Monday, 11 Sep 2017

Written Answers Nos. 1729-1748

Community Banking

Questions (1729, 1733, 1737)

Joan Burton

Question:

1729. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the public banking investigation will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37769/17]

Willie Penrose

Question:

1733. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the public banking investigation will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37976/17]

Joan Burton

Question:

1737. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the public banking investigation will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38101/17]

Written answers

Minister for Rural and Community Development

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1729, 1733 and 1737 together.

The Programme for a Partnership Government envisaged that An Post, the Irish League of Credit Unions and other interested stakeholders would be asked to investigate and propose a new model of community banking, such as the Kiwibank model in New Zealand, which could be delivered through the post office network. The Programme for Government also includes a commitment to investigate the German Sparkassen model for the development of local public banks that operate within well-defined regions.

My officials have been working actively with the Department of Finance over the last number of months to progress these commitments.  In addition, a public consultation process, seeking views on the community banking model, was launched in early March and ran for four weeks. A total of 16 replies were received from a range of stakeholders and all submissions have been reviewed and considered.  My officials, along with officials from the Department of Finance, also met with the Sparkassen Foundation for International Co-operation in relation to the German Sparkassen model in particular and obtained detailed information from that organisation.

The Departmental officials are currently finalising a report on the merits of establishing a local public banking model in Ireland. This work is nearing completion and a report will be submitted to me and to the Minister for Finance shortly.  I envisage that the report will by submitted to Government for consideration prior to any decision regarding publication.

Departmental Data

Questions (1730)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

1730. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the location of the headquarters of his Department; the number of civil servants based there; the number of civil servants based in each other location that his Department has an office; the town each one of these offices is located in; the reason that the headquarters of his Department are not located in a rural area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37869/17]

Written answers

Minister for Rural and Community Development

The Department of Rural and Community Development was established following the enactment of the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 2017 on the 19 July 2017.

The functions which transferred to my Department include the Rural Division from the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaelteacht, the Community Division from the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government and Charities Regulatory Authority from the Department of Justice and Equality.

Negotiations are on-going with these Departments and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to determine the final staffing complement. 

The Department is currently based in a number of locations around the country including Dublin. The Department will be headquartered in Dublin, with a significant staffing complement in Ballina, Co. Mayo. The three Departments from which the new Department is being formed have already significant operations in Dublin.

Discussions are on-going with the Office of Public Works around permanent accommodation arrangements for the Dublin-based staff. 

Local Improvement Scheme Administration

Questions (1731, 1739, 1740)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

1731. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the position regarding the local improvement scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37908/17]

Pat the Cope Gallagher

Question:

1739. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the timeframe for implementing the newly announced local improvement scheme, LIS; the timeframe for grant approvals; the date for works completion by the local authority; the national budget for the LIS programme for 2017; the ratio mechanism for dividing the budget by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38339/17]

Dara Calleary

Question:

1740. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he will extend the 14 September 2017 deadline for submission of potential projects for funding under the new local improvement scheme, LIS, scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38344/17]

Written answers

Minister for Rural and Community Development

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1731, 1739 and 1740 together.

I am currently in the process of examining the possibility of introducing a Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) in 2017 to support the maintenance and improvement of non-public roads and laneways, many of which are in rural areas.  In this regard, my Department wrote to relevant Local Authorities recently to establish the level of demand for such a scheme and the capacity of the Local Authorities to complete works under a scheme by the end of this year.

Local Authorities were asked to provide information to my Department by 14 September to assist me in making an informed decision regarding the potential impact and feasibility of introducing an LIS, and subject to the necessary funding being available. It is not possible to extend this deadline if decisions are to be made around the possibility of introducing a scheme this year and making funding available quickly from the 2017 funding envelope.

I will consider the issue of the level of funding and disbursement arrangements in full on receipt of the information requested from the Local Authorities.

Local Improvement Scheme Administration

Questions (1732)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

1732. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the reason a short timeframe was given to local authorities to assess the level of demand for the local improvement scheme (details supplied); if he has given consideration to extending the timeframe for same in view of the fact that demand will have risen significantly and therefore persons and local representatives will need sufficient time to process applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37965/17]

Written answers

Minister for Rural and Community Development

I am currently in the process of examining the possibility of introducing a Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) in 2017 to support the maintenance and improvement of non-public roads and laneways, many of which are in rural areas.  In this regard, my Department wrote to relevant Local Authorities recently to establish the level of demand for such a scheme and the capacity of the Local Authorities to complete works under a scheme by the end of this year.

Local Authorities were asked to provide information to my Department by 14 September to assist me in making an informed decision regarding the potential impact and feasibility of introducing an LIS, and subject to the necessary funding being available. It is not possible to extend this deadline if decisions are to be made around the possibility of introducing a scheme this year and making funding available quickly from the 2017 funding envelope.

I will consider the issue of the level of funding and disbursement arrangements in full on receipt of the information requested from the Local Authorities.

Question No. 1733 answered with Question No. 1729.

Brexit Staff

Questions (1734, 1735, 1755, 1756, 1757, 1758, 1759, 1760, 1761, 1762, 1763, 1764, 1765)

Joan Burton

Question:

1734. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if there is a senior official with designated responsibility for Brexit matters in his Department; if so, the grade of the designated official; the funding allocated to the Brexit unit; the cost to date; the anticipated cost; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37998/17]

Joan Burton

Question:

1735. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of staff deployed full time in his Department in respect of Brexit; if there is a designated section or unit to deal with Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38014/17]

Stephen Donnelly

Question:

1755. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the development of sectorial response plans to Brexit, the publication date of these plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38700/17]

Stephen Donnelly

Question:

1756. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the issues identified for consideration in the context of Brexit including opportunities and their prioritisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38716/17]

Stephen Donnelly

Question:

1757. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the details of issues identified for consideration in the context of Brexit including threats and their prioritisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38732/17]

Stephen Donnelly

Question:

1758. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the scenario planning that has been conducted by his Department for Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38748/17]

Stephen Donnelly

Question:

1759. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the methodology employed in the prioritisation of responses to Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38764/17]

Stephen Donnelly

Question:

1760. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the funds that have been requested in response to threats resulting from Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38780/17]

Stephen Donnelly

Question:

1761. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the funds have been allocated in response to threats resulting from Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38812/17]

Stephen Donnelly

Question:

1762. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of vacancies in his Department for Brexit-related roles; the expected date for these rolls to be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38828/17]

Stephen Donnelly

Question:

1763. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development his Department’s priorities for risk mitigation in response to Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38844/17]

Stephen Donnelly

Question:

1764. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the membership and role of all Brexit-related stakeholder engagement groups working with his Department on Brexit issues; the number of times each stakeholder group has met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38860/17]

Stephen Donnelly

Question:

1765. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the Brexit-related research currently being undertaken by his Department; the topics under consideration; the date this research commenced; the expected date for completion and publication in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38892/17]

Written answers

Minister for Rural and Community Development

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1734, 1735 and 1755 to 1765, inclusive, together.

My colleague the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr. Simon Coveney, T.D., has the primary responsibility for leading on Brexit negotiations. My Department is contributing on an ongoing basis to discussions and providing policy advice relevant to its remit as and when required.

The comprehensive document “Ireland and the negotiations on the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union: The Government’s Approach”, published on 2 May, outlined in detail the structures put in place by the Government to ensure a strategic and whole-of-Government response to Brexit that ensures a co-ordinated approach to the identification of key priority issues for the EU-UK negotiations and the wider domestic response.

Since the publication of the comprehensive document, the Government has sought to further increase its strategic oversight of Brexit through the addition of a dedicated responsibility for Brexit matters to the role of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade. The Cabinet Committee structures have also been reformed and new Cabinet Committees relating respectively to the Economy, and EU Affairs, including Brexit and the Economic Response to Brexit, have been established to provide an opportunity for cross-departmental input into the issues.   

My Department of Rural and Community Development has been established to deliver on the Government’s commitment to bring a greater degree of coordination and cohesion to all of the work of Government in so far as it impacts on rural Ireland.  The impact of Brexit on regional and rural businesses and on communities is relevant across a number of policy areas of my Department. In this context, considerations around the impact of Brexit are shared across different policy areas, rather than being assigned to a single Unit.

In addition, my role in the Cabinet Committee on the Economy gives me a specific forum to raise issues for Rural Ireland relating to the Economy, Jobs, the Labour Market, Competitiveness, Productivity, Trade, the Action Plan on Rural Development and the Digital Economy, including managing and mitigating the risks associated with Brexit.

Question No. 1736 answered with Question No. 1728.

Question No. 1737 answered with Question No. 1729.

Action Plan for Rural Development Expenditure

Questions (1738)

Niall Collins

Question:

1738. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he will provide a breakdown of all moneys expended by his Department in promoting and launching the Action Plan for Rural Development; the costs associated with advertising, design work, photography, event staging and venue hire; the cost of creating the website and maintenance costs for the year, in tabular form; his Department’s budgetary allocation for promotional activities in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38302/17]

Written answers

Minister for Rural and Community Development

The Action Plan for Rural Development was launched in Ballymahon, Co. Longford, in January 2017.  The costs associated with the launch and promotion of the Action Plan as requested by the Deputy over the year to date is set out in the table below.

My officials are currently in the process of finalising the Vote for my new Department with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, and budget lines for specific activities will be agreed in that context.  At this stage, however, I do not envisage that significant additional costs associated with the promotion of the Action Plan for Rural Development will be incurred over the remainder of the year.

Item	Cost
Advertising	Nil
Design Work	€21,017.14
Photography	€150.00
Video Production	€10,608.75
Event Staging & Venue Hire	€3,611.28
Creating Website & Ongoing Update/Maintenance	€16,410.45

Questions Nos. 1739 and 1740 answered with Question No. 1731.

Leader Programmes Data

Questions (1741)

Dara Calleary

Question:

1741. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of Leader applications received via Leader companies by month in 2016 and for the first six months of 2017, by company; the number of these applications that were ineligible; the combined monthly value of applications submitted for each company; the number of these applications that have been sanctioned for payment which have been paid; the number of these applications that have been sanctioned for payment which have not been paid; the time of payment delay in each case of sanctioned application that has not been paid; the reasons for the delay in drawing down Leader funding in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38345/17]

Written answers

Minister for Rural and Community Development

LEADER plays a valuable role in supporting rural development and is an important part of the Government's Action Plan for Rural Development.  I am committed to implementing the LEADER programme as effectively as possible. However, I am also conscious that concerns were raised earlier this year by project promoters and Local Action Groups regarding the implementation of the programme.

In light of those concerns, a forum was held on 17 May last with participants from all of the Local Action Groups and the Local Development Companies delivering LEADER to explore how improvements could be made. The forum was very productive and participants identified a number of areas where they felt procedures could be streamlined. Arising from the forum, my Department has introduced a series of measures to improve administrative procedures in the delivery of the LEADER Programme.

The amount of funding approved by the Local Action Groups for projects has increased significantly in the last two months, with €6.2 million having been approved since July compared to €0.9 million in the first six months of the year.  This funding will be drawn down as projects start to incur expenditure and submit payment claims. There has been no undue delay in the processing of approved project payment claims submitted to date to my Department.

It has not been possible, in the time available, to compile the detailed information requested by the Deputy in relation to individual Local Action Groups.  However, the total number of Expressions of Interest received under the LEADER programme to date is in excess of 5,500. I understand that approximately 10% of these have been deemed ineligible by the Local Action Groups.

I have asked my officials to collate the information at the level requested by the Deputy and I will ensure that this information is provided in accordance with Dáil Standing Orders.  

Question No. 1742 answered with Question No. 1706.

Town and Village Renewal Scheme

Questions (1743)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

1743. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of an application under the town and village renewal scheme by a group (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38371/17]

Written answers

Minister for Rural and Community Development

The 2017 Town and Village Renewal Scheme was launched on 13 April last, with a focus on improving the economic development of our rural towns and villages. The scheme will support up to 300 towns and villages over the next 12 months.  

The closing date for applications was 30 June 2017 and there was a high level of interest in the programme.  I can confirm that an application for funding in respect of the project referred to by the Deputy was submitted for consideration.

The assessment of applications under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme is nearing completion and I hope to be in a position to announce the successful projects shortly.

Question No. 1744 answered with Question No. 1706.

Scheme to Support National Organisations

Questions (1745)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

1745. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the allocation to men's sheds over each of the past ten years. [38402/17]

Written answers

Minister for Rural and Community Development

I am advised that prior to 2014, no applications were received from the Irish Men’s Sheds Association Ltd. for funding under the Scheme to Support National Organisations in the Community and Voluntary sector. The Irish Men’s Sheds Association Ltd successfully applied for funding under the 2014-2016 iteration of the Scheme.  The scheme ran from 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2016 and the organisation was allocated €175,950 over this 24 month period.

The current scheme commenced on 1 July 2016 to run for a three year period. I am advised that the Men’s Sheds Association did not apply for funding under the current scheme.

My Department’s Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) provides support to local community groups under Goal 1 of SICAP. The focus of Goal 1 is to support and resource disadvantaged communities and marginalised target groups to engage with relevant local and national stakeholders in identifying and addressing social exclusion and equality issues. The Goal Objectives are:

- To support and promote the community engagement of disadvantaged target groups across the life-cycle;

- To support the development of local community groups which promote equality and social inclusion in a local, regional or national context;

- To support disadvantaged communities and individuals to enhance their participation in local, regional and national decision-making structures;

- To develop and facilitate strategic collaborative frameworks and networks as part of a dialogue for developing solutions to social exclusion.

SICAP commenced on 1 April 2015 and continues until 31 December 2017.

Activities recorded to date show:

- 42 Programme Implementers recorded activity to support the men’s sheds;

- 182 Men’s Sheds supported;

- 8 Women’s Sheds supported;

- 1,729 support interventions have been provided to these groups since the start of SICAP.  Interventions included: support to leverage funding, Capacity building and organisational development, Collective Action, Pre development and group formation, Participation in local, regional or national decision-making structures and Social Enterprise;

- 5 groups received a small grant (total amount: €4,387).

In addition to the supports above and outside of SICAP a once off grant of €15,000 was provided in 2016 to support the build costs of a Men’s Shed.

Departmental Funding

Questions (1746)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

1746. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the allocation to the women's networks over each of the past ten years. [38403/17]

Written answers

Minister for Rural and Community Development

Payments issued to the Women’s networks under my Department’s former Community Development Programme (CDP) and Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP) for the period 2007 to 2010 are outlined in Appendix 1 and payments for the period 2011 to 2017 under the LCDP are outlined in Appendix 2.

During 2010, the then Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs led out on a programme of structural reform, involving, inter alia, the integration of community development projects with local development companies throughout the country.  As part of that process a number of alternative integration models were proposed. The National Collective of Community Women's Networks (NCCWN) submitted a proposal to the Department which would see it (the NCCWN) as the integrating body for the 17 Women’s CDPs (see Appendix 3). The proposal was accepted by the Department.  From 2011, the then Department’s contract for the delivery of the LCDP was with the NCCWN and it no longer had any contractual or other connection to the CDPs in question.

Since 2015, the NCCWN and the National Traveller Women's Forum have been funded and administered by the Department of Justice and Equality. My Department also provides funding for a number of Women’s organisations through the Scheme to Support National Organisations (SSNO) which aims to provide multi-annual funding to national organisations towards core costs associated with the provision of services. The Scheme commenced in 2008, and total allocations are provided on a multiannual basis for the period of each iteration of the scheme as outlined in Appendix 4.

My Department also provides annual funding to members of the Community and Voluntary Pillar to support costs, not funded from any other sources, directly related to the organisations’ contribution to policy-making. The National Women’s Council of Ireland is a member of the Pillar, and the table below outlines funding provided since 2008.

Year	Funding provided (€)
2008	55,000
2009	52,800
2010	48,576
2011	20,000
2012	20,000
2013	18,840
2014	18,840
2015	18,840
2016	18,840
2017	18,840

Appendix 1

Project	2007 CDP Core Funding and Grants	2008 CDP Core Funding and Grants	2009 CDP Core Funding and Grants	2010 Core Funding, Grants and windup costs	2011 Once off Grants
Claremorris Women's Group	€27,527.00	€28,310.00	€25,016.00	€25,016.01	€0.00
Women Community Project Mullingar	€60,875.00	€119,832.00	€106,570.40	€119,703.22	€0.00
Bawnogue Women's	€60,150.00	€82,300.00	€69,628.00	€69,627.69	€0.00
Northwest Inner City Women's Network	€55,125.00	€98,852.00	€79,612.31	Discontinued under LCDP	Discontinued under LCDP
Tralee Women's CFG	€55,250.00	€109,164.00	€102,374.00	€102,373.52	€0.00
North Wall Women's Centre	€70,500.00	€89,625.00	€71,000.00	€71,000.00	€0.00
Limerick Women's Network	€86,440.50	€100,761.15	€86,931.00	€93,000.00	€0.00
Roscommon Women's Network	€89,628.00	€94,994.00	€90,746.00	€90,745.73	€1,210.00
Independent Mothers Project	€91,989.00	€82,630.48	€84,649.00	€51,194.61	€0.00
Southwest Kerry Women's Network	€98,729.00	€118,000.00	€104,265.00	€104,264.81	€0.00
Rowlagh Women's Group	€110,327.00	€129,510.00	€113,366.00	€113,365.89	€1,621.86
Clare Women's Network	€104,000.00	€127,480.00	€91,091.00	€95,000.01	€2,278.50
Women Together, Tallaght	€109,886.00	€106,000.00	€83,518.54	€84,363.85	€0.00
Dochas for Women CFG	€107,000.00	€114,000.00	€100,730.00	€100,730.40	€1,938.18
Southside Women's Network	€131,110.00	€127,000.00	€112,217.00	€111,092.21	€2,659.00
National Traveller Women's Forum	€107,474.00	€110,135.00	€108,321.00	€108,804.91	€0.00
North Leitrim Women's Group	€113,109.00	€117,000.00	€105,681.80	€102,363.20	€600.00
Women of the North West	€111,739.00	€129,995.00	€114,864.00	€47,209.00	€2,420.00
Clondalkin Women's Network	€132,244.00	€121,000.00	€105,366.00	€113,851.86	€1,971.08
Donegal Women's Network	€127,589.41	€126,401.72	€111,334.00	€119,818.60	€1,550.29
Access 2000, Wexford	€143,302.00	€136,400.00	€120,523.00	€120,523.05	€948.43
Waterford Women's Centre	€216,688.00	€140,700.00	€124,323.00	€124,322.53	€1,520.00
Ronanstown Women's CDP	€143,710.00	€114,898.70	€118,946.21	€123,186.00	€463.00
Women's Aid	€200,000.00	€204,894.00	€167,620.09	€181,041.18	€0.00
NCCWN				€10,250.00

Appendix 2

Networks	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017
NCCWN	€1,721,108	€1,498,194	€1,362,601	**€1,344,620	*€314,305.00	*Nil	*Nil
Women’s Aid (Transferred to SSNO from July 2014)	€167,895	€106,238	€131,114	**€72,334.50	Nil	Nil	Nil
National Travellers Women’s Forum (NTWF Transferred to SSNO from July 2014)	€105,137	€91,469	€83,237	**€60,259	Nil	Nil	Nil
North Wall Women’s Centre	€68,927	€59,967	€55,769	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Tralee Women’s Resource Centre	€99,451	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil
Waterford Women's Centre	Nil	Nil	Nil	Nil	€15,000	Nil	Nil

*2015 Full year allocation was €1.3 Million, funded under the LCDP from 1 January to 31 March 2015 with the remainder paid by the Department of Justice and Equality.

**Funding vired to Scheme to Support National Organisations (SSNO) as set out below

- NCCWN             €32,024

- Women's Aid      €31,583

- NTWF                €33,637

 Appendix 3

List of Women’s projects funded under the LCDP by NCCWN:

1. Access 2000 Wexford

2. Blayney Blades

3. Clare Women’s Network

4. Claremorris Women’s Group

5. Clondalkin Women’s Network

6. Dochas for Women

7. Donegal Women’s Network

8. Limerick Women’s Network

9. Women’s Community Projects, Mullingar

10. North Leitrim Women’s Resource Centre

11. Ronanstown Women’s CDP

12. Roscommon Women’s Network

13. Rowlagh Women’s Group

14. Southside Women’s Action Network

15. Southwest Kerry Women’s Association

16. Waterford Women’s Centre

17. Women Together Tallaght Network

Appendix 4

Scheme to Support National Organisations (SSNO)	National Collective of Community Based Women’s Networks (NCCWN)	National Traveller Women’s Forum	National Women’s Council of Ireland	Women’s Aid
2008-2011	167,760	167,760	221,570	0
2011-2014	114,259	114,259	0	0
2014-2016	160,122	168,185	151,382	157,914
2016-2019	0	0	270,000	239,584

Question No. 1747 answered with Question No. 1712.

Question No. 1748 answered with Question No. 1713.