Parliamentary questions

Community Development Projects

Emer Higgins

875. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if the streetscape enhancement initiative of her Department was open to applicants living in local authorities in rural areas of County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46565/21]

Departmental Projects

Alan Dillon

876. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of upgrading a helipad (details supplied); the stage it is currently at; when it is likely to go to tender; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46590/21]

Community Development Projects

Christopher O'Sullivan

877. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the external review of the walks scheme will be published (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46676/21]

Rural Recreation Policy

Michael Creed

356. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she has received the external review of the walks scheme administered by her Department; if this review has addressed the issue of the role of the rural recreational officer and the equity in resourcing these posts in certain areas due to the number of stakeholders participating and the vast geographical area covered; if in the context of this review, she will reconsider the administrative resources available to the groups participating particularly for the funding of rural recreational officers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45837/21]

Cybersecurity Policy

Imelda Munster

273. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department’s IT infrastructure is monitored for security breaches on a 24/7 basis; the guidance provided from Government on same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45317/21]

Community Development Projects

Mary Butler

274. Deputy Mary Butler asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she has plans to introduce a further tranche of community enhancement programme funding given that community centres are incurring additional expense as they move towards reopening within the public health restrictions of the day; the amounts paid to each local authority under the previous tranche of community enhancement programme funding announced in May 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45357/21]

Flexible Work Practices

Emer Higgins

275. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the steps taken by her Department to support the implementation of the national remote work strategy Making Remote Work; the approximate number or percentage of staff within her Department who have access to cloud services for remote videoconferencing and the capacity to work remotely; her plans to increase this percentage; the framework under which procurement for this is managed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45374/21]

Flexible Work Practices

Emer Higgins

276. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the steps taken by agencies under the remit of her Department to support the implementation of the national remote work strategy Making Remote Work; the approximate number or percentage of staff within these agencies who have access to cloud services for remote videoconferencing and the capacity to work remotely; if there are plans to increase this percentage; the framework under which procurement for this is managed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45391/21]

Forbairt Calaí agus Céanna

Éamon Ó Cuív

277. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail an bhfuil i gceist ag oifigigh na Roinne casadh le coiste (sonraí tugtha) go luath le forbairt na cé in Inis Meáin a phlé; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [45427/21]

Tidy Towns

Robert Troy

278. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will ensure a tidy towns grant is awarded to a group (details supplied). [45479/21]

Cycling Facilities

Kieran O'Donnell

279. Deputy Kieran O'Donnell asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will consider extending the three year bike pilot initiative for the provision of high-quality upcycled bicycles and e-bikes for those on low incomes and or those who are most marginalised and disadvantaged to Limerick city given it is the only large city not included in the pilot; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45543/21]

Rural Schemes

Violet-Anne Wynne

701. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the breakdown of recipients of the €250,000 recently granted to County Clare under the CLÁR programme. [44547/21]

Rural Schemes

Violet-Anne Wynne

702. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount designated to all counties except County Clare under the CLÁR programme in tabular form. [44548/21]

Mental Health Services

Peadar Tóibín

703. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development her plans to increase funding in Budget 2022 for voluntary mental health and suicide prevention charities due to extra demand for such services arising out of the Covid-19 pandemic. [44577/21]

Cycling Facilities

Fergus O'Dowd

704. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the proposed works for the Mell Greenway, Drogheda for which Louth County Council received €200,000 through the outdoor recreational scheme in February 2020; if the new resubmitted plans have been approved; if there are timelines for a commencement of the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44657/21]

Departmental Properties

Holly Cairns

705. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the locations of all offices and buildings either owned or used by her Department or by public bodies and agencies that operate under her remit which are usually open to the public to access services. [44919/21]

Departmental Communications

Carol Nolan

706. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she has deleted text messages or email correspondence related to Government or official communications at any point since January 2020 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45043/21]

Departmental Staff

Holly Cairns

322. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will ensure that all staff in her Department and public bodies and agencies that operate under her remit who, by necessity of their work have to come into close proximity with others, including other employees or members of the public are provided with medical grade masks in the EN14683 category; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44380/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Catherine Connolly

822. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the details of the grants and supports available to bridge clubs seeking to return to in-person play in line with the roadmap for the easing of Covid-19 restrictions in order to ease the financial burden of bringing their premises in compliance with Covid-19-related hygiene protocols; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44165/21]

Departmental Schemes

Michael Ring

823. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the reason an application by a person (details supplied) in County Mayo under a funding scheme was unsuccessful; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43227/21]

Departmental Schemes

Michael Ring

824. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount of funding allocated to local authorities for a scheme (details supplied); the amount of funding that went to the private sector separately; the number of applications grant aided by the local authorities under this scheme; the way the criteria were set; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43228/21]

Departmental Expenditure

Carol Nolan

825. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department has utilised the services of organisations (details supplied) at any time from 1 January 2015 to date; if so, the expenditure costs related to same; the purpose of any such engagements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43245/21]

Control of Dogs

Matt Carthy

826. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 642 of 13 July 2021, if there have been communications within her Department with the dog control unit or members or representatives thereof with regard to a proposed move of the unit; if so, her position on such; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43584/21]

Legislative Process

Ivana Bacik

827. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of Bills prepared by her Department since 27 June 2020; the number and title of those Bills that included a regulatory impact assessment; the titles of the regulatory impact assessments that have been published by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43713/21]

Departmental Expenditure

Catherine Murphy

828. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount paid in late interest payments and penalty payments by her Department in each of the years 2017 to 2020 and to date in 2021 in respect of late payments being made to suppliers, service providers and contractors in tabular form; and the measures she has put in place and or is implementing to reduce late payment interest and penalty payments. [44010/21]

Digital Hubs

Brendan Griffin

829. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department will provide funding to set up a digital hub at a location (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44025/21]

Departmental Data

Fergus O'Dowd

1607. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the current policy regarding the employment of persons with disabilities in her Department and in each State and semi-State body under the aegis of her Department; the disability quota of her Department at present; if there is an active campaign to increase the disability workforce from the current target of 3% to a minimum of 6% by 2024; if this quota has now been exceeded; if so, the details of same; if there has been an advertised competition in relation to the quota; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41600/21]

Agriculture Schemes

Martin Browne

1608. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the pilot insurance indemnity policy for hill farmers; her plans to introduce this scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41622/21]

Flexible Work Practices

Carol Nolan

1609. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the measures she is taking to promote or facilitate remote working for staff in her Department or bodies under the aegis of her Department; the costs this has generated in terms of the provision of laptops, desktop computers or contributions to wi-fi costs or phone-related expenses; the number of staff who have applied for permission to work from home on a permanent or hybrid-model basis (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41959/21]

Departmental Schemes

Michael Healy-Rae

1610. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will address a matter (details supplied) regarding funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41984/21]

Office of Public Works

Michael Healy-Rae

1611. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of plans by the OPW to repair a road (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42071/21]

Telecommunications Infrastructure

Ruairí Ó Murchú

1612. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the timeframe in relation to the announcement of the future work programme of the mobile phone and broadband task force; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42285/21]

Telecommunications Infrastructure

Ruairí Ó Murchú

1613. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the progress on the evaluation of the issues that should be addressed by the mobile phone and broadband taskforce; the level of engagement she has had with multiple Departments and agencies regarding the taskforce; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42286/21]

Flexible Work Practices

Dara Calleary

1614. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the steps being taken to facilitate remote working within her Department in particular to encourage remote working for those who live in the regions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42713/21]

Flexible Work Practices

Holly Cairns

1615. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the way in which her Department and public bodies and agencies under her remit are accommodating requests for persons to work from home. [42763/21]

Emergency Services

Holly Cairns

1616. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will ensure that the leading lights on the helicopter pad on Cape Clear Island used for emergency services are repaired as a matter of urgency. [42804/21]

Rural Recreation Policy

Holly Cairns

1617. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of her engagement with the West Cork Development Partnership concerning the employment of additional rural recreational officers. [42805/21]

Island Communities

Holly Cairns

1618. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the publication of an islands policy. [42806/21]

Government Communications

Gary Gannon

1619. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Ministerial phones have been hacked or attempted to be hacked during the term of office. [42931/21]

Government Communications

Gary Gannon

1620. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she has ever used her personal phones for Government business; and if so, if the personal phones have been hacked during her term of office. [42949/21]

Freedom of Information

Matt Carthy

1621. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of freedom of information requests responded to by her Department in each of the years 2016 to 2020 and to date in 2021; the number of responses that included documents related to text messages and other phone message communications such as messages sent through an application (details supplied) in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42971/21]

Commissions of Investigation

David Cullinane

1622. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the cost of each commission of investigation under the remit of her Department over the preceding decade. [42997/21]

Ministerial Appointments

Réada Cronin

1623. Deputy Réada Cronin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of formal and informal roles held by a person (details supplied) in the name of her Department or associated agency in the lifetime of this Government; when they were appointed to same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43042/21]

Government Communications

Catherine Murphy

1624. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she and or her special advisers and or officials use or have used services (details supplied) to communicate in the past 18 months. [43078/21]

Broadband Infrastructure

Brendan Griffin

3429. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if a project in County Kerry has been made aware of the availability of a nearby facility (details supplied); if so, if she will provide details of any such contact; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40397/21]

Community Development Projects

Martin Browne

3430. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when her Department plans to reopen the community services programme for applications. [39116/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Pat Buckley

3431. Deputy Pat Buckley asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the reason funding was not provided for a centre (details supplied) to ensure it is fully staffed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39255/21]

Rural Schemes

Fergus O'Dowd

3432. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will respond to queries raised by a person (details supplied) in respect of access to Leader funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39276/21]

Rural Recreation Policy

Seán Sherlock

3433. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she is in receipt of a proposal for a blueway from Mallow to Ballyduff through Killavullenk, Castletownroche, Ballyhooly, Fermoy and Clondulane, County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39284/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Holly Cairns

3434. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will examine the case of an organisation (details supplied) which was eligible under the priority criteria for the COVID-19 Stability Fund for Community and Voluntary, Charity and Social Enterprises but did not receive any funding. [39305/21]