recent briefing issued by the Commission, one of the barriers...

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

Heather Humphreys: My Department currently provides a number of funding streams which can be used for the improvement and development of Community Centres throughout the country. The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) provides funding for the development and construction of large scale capital projects in towns and villages and rural areas across Ireland. I announced the fourth call for Category...

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

Heather Humphreys: My Department provides a wide range of investment programmes to support the development of rural areas, including through the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, the LEADER Programme, the Town & Village Renewal Scheme, the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme and the CLÁR programme. I would encourage potential applicants to engage with their local authority or LEADER...

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 Policies (5 Apr 2022)

Heather Humphreys: Our Rural Future 2021-2025 is the most ambitious rural development policy for Ireland in decades. It was published in March 2021 and contains more than 150 measures across the whole of Government, for both short-term recovery and longer-term development. Updates on the implementation of the five-year policy will be provided by a series of Progress Reports. Annual work programmes will also be...

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

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 112 and 963 together. 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. The policy is underpinned by significant levels of public investment spread across major Government schemes such...

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

Heather Humphreys: The LEADER programme is a key intervention implemented by my Department, which will help to underpin the Government's rural development goals as outlined in Our Rural Future. I announced details last year of a €70 million Transitional LEADER Programme which came into effect in April 2021 and will cover the period 2021-2022. €65 million of this budget has been allocated to...

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

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 114 and 128 together. 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 the bilateral meetings with all relevant Government Departments. These bilateral meetings have provided an opportunity...

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. It 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, socialise 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 publications represents a major new policy that 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 they need to become more viable and attractive places in which to live, work, socialise and...

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

Heather Humphreys: 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 end, I have increased the allocation available for capital works on the islands from €2.64m in...

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

Heather Humphreys: The Department of Rural and Community Developmentwas established on 19thJuly 2017 to provide a renewed and consolidated focus on rural and community development in Ireland. I can confirm that the number of staff employed by my Department between 2017 and 2022 is as follows. Year Number of Staff (At year end) 2017 123 2018 151...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Refugee Resettlement Programme (5 Apr 2022)

Heather Humphreys: I have witnessed first-hand the great work being done by the community and voluntary sector to welcome new arrivals from the Ukraine. One local development company has welcomed over 200 families and provided them with services such as English language classes, translation services, access to computers, and assistance with setting up bank accounts. Building on structures developed during...