Written Answers Nos. 181-200
181. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason the NDLS insist on the presentation of the new public services card for issuing learner permits; if other identification such as a passport is adequate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8842/18]
View answerIf I may first clarify a point, the Public Services Card (PSC) is currently required when presenting for the Driver Theory Test, and is not asked for as part of the application process for the learner permit.
Numerous Government Departments and agencies offer services to the public which require robust ID provisions. The consequence over many years has been that members of the public are put through a series of different and time-consuming processes in order to prove their identity when dealing with different public bodies.
In order to reduce this burden on both the citizen and the State, the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 - the legislative basis for the PSC - provided for all Government Departments and a range of public bodies, referred to in the Act as 'specified bodies', to request the PSC as part of transactions such as application processes. The intention was to enable people to have one point where they could verify their ID for public services, which they could then use to access other public services.
While the Road Safety Authority, which has responsibility for the National Driver Licensing Service, did not exist in 2005, it was later added to the list of 'specified bodies'.
The requirement introduced in June 2016 for applicants for the driver theory test to produce a PSC is part of the gradual roll-out of this ID process.
182. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his plans to launch a new sports capital programme in 2018; the expected date for such a launch; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8849/18]
View answerThe 2017 round of the Sports Capital Programme (SCP) closed for applications on the 24th February. By the closing date, a record number of 2,320 applications seeking €155 million in grants were received. In November and December last, Minister Ross and I announced €60m in allocations to a record 1,800 projects under the 2017 round of the SCP. Full details of all these allocations are available on my Department's website and the priority in the medium term will be on advancing these projects.
In relation to future rounds of the SCP, my Department is undertaking a review of the 2017 round with a view to making recommendations on how to improve the process for future calls. This work is also examining what is feasible in terms of the scale and timing of the next round. I expect this review to be complete in the coming months and an announcement regarding the next round will be made at that stage.
183. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport further to Parliamentary Question No. 519 of 21 January 2018, when works on an upgrade between the Rath roundabout and Kilmoon Cross on the N2 are expected to commence and conclude; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8851/18]
View answerAs indicated previously to the Deputy in relation to this section of road on the N2, as Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects is a matter for Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned. Within its capital budget, the assessment and prioritisation of individual projects is a matter in the first instance for TII in accordance with Section 19 of the Roads Act.
Noting the above position, I have referred the Deputy's question to TII for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you don't receive a reply within 10 working days.
184. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the waiting times for driving tests, by centre and county. [8876/18]
View answerThe information requested is available on the Road Safety Authority website at www.rsa.ie., and is updated weekly.
185. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport his views on imposing increased safety requirements on the use of quad bikes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8884/18]
View answerThere is already comprehensive legislation in place governing the use of scrambler bikes, quad bikes and similar small vehicles in a public place. For the purposes of the Road Traffic Acts, a "public place" means any public road, and any street, road or other place to which the public have access with vehicles whether as by right or by permission and whether subject to or free of charge. The use of such vehicles in other areas, such as in parks and on private land, is beyond the jurisdiction of my Department.
Where quad bikes and scramblers are used on public roads they are treated as any other mechanically propelled vehicle, and irrespective of engine capacity, they fall within the remit of road traffic legislation.
The user of such vehicles must have insurance, road tax and a driving licence, and must also wear a helmet, with severe penalties (including fixed charge notices, penalty points, fines and possible seizure of the vehicle) under road traffic laws for not being in compliance with these requirements.
Quad bikes, scramblers bikes and similar vehicles which are being used in a public place must also comply with the requirements of Regulations concerning roadworthiness, which cover essential matters such as brakes, steering, mirrors, safety glass, wipers, headlamps, rear lighting, indicators and reflectors. Vehicles which do not meet these requirements may not be driven in a public place under road traffic legislation.
Enforcement of all road traffic legislation is a matter for an Garda Síochána.
186. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the number of complaints received on an annual basis by Irish Rail, Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann in each of the years 2013 to 2017, in tabular form; the nature of these complaints; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8887/18]
View answerThe issue raised is a matter for Iarnród Éireann, Dublin Bus and Bus Éireann and I have forwarded the Deputy's question to the individual companies for direct reply. Please advise my private office if you do not receive a response within ten working days.
187. Deputy Danny Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a facility to test commercial and heavy goods vehicles will be provided in south County Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8923/18]
View answerUnder the Road Safety Authority Act 2006 (Conferral of Functions) Order 2006 (S.I. No. 477 of 2006), the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has responsibility for the operation, oversight, development, quality assurance and delivery of commercial vehicle roadworthiness testing arrangements.
I have therefore forwarded this Question to the RSA for direct reply to the Deputy. I would ask the Deputy to contact my office if a response has not been received within ten days.
188. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she will report on the regulation of the guardian ad litem service; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8886/18]
View answerI am working to reform the current Guardian ad litem arrangements for children in child care proceedings. The objectives of these reforms are to extend the Guardian ad litem system to benefit the greatest number of children and young people, and to provide a service that is high quality and sustainable into the future.
In response to the Joint Committee for Children and Youth Affairs recommendations that the new Guardian ad litem service be set up as a statutory independent body from the outset, I secured Government approval in December 2017 to establish a new national Guardian ad litem service within an Executive Office in my Department. This will be done on an interim basis with a view to longer term arrangements for the Executive Office being dealt with in the context of the proposed transition to a Family Courts system. I have revised the General Scheme of the Child Care (Amendment) Bill, published in January 2017, to reflect this change.
The revised General Scheme, which will be published on my Department’s website very shortly, also addresses further recommendations made by the Joint Committee in relation to providing an appropriate voice and equal opportunity to be heard for a child in child care proceedings and in respect of the status and powers of the Guardian ad litem.
I and my Department are working to finalise the Child Care (Amendment) Bill as early as possible in 2018. We are also advancing preparatory work on the establishment of the new Executive Office with a view to having it operational as soon as is practicable following enactment of the legislation.
189. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the membership, names and qualifications of the selection panel for the collaborative forum in relation to the Commission of Investigation into the Mother and Baby Homes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8920/18]
View answerAs I advised the House last week, I am in the process of setting up the Selection Panel to oversee the independent selection of representatives to a Collaborative Forum of former residents of mother and baby homes and related institutions.
The establishment of the Collaborative Forum is a new approach in the State’s response to the theme of “nothing about us without us” which emerged from my consultations with former residents and their advocates. This innovative approach will facilitate and empower former residents to actively contribute to decisions on matters of concern to them and their families.
I have published a Charter for the Forum which sets out the general functions of the Forum; provides a blueprint for its programme of work, and details key principles in the methodology and approach to be adopted in this important work.
The establishment of an effective selection process is essential to the successful commencement of this project. For this reason I have identified some key persons and organisations from the areas of human rights promotion and protection, former residents and their advocacy groups, and academics with professional experience in relevant areas.
My Department has made the necessary contacts and I am awaiting confirmation of a response from a number of those approached to assist in this process.
I hope to be in a position to announce more details of the selection panel by next week.
190. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if the orders of discovery have been wholly complied with by the religious congregations that are the subject of those orders further to the third interim report of the Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes, section 2.12. [8922/18]
View answerThe Commission of Investigation into Mother and Baby Homes and certain related matters is independent in the conduct of its investigations.
The issue raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for the Commission and I have no further information or role in this regard.
191. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the funding allocated for the upgrading of existing childcare accommodation in counties Cavan and Monaghan and the provision of new childcare facilities in 2017; the number of new childcare places provided; the funding drawn down by the end of 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8982/18]
View answer192. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the funding allocated for the upgrading of existing childcare accommodation and the provision of new childcare facilities in 2017; the number of new childcare places provided; the funding drawn down by the end of 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8983/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 191 and 192 together as they relate to 2017's Capital funding programmes for childcare, both nationally and in relation to Counties Cavan and Monaghan.
In 2017, €12.4m in total was made available for the 2017 Early Years and School Age Capital programmes, with a view to improving the quality and capacity of childcare services in Ireland. This amount was allocated in full following a competitive appraisal process.
An estimated 6,093 childcare places were created as a direct result of this funding.
The funding strands for 2017 Early Years and School Age Capital programmes were as follows:
Early Years Strand 1 - New places
Early Years Strand 2 - Building improvements and maintenance
Early Years Strand 3 - Natural Outdoor Play Area
School Age Childcare Strand A - Establishment of new SAC
School Age Childcare Strand B - Expansion of existing SAC
School Age Childcare Strand C - Improvement of existing SAC
The latest figures available (February 19th 2018) detail the total sum of contract values under both 2017 Early Years and School Age Capital programmes as €11,193,295.
|
Strand of capital funding |
Sum of Contract Value (19/2/18) |
|
Early Years Capital 2017_S1 |
€3,449,199.93 |
|
Early Years Capital 2017_S2 |
€2,094,840.47 |
|
Early Years Capital 2017_S3 |
€2,076,342.24 |
|
School Aged Childcare 2017_SA |
€1,340,711.35 |
|
School Aged Childcare 2017_SB |
€1,001,419.47 |
|
School Aged Childcare 2017_SC |
€1,190,781.60 |
|
Total |
€11,153,295.06 |
Per your query, as of 31st December 2017, a total of €10,804,758 of this had been drawn down.
|
Strand of capital funding |
Drawn-down (31/12/17) |
|
Early Years Capital 2017_S1 |
€3,204,538 |
|
Early Years Capital 2017_S2 |
€2,009,171 |
|
Early Years Capital 2017_S3 |
€1,977,702 |
|
School Aged Childcare 2017_SA |
€1,281,266 |
|
School Aged Childcare 2017_SB |
€957,527 |
|
School Aged Childcare 2017_SC |
€1,125,671 |
|
Total |
€10,804,758 |
The remaining balance awaiting draw-down at this point can in part be attributed to successful applicants not having reported on their capital works - and therefore not being able to complete draw-down - by year’s end, for which many applied for and received extensions in acknowledgement of their particular circumstances.
It should be noted that the 2018 Capital programmes, which are intended to operate on a significantly earlier and co-ordinated timeline for delivery, with appraisal decisions due in May 2018, should assist providers in achieving their goals of completing works and final draw-down by year's end.
With respect to your query regarding Cavan and Monaghan, I can inform you that, as of 19th February 2018, the total value of contracts issued under the 2017 Capital programmes in the two counties was €533,168.34.
This funding directly resulted in the creation of an estimated 230 new childcare places.
A breakdown of these figures is as follows:
|
Cavan and Monaghan |
Sum of Contract Value |
|
Early Years Capital 2017_Strand 1 |
€200,000.00 |
|
Early Years Capital 2017_Strand 2 |
€135,344.00 |
|
Early Years Capital 2017_Strand 3 |
€47,853.19 |
|
School Aged Childcare 2017_Strand A |
€19,599.00 |
|
School Aged Childcare 2017_Strand B |
€59,215.00 |
|
School Aged Childcare 2017_Strand C |
€71,157.15 |
|
Total |
€533,168.34 |
At present the application process for Early Years and School Age Capital 2018 is underway, and I hope that it can build on the successes of 2017's programmes, increasing the quality and capacity of childcare services in all counties in Ireland.
193. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the funding allocated for 2018 towards upgrading of existing childcare accommodation and the provision of new childcare facilities; the number of new childcare places to be provided with the assistance of such grant aid; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8984/18]
View answerThe budget allocated to Early Years and School Age Childcare Capital programmes for 2018 is €6.86 million. The programmes will operate under the following five strands:
Early Years Care and Education
Strand 1: New or expanding services; €50k maximum grant size
Strand 2: Essential maintenance; €20k maximum grant size
Strand 3: Natural outdoor play area; €7k maximum grant size
School Age Childcare
Strand 4: New or expanding services; €20k maximum grant size
Strand 5: Essential maintenance; €5k maximum grant size
Grant funding under each strand will be allocated in a competitive process, for which applications opened on 12th February 2018 and will remain open until 3pm on Friday 9th March 2018. Full details can be found in the applicant guidelines.
Of the five strands of funding available, Strands 1 (Early Years) and 4 (School Age) relate specifically to the creation of new childcare places. In predicting the outcomes of these strands at such an early stage, it is important to note that every application for funding is subject to a number of variables. For example, for Strand 1 (Early Years), applicants may apply for any amount between €20,000 and €50,000 in grant funding; for Strand 4 (School Age), the equivalent amount is between €3,000 and €20,000. Individual projects for these strands can exceed the maximum available grant but evidence of funding for the full project must be demonstrated.
Further to this, there is a large variance in the amount of childcare places that must be created per grant approved under each strand. In early years services, the age group for which places are being created is a significant factor. As you will be aware, childcare regulations require different staff ratios and floor-space per child. This is considered in the design of the Early Years capital programme so that, for example, under Strand 1 (Early Years), applicants must create a minimum of either 3 new places for 0-1 year olds, 5 new places for 1-3 year olds, or 11 new places for ECCE (3-5 year old) children.
For an applicant seeking funding under Strand 4 (School Age), the minimum amount of places to be created is determined by whether the project for which funding is sought is a relocation/expansion project (11 places), or a new build project (8 places).
At this early stage, and given the variables mentioned above, it is not possible to give an accurate prediction of the amount of new childcare places to be created under the Early Years and School Age Capital programmes in 2018. In particular, it will not be possible to estimate how many places might be created - and for which age groups - until the appraisal process is concluded in May 2018.
As the Minister I am committed to continuing to ensure access to high quality and affordable childcare. To this regard I ensured that childcare capacity was identified as a strategy priority in the recently published National Planning Framework which attracted additional funding of €250m in the National Development Plan. I am also committed to further research to comprehensively identify the capacity needs of the sector which may emerge over the next decade.
194. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the €1 million in funding secured for local improvement schemes in County Cork will be made available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8911/18]
View answerThe Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) is a programme for improvement works on small private/non public roads and has been funded in the past by the Department of the Environment and Local Government and subsequently by the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.
There has been very little funding available for this scheme in recent years due to constraints on public expenditure. However, I was very conscious of the underlying demand for the scheme in rural areas throughout the country.
I therefore announced the provision of €10 million to Local Authorities for a Local Improvement Scheme last September. Based on demand and the capacity of Local Authorities to complete works before the end of 2017, I allocated an additional €7.4 million to Local Authorities for LIS roads at the end of November.
€1 million was allocated to Co. Cork under the first LIS allocation in September 2017. An additional €151,985 was allocated to Co. Cork under the second round of allocations, bringing the overall allocation for Cork to €1,151,985 in 2017. Cork County Council drew down €1,055,313 of that allocation by the payments deadline of 31st December 2017.
It is clear that there is a continuing demand for LIS funding in rural communities across Ireland, and I have therefore secured an allocation of €10 million for the scheme in my Department's Estimate for 2018. I intend to announce details of the 2018 scheme, including the allocations for each county, later this month.
195. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development his plans for the development of programmes for which his Department has responsibility throughout the entire country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8965/18]
View answerThe Taoiseach’s decision to establish the Department of Rural and Community Development was an important one for communities throughout the country. It underlines the Government’s commitment to ensuring that the economic recovery can be felt by every community and that we build greater resilience for the future. My Department's role is to enable economic development through the creation of jobs and the infrastructure required to support those jobs, and to support our communities to become sustainable and desirable places to live, work and raise families.
Our vision is that all communities will have the opportunity to grow and develop economically and socially. To help bring this about, the Department will work across Government to:
- Create the conditions to support increased economic opportunities and local employment in all areas of the country
- Deliver schemes and programmes that support the revitalisation of towns and villages
- Improve access to services and social networks that ensure a high quality of life
- Enable communities disadvantaged by location or social issues to reach their full potential now and in the future
- Support all communities to be able to have a voice in shaping their own futures and addressing their common goals
Ireland is a dynamic place. Every day I see examples of the dynamism and ability to adapt that are happening right across Ireland. It is local communities which are driving and delivering economic growth regionally and throughout the entire country. The Government must enable and harness that potential and it is crucial that there is access to the services that are necessary to thrive in the 21st century economy.
The Government launched Project Ireland 2040 on 16 February last. This initiative emphasises social outcomes and values ahead of economic targets, and, outlines how Ireland should develop over the next 20 years, and where best to direct major capital spending. It prioritises the wellbeing of all of our people, wherever they live, and whatever their background, and it is a plan for both rural and urban Ireland.
In Budget 2018, my Department secured in excess of €220 million giving us the foundation we need to drive both the rural and community agenda and to deliver initiatives that can foster growth right across the country.
My Department delivers a variety of programmes that provide support for the sustainable development of communities in line with commitments in the Programme for Partnership Government and the Action Plan for Rural Development. These schemes and programmes include flagship programmes such as the LEADER and the Social Inclusion and Community Activation (SICAP) Programmes, the Community Services Programme, RAPID, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme, the CLÁR Programme, the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS), the Dormant Accounts Fund, Seniors Alert Scheme and the Communities Facilities Scheme.
I am proud of the role my Department is playing in the rollout of the National Broadband Plan which aims to provide high-speed broadband access to all areas of the country.
There has been real progress since 2017 right across Government in implementing the Action Plan for Rural Development. In 2018, I will continue to place a strong emphasis on delivery of actions across Government and developing strong policy frameworks to support rural development. My interests are not only in the work and investment of my own Department but the work and investments of Departments right across Government. Every Department of the State must be involved if we are going to deliver balanced growth, equal opportunities and modern services no matter where you live in Ireland.
All schemes are open to applications from relevant parties during the application timeframes set for each scheme or programme.
My Department will continue to work with key stakeholders including local authorities, community and voluntary groups, and dedicated agencies to support job creation, attract tourism investment and to contribute to sustainable economic development in all communities throughout Ireland. The Department will ensure that maximum use is obtained from the resources allocated and that value for money is delivered in respect of the 2018 schemes.
A key priority is to ensure better alignment, consolidation and integration of programmes across the Department, while we will also focus on cross-Departmental and whole-of Government approaches with a view to achieving greater impact and effectiveness in the delivery of our supports to communities.
Further information on schemes and programmes, including the Action Plan for Rural Development, can be found on my Department's website www.drcd.gov.ie.
196. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development his plans to facilitate long-term sustainable economic and social progress across rural Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8966/18]
View answerThe Government has made clear its support for the long-term economic and social development of rural Ireland in Project Ireland 2040 which was launched last week.
The National Planning Framework, which is one of the twin strands of Project Ireland 2040, specifically commits to maintaining Ireland’s rural fabric and to reversing rural population decline. It also highlights the continued potential of the traditional pillars of the rural economy to support job creation in areas such as tourism and agriculture, as well as the opportunities that will arise through new technologies and investment.
Under the National Development Plan, the Government has committed to establishing a new Rural Regeneration and Development Fund which will provide an additional €1 billion over the next ten years to support rural renewal. Other funding streams in the National Development Plan, across sectors such as transport, tourism, energy and communications, will also support rural areas.
The Government’s Action Plan for Rural Development will also continue to support the economic and social development of rural areas through short-to-medium term actions across Government. The Action Plan contains over 270 measures to build sustainable communities, support enterprise and employment, maximise our rural tourism and recreation potential, foster culture and creativity, and improve rural infrastructure and connectivity.
A second six-monthly Progress Report on the implementation of the Action Plan will be published in the coming weeks.
197. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the progress to date in respect of the two regional broadband action groups,with particular reference to the provision of an efficient broadband network across rural Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8967/18]
View answerMy Department co-funds a Broadband Officer in each Local Authority to act as a single point of contact for industry in relation to broadband and mobile phone services.
My Department has also established two Regional Action Groups to provide a coordinated approach to this work across Local Authorities and to identify and address obstacles to the rollout of telecoms infrastructure. Each Local Authority is represented on one of the Action Groups by their Broadband Officer.
A number of sub-groups have been established to progress individual work streams associated with the rollout of a high-speed broadband network, including in the areas of Digital Strategies, Scenario Planning, Environmental Assessment, and Engagement with Industry. Significant progress has been made in relation to all of these issues through the Regional Action Groups and also the work of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce Implementation Group.
A key deliverable of the Regional Action Groups is the development of local Digital Strategies in each Local Authority area. Indecon consultants have recently been appointed to assist Local Authorities in preparation of Digital Strategies over the coming months, to ensure that the benefits of infrastructure development under the National Broadband Plan are fully realised from an economic and social perspective.
198. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which he expects to be in a position to offer grant aid to rural communities involved in various projects to enhance rural life; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8968/18]
View answerMy Department 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 and on communities.
The Action Plan for Rural Development was published in January 2017. The Plan contains 276 actions for delivery across a range of Government Departments, State agencies and other organisations to support the economic and social progress of rural Ireland. The 2017 Action Plan allocated funding of €40.4 million to 40 measures put forward by Government Departments and agencies.
The Action Plan includes a range of measures to support rural communities, enhance local services and make rural Ireland a better place to live and work. In addition to the programmes run by my Department set out below, these actions contain a range of schemes to be delivered by other Departments and agencies which will empower local communities to develop their areas and improve their quality of life, such as the built heritage investment scheme, the GLAS Traditional Farm Buildings grant scheme, the Local Agenda 21 Environmental Partnership Fund, the Better Energy Homes Scheme, the Better Energy Communities Scheme, community crime prevention schemes and the Sports Capital Programme.
In Budget 2018, my Department secured in excess of €220 million giving us the foundation we need to drive both the rural and community agenda and to deliver initiatives that can foster growth right across the country.
My Department delivers a variety of schemes that provide support for the sustainable development of rural communities in line with commitments in the Programme for Partnership Government and the Action Plan for Rural Development. These schemes and programmes include flagship programmes such as the LEADER and the Social Inclusion and Community Activation (SICAP) Programmes, the Community Services Programme, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme, the CLÁR Programme, the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS), the Seniors Alert Scheme and the Communities Facilities Scheme.
My Department is also responsible for the overall administration of the Dormant Accounts Fund. The legislation governing Dormant Accounts provides the framework for the disbursement of funds to measures targeted at socially, economically and educationally disadvantaged people and people with a disability. Depending on their focus, these measures would be implemented in urban and rural areas all across the country.
All schemes are open to applications from relevant parties during the application timeframes set for each scheme or programme.
My Department will continue to work with key stakeholders including local authorities, community and voluntary groups, and dedicated agencies to support job creation, attract tourism investment and to contribute to sustainable economic development in rural Ireland. The Department will ensure that maximum use is obtained from the resources allocated and that value for money is delivered in respect of the 2018 schemes.
Further information on schemes and programmes, including the Action Plan for Rural Development, can be found on my Department's website www.drcd.gov.ie
The recent launch of the National Development Plan further highlights Government commitment to rural communities with the announcement of the new Rural Regeneration and Development Fund to be established under my Department’s remit. The new fund will support my Department's key aims and objectives in providing additional resources to promote rural renewal in order to enable towns, villages and outlying rural areas to grow sustainably and to support delivery of the strategic objectives of the National Planning Framework
199. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development his plans to further support enterprise and enhance employment across rural Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8969/18]
View answerThe Action Plan for Rural Development includes a range of measures which will support enterprise growth and job creation in rural areas. These measures will be delivered across a range of Government Departments, State agencies and other organisations over the period to 2020.
The relevant measures in the Action Plan are aimed at:
- growing and attracting enterprises and jobs,
- supporting growth in specific sectors such as Agri-food, Tourism and Renewable Energy,
- ensuring rural communities have the necessary skills to meet the needs of the labour market, and
- supporting job seekers in rural areas.
The Government has set a target of supporting the delivery of 135,000 extra jobs outside of Dublin by 2020.
The latest labour market data published by the Central Statistics Office, for Quarter 3 2017, show that employment increased in almost all regions of the country year-on-year. All regions saw increases in IDA employment in 2017, with over 50% of the 19,851 new jobs created last year being located outside of Dublin. Two-thirds (65%) of the 19,332 new jobs created by Enterprise Ireland companies in 2017 were outside of Dublin.
My own Department also contributes to job creation in rural areas through programmes such the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, the Rural Recreation Scheme and LEADER. LEADER is a multi-annual programme which has a budget of €250 million over the period to 2020 and has a job creation target of 3,100 over the lifetime of the programme.
200. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development his future plans for the disbursement of funds through the Leader programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8971/18]
View answerLeader is a multi-annual programme for the period 2014-2020 which has a total budget of €250 million over the programming period. LEADER is administered by Local Action Groups (LAGs) which deliver funding in accordance with Local Development Strategies that have been agreed for each LAG area.
€220 million of the available funding has already been allocated to the 28 Leader sub-regional areas throughout the country. The allocation for each sub-regional area is provided for the duration of the programme rather than on an annual basis. This provides greater flexibility to the LAGs in managing their resources.
Each LAG is responsible for deciding how their allocation is distributed to Leader projects over the duration of the programme, based on the objectives in their Local Development Strategies. The allocation also includes a provision to cover the running costs of the LAGs.
The balance of €30 million in funding which has not yet been allocated under Leader is available for schemes which will be selected at a national level based on submissions from the Local Action Groups. This includes a specific scheme to fund food projects which will be launched in the coming months, and funding to support LAGs that come together to jointly deliver a Leader project.
As of 16 February 2018, 738 projects with a value of €20.8 million had been approved for Leader funding by the LAGs and €996,656 in project payments had been made. A further 318 projects requesting over €16 million in funding are at various stages in the approval process. This funding will be drawn down as projects start to incur expenditure and submit payment claims.
I anticipate that there will be a significant increase in project expenditure over the course of 2018 based on the progress which has been made by the LAGs in approving projects in recent months. My Department has also introduced a number of administrative improvements to the Leader programme which will also assist LAGs and project promoters in their delivery of the programme.
