Results 15,841-15,860 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Legal Cases (31 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm that there have not been any instances of litigation or the threat of litigation arising from the inclusion of social clauses in public procurement contracts, in each of the years 2017 to 2020, from my Department's perspective.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (31 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The third call for Category 1 applications to the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund closed on 1st December. My Department received 66 applications to this call and I understand that an application was received for the project referred to by the Deputy. The application process for the Fund is competitive in nature. Applications are currently being assessed under the oversight of the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Voluntary Sector (31 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1299 and 1300 together. Funding for the type of project referred to by the Deputy may be available through the LEADER Transitional Programme. This programme, which will cover the period 2021-2022, will come into effect on the 1April 2021 for new project applications. The programme will be delivered through Local Action Groups (LAGs) in each of the 28 LEADER...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Offshore Islands (31 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: My Department is currently working with Donegal County Council in relation to the developments that can be undertaken at Machaire Rabhartaigh Pier. These works will affect the type of boat that will be able to operate effectively to Tory Island. The Department will be in a better position to assess the situation regarding the provision of the new boat when there is more clarity in relation...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Greenways Provision (31 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I recently approved 14 projects for funding of €6 million of under Measure 3 of the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme. This Measure provides funding for the development of large-scale outdoor recreational infrastructure projects in rural Ireland. The recent approvals included €500,000 for works on the Burtonport to Letterkenny Greenway. This includes the upgrades to...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Communications (31 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Department of Rural and Community Developmentwas established on 19thJuly 2017 to provide a renewed and consolidated focus on rural and community development in Ireland. My Department and the organisations under the aegis of the Department are strongly committed to meeting their obligations under the Irish Sign Language Act 2017. I can confirm that the Department and the organisations...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Commencement of Legislation (31 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: My Department was established in July 2017. There are no Acts, signed into Law and falling under the remit of my Department which have not been commenced.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Expenditure (31 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: My Department procures all required goods, services and capital works in the context of national guidance, and national and EU requirements and regulations. Very limited capital works are procured directly, with our capital schemes and programmes generally delivered through local authorities and other bodies. Procurement of small goods and services, necessary for the day to day running of...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Communications (25 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I  can confirm that my Department and agencies/bodies under the aegis of my Department have dedicated contacts in place for members of the Houses of the Oireachtas. The Deputy will be aware that my Department provides members of the Oireachtas with a list of dedicated e-mail addresses for the various scheme areas in order to facilitate a rapid response to  specific...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Protected Disclosures (25 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table beneath.For completeness,information is provided for the period from 2014 to date. DSP - Submissions under protected Disclosure procedures Year Rec’d Accepted, Assessed & Finalised Comment 2014 1 0 2015 1 2 ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Protected Disclosures (25 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The information sought by the Deputy is set out in the table below.  Number of Submissions to DSP under Protected Disclosures From Officials within Department From Officials that made protected disclosures that are now not working in DSP* From Officials retired / left 2017 12 (2 officials) 11 (1 official) ...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Social Welfare Schemes (25 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The back to education allowance scheme (BTEA) provides people with a second chance education that will improve their prospects of securing employment.  It enables eligible people to pursue approved education courses and to continue to receive income support for the duration of a course of study, subject to meeting certain conditions.  The BTEA is not intended to provide a basis...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Back to Work Enterprise Allowance Scheme (25 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA) scheme offers support for people who are long-term unemployed and who are interested in self-employment as a route to entering the labour market.  The BTWEA is not an income support for individuals already in self-employment.  The scheme plays a vital role in supporting the development of new enterprises for the long term...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Child Maintenance Payments (25 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Government established a Child Maintenance Review Group to examine certain issues in relation to child maintenance in Ireland.  The Group is chaired by former Circuit Court Judge Catherine Murphy and includes legal, policy and academic professionals as well as officials from my Department and the Department of Justice. The Group's Terms of Reference are to consider and make...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Policy Functions (25 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: My Department develops its services for people with disabilities in conjunction with other Departments and agencies under a number of key national strategies and plans.  These include: National Disability Inclusion Strategy (2017 – 2021) The National Disability Inclusion Strategy (NDIS) is a coordinated and planned approach, across Government Departments, to promote greater...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Legislative Reviews (25 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: Since its enactment, the Civil Registration Act 2004 has been subject to regular revision and amendment, including mostly recently through the Social Welfare, Pensions and Civil Registration Act 2018 and the Civil Registration Act 2019.  My Department keeps the statutory provisions regarding civil registration under regular review and new proposals are brought forward to...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Remote Working (25 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 265 and 266 together. The facilities referred to by the Deputy form a network of Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) across the country.  Approximately 300 BCPs will be fully connected this year. BCPs provide on-site high-speed broadband access to the public in areas that currently do not have adequate broadband services. They are primarily based in remote...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Communications (25 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The table below provides the email addresses through which members of the Houses of the Oireachtas may contact my Department, and, as outlined in the circular 25/2016, the dedicated contact email addresses provided by the bodies under my Department's aegis. Agency Dedicated email addresses for members of the Houses of the Oireachtas...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Protected Disclosures (25 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 269 and 270 together. I can confirm that my Department has not received any protected disclosures since its establishment in 2017. A Protected Disclosures policy is in place and available to all staff in the Department and its agencies.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (25 Mar 2021)

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm that an application in respect of the project referred to by the Deputy was received by my Department under Measure 2 of the 2020 Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme, through Kerry Co. Council. The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme provides funding for the development of new outdoor recreational infrastructure and for the maintenance and promotion of...