Value for Money Reviews.

Tuesday, 1 July 2008

Questions (297, 298)

Tom Hayes

Question:

365 Deputy Tom Hayes asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the measures agreed for his Department under the Value for Money Review 2006-08; the projects which had the necessary changes made; when they are planned for completion; if a value for money review is planned after 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25854/08]

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Written answers

Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív)

The following is the position for my Department regarding VFM reviews under the current round:

(1) Drugs Initiative — Local Drugs Task Forces — Completed and laid before the Oireachtas

(2) Scéimeanna Feabhsúcháin sa Ghaeltacht (Gaeltacht Improvement Schemes) — Completed and laid before the Oireachtas.

(3) Capital Programme for Offshore Islands — Completed and laid before the Oireachtas.

(4) Ciste na Gaeilge (Fund for Irish Language Projects) — In final stages of completion — publication expected shortly.

(5) Local Development Social Inclusion Programme — In final stages of completion — publication expected shortly.

(6) CLÁR and RAPID: Leveraged Funding Schemes — Target for completion end-2008.

In addition to the six VFM reviews above, my Department commenced last year a policy review of the Young People's Facilities and Services Fund, which operates under the Drugs Initiative. This review is expected to be completed shortly. A review of the Western Investment Fund is also scheduled to commence shortly.

The three priority recommendations arising from the completed review of the Local Drugs Task Forces have been implemented. Work is ongoing in relation to the final recommendation, in liaison with the HSE and the Department of Health and Children.

With regard to the Scéimeanna Feabhsúcháin review, six of the recommendations have been implemented or are in the course of implementation. A number of others are being considered within the context of the recently completed Report of the Linguistic Study of the Use of Irish in the Gaeltacht.

Arising from the Scéimeanna Feabhsúcháin review and the recently completed review of the Capital Programme for Offshore Islands, my Department implemented a significant re-alignment of work practices/processes within the relevant Departmental sections. Issues raised in the Islands Review in relation to the support of sustainable energy planning and development are being addressed in co-operation with Sustainable Energy Ireland (including the commissioning of a pilot study on energy use on na hOileáin Árann). The need for project management support is being addressed through provision of relevant training, while the development of a suite of performance monitoring indicators is also being advanced.

I understand that arrangements for the next round of reviews, which may cover the period 2009-2011, are being considered by the Value for Money and Policy Review Central Steering Committee.

Tom Hayes

Question:

366 Deputy Tom Hayes asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the amount of funding that has been approved for projects in south Tipperary since June 2007 to date in 2008; the projects it has been approved for; the amount of funding that has been approved for projects in the whole country since June 2007 to date in 2008; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25865/08]

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Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív)

In response to the Deputy's request, a total of €4.217m in funding has been approved by my Department for projects in South Tipperary from June 2007 to date in 2008 across a wide range of measures, programmes and schemes.

The table outlines the distribution of this funding and the projects approved. Information in relation to the funding allocations for my Department in 2008 can be obtained from the Revised Estimates for Public Services 2008. In relation to the specific data requested by the Deputy, the following is the position:

Amount of funding approved in South Tipperary from June 2007 to date in 2008	The Projects that the funding was approved for
€
Total: 91,950	RAPID Sports Capital Top Up Grants:
15,000	Carrick-on-Suir Rugby Football Club
21,000	Carrick United AFC Ltd
4,500	Sean Kelly Sports Centre
450	St. Nicholas Boxing Club
600	Clonmel Boxing Club
30,000	Clonmel óg Hurling & Football Club
12,000	Canon Hayes Recreation Centre
2,400	Clanwilliam Football Club
6,000	St. Michael’s AFC
Total: 132,000	RAPID Playgrounds 2007/2008:
66,000	Clonmel Town Council
66,000	Carrick-on-Suir
Total: 45,000	RAPID Local Authority Housing Estate Enhancement Scheme:
45,000	Carrick-on-Suir Town Council
Total: 556,954	Community Development Programme:
49,500	Clonmel Travellers Action Project
233,206	Knockanrawley Resource Centre
135,757	The Suir CDP
138,491	Tipperary Travellers CDP
Total: 443,420	Local Development Social Inclusion Programme:
443,420	Clonmel Community Partnership Ltd. under the Local Development Social Inclusion Programme (LDSIP)
Total: 84,050.73	CLÁR:
63,930	3 LIS roads
7,500	1 School outdoor play facility
5,620.73	2 Three phase Electricity installations
7,000	1 set of Flashing amber safety lights
Total: 324,750	National Organisations — White Paper:
85,750 (2007)	Muintir na Tire
239,000 (2008)*
Total: 133,200	Volunteering — White Paper:
133,200	South Tipperary Volunteer Centre
Total: 96,000	Review of Schemes:
96,000	The funding was allocated to the South Tipperary Integrated Structure Steering Committee
Total: 712,355	Drugs Projects:
18,097	Alcohol & Substance Misuse Campaign
5,000	Parent to Parent Brochure
119,322	Substance Misuse Counsellor
100,000	Outreach Worker — Sth Tipperary
356,000	Aiseiri Addiction Treatment Centre
113,936	Family Support Development Worker — covers all of the SE RDTF region, including South Tipperary
Total: 74,686	Programme of Grants for Locally-Based Community and Voluntary Organisations
34,686.00	Muintir Na Tíre
40,000.00	Newcastle Community CouncilClonmel Community Resource Centre
Total: 37,597.62	Scheme of Community Support for older People
2,082.93	Ballyneale Community Alert
964.00	Racecourse Community Alert
15,090.80	Carers Association Clonmel
3,811.89	Faugheen Aheeny Community Alert
1,188.00	SVDP Conference of St Nicholas
3,100.00	Emly Tuesday Club
4,080.00	Cahir Community Alert
4,525.00	Knockavilla Community Council/Alert
2,755.00	Vee Valley Community Alert
Total: 788,862	Community Services Programme
249,186	Cahir Development Association Limited
202,990	Cahir Park AFC
133,696	Gallowglass Theatre Limited
202,990	Tipperary Technology Park
Total: 369,000	Dormant Accounts:
33,000	Knockanrawley Resource Centre
30,000	Tipperary Community Hostel Project Ltd
15,000	Childcare Initiative — Ballylynch Development Project
22,000	CBS Primary School, John Street, Carrick on Suir
10,000	Three Drives Family Resource Centre
10,000	Knockanrawley Resource Centre — Research Profile
15,000	Knockanrawley Resource Centre — Eco Building Project
125,000	Clonmel Community Partnership Limited
5,000	Tipperary Excel Heritage Company Limited
5,000	C J Kickham Brass Band Limited
10,000	Gaelscoil Charraig na Siuire
15,000	Suir Community Development Project Limited
10,000	Nano Nagle Community Resource Centre
14,000	Presentation Primary School Carrick-on-Suir
10,000	Carrick-on-Suir Tourism and Economic Development Committee
10,000	Nano Nagle Community Resource Centre
30,000	Three Drives Family Resource Centre

*Indicative level of funding only.

For completeness, I should add that my Department has provided a total of €327,320 to Tipperary Leader and Barrow Nore Suir Leader Group for projects across Tipperary, under the LEADER programmes during the period in question. My Department also provides funding to both these groups for the implementation of the Rural Social Scheme in Tipperary. There are currently 84 participants on the Rural Social Scheme in Co. Tipperary.