Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 8 July 2015
236. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources if he will provide a list of each of the current grant schemes that are administrated by his Department and that are available to community groups or projects; the total amount paid for each of these schemes for each of the past four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27778/15]
View answerThere are a number of grant schemes administered either directly by my Department or on behalf of my Department by the agencies under its aegis, for which funding can be applied for by community groups and projects. I have set out in the following table details of the programmes and the web address where further information may be obtained.
|
Amount of Funding Paid |
|||||
|
Name of Grant Scheme |
Overview of Scheme |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
|
BenefIT 4 |
The BenefIT Programme, which is administered directly by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, is a key mechanism under the National Digital Strategy to raise awareness and drive digital adoption among citizens. It provides funding to community and voluntary organisations for the delivery of digital skills training to citizens in over 700 locations nationwide. www.dcenr.gov.ie/communications/knowledge+society/benefit/benefit+digital+skills+training+grant+scheme/ |
- |
- |
€1.52m |
€1.189m |
|
Better Energy Communities Programme |
This Programme is administered by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) on behalf of the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. It aims to encourage partnerships to improve the thermal and electrical efficiency of the building stock and energy poor homes and community facilities. The programme also incorporates an area based element, that targets clusters of energy poverty. www.seai.ie/grants/better_energy_communities |
- |
€ 5.9m |
€17.6m |
€23.65m |
|
Salmon Conservation Scheme* |
Salmon Conservation Funds are generated from the sale of salmon angling and commercial fishing licences which represents a major contribution by licence holders to wild salmon conservation. The revenue generated from the Salmon Conservation Fund is reinvested to promote the recovery of our salmon stocks and habitats taking into account project feasibility, funding availability and value for money considerations The fund is being managed by Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI). Fishery Owners, Angling Clubs, Commercial Fishers, and IFI are implementing projects throughout Ireland. Projects are assessed based on the river’s conservation limit status, its water quality (Q-value) and the maximum potential project benefits to the river with funding prioritised for those rivers in most need of rehabilitation. Full details of the scheme are available at www.fisheriesireland.ie/Salmon-Management/salmon-conservation-fund-application.html |
€0.2m |
€0.202m |
€0.231m |
€0.216m |
|
Midland Fisheries Fund* |
Angling clubs and organisations can access funding to undertake sustainable development works in the Midland Fisheries Group permit area. The fund has been created through angler contributions from the Permit Income received by IFI in the Midlands Fisheries Group permit area. Full details of the area and criteria are available at www.fisheriesireland.ie/Angling-Information/midland-fisheries-fund.html |
- |
- |
€0.05m |
€0.05m |
|
Co-op (Trout and Coarse Fisheries Development) Funds** |
On the formation of IFI, the Coarse and Trout Fisheries Development Societies (known as Co-ops) were abolished and funds remaining in these bodies were transferred to IFI. IFI have developed a scheme to redistribute the available funds to the areas from which the funds originated. Full details of the area and criteria are available at www.fisheriesireland.ie/Angling-Information/midland-fisheries-fund.html |
- |
- |
- |
€0.162m |
|
IFI Sponsorship Scheme*** |
The IFI Sponsorship Programme aims to increase awareness of IFI, its work, recreational angling and the inland fisheries resource. IFI may support events on the basis of: - Location and nature of the Event; - Potential of the Event to introduce new users to angling in an active capacity, i.e. not just as spectators; - Educate/Inform stakeholders of angling /environmental/commercial salmon fisheries/habitat issues; - Development of non-established Events. www.fisheriesireland.ie/Notices/inland-fisheries-ireland-2015-sponsorship-programme.html |
€0.015m |
€0.046m |
€0.076m |
€0.110m |
*The amounts above represent the funds awarded for the calendar years in question. Payment is dependent upon works being completed and may take a number of years due to reasons such as weather, access, etc.
**All funds were awarded and some funding remains to be paid out pending completion and claims for the project.
***The figures represent amounts awarded in the particular year. Payments occur over a number of years.
