Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 10 February 2009
401 Deputy Tom Hayes asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the anticipated expenditure on foot of applications received for grant aid under the CLÁR programme for South Tipperary in 2009; the extent to which these applications are expected to be met in full; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4223/09]
View answer403 Deputy Tom Hayes asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the number and nature of applications from various groups in South Tipperary for grant aid under the RAPID or CLÁR programmes currently in hand; the degree to which it is intended to meet these requirements in full in 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4226/09]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 401 and 403 together.
The CLÁR Programme was set up as an innovative programme to deal with the infrastructure deficits in the most peripheral communities in Ireland, to qualify under the CLÁR Programme, an area had to have lost since 1926 an average of 35% of population. The CLÁR programme is constantly addressing the new challenges faced by small rural communities and is being continuously refocused to deal with the most urgent infrastructural deficits especially in the current economic climate.
To date only one application for funding has been received from South Tipperary in 2009. This application is for funding under the CLÁR Primary School Outdoor Play Facilities Enhancement Scheme. A decision will be made in the case as soon as possible and the Deputy will be informed of the outcome.
RAPID
The RAPID Programme aims to ensure that priority attention is given to tackling the spatial concentration of poverty and social exclusion within the 46 designated RAPID areas. In addition, the RAPID leverage schemes support small-scale projects identified locally by the Area Implementation Teams in each of the RAPID areas. These schemes are co-funded by the relevant agencies and fund projects that focus on estate enhancement, graffiti removal, traffic calming, community closed-circuit television, health and sports facilities, and the provision of playgrounds and multi-use games areas.
My Department is currently assessing three claims under the RAPID Leverage Schemes for RAPID areas in South Tipperary: one claim under the Local Authority Housing Estate Enhancement Scheme for Clonmel; one claim under the Playgrounds Scheme for Clonmel and one claim under the Playgrounds Scheme for Carrick-on-Suir. It is expected that these will be paid in 2009 if the claims are found to be in order.
Applications for funding under the Physical Environment Improvement Scheme closed on Friday last, January 30th. These applications are currently being assessed and an announcement will follow when this process has been completed.
402 Deputy Tom Hayes asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the projected expenditure on foot of applications received for grant aid under the RAPID programme for South Tipperary in 2009; the extent to which these applications are expected to be met in full; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4224/09]
View answerThe RAPID Programme aims to ensure that priority attention is given to tackling the spatial concentration of poverty and social exclusion within the 46 designated RAPID areas. In addition, the RAPID leverage schemes support small-scale projects identified locally by the Area Implementation Teams in each of the RAPID areas. These schemes are co-funded by the relevant agencies and fund projects that focus on estate enhancement, graffiti removal, traffic calming, community closed-circuit television, health and sports facilities, and the provision of playgrounds and multi-use games areas.
As I have indicated to the House on a number of occasions, it is a matter for individual Departments to report on the provision of funding and progress on delivery with respect to projects under their responsibility in the RAPID areas. In support, Pobal collects data from each RAPID area in respect of funding allocations received by projects from Government Departments and local state agencies. The latest data in respect of the programme is available on Pobal's website under the RAPID section (http://www.pobal.ie/live/RAPID). The Deputy may find it helpful to access this information.
I wish to inform the Deputy that applications for funding under the Physical Environment Improvement Scheme closed on Friday last, January 30th. These applications are currently being assessed and an announcement will follow when this process has been completed.
My Department is currently assessing three claims under the RAPID Leverage Schemes for RAPID areas in South Tipperary: one claim under the Local Authority Housing Estate Enhancement Scheme for Clonmel; one claim under the Playgrounds Scheme for Clonmel and one claim under the Playgrounds Scheme for Carrick-on-Suir. If paid in 2009 these claims will amount to €147,750.
However, given that the RAPID Leverage Scheme is a demand-led, bottom-up funding programme, it is not possible to predict accurately the extent of claims that will be lodged by RAPID areas in South Tipperary during 2009. However, I am satisfied that this year's allocation will be sufficient to enable further good progress to be made with small-scale co-funded projects in the South Tipperary RAPID areas.
404 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the progress made in securing a long-term replacement sponsor for the work carried out by a project (details supplied) in Dublin 8 prior to its closure in December 2008. [4250/09]
View answerThe Project to which the Deputy refers was funded under the Community Development Programme since 2004, receiving funding in excess of €371,000 under the Programme in that time. The Project was advised late last year by their auditors and legal advisors to close the Project, which occurred early December 2008.
Department officials are investigating alternative mechanisms for delivering on the Project's workplan for 2009 and beyond. In this regard meetings have recently taken place with local Projects and Groups and the Department is awaiting proposals.
405 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs when a decision will be made by his Department in relation to the grant applications regarding a centre (details supplied) in Dublin 8; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4251/09]
View answerUnder my Department's 2008 call for proposals under the Community Services Programme (CSP), an application has been received in respect of this project under the Services Strand. The Deputy will be aware that I have already announced decisions in respect of Community Facilities Strand last November. I intend to announce decisions in respect of applications under the Services and Enterprise Strands of the CSP later this month. This will include a decision in respect of the project in question.
At the end of 2008, some 423 projects have been approved for funding under the CSP at a cost of some €48.5m. Projects fall within three broad categories, namely, the operation of community halls and facilities; the delivery of services not otherwise provided locally, and support for community enterprise opportunities. The number of people that will be employed by these projects is estimated to reach 2,600 by the end of 2009.
406 Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if the CLÁR top up for sports clubs in CLÁR areas is available to qualifying clubs. [4320/09]
View answerSince the scheme commenced in 2002 the CLÁR programme has provided top up funding (up to 20% subject to overall public funding not exceeding 80%) to projects selected under the Sports Capital Grants Scheme run by the Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism and recommended for CLÁR support by that Department. More than €6.7m has been paid to sports clubs in CLÁR areas under the scheme to date and almost €2.8m approved to clubs still remains to claimed.
