Written Answers Nos. 87-102
87. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the steps being taken between his Department and the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment to speed up the roll-out of fibre broadband in rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15479/19]
View answer94. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the role of the regional telecommunications development unit in his Department with regard to the national broadband plan. [15470/19]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 87 and 94 together.
The Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment has overall policy responsibility for the National Broadband Plan. However, my Department, through the Unit responsible for regional telecommunications development, works closely with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment and with Local Authorities to help prepare rural communities for the roll out of high-speed broadband.
The Unit also supports the work of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce, in conjunction with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment. The Taskforce was established in 2016 to identify and overcome obstacles to mobile phone and broadband services.
The unit also supports the nationwide network of Local Authority Broadband Officers, who act as a single point of contact in each Local Authority for the public, telecoms operators and infrastructure providers regarding telecommunications issues.
To date, a number of significant actions have been delivered by members of the Taskforce, or on foot of engagement between Taskforce members and the telecommunications sector. These include:
- The establishment of almost 1,000 kilometres of cable ducting along our national roads and motorways, ensuring that the fibre-optic spine needed to push broadband services out to all of our citizens is possible.
- The development of Digital Strategies by each Local Authority, to ensure that high speed broadband can be maximised for economic and social benefit when installed.
- The identification of strategic Broadband Connection Points in each Local Authority area which can serve as priority connection points for the community when the National Broadband Plan is rolled out.
Quarterly progress reports on the work of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce are available on my Department’s website at https://drcd.gov.ie/about/rural/rural-development/mobile-phone-and-broadband-taskforce/.
88. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he will report on the review of legislation to consider further regulations in relation to dog breeding establishments; the timeframe for such a review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15203/19]
View answerLast year, following a public consultation process, my Department published new Guidelines for Dog Breeding Establishments. These were put in place under the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010, and came into effect on 1 January of this year.
Having published the new Guidelines, my Department is now identifying any necessary legislative changes that may be required to further improve standards.
This review will involve examining relevant legislation to ensure that existing laws and international best practice, as well as the views of stakeholders, are taken into account. Any amendments to the Act will be dependent on the outcome of this review. This work is ongoing and will continue throughout 2019.
Examples of matters that will be considered include whether the definition of a dog breeding establishment should be changed to reference three rather than six breeding bitches, whether there should be more offences introduced, or whether there should be an overall cap on the number of dogs in an establishment. These and other points need to be considered further during the year to ensure an appropriate approach is taken.
89. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the Atlantic economic corridor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15236/19]
View answerThe Programme for a Partnership Government and the Action Plan for Rural Development both commit to progressing the Atlantic Economic Corridor initiative to create an economic area of scale along the western seaboard.
The initiative aims to maximise the assets of the region and to better utilise the economic hubs, clusters and catchments of the area to attract investment, support job creation and contribute to an improved quality of life for people who live in the region.
The Atlantic Economic Corridor Taskforce was established in March 2017 to oversee and progress the initiative. The Taskforce, which I now chair, meets every quarter. The Taskforce includes representatives of all of the key public and private sector stakeholders along the Corridor.
Three sub-groups have been established to support the work of the Taskforce, focusing on infrastructure, enterprise space and communications. These sub-groups meet twice each quarter and are currently implementing agreed work programmes with tangible results.
My Department also provides co-funding for a dedicated AEC Officer in each of the 10 Local Authorities along the Corridor. This AEC Officer network is a resource to support the work of the AEC Taskforce and its sub-groups, as well as to promote the AEC concept more widely.
This year, I have also provided the Western Development Commission with additional funding to strengthen the co-ordination of the AEC initiative and to develop a cohesive network of digital and enterprise hubs within the AEC region. Work on this project has already begun.
There have been significant private sector investment and job announcements along the Atlantic Economic Corridor region in the last 12 months, which reflects the fact that the West of Ireland is an attractive place for employers and investors. The work of the AEC Taskforce will further highlight the potential of the region for national and international investment.
90. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the progress to date of the town and village pilot residential occupancy scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15360/19]
View answerThe Action Plan for Rural Development includes a commitment to developing a pilot scheme to encourage increased residential occupancy in rural towns and villages. I launched this initiative last October and announced that six rural towns had been invited to participate in the initial pilot scheme. The scheme is being led locally by the relevant Local Authorities, in close collaboration with all relevant stakeholders and with my Department.
The 6 towns which were identified for inclusion in the pilot are:
1. Boyle, Co Roscommon
2. Callan, Co Kilkenny
3. Ballinrobe, Co Mayo
4. Banagher, Co Offaly
5. Castleblayney, Co Monaghan
6. Cappoquin, Co Waterford
Funding of up to €100,000 each is being made available to the relevant towns to develop proposals to encourage town centre living. This funding will be used by the Local Authorities to engage with communities and local businesses, and identify practical solutions to increase the number of people living in their towns.
The towns are of different sizes and in different parts of the country, each with their own strengths and challenges. Therefore, they may well come up with different solutions to meet the needs of their own area.
I expect to receive a report from each of the Local Authorities by the middle of the year on the progress which they have made. It is envisaged that the solutions identified could lead to the development of more substantive proposals for funding from the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund in due course.
91. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development his plans to provide for an incentive programme to regenerate and renovate housing stocks in rural areas and small towns and villages. [15476/19]
View answerThe Action Plan for Rural Development includes a commitment to developing a pilot scheme to encourage increased residential occupancy in rural towns and villages centres. I launched this initiative last October and announced that six rural towns had been invited to participate in the initial pilot scheme. The scheme is being led locally by the relevant Local Authorities, in close collaboration with all relevant stakeholders and with my Department.
The 6 towns which were identified for inclusion in the pilot are:
1. Boyle, Co Roscommon
2. Callan, Co Kilkenny
3. Ballinrobe, Co Mayo
4. Banagher, Co Offaly
5. Castleblayney, Co Monaghan
6. Cappoquin, Co Waterford
Funding of up to €100,000 each is being made available to the relevant towns to develop proposals to encourage town centre living. This funding will be used by the Local Authorities to engage with communities and local businesses, and identify practical solutions to increase the number of people living in their towns.
The towns are of different sizes and in different parts of the country, each with their own strengths and challenges. Therefore, they may well come up with different solutions to meet the needs of their own area.
I expect to receive a report from each of the Local Authorities in the first half of the year on the progress which they have made. It is envisaged that the solutions identified could lead to the development of more substantive proposals for funding from the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund in due course.
92. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he will provide a map of blackspots identified by broadband officers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3366/19]
View answerIn 2017, officials from my Department, the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment and a small number of Local Authorities met to examine the potential for mapping mobile phone blackspots in Ireland.
On foot of these meetings, an invitation was issued in late 2017 to all Local Authorities to provide data on 5 or 6 prioritised local blackspots, with a view to examining the potential for mapping mobile phone blackspots in Ireland. The objective was not to compile a definitive list of blackspots across the country, but to identify areas of immediate priority for the purposes of testing an approach to the mapping of blackspots.
While the exercise was informative, it was not comprehensive. Of the 31 Local Authorities, only 17 returned data to feed into the exercise.
ComReg has recently published a national map of outdoor mobile phone coverage for 2G, 3G and 4G services for a range of providers. This map, which is available on ComReg’s website, shows the quality and prevalence of mobile phone coverage right across the country for each provider. It will prove to be a useful tool for consumers on the services available in their areas.
95. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development his plans to provide insurance cover for farmers on whose land there are greenways and other walkways. [15477/19]
View answerThe Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport has policy responsibility for greenways. The Minister is also responsible for the National Trail Office, which holds an insurance policy covering approved National Way-Marked Ways and Looped Walks, including walks covered by my Department's Walks Scheme.
My Department makes a contribution towards the cost of this policy, which provides landowners with insurance against claims for loss or damage from recreational users of approved trails, and land adjacent to these trails.
My Department has separately been working to develop a National Indemnity Scheme to indemnify private land owners in areas not covered by the approved trails in respect of the use of their lands for recreational purposes. These tend to be in upland areas, mountains and commonages, where the natural terrain does not make it feasible to define trails or set pre-determined standards.
This is a complex issue and the legal rights of landowners must be respected, while trying to facilitate access to their lands for recreational users on a permissive basis. My Department has been advised that an indemnity scheme such as the one envisaged will require legislative provision.
My officials have been in contact with the State Claims Agency and have sought advice from the Attorney General's Office on the proposed scope, roll-out, and the legal processes required to give effect to such a scheme. Further contact between officials is likely to take place over the coming weeks on the matter.
96. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount of grant funding allocated to County Westmeath in all schemes and programmes by his Department and bodies under its aegis since its establishment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15200/19]
View answerMy Department administers a range of programmes and schemes to support local communities. Since its establishment in July 2017, the Department has allocated funding totalling €12,675,064 to projects in Co Westmeath under the following programmes and supports:
LEADER: €1,685,600.40
Town and Village Renewal Scheme: €1,048,000
Rural Regeneration and Development Fund: €600,000
CLÁR Programme: €476,214
Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme/Rural Recreation Scheme: €1,605,634.20
Local Improvement Scheme: €1,379,980.63
Community Services Programme: €2,111,418.24
Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme: €2,328,294.10
Community Enhancement Programme: €440,087
RAPID Programme: €71,000
Communities Facilities Scheme: €64,500
Volunteering supports: €345,600
Libraries Development: €205,516.95
Tidy Towns: €88,000
Local Authority Broadband Officer: €77,000
Digital Innovation Programme: €53,000
Local Community Development Committees: €95,218.74
In respect of the four agencies under the remit of my Department, Water Safety Ireland and the Charities Regulator do not provide funding to groups. The Western Development Commission provides investments and loans to small and medium enterprises, but does not distribute grant funding to projects. Pobal administers a number of schemes on behalf of Government Departments (including my Department). Funding for those schemes Pobal administers for other Departments is a matter for those Departments.
97. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the level of funding committed to date under the 2014 to 2020 LEADER programme in County Meath; and if he is satisfied with the level of drawdown in County Meath under the programme. [15468/19]
View answerThe LEADER programme is administered in County Meath by the Meath Local Action Group (LAG). The LAG is the Meath Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) in partnership with Meath County Council and Meath Partnership CLG. The total amount of funding allocated to the county for the duration of the LEADER Programme is in excess of €6.9 million.
To-date, 34 projects with a combined grant value of over €1.4 million have been approved by the LAG. This amounts to almost 28% of its project budget. A further 7 projects, with a grant value of €252,443, are at an earlier stage of the approvals process.
At the end of March, claims totalling €113,876 had been paid for projects in County Meath. However, payments will increase as project works are completed and claims for payment are submitted by the promoters.
The level of project approvals represents an increase of approximately €450,000 over the last two months since I gave a commitment to the Deputy that I would further examine the delivery of the LEADER programme in County Meath.
My Department has now reviewed the delivery of the programme with the Meath LAG and explored implementation issues with all of the delivery partners. Following on from this review, the LAG has reiterated that at least 80% of the project budget available in Meath will be allocated by the end of 2019. This would be consistent with the objectives of the programme nationally and I will be closely monitoring the achievement of this target in the coming months.
98. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the degree to which he is satisfied regarding the benefit accruing to the community and rural sector arising from the various grant awards; his views on whether there is an opportunity for extension of benefit through the system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15446/19]
View answerAs Minister with responsibility for Rural and Community Development I note the substantial progress made by my Department to improve the quality of life for persons and communities throughout Ireland, both rural and urban.
My primary focus is to support the creation of vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities across this country. This can be achieved through the implementation of programmes and initiatives that facilitate and encourage economic development through the creation of jobs and the infrastructure required to support those jobs, and to support our communities to become and remain desirable places to live, work and raise families.
The Action Plan for Rural Development and the Framework Policy for Local and Community Development in Ireland have been the key policy initiatives that set out the ways in which Government aims to address disadvantage and how we can support both rural and urban communities across Ireland and improve the quality of life for those who live and work in these communities.
The current Action Plan runs to the end of 2019 and consideration is now being given to future rural development policy. An implementation plan for the Framework Policy for Local and Community Development in Ireland, published in 2016, is also currently at an advanced stage, as is Ireland’s first National Social Enterprise Policy.
I am confident that these plans will propose actions that will support rural economic development and the local and community development sectors to continue providing valuable needed services and supports that will benefit both urban and rural communities.
In addition, Project Ireland 2040 will help breathe new life into communities across the country, providing access to recreational and leisure facilities, by increasing the attractiveness of communities to visitors and, most importantly, by supporting job creation and employment for people in both urban and rural areas.
This includes the €1 billion being invested through my Department in towns and villages across Ireland through the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund. Some €86 million has already been allocated to projects under the Fund across the country and I look forward to seeing the benefits of these projects to communities when they are completed.
My Department is also committed to the successful delivery of a range of other schemes and programmes which are greatly benefiting rural and urban communities. Programmes such as LEADER, CLÁR, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, the Local Improvement Scheme, the Outdoor Recreation Scheme, the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme, the Community Enhancement Programme and the Community Services Programme have delivered funding and supports to numerous projects, many of which are identified and driven by local community organisations.
My Department is committed to reviewing all of its schemes on an ongoing basis to ensure the benefits are maximised for local communities.
99. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the operations of the Western Development Commission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15233/19]
View answerThe Western Development Commission has achieved much since was it established in 1999. It now has an important role to play in supporting the Government's objectives for more effective regional development through initiatives such as the National Planning Framework, the new Regional Enterprise Plans, the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategies, and the Atlantic Economic Corridor (AEC) project.
The Commission will shortly launch a new 5-year Strategic Plan which will set out its main pillars of work over the coming years.
The Commission has been allocated just over €2 million from my Department's Vote for 2019. This represents an increase of €500,000 on their 2018 allocation. The additional funding which I secured for 2019 will allow the Commission to delivery its new Strategy and, in particular, to support the work of the AEC initiative and maximise the use of the Western Investment Fund.
The AEC project is a collaborative initiative, involving public and private stakeholders working together to maximise the strengths and assets of the cities and towns along our Western seaboard, from Donegal to Kerry, to attract investment, support jobs and improve the quality of life of those who live and work in the region. The project is overseen by the Atlantic Economic Corridor Taskforce, which I chair.
As the AEC initiative develops and grows, the importance of strengthening the collaboration between stakeholders and in communicating the AEC's potential to investors is paramount. In this context, the Western Development Commission has agreed to take on a co-ordinating role to support the work of the AEC Taskforce and its subgroups.
Through the Western Investment Fund, the Commission implements initiatives to support the development of micro-enterprises SMEs and emerging sectors in the western region, including a €2 million fund to encourage the film, television, animation and games industry in the West of the country.
