Written Answers Nos. 992-1011
992. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs her views on adoptees being given the right to access their personal file from Tusla, the Adoption Authority or both; her plans to implement this as part of the Adoption (Information and Tracing) Bill 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1066/19]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, I am committed to the enactment of the Adoption ( Information & Tracing) Bill 2016.
This important legislation will give adopted people, people who have been the subject of an illegal birth registration, birth parents and relevant guardians a statutory right to an information and tracing service. It also provides that relevant records will be maintained by the Adoption Authority of Ireland and Section 12 of the Bill sets out the criteria for a person to apply for access to these records.
It is my intention to work with members of the Dáil and Seanad to proceed as quickly as possible with the enactment of this important legislation.
993. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the steps she will take to ensure that Tusla provides a response to representations related to the aftercare of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1135/19]
View answerI wish to inform the Deputy that I am not in a position to comment on individual cases.
I have referred the matter to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency, drawing attention to the age of the individual concerned, and have requested confirmation that the matter is receiving the appropriate attention.
994. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the extent of the funding provided either directly or indirectly through agencies controlled by her Department for the provision of advocacy services during 2018; the proposed expenditure figures for 2019; the number of advocacy cases dealt with in 2018 by each of the advocacy organisations so funded; and the number of staff and volunteers in each advocacy organisation in December 2018. [1196/19]
View answerWhile my Department does not specifically or directly fund organisations solely to provide advocacy services, a key strategic objective for my Department is to ensure evidence-based policy is promoted and supported and that children and young people participate in decisions that effect their lives. As a result, a number of organisations funded by the Department and its agencies often involves elements of advocacy. Examples of such organisation are Comhairle na nÓg, Children's Rights Alliance, Early Childhood Ireland, Barnardos, the National Parents Council, Empowering People In Care, YAP Ireland and the Irish Foster Carers Association.
However, as funding is not provided solely for advocacy services, the detailed information requested is not readily available and would involve significant administrative burden on the organisations receiving funding from the Department and its agencies to produce it.
995. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if Tusla initiated and completed a review of emergency domestic violence services in the greater Dublin area; and when a report on the same will be published. [1461/19]
View answerTusla, the Child and Family Agency has statutory responsibility for the provision of support services to victims of domestic, sexual and gender based violence.
Tusla provides funding to 59 organisations nationally which deliver front line services to victims of domestic and sexual violence. Twenty-two of these organisations provide specialist emergency accommodation to victims of domestic violence.
In 2018, as part of the planning processes to develop services for victims of domestic violence, Tusla commenced the process to review emergency domestic violence accommodation provision in the Dublin region. It will inform Tusla's project to review specialist domestic violence accommodation nationally.
Tusla has advised me that this project to review domestic violence in the Dublin region will be completed by Quarter 4, 2019. I expect Tusla to publish the report once it has considered it.
996. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs if she has employed an independent medical person to review medical files from mother and baby homes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1522/19]
View answerMy Department does not hold any medical files from these institutions. Consequently, I have no plans to employ an independent medical person to review such matters.
The Government established the statutory Commission of Investigation (Mother and Baby Homes and certain related Matters) to independently examine a broad range of concerns relating to the care and welfare arrangements for those who spent time in these institutions. The following matters are specifically being investigated:
- Living conditions and care arrangements in these institutions;
- Mortality among mothers and children to determine general causes, circumstances and rates;
- Post-mortem practices and procedures; the reporting of deaths, burial arrangements and the transfer of remains for anatomical examination;
- Compliance with relevant regulatory and ethical standards in relation to systemic vaccine trials identified by the Commission as being conducted on children in these homes;
- Entry arrangements and exit pathways for mothers and children, patterns of referral and relevant relationships with other entities; and
- The extent to which any group of residents may have been treated differently on any grounds, including race, disability and religion.
The Commission's detailed terms of reference are attached as a schedule to Statutory Instrument No. 57 of 2015. The Commission may directly appoint such experts as it considers necessary to assist it in its investigations.
997. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the progress being made on her plans for a nationwide childcare scheme. [1592/19]
View answerThe new Affordable Childcare Scheme will open to applications in October 2019, with payments flowing from November 2019. Its launch will mark a milestone in our quest to transform Ireland's childcare system from one of the most expensive in the world into one of the best.
Positive progress continues to be made in the development of the legislative, administrative and ICT infrastructure for the scheme.
Under the auspices of the Childcare Support Act 2018, detailed secondary legislation and policy guidelines are being prepared. In December, I signed regulations to provide, for the first time, for the registration of school-age childcare services by Tusla. This will allow these services to participate in the new scheme from the start.
With regard to ICT, our IT development contractor, Codec, is busy working with officials from DCYA and Pobal to develop the system on schedule and in advance of the scheme's October launch.
A comprehensive awareness campaign for parents and the public will commence in the spring, alongside training and information supports for childcare providers and other key stakeholders.
998. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the customer complaints received by her Department in each of the years since 2016; if the complaints are grouped into categories; the nature of the complaints; the resolution of same; and the number progressed to the relevant Ombudsman in each of the years since 2016. [1866/19]
View answerMy Department’s procedures for dealing with customer complaints are detailed in the Department’s Customer Service Action Plan and Charter, which is available on my Department's website. If a complaint is made by customer it is dealt with by the Unit of my Department responsible for the issue to which the complaint relates.
If the complaint is not resolved by the Unit to the satisfaction of the customer, they may contact the Department’s Customer Services Officer who will liaise with the customer and the Unit involved, to resolve the matter if possible.
Under the Action Plan and Charter referred to above, a complaint is formally logged by the Department when a customer contacts the Customer Services Officer in relation to an unresolved complaint, and requests that Officer to intervene to resolve the matter.
In the years 2016 to 2018, no such requests were received by the Customer Services Officer of my Department, and as such no complaints were escalated to any of the relevant Offices of the Ombudsman.
999. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if funding will be provided to allow the reinstatement of the community lighting programme for elderly persons previously funded through Pobal and administered by local community groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54056/18]
View answerMy Department is responsible for the Seniors Alert Scheme which encourages community support for vulnerable older people in our communities through the provision of personal monitored alarms to enable them to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind. Funding is available under the scheme towards the purchase by a registered community-based organisation of a personal alarm or pendant.
Up to March 2012, grants were provided towards the cost of supplying and installing personal monitored alarm systems, monitored smoke & carbon monoxide detectors and other security related items. Due to increased demand, an examination of the scheme was conducted early in 2012 and funding was made available for personal monitored alarms only.
Following a review, a new version of the scheme came into effect on 1 November 2017. A number of changes were introduced under the new scheme including the provision of free monitoring for the first year and a revision of the living alone requirements. I am pleased to say that since the launch of the new Seniors Alert Scheme, the demand has been unprecedented. During 2017 over 12,600 applications were approved and more than 10,000 installations completed. During 2018, over 19,200 applications were approved, with 20,288 installations completed.
There are no proposals, at this stage, to include security lighting or other measures in the Seniors Alert Scheme. However, the matter will be kept under review.
1000. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the organisations that received dormant accounts funding to purchase public service vehicles during 2017, 2018 and to date in 2019. [54083/18]
View answerWhile my Department has responsibility for the overall administration of the Dormant Accounts Fund, individual Departments are responsible for the administration of their own measures.
With regard to my own Department, the relevant measure is the Social Enterprise measure which provides funding to increase the impact of social enterprises by enhancing their capacity to deliver services and generate traded income. The funding is used to cover capital costs such as machinery, specialised equipment, refurbishment costs and vehicles, and has enabled the following organisations to purchase Public Service Vehicles since 2017:
|
Year of approval |
Organisation |
Funding approved |
|
2017 |
Community of Lough Arrow Social Project (Co. Sligo) |
€21,600 |
|
2018 |
Galway Centre for Independent Living |
€73,920 |
|
2018 |
Lucan Disability Action Group |
€35,109 |
|
2018 |
Vantastic (Dublin) |
€50,880 |
The 2018 projects were approved in December and their plans to purchase public service vehicles are subject to the finalisation of funding contracts.
Details of all projects funded under the 2018 Dormant Accounts Fund Social Enterprise measure are available on my Department's website at: https://drcd.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/Copy-of-181214-Dormant-Accounts-Social-Enterprise-recipients.pdf.
1001. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if a project (details supplied) will be approved for funding at an early date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54112/18]
View answerI can confirm that the application referred to by the Deputy was successful under Measure 2 of the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme and was included as part of the funding allocations which I announced recently for that scheme.
Details of all successful projects under Measure 2 of the scheme are available on my Department's website at: https://drcd.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/ORIS-M2-January-2019.pdf.
The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme is part of the Government’s Action Plan for Rural Development and provides funding for the development of new outdoor recreational infrastructure or the necessary maintenance, enhancement or promotion of existing outdoor recreational infrastructure in Ireland. The continued development of our recreational infrastructure will support Ireland’s developing rural tourism industry, and will also provide better recreational facilities for local people and families to enjoy.
1002. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if the way in which the Charities Regulator communicates with the public will be reviewed in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54189/18]
View answer1003. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if transparency within the office of the Charities Regulator has been reviewed; if a review will be carried out in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54190/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1002 and 1003 together.
My Department has overall policy responsibility for the Charities Regulator. However, the Authority is fully independent in the performance of its statutory functions. Neither I nor my Department have any role in the decision making process of the Authority. My Department receives regular updates from the Charities Regulator on key performance indicators, under the terms of an oversight agreement.
I understand that the Charities Regulator undertakes extensive activities to engage and communicate with its stakeholders, which include charities and the public. During 2018 its website had 118,000 visitors who viewed almost 690,000 pages. It issued 35 press releases, published a number of inspectors’ reports it commissioned into two charities, and launched of the Charities Governance Code.
In addition to this, the Charities Regulator communicates with the public through its social media platforms, with significant increases in the number of followers over the last 12 months. In 2018 it also commenced publishing an electronic newsletter which was issued four times during the year to approximately 20,000 people for each edition.
It organised a series of public meetings around the country during the year to address questions from charities and members of the public. In addition, it targeted charity trustees during Charity Trustees Week in November, with public meetings and a national advertising campaign.
During 2018 it produced and publicised four new guidance documents to assist charities in complying with their obligations under the Charities Act 2009. It also published a report it commissioned from Indecon into the social and economic impact of registered Irish charities.
The Charities Regulator also produces an annual report which provides detailed accounts of the work undertaken by the Regulator. This is placed in the Oireachtas library and is published on the Regulator’s website.
However, there are elements of its work which the Charities Regulator does not comment publicly on, as to do so could undermine its ability to perform its functions. These areas include the on-going work of its compliance team and the work of the Charity Services Committee and the cases that are before it. It should be noted, however, that in August 2018, the Charities Regulator published a report on its compliance work for 2017, which included metrics of key compliance actions undertaken and an analysis of the common issues which emerged during the year.
1004. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the type of eligible works which schools can apply for under the CLÁR programme; and the type of works not covered under the programme. [54201/18]
View answerThe CLÁR programme provides funding for small scale infrastructural projects in disadvantaged rural areas that have experienced significant levels of depopulation. The aim of the programme is to support the sustainable development of designated CLÁR areas, with the aim of encouraging people to continue to live and work in those areas.
Since I reintroduced the CLÁR programe in 2016, funding has been provided for the development of new school or community play areas, and for the enhancement of existing play areas. Works applicable under this measure included the installation and enhancement of play equipment, soft-play surfaces, and associated works.
CLÁR has also provided support for interventions to make school or community facility environs healthier and safer for children attending the schools, and for children and adults using the community facilities. The nature of works eligible under this measure are set out on the following table.
|
Type of Intervention |
Funding available |
|
Purchase and replacement of Flashing Amber Safety Lights. |
Max €7,000 per set |
|
Purchase of Child safety signs |
Max €1,000 per sign |
|
Purchase of digital speed safety signs, indicating that cars are entering a particular zone. |
Max €14,000 per set |
|
Upgrade Road markings on approach roads to Schools/community facilities. |
Max €1,000 |
|
Erect pedestrian crossings in small towns and villages at schools/community facilities. |
Max €22,000 |
|
Construction and upgrading of access footpaths next to schools or community facilities. |
Max €30,000 |
|
Car Parking facilities to access schools or community facilities. |
Max €30,000 |
|
Provision of Bus Shelters |
Max €25,000 |
|
Provision of Public Lighting |
Max €30,000 |
|
Overall max per project if there are a number of elements above included in applications for a single location |
Max €50,000 |
Applications under the measures referred to above are made to my Department via the Local Authorities.
Decisions regarding specific measures which will be supported under the CLÁR programme in 2019 will be made shortly.
1005. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the cost incurred by his Department in 2018 for the use of taxi services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54216/18]
View answerMy Department operates an account for the use of taxi services in the Dublin area, which was arranged through a framework put in place by the Office of Government Procurement.
In 2018, the total amount spent by my Department on taxi services was €2,976.38.
1006. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of meetings held by the Atlantic Economic Corridor task force by date and location of each meeting in tabular form; the details of each sub-group established under the AEC; the meetings to date; and the annual funding allocation to the AEC task force in each of the years 2017 to 2018 and to date in 2019. [54279/18]
View answerThe Programme for Partnership Government and the Action Plan for Rural Development both commit to progressing the Atlantic Economic Corridor initiative to support the development of the western part of the country, from Donegal to Kerry.
The objective of the AEC project is to maximise the assets along the western seaboard and combine the economic hubs, clusters and catchments of the region to attract investment, support job creation and contribute to an improved quality of life for people in the region. The National Planning Framework recognises the contribution which the AEC initiative can make to supporting the regional growth objectives of the NPF.
Minister Ring established the Atlantic Economic Corridor Taskforce in March 2017 to oversee and progress the initiative. I now chair the Taskforce which meets every quarter, with the most recent meeting taking place on the 10th of December 2018. To date, there have been eight meetings of the Atlantic Economic Corridor Taskforce, the details of which are below.
The Atlantic Economic Corridor Taskforce
|
Meeting Location |
Date |
|
Breaffy House Hotel, Castlebar, Co. Mayo |
6/3/2017 |
|
University of Limerick |
16/05/2017 |
|
NUIG Galway |
25/7/2017 |
|
The Building Block, Sligo |
6/11/2017 |
|
Limerick City and County Council Chambers |
12/3/2018 |
|
NUIG, Galway |
29/6/2018 |
|
Roscommon County Council |
08/10/2018 |
|
Leitrim County Council Chambers |
10/12/2018 |
Three subgroups have also been established to support the work of the Taskforce, focusing on the issues of infrastructure, enterprise space and communications and marketing. The details of these subgroups and the meetings held to date are as below.
AEC Communications Subgroup
|
Meeting location |
Date |
|
SCCUL Enterprise Centre, Ballybane, Galway |
28/09/2018 |
|
SCCUL Enterprise Centre, Ballybane, Galway |
25/10/2018 |
|
SCCUL Enterprise Centre, Ballybane, Galway |
29/11/2018 |
AEC Enterprise Space Subgroup
|
Meeting location |
Date |
|
University of Limerick |
16/05/2017 |
|
Boardroom Ireland West Airport Knock |
19/06/2017 |
|
NUIG Galway |
25/07/2017 |
|
The Building Block, Sligo |
6/11/2017 |
|
Action Tuam Enterpise Centre, Tuam, Galway |
7/12/2017 |
|
Hodson Bay Hotel, Athlone |
09/01/2018 |
|
Hodson Bay Hotel, Athlone |
5/2/2018 |
|
Claremorris Municipal District Offices |
19/2/2018 |
|
Claremorris Municipal District Offices |
3/4/2018 |
|
Ennis, Co Clare |
23/4/2018 |
|
Mayo County Council Offices, Claremorris |
30/5/2018 |
|
SCCUL Enterprise Centre, Ballybane Galway |
19/06/2018 |
|
SCCUL Enterprise Centre, Ballybane Galway |
14/11/2018 |
|
Claremorris Municipal District Offices |
7/12/2018 |
AEC Infrastructure Subgroup
|
Meeting location |
Date |
|
Claregalway |
13/04/2017 |
|
Boardroom Ireland West Airport Knock |
19/06/2017 |
|
The Hynes Boardroom, NUIG Galway |
25/07/2017 |
|
The Building Block, Sligo |
6/11/2017 |
|
Action Tuam Enterpise Centre, Tuam, Galway |
7/12/2017 |
|
IDA Offices, Finiskilin, Co. Sligo |
26/2/2018 |
|
Galway County Council Chamber, Prospect Hill, Galway |
25/09/2018 |
|
SCCUL Enterprise Centre, Ballybane Galway |
14/11/2018 |
While there is no formal budgetary allocation for the Taskforce, my Department has provided funding of €474,783 to the relevant Local Authorities as a partial salary subvention towards the appointment of Atlantic Economic Corridor Officers in those Local Authorities. These officers provide a resource to support the work of the AEC Taskforce, and to promote the AEC concept across the region as a whole.
I have also provided additional funding of €500,000 to the Western Development Commission for 2018, part of which will be used to support the work of the Taskforce.
My Department has also provided smaller levels of funding for the production of some communications materials and general logistical support for the Taskforce.
1007. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the details of each local authority along the AEC that has and has not a designated AEC officer in tabular form; the amount of co-funding provided to each local authority along the AEC in each of the years 2017 to 2018 and to date in 2019; and amount expended in each local authority to date in 2019. [54280/18]
View answerThe Programme for a Partnership Government and the Action Plan for Rural Development both commit to progressing the Atlantic Economic Corridor initiative to support the development of the western part of the country, from Donegal to Kerry.
The objective of the AEC project is to maximise the assets along the western seaboard and combine the economic hubs, clusters and catchments of the region to attract investment, support job creation and contribute to an improved quality of life for people in the region. The National Planning Framework recognises the contribution which the AEC initiative can make to supporting the regional growth objectives of the NPF.
My Department provides co-funding for a dedicated AEC Officer in each of the Local Authorities along the Corridor. This AEC Officer network provides a resource to support the work of the AEC Taskforce which oversees the initiative, and to promote the AEC concept across the region as a whole.
At the present time, the majority of Local Authorities engaged in the AEC programme have appointed a dedicated AEC Officer, with a small number providing a staff member to the AEC Officer Network on an interim basis while they are actively engaged in an ongoing recruitment processes. The position is outlined on the following table:
|
Local Authority |
Status of AEC Officer |
|
Clare County Council |
Appointed |
|
Donegal County Council |
Appointed |
|
Galway City Council |
Interim Basis |
|
Galway County Council |
Appointed |
|
Kerry County Council |
Appointed |
|
Leitrim County Council |
Appointed |
|
Limerick City & County Council |
Appointed |
|
Mayo County Council |
Appointed |
|
Roscommon County Council |
Appointed |
|
Sligo County Council |
Interim Basis |
My Department provided funding in 2018 to the relevant Local Authorities as part of a commitment to support the work of the AEC Officers. This funding is based on a salary subvention of €30,000 on a full-year basis towards the cost of employing the AEC Officer.
The AEC Officers were appointed at different stages of the year by each Local Authority and a pro-rata subvention was provided in respect of 2018, based on their respective dates of appointment.
A subvention of €30,000 was paid to each Local Authority towards the end of last year towards the salary cost of the Officers for 2019. No other funding was provided for in 2017 or to date in 2019.
The amounts paid to each Local Authority are provided on the table below:
|
Local Authority |
2018 salary subvention |
2019 salary subvention |
|
€ |
€ |
|
|
Clare County Council |
20,000 |
30,000 |
|
Donegal County Council |
2,500 |
30,000 |
|
Galway City Council |
15,000 |
30,000 |
|
Galway County Council |
20,000 |
30,000 |
|
Kerry County Council |
11,583 |
30,000 |
|
Leitrim County Council |
20,000 |
30,000 |
|
Limerick City & County Council |
20,000 |
30,000 |
|
Mayo County Council |
25,000 |
30,000 |
|
Roscommon County Council |
20,700 |
30,000 |
|
Sligo County Council |
20,000 |
30,000 |
1008. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the progress to date for each of the 41 action points made in the mobile phone and broadband task force report published in December 2016 in which his Department has lead or joint responsibility for implementing; if each such action point has been completed, not completed or is ongoing, respectively; and the revised deadlines for action points not delivered by the original timeframes set out in tabular form. [54281/18]
View answerThe Report of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce was published in December 2016 and included 40 actions to alleviate barriers to mobile phone reception and broadband access. An Implementation Group was established in early 2017 to oversee the delivery of the actions in the report.
An Implementation Review of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce report was published on 21 February 2017, and provides a comprehensive progress report on all 40 of the actions included in the original report.
The Review shows that 29 of the actions were completed or substantially completed by the end of 2017, and 11 actions were carried forward to the 2018 work programme of the Implementation Group for completion, with revised timelines for delivery.
Full details are in the Implementation Review which is available on my Department's website at: https://drcd.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/Implementation-Review-2017-PDF-with-cover.pdf.
1009. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of persons working in the regional telecommunications development unit of his Department on an annual basis in each year since established by grade in tabular form; and the annual funding allocation to the unit in 2018 and 2019. [54284/18]
View answer1010. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of persons working in the broadband office support unit of his Department on an annual basis in each year since established in tabular form; and the annual funding allocation to the unit in 2018 and 2019. [54285/18]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1009 and 1010 together.
The Department of Rural and Community Development was established in July 2017. The Department does not have a Broadband Support Unit, however, I can confirm that the Regional Telecommunications Development Unit had a total of 7 staff in 2017, 6 staff in 2018, and has 6 staff for 2019 as outlined in the table.
|
Principal Officer |
Assistant Principal |
Higher Executive Officer |
Executive Officer |
Clerical Officer |
|
|
2017 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
|
2018 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
|
|
2019 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
1 |
In 2018, the annual funding allocated to the unit was : current funding of €1.7 million, and capital funding of €0.6 million.
In 2019 the annual funding allocated to the unit is: current funding of €1.7 million, and capital funding of €0.7 million.
1011. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the detail of each local authority that has and has not completed a local digital strategy in tabular form. [54286/18]
View answerMy Department recognises the value of each Local Authority having a local digital strategy in place in order to fully benefit from the roll-out of the National Broadband Plan. To this end, my Department has provided information and guidance to each Local Authority to develop local digital strategies, and has facilitated the provision of expert consultancy to assist with strategy development.
Digital Readiness Assessments, which act as a baseline against which each Local Authority can assess their digital maturity, have been completed for each Local Authority. Dedicated workshops for information sharing and strategy development were facilitated in the second quarter of 2018, with Guidelines for Strategy Development issued to Local Authorities in the third quarter of the year.
Notwithstanding the assistance provided by my Department, the development and publication of local digital strategies is a matter for each Local Authority.
However, from my Department's engagement with the Local Authorities, I understand that most, if not all, Local Authorities are expected to publish local digital strategies in the near future. Some have already done so. For example, Limerick, Clare and Tipperary County Councils have all published local digital strategies in the past year. In addition, Donegal County Council has published a dedicated Digital Action Plan and Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown, Fingal, Dublin City and South Dublin County Councils are active participants of the Smart Dublin Strategy.
My officials will continue to provide guidance and support to Local Authorities in 2019 in order to facilitate the development of local digital strategies.
