Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 10 May 2018
185. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the breakdown of the spending and funding allocated to and by the Healthy Ireland Fund since its inception; the way in which the fund was spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20563/18]
View answerIn July 2016 Government approved the creation of a Healthy Ireland Fund and subsequently provided an initial allocation of €5 million in Budget 2017 to kick-start its establishment. A further €5 million has been approved in Budget 2018 for the Fund.
The Healthy Ireland Fund is intended as an innovative mechanism to stimulate and support inter-sectoral action and partnership working to implement Healthy Ireland, the national framework to improve health and wellbeing. It is aimed at supporting evidence-based initiatives to support implementation of key policies and strategies under Healthy Ireland, including the Obesity Policy and Action Plan, the National Physical Activity Plan, Tobacco Free Ireland, the Sexual Health Strategy and others, and will have a focus in supporting measures aimed at children and young families and disadvantaged groups or communities.
The Department has contracted Pobal, the not-for-profit company that manages programmes on behalf of the Irish Government and the EU, to administer the Fund on their behalf. Both the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and the Department of Rural and Community Development made contributions to the Fund in 2017.
The First strand of funding of €4.1 million was offered to Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) and Children and Young People Services Committees (CYPSCs) and every local authority area made an application and received funding. This funding is being used to support local implementation of health and wellbeing actions from Local Economic and Community Plans and Children and Young People's Plans that align with Healthy Ireland and Better Outcomes and Brighter Futures.
The second strand of funding of around €1.35 million included a range of projects to support the National Physical Activity Plan, with a particular focus on supporting children and other groups to avail of opportunities to access and participate in various initiatives. This includes cycling and swimming initiatives, a Young Athletes Programme with Special Olympics, and a significant expansion of the Active School Flag physical activity programme in schools around the country. The Healthy Ireland at Your Library initiative to develop the country’s library network as health and wellbeing hubs in communities was also funded.
The 2017 Fund was apportioned in the following manner:
Strand I – Local
Children and Young Persons Services Committees (CYPSC):
|
County |
Amount |
|
Carlow CYPSC |
€37,183 |
|
Cavan CYPSC |
€38,000 |
|
Cork City CYPSC |
€37,260 |
|
Dublin City North CPYSC |
€38,000 |
|
Dublin City South CYPSC |
€38,000 |
|
Galway CYPSC |
€38,000 |
|
Kerry CYPSC |
€38,360 |
|
Kilkenny CYPSC |
€38,000 |
|
Limerick CYPSC |
€34,540 |
|
Louth CYPSC |
€38,400 |
|
Meath CYPSC |
€38,400 |
|
Roscommon CYPSC |
€36,154 |
|
Sligo Leitrim CYPSC |
€38,400 |
|
South Dublin CYPSC |
€37,145 |
|
Waterford CYPSC |
€25,480 |
|
Wexford CYPSC |
€37,978 |
|
Wicklow CYPSC |
€38,400 |
Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs):
|
County |
Amount |
|
Carlow LCDC |
€100,000 |
|
Cavan LCDC |
€100,000 |
|
Cork City LCDC |
€99,000 |
|
Dublin City LCDC |
€100,000 |
|
Galway City LCDC |
€100,000 |
|
Galway County LCDC |
€100,000 |
|
Kerry LCDC |
€100,000 |
|
Kilkenny LCDC |
€89,000 |
|
Laois LCDC |
€93,000 |
|
Leitrim LCDC |
€100,000 |
|
Limerick LCDC |
€100,000 |
|
Longford LCDC |
€100,000 |
|
Louth LCDC |
€88,600 |
|
Meath LCDC |
€100,000 |
|
Offaly LCDC |
€99,000 |
|
Roscommon LCDC |
€100,000 |
|
Sligo LCDC |
€96,500 |
|
South Dublin LCDC |
€96,500 |
|
Waterford LCDC |
€100,000 |
|
Wexford LCDC |
€100,000 |
|
Wicklow LCDC |
€96,500 |
Joint LCDC and CYPSC
|
Name |
Amount |
|
Clare LCDC and CYPSC |
€138,400 |
|
Cork County (North, South and West) LCDC |
€200,000 |
|
Donegal LCDC and CYPSC |
€138,000 |
|
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown LCDC and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown CYPSC |
€137,860 |
|
Fingal LCDC and CYPSC |
€138,400 |
|
Kildare LCDC/CYPSC |
€138,400 |
|
Laois/Offaly CYPSC |
€76,000 |
|
Mayo LCDC and CYPSC |
€130,600 |
|
Monaghan LCDC and CYPSC |
€138,400 |
|
Monaghan LCDC and CYPSC |
€130,900 |
Total: Strand I – Local: €4,147,413
Strand II – National
|
Name |
Amount |
|
Sport Ireland |
€738,505 |
|
Special Olympics Young Athletes Programme |
€54,221 |
|
Great Dublin Bike Ride |
€105,915 |
|
Operation Transformation |
€38,369 |
|
National Fitness Day |
€40,000 |
|
Get Ireland Swimming |
€150,000 |
|
Get Ireland Walking |
€100,000 |
|
Get Ireland Cycling |
€30,000 |
|
Cycle Right |
€150,000 |
|
Children Sport Participation and Physical Activity follow up study 2017-2018 |
€70,000 |
|
Local Government Management Agency (Libraries Development) |
€400,000 |
|
Mayo Education Centre (Active School Flag) |
€213,290 |
Total: Strand II – National €1,351,795
TOTAL Apportioned Overall €5,499,208
Funding decisions for 2017 were made by a committee comprised of senior officials representing several government departments. The next round of funding is currently out for a call for proposals. My officials are currently awaiting a more detailed expenditure report from Pobal on the 2017 Fund.
