Results 1,441-1,460 of 15,365 for speaker:Dara Calleary

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

Dara Calleary: Yes.

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

Dara Calleary: I know from discussing this with officials about the Deputy's interest in this and I know my predecessor, the then Minister, Heather Humphreys, drove this. Certainly, on the basis of discussions I have had, I am not happy it has taken so long and I intend to sit on it and drive it on as well. The business case is expected to take around nine months. The work is under way but it is...

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

Dara Calleary: I thank Deputy Aird. As he said, there has been fantastic delivery in Laois through the community recognition fund, but that is coming from the communities themselves. Over €2 million was allocated across 2023 and 2024. There were 48 projects in 2023, 43 of which have been completed. Ninety-nine percent of the 2023 allocation has been drawn down. Under the fund for 2024,...

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

Dara Calleary: I am aware of the case. We have given feedback to Louth County Council on why the two applications could not proceed. However, the council has not lost any money as a consequence. It is important that it has been asked to submit alternative projects or further details on the proposed projects. The next project the Deputy mentioned, the community garden, is being assessed, and I will keep...

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

Dara Calleary: The town and village renewal scheme, which was introduced in 2016, has to date allocated over €177 million to almost 1,800 projects nationally. The scheme, which sees our local authorities work with community actors, primarily targets funding at rural towns and villages with populations of less than 10,000. I am delighted to announce that the 2025 scheme has been opened for...

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

Dara Calleary: I agree with the Deputy on that. There are powers available to local authorities under the Department of housing and local government and they should be used more. To assist in that regard, my Department has funded 26 town regeneration officers in local authorities. Their job is to drive the delivery of the town centre first programme, which entails a suite of supports for which we have...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Road Projects (27 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: I am not going to confirm anything at this stage. We have opened the scheme and are looking through the applications. One thing that worked in my Department under the previous Minister, Heather Humphreys, is that we allocated money to it from savings in the Department. The Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, and I have asked that this continue. I am engaging with the Minister for...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Road Projects (27 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: I note the Members' participation and the interest in the scheme. It was reintroduced in 2017. Base funding has increased year on year since 2021. Last year an additional €10 million in funding was secured. The Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, and I will be monitoring capital expenditure across the Department to utilise any savings and LIS is a priority for us. I have engaged...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Funding (27 Mar 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 €50 million in funding was approved for some 900 projects. To further support communities a further €50 million in funding was announced under community recognition last March. The...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Enterprise Sector (27 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Deputy need not worry; the Minister, Deputy Browne, has promised me a coffee down there any day. It sounds like a fabulous project. Those are the kinds of projects we want to see. They sound very much like community services projects which support 430 community-based organisations to provide local economic environmental services with 1,700 full-time posts and 340 manager posts,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Harbours and Piers (27 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: Mar is eol don Teachta, is le Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe an t-údarás maidir le cúrsaí forbartha na gcalaí ar na hOileáin Árann, Inis Oírr ina measc. As the Deputy knows, there are regular meetings between officials from my Department and Galway County Council to discuss and monitor pier development on the islands. The last meeting was held on...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Harbours and Piers (27 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: Níl na sonraí sin agam inniu, ach déarfaidh mé léi má tá siad ann. Ní cheapaim go bhfuil siad ann ag an bpointe seo, mar nílimid ach ag dul go dtí an tender stage. Beidh sé sin mar chuid den tender. Ach táim ag iarraidh go mbeidh-----

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Harbours and Piers (27 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: Are we talking about Inis Oírr?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Harbours and Piers (27 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: Tá sé agam anseo go bhfuaireamar the tender report on Monday. Ní fhaca mé céard a leagadh amach ar Tuairisc, ach táimid ag iarraidh é seo a dhéanamh chomh luath agus is féidir. Dúirt mé le hoifigigh mo Roinne, nuair a phléifear an cheist seo, go gcaithfear é a dhéanamh go cúramach ach go sciobtha mar táimid ag...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Harbours and Piers (27 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: Gan dabht. Tá sé tábhachtach go mbeidh Gaeilge ag aon duine atá ag obair ar an togra seo agus go mbeidh siad ag fanacht ar an oileán.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Road Projects (27 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: The local improvement scheme supports improving non-public rural roads and laneways not usually maintained by local authorities. Since its re-establishment in 2017, almost €170 million has been provided by the Government to local authorities under the scheme. In recent years, my Department has increased the year-on-year base funding for the scheme and has redirected savings from...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Enterprise Sector (27 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: I thank the Deputy. Having just transferred from the Department of enterprise, I understand the rationale for his question. The Department of Rural and Community Development has had policy responsibility for social enterprise since the Department was established in 2017. Trading for Impact: National Social Enterprise Policy 2024-2027 was launched in July 2024. This policy was the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Social Enterprise Sector (27 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: The Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, and I look forward to working with the Local Development Companies Network, which has just rebranded. This will be a key area of focus. The Deputy touched on the issue of management capability. People have really good ideas but, unfortunately, the execution of this can often be a challenge and can often intimidate people from taking the step. I...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Policies (27 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: I am anxious to get the views of younger people in rural areas. Part of the consultation will be specifically focused on them and getting them to engage with the review. Housing is a major issue. Táimid ag plé cúrsaí tithíochta i gcomhthéacs cúrsaí Gaeltachta freisin ach ní fadhb Ghaeltachta amháin í. Is fadhb í i ngach ceantar...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Departmental Policies (27 Mar 2025)

Dara Calleary: We agree on a lot. I also point out that, as the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, has just said, the RRDF is helping in terms of building community revitalisation to assist in housing as well. We announced 30 RRDF projects last year, worth €164 million. A total of €20 million was spent under the town and village renewal scheme. That window is open again this year. We are...