Results 17,681-17,700 of 27,613 for speaker:Heather Humphreys

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 42 – Rural and Community Development, and the Islands (Further Revised) (14 Oct 2020)

Heather Humphreys: There is €40 million for projects next year.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 42 – Rural and Community Development, and the Islands (Further Revised) (14 Oct 2020)

Heather Humphreys: That is true but there is an extra €4 million in the budget this year.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 42 – Rural and Community Development, and the Islands (Further Revised) (14 Oct 2020)

Heather Humphreys: In 2019, the spend on RRDF was €31 million and the 2020 allocation was €53 million. That €53 million allocation in 2020 is to fund category 1 and category 2 projects. Category 1 relates to projects with a minimum funding of €500,000. Category 2 is aimed at giving the seed money so that organisations are ready to apply for category 1. To date, 63 category 1...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 42 – Rural and Community Development, and the Islands (Further Revised) (14 Oct 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I will start by providing clarity on the funding. There is €88 million in total, with €53 million for the RRDF, €25 million for the town and village renewal scheme and €10 million for the outdoor recreation infrastructure scheme. I agree with Deputy Ó Cuiv's point. I understand the needs of people who do not live in villages or towns, the needs of somebody...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 42 – Rural and Community Development, and the Islands (Further Revised) (14 Oct 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Yes.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 42 – Rural and Community Development, and the Islands (Further Revised) (14 Oct 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Obviously, those criteria exist for the LIS. I am an advocate for the scheme because I know many people who have benefited from it. It made travelling to and from their houses a great deal easier. The cost would have been prohibitive, and they could not afford to do it themselves. I accept the point made by the Deputy about the scheme. It is something we will examine. I also take...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 42 – Rural and Community Development, and the Islands (Further Revised) (14 Oct 2020)

Heather Humphreys: There is one more tranche of it.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 42 – Rural and Community Development, and the Islands (Further Revised) (14 Oct 2020)

Heather Humphreys: It will have to be announced shortly because it is for this year. I do not have the date, but it will be shortly. I only announced round 3 on Monday so it will be another few weeks before we get to the next tranche.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 42 – Rural and Community Development, and the Islands (Further Revised) (14 Oct 2020)

Heather Humphreys: It is €0.5 million for next year. There is €0.5 million more next year in the baseline budget, which is increasing from €10 million to €10.5 million. I think it was topped up last year. I know the importance of the LIS and should some money become available, I will know there is a handy home for it in local improvement schemes. The one thing about them is that...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 42 – Rural and Community Development, and the Islands (Further Revised) (14 Oct 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I would say that is right.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 42 – Rural and Community Development, and the Islands (Further Revised) (14 Oct 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I am familiarising myself with the activities of the island. The Deputy will welcome the fact that I have increased the island allowance in this year's budget, for the first time in 20 years.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 42 – Rural and Community Development, and the Islands (Further Revised) (14 Oct 2020)

Heather Humphreys: It is a long time ago; it is getting close to it.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 42 – Rural and Community Development, and the Islands (Further Revised) (14 Oct 2020)

Heather Humphreys: It is near enough. The good news is that I am increasing the allowance for people living on islands who qualify for certain social welfare payments. That has increased from €12.50 to €20. That is a little good news. Returning to the pier in Inis Oírr, I am aware this has been ongoing for a long time. The planning is in place, as the Deputy said, and the business case...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 42 – Rural and Community Development, and the Islands (Further Revised) (14 Oct 2020)

Heather Humphreys: It is out on Magheraroarty. When I was in Donegal in August I went to see that pier because I had been talking to one of the boatmen and he said that many of the problems with the pier are due to the tide coming in and out. I am not an expert on this, but I had a look at it. It is at a very early stage and it is something we have to give more consideration to because there are differing...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 42 – Rural and Community Development, and the Islands (Further Revised) (14 Oct 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I know it is a long time.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 42 – Rural and Community Development, and the Islands (Further Revised) (14 Oct 2020)

Heather Humphreys: Yes, there is, the Tory boat. These are four major projects that have been identified in the national development plan, Project Ireland 2040. We are very aware of that and we continue to work on all of them. There are four significant projects, at Inis Oírr, Inis Meáin, Magheraroarty and Tory Island.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 42 – Rural and Community Development, and the Islands (Further Revised) (14 Oct 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I was there too and forgot. I was there for the filming of "Star Wars".

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 42 – Rural and Community Development, and the Islands (Further Revised) (14 Oct 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I am.

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 42 – Rural and Community Development, and the Islands (Further Revised) (14 Oct 2020)

Heather Humphreys: As I said to the Chairman, Skellig Michael is a treasure. I believe it is a UNESCO site. I was there when "Star Wars" was being filmed, which brought plenty of excitement and economic activity to Portmagee and the surrounding area. It is wonderful. While I would like to be able to give the Deputy an affirmative answer, Skellig Michael falls under the remit of the OPW and the National...

Select Committee on Social Protection: Estimates for Public Services 2020
Vote 42 – Rural and Community Development, and the Islands (Further Revised) (14 Oct 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I will tell the Ministers of State the Deputy raised the issue. I know the value of it because when the boats are not sailing, the tourists are not coming and it is frustrating for them.