Results 1,321-1,340 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Code (23 Jul 2024)

Heather Humphreys: Maternity Benefit is payable for 26 weeks and Paternity Benefit is payable for two weeks. Currently seven weeks of Parent's Benefit is available for each eligible parent but, as a result of measures in Budget 2024, this will increase to nine weeks per parent from 1 August. Maternity Benefit, Parent's Benefit and Paternity Benefit are paid at €274 per week. The estimated full year...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (23 Jul 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) supports improving rural roads and laneways not usually maintained by local authorities. As part of Our Rural Future, the government is committed to ensuring that the LIS is funded in the future. While my Department funds the scheme, local authorities are responsible for the administration of the scheme. They are also responsible for the selection and...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (23 Jul 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The Community Recognition Fund was first introduced in 2023 to recognise the huge efforts made by communities in welcoming and supporting people coming to Ireland. Through the 2023 allocation, funding of €50 million was approved for some 900 projects in providing support to cities, towns and villages nationwide who have welcomed people from Ukraine and other countries. To further...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (23 Jul 2024)

Heather Humphreys: My Department does not currently operate any funding schemes that would specifically focus on the construction of new public horse stables as set out by the Deputy. While the LEADER programme could be considered a possible avenue for this type of activity, the project must be undertaken within an area supported by the 2023 - 2027 LEADER programme, that is, all parts of Ireland with the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Legal Cases (23 Jul 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm to the Deputy that no legal cases have been taken by my Department or by any of the State agencies under the aegis of my Department against another Department, Government agency or State body over the past five years.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (23 Jul 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 2663 and 2664 together. The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) provides funding for the development and enhancement of outdoor recreational infrastructure such as walking trails, cycleways, water-based recreation sites and mountain trails. Since the launch of the scheme in 2016, funding of over €129 million has been awarded to 1,775...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Control of Dogs (23 Jul 2024)

Heather Humphreys: Last November I was delighted to announce the establishment of a €2 million capital fund under a new Dog Control Support Initiative. Under this initiative, funding was provided to Local Authorities to upgrade their dog pounds and shelter facilities, and to move towards cleaner, electric vehicles for dog wardens. It comes in response to the need to support Local Authority Dog Control...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Control of Dogs (23 Jul 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The Department of Rural and Community Development has overall policy responsibility for the Control of Dogs Acts 1986 to 2014. Local Authorities have responsibility for all operational matters under the Control of Dogs Acts including licensing and enforcement. My Department publishes annual statistics in respect of a range of the dog control responsibilities of local authorities. Information...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (23 Jul 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) provides funding for the development and enhancement of outdoor recreational infrastructure such as walking trails, cycleways, water-based recreation sites and mountain trails. The table below outlines the details of funding drawn down for projects in County Kildare since the beginning of 2021. While 13 projects have been approved in...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Men's Sheds (23 Jul 2024)

Heather Humphreys: My Department provides a range of supports which are available to Men's and Women’s Sheds. Since 2018, under the Community Enhancement Programme (CEP), over 1,300 Men’s Shed projects have received funding of over €2.3 million, and over 200 Women’s Shed projects received over €310,000 in funding. I was delighted to launch the Local Enhancement Programme...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (23 Jul 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The Local Improvement Scheme, or LIS, supports improving rural roads and laneways that are not usually maintained by local authorities. As part of Our Rural Future, the government is committed to ensuring that the LIS is funded in the future. The scheme contributes to connectivity, an essential issue for rural Ireland, whether it be access to homes, farms or outdoor amenities. I recognise the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Control of Dogs (23 Jul 2024)

Heather Humphreys: Rehoming dogs which are on the restricted breeds list can be very challenging and it is important that public safety is the number one priority at all times. Section 16 of the Control of Dogs Act, 1986, as amended, which sets out the powers of the dog warden to seize a stray or accept a surrendered dog, also permits the destruction of the dog by a local authority. Any queries regarding an...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Control of Dogs (23 Jul 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The Department of Rural and Community Development has overall policy responsibility for the Control of Dogs Acts 1986 to 2014. Local Authorities have responsibility for all operational matters under the Control of Dogs Acts including enforcement matters. Government established a working group in early 2023 to examine the current issues surrounding dog control and to make recommendations for...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Invasive Species Policy (23 Jul 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage have primary responsibility in relation to issues with invasive species with support from the Local Authorities and the National Parks and Wildlife Service through the 4th National Biodiversity Action Plan 2023-2030. The Heritage Council and the National Biodiversity Data Centre (NBDC) also provide resource material, data and advice on...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (23 Jul 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS) is one of a number of measures designed to rejuvenate rural towns and villages throughout Ireland. Since its launch in 2016, over €177 million has been allocated to almost 1,800 projects supporting towns and villages across the country. In April, I was delighted to announce that my Department is supporting 82 projects with funding of...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (23 Jul 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The CLáR programme provides targeted investment for small scale infrastructural projects in defined rural areas. Since 2020, over 70 projects have been approved in county Galway with almost €3 million in funding. The following table lists the projects approved in Galway since 2020. My Department does not capture municipal district details as part of the application process,...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (23 Jul 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) provides funding for the development and construction of capital projects in towns, villages and rural areas across Ireland. Calls for applications to the Fund are sought under two categories – Category 1 and Category 2. Category 1 relates to large scale ambitious capital projects with all necessary planning and other consents in...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (23 Jul 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The LEADER Programme is a key intervention of Our Rural Future, the Government’s Policy for rural development, which aims to deliver a range of actions to rural communities over the lifetime of the policy. It supports a broad range of activities that aim to respond to the diversity of the local needs of our rural areas. From 2020 to 31 December 2023, 275 projects with a value of over...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (23 Jul 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The Local Improvement Scheme supports the improvement of rural roads and laneways that are not normally maintained by local authorities. The Scheme was reintroduced by my Department in 2017 following a number of years with no dedicated funding. Since 2017 my Department has allocated almost €170 million to local authorities under the Scheme. I recently announced over €40 million...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Capital Expenditure Programme (23 Jul 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I have put in place an integrated programme of capital funding supports for the development of infrastructure in rural areas and for the development of community facilities right across the country as outlined below. I would encourage interested parties to keep up-to-date with scheme announcements and details on my Department's website, . RRDF The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund...