Results 1,341-1,360 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

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

Heather Humphreys: My Department operates a range of capital schemes, many with a rural development focus, and others supporting both rural and urban areas in terms of community development. The table below details approvals made by my Department for Cavan and Monaghan, in 2023 and 2024 to date, under our key capital schemes. This represents an unprecedented level of capital investment in rural and community...

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

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 2683 to 2685, inclusive, together. 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...

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

Heather Humphreys: I announced the ban on XL Bullies in the interest of public safety following a number of horrific attacks. I am bringing in regulations to ban the breeding, sale, rehoming and import of XL Bully dogs from 1st October 2024. These new regulations will ensure that, from October, nobody in the State can take ownership of these dangerous dogs and that it will be illegal to breed, sell, import,...

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

Heather Humphreys: The Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS), introduced in 2016, is one of several measures designed to rejuvenate Ireland's towns and villages. Since the scheme's launch, over €177 million has been allocated to almost 1,800 projects across Ireland. In line with the commitment in Our Rural Future, TVRS priorities are reviewed at the end of each scheme year to ensure that funding is...

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

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 2690 and 2691 together. The development and enhancement of community centres across the country has been a priority for me and this Government. Accordingly my Department has put in place an integrated suite of schemes whereby financial support is available for community centres. My Department does not collate data in relation to, for example, the number of...

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

Heather Humphreys: Wicklow County Council currently provides public library services in 13 branches and it also operates a Mobile Library service that serves 32 areas in the county on a fortnightly basis. The new Public Library Strategy, 'The Library is the Place', was published in July 2023 and it contains a commitment to develop a new Libraries Capital Programme that will ensure that our libraries continue...

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

Heather Humphreys: As part of Our Rural Future, the Government is committed to ensuring that the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) is funded in the future. This reflects the important contribution that the scheme makes to connectivity in rural Ireland. My Department reintroduced the scheme in 2017 after a number of years without dedicated funding. Since then, my Department has allocated almost €170 million...

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

Heather Humphreys: A request to cover the administrative costs of the trail management organisation referred to by the Deputy was received by my Department previously through the local Rural Recreation Officer. While my Department does not fund the ongoing administration costs of trail management organisations, it does provide a range of funding to support their work. In addition, my officials will continue to...

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

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 2695, 2697 and 2698 together. As the Deputy is aware, Galway County Council is the responsible authority for the maintenance and development of pier infrastructure on the Aran Islands, including on Inis Oírr and Inis Meáin. There are regular meetings between officials from my department and Galway County Council to discuss and monitor the pier...

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

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy is aware, the land on which the Inishbofin airstrip is located is currently owned by Galway County Council. These lands were acquired by way of a Compulsory Purchase Order by Galway County Council on behalf of the Department. Part of the site is intended for use by the HSE for a primary care centre. As recently advised, the Chief State Solicitors Office is acting on behalf of my...

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

Heather Humphreys: My Department has policy and legislative responsibility for the Control of Dogs Acts and the Dog Breeding Establishments Act. In March 2024 I announced the establishment of a high level stakeholder group to consider and make recommendations to strengthen policy in relation these issues. The group is independently chaired by retired Deputy Garda Commissioner Mr John Twomey and is comprised of...

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

Heather Humphreys: As part of Our Rural Future, the government is committed to ensuring that the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) is funded in the future. This reflects the vital contribution that the scheme makes to connectivity in rural Ireland. The scheme was reintroduced by my department in 2017, following several years of no dedicated funding. Between 2017 and 2024, my department allocated almost €170...

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

Heather Humphreys: The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) is a key capital investment scheme which directly supports the objectives of Our Rural Future and the Town Centre First policy. The RRDF provides funding for the development and construction of large scale capital projects in towns, villages and rural areas across Ireland. Since 2020, RRDF funding of €421 million has been approved for...

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

Heather Humphreys: My Department provides funding to Bandon and other towns, villages and rural areas through a range of investment measures such as the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF), the Town & Village Renewal Scheme, LEADER, the CLAR Programme, the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme, the Community Recognition Fund and the Community Centre Investment Fund. For example, the RRDF...

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

Heather Humphreys: The Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS) was introduced in 2016 and is one of a number of measures designed to rejuvenate rural towns and villages throughout Ireland. Since the launch of the scheme over €177 million has been allocated to almost 1,800 projects. The Scheme is primarily targeted at towns and villages with a population of 10,000 or less. In line with the policy...

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

Heather Humphreys: Launched in 2022, the Town Centre First (TCF) Policy is a major cross-government policy that aims to tackle vacancy, combat dereliction and breathe new life into our town centres. It supports the Our Rural Future vision for a thriving rural Ireland. My Department's key capital investment schemes such as the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) and the Town and Village Renewal Scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (11 Jul 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 463 and 464 together. The CLÁR Programme provides funding under a number of different measures for small-scale infrastructural projects in designated rural areas. Maps showing the areas of Meath and Westmeath which are designated for CLÁR are available on my Department’s website, along with a document listing all the CLÁR DEDs per...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Capital Expenditure Programme (11 Jul 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 465 and 466 together. 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 LIS is funded into the future. I have attached, as requested a breakdown of allocations versus actual spend per county from 2018 - 2023....

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Road Projects (11 Jul 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 467 and 469 together. 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 into the future. While my department provides funding for the scheme, it is administered by each local authority, who...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Road Projects (11 Jul 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The Local Improvement Scheme (LIS), funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development, helps local authorities improve small roads and laneways in rural areas not normally maintained by local authorities. Eligible road projects are those that involve the construction or improvement of non-public roads as follows: to parcels of land, of which two or more are owned or occupied by...