Results 1-20 of 5,475 for in 'Dáil debates' speaker:Heather Humphreys

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Library Services (9 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I love libraries. They are wonderful places and do fantastic work. They are hives of activity for all the community. Older people learn computer skills. There are language classes for people who are looking to learn a new language. There are book clubs, which are a great way to meet people. A lot is happening in our libraries. We have 330 libraries across the country. They come in...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Library Services (9 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: Investing in our library service is a key priority for me, as Minister, and this is reflected in the new public library strategy, The Library Is the Place, which I launched in July last year. The strategy recognises that public libraries are at the heart of our communities. My Department is supporting this by providing a wide range of funding for library buildings, mobile library vehicles...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Schemes (9 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I agree. I go through towns, see vacant and derelict buildings and ask why we are not doing something with these. They are a resource now because they are serviced, they have electricity, sewerage and water. We have been doing a lot of work with local authorities trying to get more people back living in the centre of towns. I am a great supporter of that because I believe there are huge...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Schemes (9 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: Fingal has got €2.7 million since 2016 under the town and village renewal scheme. Cork city got €1.5 million and Cork county got €7.9 million. There has been considerable investment in both counties. The town and village renewal scheme provides grants of up to €500,000 for large-scale projects. If you need more funding for bigger projects, there is the rural...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Control of Dogs (9 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The stakeholder group has had an initial meeting and a follow-up meeting as well. The members are looking at a number of issues. I am happy to hear what their views are. It is a diverse group and I will take on board the recommendations they put forward to me. Going back to the dog wardens, I have given more funding - an extra €2 million - to local authorities to upgrade the dog...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Departmental Schemes (9 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take Question Nos. 8, 18, 43 and 44 together. Our Rural Future sets out this Government’s vision for the future of rural Ireland. Central to this vision is the importance of supporting the regeneration and development of rural towns and villages as vibrant and thriving rural places. This theme is further supported by the town centre first policy which includes a...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Schemes (9 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputies for their contributions. I will ask the officials to speak to Kerry County Council. There is a big difference in the average cost of the of the lanes. Are there longer lanes in Kerry? That is the only thing I do not know.

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Schemes (9 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: They seem to be doing fewer of them. We should look at the number of kilometres that are covered. That would probably be a good indication. I am happy to engage. I have reviewed the criteria. I will come back to Deputy Troy on the part about the second parcel of land needing to be a minimum of 1 ha. I am not sure; I am not across the finer details. We leave it up to the discretion...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Schemes (9 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I will tell the Deputy what happened last year. We sent a call out to local authorities to tell us what they could spend and to put in the amount. Some local authorities told us they could not spend any money. I am not saying that is the case with Clare. Some local authorities were very ambitious in their spend. They got it spent and got their lanes completed. Some local authorities did...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Control of Dogs (9 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: My Department has policy responsibility for the Control of Dogs Acts and local authorities have responsibility for all operational matters, including enforcement. The Control of Dogs Acts set out a number of legal obligations that all dog owners must comply with. I am committed to improving outcomes in dog control in Ireland and in this context, I recently increased on-the-spot fines for...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Control of Dogs (9 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The stakeholder group is chaired by John Twomey the former deputy Garda commissioner. That shows how seriously I am taking this matter from the point of view of enforcement. The stakeholder group has a broad and diverse range of viewpoints. One member is a representative of Dogs Trust, which does excellent work. They bring important experience of what they see from an animal welfare point...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Schemes (9 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I was reared in a lane that is nearly a mile long. I know all about these lanes, and I have to say that nobody has been more committed to providing LIS funding than me. At the end of each year, if I had any extra money I lorried it into the LIS because I know how important the latter is to support people who live in rural Ireland. Since 2017, €170 million has been invested in the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Island Communities (9 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I understand people's frustration. I have pushed this on as much as I possibly can. I am absolutely committed to supporting our islands. I will get an update on Caladh Mór for the Deputy. There will be a question about the matter later. Progress is definitely being made on Inis Oírr and Inis Meáin. I have been out there and am aware of the need for investment in the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Rural Schemes (9 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I propose to take questions Nos. 5, 7, 9, 28 and 41 together. The LIS supports the improvement of rural roads and laneways that are not normally maintained by the local authorities. I am acutely aware of the importance of the scheme to rural landowners and residents. That is why, as part of Our Rural Future, the Government is committed to ensuring that the LIS is funded into the future....

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Community Development Projects (9 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I have no doubt it is a good community. I will tell the Deputy a story. I was talking to a fellow one day and he asked me: “How come we got no money? How come we did not get any grant?” I asked if they had put in an application and he said “No.” I said that if you do not put in an application, it is not going to fall out of the sky. I appreciate there is...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Community Development Projects (9 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I often find it is good if communities talk to other communities that have been successful. I have seen over the years that some communities are better than others at completing application forms. There has to be capacity building, which I accept. Cork City Council submitted an application for a new-build community centre at Newton Heights, Boherboy Road, Cork city, and that was...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Island Communities (9 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy said, I launched Our Living Islands - National Islands Policy 2023-2033 in June last year. Our Living Islands is a substantial document, a ten-year policy backed up by rolling three-year action plans. It has time-bound commitments so Departments and agencies across government can be held to account for its implementation. Following the publication of the policy, I...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Island Communities (9 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: To go back to Deputy Connolly's question, we have waited a long time for the islands policy. The purpose of the monitoring committee is to ensure that the specific measures in the Our Living Islands policy and its associated action plan are put in place and acted on by the relevant Government Departments and agencies. The committee has a role to play. If it is not being acted upon, that...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Tidy Towns (9 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The SuperValu Tidy Towns competition is a unique volunteer-led programme that makes a hugely positive contribution in communities across Ireland. Ahead of the competition launch each year, officials in my Department meet with SuperValu, the main sponsor of the competition, and with our highly skilled and competent panel of adjudicators. My Department's role is to facilitate the...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Tidy Towns (9 May 2024)

Heather Humphreys: I thank the Deputy for his comments. I recognise that this is a very busy time of the year for the Tidy Towns committees and everyone is putting their best foot forward. They want to make their town or village more attractive. For as long as I have been involved in politics, there has been a debate around posters. Personally, I would not lose any sleep if no posters were put up, but I...