Results 17,321-17,340 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: CLÁR Programme (10 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The 2020 CLÁR programme was launched in May 2020 with applications invited under three separate Measures: Measure1: Support for Schools/Community Safety Measures Measure 2: Community Recreation Areas (new for 2020) Measure 3: Community Wellbeing Support (a) Meals on Wheels and linked services (new in 2020) (b) Mobility and Cancer Care Transport, I announced the successful projects under...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (10 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: An application in respect of the project referred to by the Deputy was received by my Department under Measure 2 of the 2020 CLÁR programme. The programme was launched in May 2020 with applications invited under three separate Measures: Measure1: Support for Schools/Community Safety Measures Measure 2: Community Recreation Areas (new for 2020) Measure 3: Community Wellbeing Support (a)...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (10 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I can confirm that an application in respect of the project referred to by the Deputy has been received by my Department under Measure 1 of the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme 2020. The assessment of applications received under Measure 1 of the Scheme, including the one referred to by the Deputy, is currently underway. I expect to be in a position to announce the successful...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Staff (10 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Department of Rural and Community Development was established in July 2017. Data on employees recruited since the establishment of the Department , at the grades of principal officer, assistant principal officer, higher executive officer, executive officer and clerical officer are set out for each year from 2017, in the tables below. Table A, employee numbers in each grade at year end in...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (5 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Legislation is required and I know the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Deputy O'Gorman, is progressing that as quickly as he can. My Department will process the payment as quickly as possible. It is important to say that the more than 6,000 officials in the Department of Social Protection are working flat out. They have processed something in the region...

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (5 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: We have had a good deal of engagement with Aer Lingus on this issue. There is ongoing work and engagement but I will obviously follow up on the matter again with my officials.

Ceisteanna ar Reachtaíocht a Gealladh - Questions on Promised Legislation (5 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Deputy will appreciate there has been a huge increase in the number of PUP applications in the last number of weeks. The officials in my Department have been working extremely hard in engaging with the applicants in terms of details that were not provided but that we need in order to process the payments. There are a number of applications that we are dealing with. I assure the Deputy...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Broadband Plan (5 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The broadband connection points have been identified by the broadband officers in the local authorities and we have been working on their recommendations on what areas we can connect. We can talk to the broadband officer in Kerry and we will see if there are any problems. If Deputy Daly wants to write to me specifically about the problems that are being encountered on the connection point...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Community Development Initiatives (5 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: That might be bad for the Deputy's health.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (5 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. The Government is aware of the challenges facing community and voluntary organisations and is committed to working closely with the sector in managing those challenges, recognising that it will require a whole-of-government approach. The community and voluntary sector Covid-19 stability fund provided €35 million initially from the Dormant...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (5 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, is looking at how best to administer the €10 million allocation. It has been assigned to us and we are very pleased to get it. He is working with stakeholders and officials to ensure it is targeted where it is most needed. That process will be completed very shortly. In terms of the €5 million that was not spent by my Department,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Covid-19 Pandemic Supports (5 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I take the Deputy's point that the organisations want to get the details of this funding as quickly as possible. We are very conscious of that but we also want to ensure that it is properly targeted. It is a once-off cash injection for the organisations and groups that are delivering critical front-line services. They include disability services, meals on wheels, mental health services,...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: National Broadband Plan (5 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. Broadband connection points will be among the first sites connected under the national broadband plan. They represent a collaboration between my Department, the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, local authorities and the communities that will host the BCP services.  At present, there are more than 200 public access BCP...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Community Development Initiatives (5 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I have a prepared response but I will leave it because it is similar to what I said earlier. This is it; this is our opportunity. Remote working, or as I prefer to call it, connected working, will be a game changer not just for rural Ireland but for the urban areas as well. Many people living in the Deputy's area get on a train, bus or whatever to come into the centre of the city when, in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Community Development Initiatives (5 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Deputy is absolutely right. There is a broad consensus across the House that this is the time to do it and this is the right opportunity. I discussed public servants earlier. We need to facilitate our public servants to go into designated co-working spaces in towns across the country. We must have it mapped out and planned. That is why we have the interdepartmental group led by my...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Community Development Initiatives (5 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Deputy is right. When I was Minister with responsibility for business, a young lad with a wife and children said to me it is a no-brainer. He said people need to be able to work in their communities and said it makes such a difference to his home life. It is true. Many people have now discovered they are able to spend more time with their families. It is a better quality of life at...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Community Development Initiatives (5 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The responsibility for the roll-out of the national broadband plan falls within the Minister, Deputy Ryan's, Department. I know he is working closely with National Broadband Ireland, NBI, in an effort to try to roll this out as quickly as possible. In the meantime, however, the good news is my Department has a number of broadband connection points in the local community halls. A person...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: LEADER Programmes (5 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I agree with Deputy Calleary that the staff in Ballina do really good work there, work extremely hard and engage a lot. I have spoken to them on a number of occasions via the Internet, on Zoom, Webex or whatever else they are using, but I hope to visit Ballina as soon as I can. As for the Northern and Western Regional Assembly, I was delighted to work on that matter with Deputy Calleary...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Library Services (5 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue. The Department leads on the implementation of the public library strategy, Our Public Libraries 2022, which aims to improve access to, use and visibility of the library as a community hub and a focal point for cultural development. In 2020 alone my Department has allocated over €8 million to support public library services. This includes...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Library Services (5 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I take the Deputy's point that libraries can be controlled fairly well and I know that the Local Government Management Agency, LGMA, and the local authority chief executives have asked for libraries to operate contact and collect at level 4. They have made proposals and we are happy to bring those proposals to the Department of the Taoiseach and NPHET for consideration. I absolutely accept...