Results 361-380 of 795 for 5 million speaker:Heather Humphreys

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Fuel Allowance (20 Jan 2021)

Heather Humphreys: The Fuel Allowance is a payment of €28.00 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €784 each year) from October to April, to an average of 372,000 low income households, at an estimated cost of €300 million in 2021. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. The allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a household....

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Departmental Strategies (14 Jan 2021)

Heather Humphreys: ...and carers by ensuring that access to employment services are tailored to their needs. Regarding achievements since I became Minister, the estimate for the Department of Social Protection in 2021 is €25.1 billion. This is more than €4 billion larger than the Department's Budget Day allocation for 2020. Much of that additional spending will be required to meet the ongoing...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Local Improvement Scheme (14 Jan 2021)

Heather Humphreys: ...In addition, works can also be carried out on Amenity Roads. Amenity Roads are non-public roads leading to important community amenities such as graveyards, beaches and piers. Such roads may not account for more than 25% of the allocation provided to each Local Authority. The scheme is specifically provided for in legislation (section 81 of the Local Government Act 2001) and the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Town and Village Renewal Scheme (17 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for his question. The regeneration and revitalisation of our rural towns and villages is a key priority for my Department. Since 2016, the Department has invested €78 million in approximately 1,200 projects under the town and village renewal scheme. Large-scale projects that support town revitalisation are also funded through my Department's rural regeneration and...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Remote Working (17 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: ...National University of Ireland, Galway, has conducted extensive research into remote working in Ireland during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Recently published results from a survey of more than 5,600 people found that among those who can work remotely, 94% were in favour of working remotely on an ongoing basis for some or all of the time. Some 23% said they would consider relocating...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Broadband Infrastructure (17 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: .... They will be able to do that from these hubs and that is why the few bob to help them kit out the hall, put in the desks and a few dividers and have a wee private area is there. There is €5 million there for that. I intend to spend that early next year. We will be looking for calls on that.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: LEADER Programmes (17 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: An initial allocation of €20 million is being made available for the delivery of the programme and 75%, or €15 million, of the funding is being allocated to new project activity, with the remaining 25% or €5 million available for administration and project animation costs. The funding will be distributed between the local action groups, LAGs, on a pro ratabasis...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Broadband Infrastructure (17 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 5, 16, 25 and 26 together. I thank the Deputy for raising the question. Broadband connection points, BCPs, are among the first deliverables of the national broadband plan, NBP, and will provide high-speed broadband connectivity to publicly accessible sites in rural and isolated areas of the country, including a number of our offshore islands. These sites...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Urban Renewal Schemes (17 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: ...that local authorities use their powers to step in, if necessary, and purchase a vacant property compulsorily before it becomes an eyesore or danger. I would like to see some of the extra €5 million made available under the town and village scheme this year to develop remote working facilities go towards renovating premises in the centre of towns that can be converted easily...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: National Disability Strategy (17 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: ...for people with disabilities living in rural areas. My Department is currently finalising the whole-of-Government rural policy, which will deliver a wide range of measures over the next 5 years to address issues that matter to people who live and work in rural Ireland. The Policy will place an emphasis on building the participation and inclusion of rural communities, as well as...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Local Improvement Scheme (17 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: ...normal maintenance of the Local Authorities. The scheme is funded by my Department and is administered through the relevant Local Authorities. Since the LIS was re-launched in 2017, over €58 million has been allocated to Local Authorities for improvements to over 2,300 qualifying roads under the scheme. This funding has made a significant difference to the access provided by...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Local Improvement Scheme (17 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 24, 37, 39, 49, 59, 77, 669 and 670 together. 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 relevant Local Authorities. Since the LIS was...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: National Broadband Plan (17 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: .... My officials are also exploring the use of BCPs as educational settings, as remote working hubs and as locations for the creative arts. Under Budget 2021, I secured an additional €5 million to enhance remote working capability and remote access for students at BCPs and digital hubs across rural Ireland next year. The location of all BCPs which have been installed or...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: National Broadband Plan (17 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Questions Nos. 41, 55, 67 and 74 together. Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) are among the first deliverables of the National Broadband Plan (NBP) and will provide high-speed broadband connectivity to publicly accessible sites in rural and isolated areas of the country, including a number of our off-shore islands. These sites will be provided with a temporary wireless...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Town and Village Renewal Scheme (17 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The regeneration and revitalisation of our rural towns and villages is a key priority for my Department. Since 2016, my Department has invested €78 million in approximately 1,200 projects under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme. The scheme was adapted this year to assist towns and villages to respond to the impact of COVID-19. The scheme, which had a budget of €25...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Town and Village Renewal Scheme (17 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The regeneration and revitalisation of our rural towns and villages is a key priority for my Department. Since 2016, my Department has invested €78 million in approximately 1,200 projects under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme. The Programme for Government includes a commitment to bring forward an expanded Town and Village Renewal Scheme to bring vacant and derelict buildings...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Local Improvement Scheme (17 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: ...the normal maintenance of the Local Authorities. The scheme is funded by my Department and is administered through the relevant Local Authorities. Since the LIS was re-launched in 2017, over €58 million has been allocated to Local Authorities for improvements to over 2,300 qualifying roads under the scheme. This funding has made a significant difference to the access provided by...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Remote Working (17 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: ...;200,000 from the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) to support the development by Cork County Council of their Rural Digital Innovation Hub Strategy. My Department also provided €152,626 to the Ludgate Hub Innovation Cluster in Skibbereen through the Town and Village Renewal Scheme in 2017. As part of an expanded Town and Village Renewal Scheme next year, I...

Written Answers — Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection: Carer's Allowance (15 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: The Fuel Allowance is a payment of €24.50 per week for 28 weeks (a total of €686 each year) from October to April, to an average of 352,000 low income households, at an estimated cost of €261.35 million in 2020. The purpose of this payment is to assist these households with their energy costs. The allowance represents a contribution towards the energy costs of a...

Seanad: Social Welfare Bill 2020: Second Stage (14 Dec 2020)

Heather Humphreys: ...As Senators know, the purpose of the Social Welfare Bill is to give legislative effect to the changes announced on budget day. The Estimate for the Department of Social Protection in 2021 is €25.1 billion. This is more than €4 billion larger than the Department's budget day allocation for 2020. Much of that additional spending will be required to meet the ongoing costs of...