Written Answers Nos. 655-664
660. Deputy Cormac Devlin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the location of the data centre or centres used by his Department; the reason it was chosen; the distance it is from his Department’s offices; if he will identify the centres used by each agency under his Department’s aegis; and the distance these data centres are to their offices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9394/24]
View answerMy Department operates its IT infrastructure in cooperation with the Department of Education on a Shared Services basis. The Department of Education is the lead partner for the provision of IT services for both Departments and has advised that a number of robust processes and procedures are in place to enhance and protect the security of its data centres and these processes are reviewed on a regular basis.
For operational and security reasons, my Department and the Department of Education have been previously advised by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) not to disclose details of systems and processes which could in any way compromise my Department’s information security posture. In particular, it is not considered appropriate to disclose any information, which might assist malicious actors to identify potential vulnerabilities or to disclose operational security matters.
The information in respect of state bodies, within the scope of the Deputy’s question, is not held by my Department. Contact details for these bodies are set out at the link, should the Deputy wish to contact the aegis bodies directly with his query.
661. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when another round of community recognition fund applications will take place; if she will provide details of the organisations in Dublin south west that received funding under the community recognition scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8633/24]
View answerThe Community Recognition Fund recognises the huge efforts made by communities in welcoming and supporting people coming to Ireland. Funding of €50 million for some 900 projects is supporting towns and villages nationwide that have welcomed people from Ukraine and other countries.
The Fund aims to support the development of facilities that will be used in the future by all members of the community. It is important to note that this is separate from other public funding streams which aim to address public service needs arising from the significant number of new arrivals into Ireland.
Through this initiative, communities are being assisted to develop projects such as large-scale multi-purpose sports facilities, walkways, cycle paths, playgrounds, equipment for sports clubs and community festivals.
A key priority for me now is to ensure that the range of projects approved across the country are delivered in a timely manner.
I have also been discussing the implementation of the Community Recognition Fund with Government colleagues, including the potential to introduce a second iteration of the scheme to further assist impacted communities, and I expect to make an announcement shortly in this regard.
The table outlines the projects approved for Dublin South West as requested by the Deputy.
|
Town/Village |
Project Description |
Approved Funding |
|
Saggart/Citywest |
Upgrade of St. Mary’s GAA pitch in Saggart village to all-weather surface with associated lighting and boundary upgrades. |
€391,820 |
|
Rathcoole |
Minor upgrades to Rathcoole Football Club facilities including repair and painting. |
€15,000 |
|
Saggart/Citywest |
Saggart Schoolhouse Community Centre enhancement to include boundary upgrade, drainage, landscaping, play/activity areas, outdoor seating/lighting and event space. |
€380,000 |
|
Saggart/Citywest |
Upgrade of Carrigmore Park to include play-space for younger children and teen-space for teenagers. |
€200,000 |
|
Saggart/Citywest |
Provision of required hardware and configuration to install a range of public access wi-fi facilities and live streaming equipment for Saggart Community Centre. |
€185,000 |
|
Saggart/Rathcoole |
Provision of new half-court MUGA (Multi -Use Games Area) in Rathcoole Park, which connects Saggart Village and Rathcoole village |
€70,000 |
|
Tallaght |
Tallaght County Library installation of gamer-space equipment and a range of sensory supports |
€200,000 |
|
Tallaght/Citywest |
Fettercairn Horse Project surface and fencing upgrades to facilitate increased centre usage. |
€100,000 |
|
Tallaght |
Community Bus managed by South Dublin County Council in conjunction with South Dublin Volunteer Centre |
€65,000 |
|
Tallaght |
Provision of new half-court MUGA (Multi-Use Games Area) in Sean Walsh Park, Tallaght. |
€70,000 |
|
Tallaght |
Provision of required hardware and configuration to install a range of public access wi-fi facilities. |
€100,000 |
|
Tallaght |
Heritage Trail App Translation to support increased use by all of the free heritage trails and routes in local towns including Tallaght, Saggart and Clondalkin providing free access to local heritage information for all. |
€15,000 |
662. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail ar aontaigh a Roinn le leasú ar thearmaí an chonartha lastais chuig Inis Meáin atá á rith ag comhlucht (sonraí tugtha) faoi chonradh leis an Roinn nach mbeidh an comhlucht sin sásta níos mo baireallaí folamha a thabhairt ó Inis Meáin go dtí an mór-thír agus baireallaí lán d'ola a thbhairt ar ais chuig Inis Meáin; má d'aontaigh a Roinn cén fáth nach ndeachaigh siad i gcomhairle leis an bpobal faoin gceist roimh; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [8890/24]
View answerIs féidir liom a dheimhniú don Teachta nach bhfuil aon leasú déanta ar théarmaí an chonradh atá aontaithe leis an bhfarantóir lastais d’oileáin Árainn.
Tuigtear dom, áfach, go bhfuil teagmháil déanta ag Oifig na Suirbhéireachta Muirí (OSM) leis an bhfarantóir maidir leis an cleachtais oibre atá ann faoi láthair breosla a iompair chuig na hoileáin i mbairillí beaga de bharr riosca truaillithe mara.
Tuigtear dom freisin go bhfuil an farantóir, i gcomhair le hoifigeach forbartha an oileáin, ag obair ar bhealaí le go bhfeadfaí breosla a thabhairt chuig an oileán gan na rialacháin thruailliú mara a sharú. Is ceist í sin don bhfarantóir agus Oifig na Suirbhéireachta Muirí (OSM), atá faoi chúram an Aire Iompair. Níl aon ról agamsa ná ag mo Roinn sa chás sin.
663. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if a scheme to support the provision of sensory rooms within community centres will be developed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8894/24]
View answerCommunity Centres are the cornerstone of community life in towns and villages around the country. This Government recognises the important role that these centres play in bringing people together and facilitating community services and events.
I have put in place an integrated programme of capital funding supports for the development of infrastructure in rural areas and for the development of community facilities right across the country.
Under the 2022 Community Centre Investment Fund in particular, over €45.8 million was committed for improvement and refurbishment of existing community centres across Ireland. There was a huge uptake of this funding and over 860 different projects are seeing improvements to the fabric of their community centres as a result of this Government initiative.
Following on from this investment, I wanted to assist community groups who are striving to build their own community centre to service their local needs. That is why, in 2023, the focus of the Community Centres Investment Fund moved to new builds. The assessment of these applications is almost complete and I expect to announce the successful projects shortly.
A decision in respect of any further iteration of the Community Centre Investment Fund will be made after the announcement of the successful new build community centre projects.
My Department also administers the Community Recognition Fund, which recognises the huge efforts made by communities in welcoming and supporting people coming to Ireland. Funding of €50 million for some 900 projects is supporting towns and villages nationwide that have welcomed people from Ukraine and other countries.
The Fund aims to support the development of facilities that will be used in the future by all members of the community. Through this initiative, communities are being assisted to develop projects such as large-scale multi-purpose sports facilities, walkways, cycle paths, playgrounds, equipment for sports clubs and community festivals.
Discussions are ongoing with regard to introducing a second iteration of the scheme to further assist impacted communities and I expect to make an announcement shortly.
The CLÁR Programme also provides funding for small-scale projects in designated rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population over a defined period. Since the Programme was relaunched in 2016, it has supported a wide range of measures.
Funding of €7.85m was allocated for the 2023 CLÁR programme an increase of €0.5m on 2022.
The 2023 Programme included measures to support:
Developing Community Facilities and Amenities (Measure 1)
Mobility, Cancer Care and Community First Responders Transport (Measure 2)
‘Our Islands’ (Measure 3)
I hope to launch the 2024 CLÁR programme in the coming months subject to budgetary discussions and a review of measures to be included.
The inclusion of sensory spaces in applications for funding under these schemes will be considered in line with the conditions pertaining to each scheme in any given year.
664. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if the rules, terms and conditions of the community services scheme administered by Pobal explicitly exclude community organisations that operate as branches of a national body (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8995/24]
View answerMy Department's Community Services Programme (CSP) currently supports over 430 community-based organisations to provide local social, economic and environmental services through a social enterprise model, providing a contribution towards the cost of CSP supported staff in organisations. The programme is administered, on my Department's behalf, by Pobal.
The vision of the CSP is to support community organisations that operate to a social purpose to provide services that meet identified needs and provide employment locally contributing to sustainable, inclusive and empowered communities.
The CSP programme specification, available on the Pobal website, states that eligible organisations must:
• Have a registered office based in the Republic of Ireland.
• Be a community and voluntary sector organisation, i.e. operating on a “not-for-profit” basis for the benefit of the community they serve.
• Be incorporated e.g. be a company limited by guarantee or co-operative which is registered with the Companies Registration Office and the Registrar of Friendly Societies (for co-operatives).
• Have a governing body such as a board or committee and a governing document that has been formally adopted by the organisation.
• Be tax compliant i.e. be registered with Revenue and obtained a tax clearance certificate. Newly formed organisations need to have completed their registration and requirements with Revenue before application for a grant.
By the above definition, organisations are independent with their own governance and accountability, with their own specific registration numbers and have their own tax clearance registration and certification.
In relation to branches or sub-offices of national organisations, these would be required to meet the above criteria and hold their own details. Some organisations, such as those referred to, may have local branches which may not be individually set up as an entities in their own right and as such fall under the national governing body, while other local branches of organisations may have legal and financial independence from a national body. All such organisations would be required to be considered on a case-by-case basis.
In addition, the CSP Interim Programme Manual outlines costs deemed not eligible under the programme as these are considered to be more appropriately supported by other departments and state agencies responsible for specific policy areas. These services include the provision of medical services, care assistants, occupational therapists, community development workers and youth workers.
The Scheme to Support National Organisations in the community and voluntary sector, also administered by my department, provides multi-annual funding towards the core costs of national organisations in Ireland. Affiliated member groups, sub-groups or local branches of national organisations, or regional or local organisations, are not eligible to apply for the Scheme. The current iteration of the Scheme commenced on 1 July 2022 and will run for a three year period, to 30 June 2025.
