Results 1-20 of 24,441 for speaker:Jerry Buttimer

Pride: Statements (16 Jul 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: I begin by thanking the Minister, Deputy Foley, for her leadership and stewardship of the Department. Her last remarks clarify her position in terms of her commitment to equality. I thank her for that. I also pay tribute to the former Minister, Deputy Roderic O'Gorman, who is in the House this afternoon, for his leadership and courage as a Minister, but also for going to Budapest Pride....

Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation (16 Jul 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: The Deputy was well able to use social media to support the all-Ireland semi-finalists last week.

Written Answers — Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht: Library Services (16 Jul 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: The provision of the services referred to by the Deputy is primarily a matter for local authorities, as detailed under the Local Government Act 2001. Accordingly, the operation of the service referred to by the Deputy is a matter for the Council, in the first instance. As the Deputy may be aware, the relevant local authority previously advised my Department that the proposed refurbishment...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Library Services (10 Jul 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: The public library strategy was published in July 2023. It contains 66 actions which will enable our public libraries to become multipurpose social and educational spaces for all members of the community to enjoy. As I said in response to a previous last question, our libraries are now transformed into places of community activity. They are no longer just for reading and studying; there...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Library Services (10 Jul 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: There is huge merit in those suggestions. I am certainly very open to that. Athy library was mentioned as an example. Birr library is another example. In other parts of the country refurbished buildings are, through a variety of means, being used. Our libraries are now community spaces. They are being used by a variety of people. Our traditional library has changed, thankfully, from a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Library Services (10 Jul 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: In regard to the sensory room issue, I was in Ennis library last week, where there is a sensory space. There was a mum with two kids in the sensory space and their joy and contemplative ease was phenomenal. I commend the staff in Ennis library on that space. It was breathtaking to see the way in which they were able to take a piece of the library floor area and use it for people with...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions (10 Jul 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank the Deputy who is right to raise this matter. He has raised it previously. I have asked the Department to examine this issue. The Irish Examiner recently had an interesting profile of the north side of Cork city. It is an issue I am concerned about. We need to have a serious conversation about it. The Glen Resource Centre has a good programme for the families of those in prison....

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions (10 Jul 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank the Deputy for the work he has done. I taught in St. Aidan's Community College; I am familiar with the area. I recognise the issue he has highlighted, despite the great work by a variety of community organisations and mentoring. There is an empowerment piece, training, retraining and engagement between agencies. There are a number of people who re-offend once they leave prison....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Voluntary Sector (10 Jul 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: To be fair, we are aware of and are very cognisant of the challenges in the sector. I reiterate that it would be inappropriate for our Department to be involved in the setting of pay and conditions, while recognising the importance of the sector and the brilliant work being done. What we are committed to doing and what we will do is to look into an estimated time to boost the budget for the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions (10 Jul 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank the Deputy. Our Department's social inclusion and community activation programme is our country’s primary social inclusion programme. SICAP is a national programme delivered locally in both rural and urban areas by local development companies. It supports those in the greatest need to address high and persistent levels of deprivation through targeted, locally-led initiatives...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Library Services (10 Jul 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: I look forward to visiting the library with Deputy Wall. Just to assure him, the project has received funding of €3 million under the capital programme to support what is a very ambitious and exciting plan for the county library in Newbridge, including archives and a cultural centre. The project will be superb in terms of its size and scale. It will be 2,378 sq. m. It will be four...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Library Services (10 Jul 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: Since 2020, our Department has allocated Kildare County Council €11.1 million for the public library service, be it the library service to Clane or the mobile library service. It is a testament to the vision of Kildare County Council in terms of its recognition of the importance of our library service. This is maybe tongue in cheek, but perhaps the Tailteann Cup can be showcased...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Voluntary Sector (10 Jul 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank the Deputy for raising this very important matter and he is right that it is a recurring theme when we speak to people who are very committed to the work they do. The Government's five-year strategy to support the community and voluntary sector, Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities, was published six years ago. It is a whole-of-government strategy, led by our Department...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Voluntary Sector (10 Jul 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: I am committed to continuing to provide supports to the community and voluntary sector. I am not absolving us from any role here but our Department does not set terms and conditions of pay. We are very much of the view that it is about supporting the community and voluntary sector. My priority is to create an environment where the sector can thrive, that is enabling and empowering, and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rural Schemes (10 Jul 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank the Deputy for her question. Community wealth building is, indeed, a long-standing commitment of the Deputy and her party. As she knows well, the concept refers to a range of approaches to local economic development. While the Department under the Minister, Deputy Calleary, and me does not have a dedicated community wealth building fund as such, our wide range of policies and...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rural Schemes (10 Jul 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: I thank the Deputy. If we look at the example and model we have here in SICAP, which is our country’s primary social inclusion intervention, it supports communities. I am well aware of Cleveland and Preston. I am not aware of the Ayrshire model and would be happy to discuss that further. I have looked at Cleveland’s model in particular. To give the House an example,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rural Schemes (10 Jul 2025)

Jerry Buttimer: As the Deputy knows, the Department is progressing a number of initiatives and policies that provide both urban and rural regeneration through an integrated strategic way of delivering supports, programme schemes and co-ordinating measures to address social disadvantage and imbalance in our communities or, in some cases, a lack of opportunity. I gave the example of the national policy on...