Results 61-80 of 16,698 for are speaker:Heather Humphreys

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Control of Dogs (20 Jun 2024)

Heather Humphreys: Yes, it will look at that. As I live on the Border, I am aware that there will be a ban on these dogs in Northern Ireland. It has already kicked in in the UK. It will be in place from the first week of July. We do not want to be out of kilter with Northern Ireland. There is no point in them being banned there and having a different arrangement south of the Border. However, we have to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Vacant Properties (20 Jun 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The town centre first policy is a major cross-government policy that recognises vacancy and dereliction are still a challenge in many rural towns and villages. It seeks to breathe new life into our town centres, supporting the Our Rural Future vision for a thriving rural Ireland. Central to town centre first is the range of support funding, including my Department’s rural...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Vacant Properties (20 Jun 2024)

Heather Humphreys: ...county. They will engage with communities and with landowners who have derelict properties nothing is happening to. The Deputy and I know well that there is a myriad of reasons that properties are left derelict. I often go into a town and ask why on earth no one is living in those houses. However, there is probably a story behind it. It is quite complex and is often to do with...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Telecommunications Infrastructure (20 Jun 2024)

Heather Humphreys: ...I remember correctly, we set up the task force in 2016 and it was a great success. It managed to deal with the issue of bridging the gap between the roll-out of the broadband plan and all of those areas that had very little coverage. It worked very well. The broadband officers that Deputy Naughten and I appointed jointly in every county council have been a great success. They have been...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Control of Dogs (20 Jun 2024)

Heather Humphreys: ...This means people have to control their dogs on a short leash and muzzle when out in public. People who own these dogs have levels of responsibilities. I have increased the fines for dogs that are not kept under proper control. I have given €2 million to local authorities so that dog wardens have what they need in terms of vans and equipment. There has been a major publicity...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rural Schemes (20 Jun 2024)

Heather Humphreys: ..., Our Rural Future, by providing funding for the development and delivery of ambitious capital projects in rural Ireland. The projects funded under the rural regeneration and development fund are revitalising our rural towns and villages in line with the town centre first policy through planned and sustainable regeneration projects that will drive greater economic activity and footfall,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rural Schemes (20 Jun 2024)

Heather Humphreys: ...to see how they can better fit what communities need. To be fair, of all counties, Donegal has received a lot from the rural regeneration development fund. I do not have the figure to hand, but areas right across the county have benefited significantly. The urban fund is specifically for large towns like Letterkenny. If I start distributing funding into larger towns, there will be less...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Rural Schemes (20 Jun 2024)

Heather Humphreys: ...The group in question should speak to the local authority as well. The authority will have a great deal of information on particular funding. Sometimes, groups need to adjust what their projects are looking for slightly to match the schemes.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Telecommunications Infrastructure (20 Jun 2024)

Heather Humphreys: ...work programme will be published shortly and will continue to be revised as necessary to ensure that obstacles to the efficient roll-out of telecoms infrastructure, particularly in rural Ireland, are resolved quickly. In 2023, the task force held two meetings and an annual stakeholder forum. The forum presented an opportunity for State and industry stakeholders to come together and...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (20 Jun 2024)

Heather Humphreys: Community centres are a vital resource for any community. They are at the heart of so many of our towns and villages. That is why I have placed a central focus on improving our existing community centres and also delivering new facilities where they are needed. Under the 2022 Community Centre Investment Fund, over €45.8 million was committed for improvement and refurbishment works on...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Control of Dogs (20 Jun 2024)

Heather Humphreys: ...informing dog owners of their legal obligations. This leaflet has been widely distributed and is now available from every dog warden, local authority and veterinary surgery in the country in addition to over 100 animal welfare charities. It is also available in multiple languages online at Gov.ie/ResponsibleDogOwnership. In March 2024, I announced the establishment of a high level...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Funding (20 Jun 2024)

Heather Humphreys: ..., the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, the Local Improvement Scheme, the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme, the Community Recognition Fund, and the Community Centre Investment Fund are delivering projects throughout the country that are having a hugely positive impact for communities. Current funding supports such as the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Policies (20 Jun 2024)

Heather Humphreys: ..., cultural and social development and wellbeing of rural communities. The policy contains a range of commitments across Government, and focuses on the long term developmental needs of rural areas. Each commitment included in the policy is led by a nominated Government Department, State agency or other body. Funding of these commitments is met from the Votes/budgets of each relevant...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Policies (20 Jun 2024)

Heather Humphreys: ...digital connectivity to support vibrant, sustainable rural communities. I want to close the digital divide between rural and urban communities and ensure that those living in rural communities are provided with the same opportunities as those in larger urban areas. Throughout my tenure as Minister for Rural and Community Development, I have been clear that balanced regional development,...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Broadband Infrastructure (20 Jun 2024)

Heather Humphreys: ...collaboration with local authorities and communities including funding for the conversion of many vacant and derelict buildings into remote working hubs. In 2021, I launched connectedhubs.ie, a shared online booking and payments platform for remote working hubs and their users. There are currently 363 facilities across the country on-boarded to the platform, 8 of which are located in Co...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: National Broadband Plan (20 Jun 2024)

Heather Humphreys: ...digital connectivity to support vibrant, sustainable rural communities. I want to close the digital divide between rural and urban communities and ensure that those living in rural communities are provided with the same opportunities as those in larger urban areas. I am working to achieve this ambition by providing significant funding and support through my Department. Broadband...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Rural Schemes (20 Jun 2024)

Heather Humphreys: The Local Improvement Scheme supports improving rural roads and laneways that are not normally maintained by local authorities. I am acutely aware of the scheme's importance to rural landowners and residents. As part of Our Rural Future, the government is committed to ensuring that the LIS is funded in the future. My Department reintroduced the scheme in 2017 after several years without...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Schemes (20 Jun 2024)

Heather Humphreys: ...to by the Deputy. It is expected that this project will be completed by June 2026, although the exact timeframe for delivery is a matter for Kerry County Council. Successful projects can draw down funding as works are completed and the project is delivered.

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Island Communities (20 Jun 2024)

Heather Humphreys: As the Deputy will be aware, I launched Our Living Islands - the National Island Policy 2023-2033 in June of 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 that Departments and agencies across Government can be held to account for its implementation. Following the...

Written Answers — Department of Rural and Community Development: Departmental Policies (20 Jun 2024)

Heather Humphreys: ...life into our town centres. It supports the Our Rural Future vision for a thriving rural Ireland. Amongst the initiatives supported by my Department under TCF is the development of TCF Plans that are helping rural communities develop a vision for their local areas and identify viable projects to realise this vision. The initial pilot programme which consisted of 26 plans are now all...