Results 17,381-17,400 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Local Improvement Scheme (5 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Local Improvement Scheme, or LIS, is a programme for improvement works on small private or non-public roads in rural areas which are not under the normal maintenance of the Local Authorities. The scheme is funded by my Department and is administered through the Local Authorities. The LIS is now a separate standalone scheme and is not delivered through the CLÁR programme. ...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Flexible Work Practices (5 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Ludgate Hub in Skibbereen, and a number of other excellent innovation and incubator hubs across the country, have been exemplars in demonstrating how well-purposed remote working facilities can breathe new life in to rural areas. Remote working can help to retain talented people in rural communities, encourage mobile workers to move to the regions, provide increased trade for local...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Flexible Work Practices (5 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 28, 29, 353 and 354 together. The increased shift to remote work in the last six months by many employers and employees has highlighted the possibilities for remote working facilities to contribute to a greater regional distribution of jobs and to support a better quality of life for many people who previously spent long hours commuting. Remote working...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Town and Village Renewal Scheme (5 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: This year's Town and Village Renewal Scheme was adapted to assist towns and villages to respond to the impact of COVID-19. In addition to the standard strand of the scheme, the scheme also included an Accelerated Measure to fund smaller scale projects that could be delivered immediately to assist towns and villages in adapting to COVID-19. The 2020 Scheme has a budget of €25 million...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Housing Regeneration (5 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: In October 2018, my Department launched a Town Centre Living Initiative to explore in a holistic way how to encourage increased residential occupancy in rural towns and villages. The pilot focused on 6 towns with different characteristics in different parts of the country. An independent report on the pilot Town Centre Living Initiative was published on 22nd June 2020. The report...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Recreation Policy (5 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: My Department supports the development of outdoor recreation amenities through a suite of programmes such as the Walks Scheme and the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme. The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund has also supported a number of significant outdoor recreation amenities. The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme provides funding for the development and/or enhancement...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Town and Village Renewal Scheme (5 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: My Department's Rural Regeneration and Development Fund and Town and Village Renewal Scheme are both key initiatives that support town and village renewal. The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund was established as part of Project Ireland 2040 and the associated National Development Plan. Project Ireland 2040 committed to a €1 billion fund over the period 2019-2027, with...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: LEADER Programmes (5 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The current 2014-2020 LEADER programme will come to an end this year. Under the seven-year programme, €168.7 million was allocated to the Local Action Groups (LAGs) who deliver the programme at local level, for project approvals up to 31st December 2020. As of 1st November, 3,530 projects with a value of over €139 million have been approved for LEADER funding by the LAGs....

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Programme for Government (5 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 36 and 44 together. Prior to the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic my Department had been engaged in a process of consultation with island communities in relation to the development of a new Islands Policy. This consultation was carried out through public meetings on the islands. The consultation process had to be temporarily suspended due to COVID-19...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: LEADER Programmes (5 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 37 and 52 together. The current LEADER programme comes to an end this year as far as new project approvals are concerned. The Programme for Government includes a commitment to prioritise a State-led programme to bridge the gap between the current LEADER programme and the next EU programme, which will not commence until 2022 at the earliest due to delays...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Town and Village Renewal Scheme (5 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Programme for Government includes a commitment for an expanded Town and Village Renewal Scheme to bring vacant and derelict buildings back into use and promote residential occupancy. In October 2018, my Department launched a Town Centre Living Initiative to explore in a holistic way how to encourage increased residential occupancy in rural towns and villages. The pilot focused on 6...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: National Broadband Plan (5 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Broadband Connection Points (BCP) initiative is a collaborative effort involving my Department, the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, Local Authorities, National Broadband Ireland (NBI), Vodafone Ireland and the owners and managers of the host sites. BCPs will be among the first premises connected under the National Broadband Plan (NBP) and will receive...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Programme for Government (5 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Programme for Government committed to publishing and implementing a new Rural Policy to build on the progress of the Action Plan for Rural Development and to promote rural recovery and development in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis. My Department is currently finalising this new policy, which will have a five year horizon. The new policy will be forward-looking and ambitious. It...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: National Broadband Plan (5 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) will be among the first sites connected under the National Broadband Plan and represent a collaboration between my Department, the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, Local Authorities and the communities that will host BCP services. National Broadband Ireland, the company contracted to deliver the National Broadband Plan, will...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: CLÁR Programme (5 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The CLÁR programme provides funding for small scale projects in rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population. No funding was available for new applications under the programme between 2010 and 2016 due to constraints on the public finances. Since the programme was relaunched in 2016, it has supported a range of different Measures including: - Safety Works...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: LEADER Programmes (5 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The LEADER programme is delivered through 29 Local Action Groups (LAGs) across rural Ireland. The programme includes a specific funding strand to support Rural Economic Development, Enterprise Development and Job Creation. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the LAGs, in conjunction with Local Development Companies who act as Implementing Partners in most areas, have approved...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Town and Village Renewal Scheme (5 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Town and Village Renewal Scheme forms part of a range of measures to support rural Ireland under my Department's Rural Regeneration Investment Programme. The scheme, which is administered by the Local Authorities on behalf of my Department, is targeted at the rejuvenation of rural towns and villages with a population of less than 10,000 people. This year’s scheme has been...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Flexible Work Practices (5 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, remote working has proven its value in maintaining economic activity and in the provision of many public services. Building on the experience of the last few months, I believe that a structured approach to the provision of remote working facilities can be transformational for rural Ireland. Remote working can help to retain talented people in...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Climate Change Policy (5 Nov 2020)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy will be aware, policy responsibility for the Agriculture sector is a matter for the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. However, both primary production and the food processing sector play a vital role in supporting rural economies and rural communities. The Agri-food sector is Ireland’s most important indigenous exporting industry, playing a vital role in...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: CLÁR Programme (5 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, ...