Results 1,421-1,440 of 15,365 for speaker:Dara Calleary

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Data (1 Apr 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Community Centre Investment Fund has provided in excess of €109 million since 2022 for the enhancement and refurbishment of existing community centres and the construction of new centres. Earlier this month under the 2024 fund, I was delighted to announce over €26 million for 369 community centres under Category 2, which provides funding of up to €100,00. This...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Data (1 Apr 2025)

Dara Calleary: 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. To further support communities, a further €50 million in funding was announced under the Community Recognition Fund in March...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (1 Apr 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) supports improving non-public rural roads and laneways not usually maintained by local authorities. Since its establishment in 2017, almost €170 million has been provided by the Government to local authorities for LIS. Given LIS is intended to support the upkeep of rural roads, Cork City Council does not form part of the scheme. In April 2024,...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (1 Apr 2025)

Dara Calleary: My Department’s Walks Scheme provides funding to private landholders (participants) who maintain, develop and repair the portion of the trail that traverses their land. The scheme is administered by 22 Local Development Companies (LDCs) and not by local authorities. In Cork, the scheme is administered by IRD Duhallow, Comhar na nOileán and West Cork Development Partnership. ...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Men's Sheds (1 Apr 2025)

Dara Calleary: My Department provides a number of supports, which can be accessed by Men's Sheds. These supports include -The €7 million Local Enhancement Programme 2025 which allowed Men's Sheds to apply for running costs as well as small capital works for their facilities.The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme 2024 - 2028, which also provides supports to Men's Sheds.The LEADER...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Emergency Services (1 Apr 2025)

Dara Calleary: I want to acknowledge the great work and service provided by the organisation referenced by the Deputy. My Department has provided support to the organisation through the dedicated CLÁR measure which supports Mobility, Cancer Care, Community First Responders and Meals on Wheels Transport services. Under the CLÁR programme, my Department approved funding of €195,000 in 2023...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (1 Apr 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Community Centre Investment Fund has provided in excess of €109 million since 2022 for the enhancement and refurbishment of existing community centres and the construction of new centres. Over €33 million has now been approved for in excess of 770 projects nationwide under the 2024 fund. However, given the very significant level of demand, not all applications were...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Irish Sign Language (1 Apr 2025)

Dara Calleary: I refer the Deputy to PQ 906 of 25th March 2025 which also provided this information. For the period in question, 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024, 100% of videos posted on my Department’s social media accounts included closed captioning/subtitling with a view to making these more accessible. None of the videos included Irish sign language (ISL) translations. There are four...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (1 Apr 2025)

Dara Calleary: My Department operates a variety of funding schemes aimed at the economic and social development of rural areas, and wider community development of both rural and urban areas. These schemes do not, however, contain a specific focus on support for the establishment of community hotels. Details of these schemes, together with the activities they support and any relevant eligibility criteria...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (1 Apr 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Community Centre Investment Fund has provided in excess of €109 million since 2022 for the enhancement and refurbishment of existing community centres and the construction of new centres. Over €33 million has now been approved for in excess of 770 projects nationwide under the 2024 fund. However, given the very significant level of demand, not all applications were...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Community Development Projects (1 Apr 2025)

Dara Calleary: My Department provides funding to the organisation referred to by the Deputy, under the Community Services Programme (CSP), which currently supports over 430 community-based organisations to provide local services through a social enterprise model. The CSP Programme provides an annual co-funding contribution towards each full-time equivalent (FTE) position being supported and, where...

Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner's Pension) Bill 2025: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: I thank the Ceann Comhairle. I did not think we would finish this quickly. I thank Deputy McAuliffe and all Deputies who gave me good wishes today. I have listened with interest to all of the contributions. We have taken notes. For Deputies who raised individual cases, I ask them to send me specific details and we will try to action them in as far as we can. It is clear that there is...

Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner's Pension) Bill 2025: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: He normally does not need it.

Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner's Pension) Bill 2025: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: He has four of them on now.

Social Welfare (Bereaved Partner's Pension) Bill 2025: Second Stage (Resumed) (27 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: I will continue from where I finished yesterday evening by going through the Bill section by section. Section 1 provides for the Short Title, construction and commencement. Section 2 provides for the definition of the 2005 Act as the Principal Act. Section 3 provides for the insertion of two new definitions into section 2 of the 2005 Act, namely “qualified cohabitant” and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Men's Sheds (27 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: Deputy Healy raised this issue with me last week. There is no issue. We have provided funding over recent years. We wanted to provide funding last year but were unable to find a mechanism to do so. The Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, and I will have a meeting with the Irish Men's Sheds Association. In the meantime, I refer the Deputy to the local enhancement programme. There was...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Gaeltacht Policy (27 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: I do intend to go to Inis Meáin at some stage to see for myself, not just on the pier issue but on all island issues. The Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, and I will be working collectively as regards the islands. I understand a number of marine assessments and studies have been undertaken on the island over the past few years, including bathymetric surveys and a marine simulation...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Men's Sheds (27 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: I thank the Deputy for his question about men's sheds. I absolutely agree that men's sheds have been a very positive development for communities across Ireland. They provide a safe, comfortable and inclusive environment where people can share skills, work on meaningful projects and connect with their communities. I am absolutely committed to supporting the work of men's sheds. The...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Schemes (27 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: Anything to do with town centre refurbishment and regeneration should be done on a cross-government basis. Under town and village renewal and under the building or land acquisition measure, there might be potential for Kerry County Council to look at doing something if that plan continues. We are absolutely committed to town centre first and getting plans in place to identify this kind of...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Gaeltacht Policy (27 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: I will definitely come back to the Deputy later. It will not be before the end of this time but I will clarify that because I have had a number of conversations with officials around pier development while preparing for questions and I have asked for more information on all of them. In relation to cúrsaí sa Chaladh Mór ar Inis Meáin, mar a dúirt mé leis an...