Results 1,441-1,460 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Legislative Measures (9 Jul 2024)

Heather Humphreys: My Department has responsibility for policy and legislation in relation to local authority burial grounds while the actual operation of burial grounds (cemeteries) is the responsibility of the local authorities. Under the Local Government (Sanitary Services) Acts, 1878 to 2001, local authorities are deemed to be burial boards for their respective functional areas. Acting in their capacity...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Road Projects (9 Jul 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 837 and 838 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. My Department reintroduced the scheme in 2017 after several years without dedicated funding. Between 2017...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Artificial Intelligence (9 Jul 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm that my Department has not used Chat GPT or any other artificial intelligence in draft Dáil speeches or replies to Parliamentary Questions. I would also note that my Departments ICT managed service is provided by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) and that the use of artificial intelligence resources is not currently supported under this service.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Equipment (9 Jul 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The Department of Rural and Community Development was established in 2017, and the table below details the information requested since then. My Department's ICT managed service is provided by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO). All IT and related equipment in use in the Department are supported by the OGCIO. Equipment issued to Department staff are encrypted...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (9 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 and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage jointly manage the policy. Amongst the initiatives supported by my...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Water Safety (9 Jul 2024)

Heather Humphreys: Water Safety Ireland (WSI) has statutory responsibility for the promotion of public awareness of water safety; advancement of education related to the prevention of accidents in water; instruction in water safety; and the establishment of national standards for lifeguards. In 2023, I launched WSI’s Strategic Development Plan 2023-2027. Goal 5, with its four corresponding...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (9 Jul 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The Programme for Government places a strong emphasis on balanced regional development through a range of measures. My own Department supports this commitment through targeted investment that supports rural regeneration, facilitates new working opportunities and fosters regional enterprise growth. The National Planning Framework, and the National Development Plan (NDP) 2021 – 2030...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (9 Jul 2024)

Heather Humphreys: My Department operates a range of programmes and schemes that support and assist urban and rural community groups throughout the country, benefiting individual communities as well as their broader regions and catchment areas. Groups and projects supported by my Department deliver on a range of objectives. Some groups and projects work to address societal issues such as isolation and...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Control of Dogs (9 Jul 2024)

Heather Humphreys: My Department has policy and legislative responsibility for the Control of Dogs Acts and the Dog Breeding Establishments Act. Government established a working group in early 2023 to examine the current issues surrounding dog control and to make recommendations for improvements in the field. The report of the working group is available on Gov.ie. I am pleased to advise that I have made...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (9 Jul 2024)

Heather Humphreys: My Department's CLÁR scheme is a targeted investment programme that provides funding for small scale infrastructural projects in rural areas that experience disadvantage and significant levels of de-population. The 2024 CLÁR programme was launched on the 12th April last. There are three separate measures being funded this year. The application deadline has now passed in respect...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (9 Jul 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 848 and 853 together. The Deputy will be aware that my Department provides support for many projects around the country through various schemes and programmes. While much of the funding is channelled via the Local Authorities, funding is also provided through other channels such as Local Development Companies, other state agencies and directly from the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Policies (9 Jul 2024)

Heather Humphreys: Our Rural Future was published in March 2021, with a five-year timeframe until 2025. It is the whole-of-government policy for sustainable rural development in Ireland, containing more than 170 commitments for delivery by government departments and their agencies. The measures outlined in the policy support short-term recovery, longer-term economic and social development, and...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: National Broadband Plan (9 Jul 2024)

Heather Humphreys: My colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, is responsible for the delivery of the National Broadband Plan (NBP). The NBP will be delivered through investment by commercial enterprises with intervention by the State where private companies have no plans to invest. To date, fibre roll-out in the State intervention area has passed 254,917 premises and 84,333...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Road Projects (9 Jul 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The Local Improvement Scheme supports the 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. The Scheme was reintroduced by my Department in 2017 following a number of years with no dedicated funding. Between 2017 and 2024 my Department has allocated...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (9 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. Since the launch of the scheme in 2016, funding of over €129 million has been awarded to 1,775 projects across the country. Over the last five years, funding...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Meetings (9 Jul 2024)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy will be aware, town centre regeneration is a core aspect of my work as Minister for Rural and Community Development, and the various schemes available within my Department are guided by the national Town Centre First policy which seeks to tackle vacancy and ensure our rural towns are vibrant and lived-in places. On 9 May 2024 I met with a delegation from North Tipperary...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Communications (9 Jul 2024)

Heather Humphreys: Given the remit of my Department, it does not operate any public helplines. Contact details, including the phone number for my Department, are available on it's website. The Department's switchboard is operated by a third party who refer calls to relevant areas of the Department. These calls are not recorded and it would not be intended to do so.

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Insurance (4 Jul 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The estimated full year revenue that would be generated by establishing a new employer PRSI rate of 19.75% on any salaries paid over €90,000 per year is approximately €1.35 billion. This estimate does not take into account any possible changes in employer or employee behaviour arising from changing the rate of employer PRSI contribution. I trust this clarifies the matter...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Insurance (4 Jul 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The estimated full year revenue that would be generated by increasing the 11.05% employer PRSI rate to 13.05% on salaries paid below €90,000 per year and retaining the current rate of 11.05% for those earning over €90,000 per year is approximately €1.62 billion. This estimate does not take into account any possible changes in employer or employee behaviour arising from...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Pension Provisions (4 Jul 2024)

Heather Humphreys: One of the qualifying criteria for the State Pension (Contributory) is a minimum of 520 reckonable social insurance contributions. For those who have a mixed record of reduced rate Class B or D contributions, in addition to full rate contributions (e.g. Class A, or Class S), a minimum of 260 (5 years) qualifying contributions paid at the full rate is required to access a mixed-rate State...