Written Answers Nos. 1486-1498
1486. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire An Roinn Forbartha Pobail agus Tuaithe agus Oileán cén uair a dhéanfar cinneadh ar achomharc ar iarratas a rinneadh faoin scéim dar teideal Covid-19: Stability Scheme for Community and Voluntary, Charity and Social Enterprise Organisations (sonraí tugtha); cén fáth ar diúltaíodh don iarratas sin; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [21699/20]
View answerTá an Rialtas ar an eolas faoi na dúshláin atá roimh an bpobal agus eagraíochtaí deonacha agus tá sé tiomanta d'oibriú go dlúth leis an earnáil chun na dúshláin sin a bhainistiú, agus tuigeann go mbeidh cur chuige uile Rialtais de dhíth le dul i ngleic leo.
Tá sé i gceist le Ciste Cobhsaíochta na hEarnála Pobail agus Deonaí Covid-19 instealladh airgid spriocdhírithe aon uaire a chur ar fáil d'eagraíochtaí agus do ghrúpaí atá ag cur seirbhísí túslíne ríthábhachtacha ar fáil i láthair na huaire do na daoine is mó sa tsochaí a bhfuil siad ag teastáil uathu agus atá i mbaol a ndúnta de bharr go bhfuil ioncam a bailíodh nó ioncam trádáilte caillte acu mar thoradh díreach ar na srianta a cuireadh i bhfeidhm le stop a chur le scaipeadh COVID-19.
Cuirfear maoiniú suas le €35 milliún ar fáil faoin gciste seo trí Chiste na gCuntas Díomhaoin (DAF) agus tá na critéir ag teacht le cuspóirí DAF chun tacú le:
1. Forbairt phearsanta agus shóisialta daoine atá faoi mhíbhuntáiste eacnamaíoch nó sóisialta; nó
2. Forbairt oideachais daoine atá faoi mhíbhuntáiste oideachais; nó
3. Daoine faoi mhíchumas.
Fuarthas breis is míle iarratas agus rinneadh iad a mheas agus a chur in ord tosaíochta ar bhonn riachtanais.
Is é bunsprioc Chiste Cobhsaíochta COVID 19 cuidiú le fiontair incháilithe pobail agus dheonacha, carthanais agus shóisialta a bhfuil deacrachtaí airgeadais acu mar gheall go bhfuil laghdú ar an teacht isteach atá acu ó fheachtais bailiúcháin airgeadais agus / nó ar ioncam trádáilte mar thoradh díreach ar phaindéim COVID-19. Luadh i gcritéir na scéime go mbeadh aon deontas a bhronnfaí ag brath ar an riachtanas a aithníodh agus rinneadh eagraíochtaí a fuair maoiniú a chur i ord tosaíochta bunaithe air sin.
Sa chomhthéascs sin, measadh go raibh foinse suntasach agus seasmhach ioncaim ag eagraíochtaí a fhaigheann 80% nó níos mó dá maoiniú ó fhoinsí Stáit sa tréimhse a bhí á meas, mar go bhfuil an maoiniú sin fós á chur ar fáil ag an Stát.
Faraor, níor éirigh le roinnt eagraíochtaí maoiniú a fháil mar gheall ar roinnt údar. Maidir le cás na heagraíochta atá i gceist, cinneadh, cé go bhfuil an eagraíocht ag cur seirbhís luachmhar ar fáil do mhuintir na háite, níl sí ag cur seirbhísí ríthábhachtacha túslíne, mar a bhí liostáilte i gcritéir na scéime, ar fáil mar bhunghníomhaíocht. Chomh maith leis sin, bunaithe ar an eolas a chuir an eagraíocht atá i gceist ar fáil mar chuid dá hiarratas, go bhfuil an eagraíocht ag fáil níos mó ná 80% dá cuid maoinithe ó fhoinsí Stáit agus faraor, ní bheadh sí incháilithe do mhaoiniú faoi Scéim Cobhsaíochta COVID19.
Tuigim go bhfuil díomá ar roinnt eagraíochtaí faoin toradh, nó go bhféadfadh go bhfuil tuilleadh eolais nó eolas cothrom le dáta acu a mhaith leo é a athbhreithniú. Is mar gheall air sin go bhfuil Próiseas Achomharc don Scéim Cobhsaíochta ann, agus cuireadh sin in iúl do gach iarrthóir nár éirigh leo. Tuigim go bhfuil an eagraíocht atá i gceist rannpháirteach faoi láthair sa phróiseas achomharc agus táim ag súil go mbeidh cinneadh deiridh déanta ina leith go luath.
1487. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Community and Rural Development and the Islands the number of applications received under the stability scheme for community, voluntary, charity and social enterprise organisations from community radio stations; the number that were awarded funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21700/20]
View answerThe Government is aware of the challenges facing community and voluntary organisations and is committed to working closely with the sector in managing through these, recognising that it will require a whole of Government approach.
The Community and Voluntary Sector Covid-19 Stability Fund is intended to be a targeted once-off cash injection for organisations and groups currently delivering critical front-line services to the most at need in our society and in danger of imminent closure due to lost fund-raised or traded income as a direct result of restrictions to counter the spread of COVID-19.
Applications were received from 15 Community Radio Organisations, 14 from individual radio stations and one from their representative body. 12 of these organisations were awarded funding and the remaining three were deemed ineligible but have been offered leave to appeal the decision.
A full list of all successful applicants is available on my Department's website.
1488. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Community and Rural Development and the Islands when a decision will be made on an application by an organisation (details supplied) under the stability scheme for community, voluntary, charity and social enterprise organisations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21701/20]
View answerThe Government is aware of the challenges facing community and voluntary organisations and is committed to working closely with the sector in managing through these, recognising that it will require a whole of Government approach.
The Community and Voluntary Sector Covid-19 Stability Fund is intended to be a targeted once-off cash injection for organisations and groups currently delivering critical front-line services to the most at need in our society and in danger of imminent closure due to lost fund-raised or traded income as a direct result of restrictions to counter the spread of COVID-19.
This fund will provide up to €35million of funding through the Dormant Accounts Fund (DAF) and the criteria align with DAF objectives to support:
1. The personal and social development of persons who are economically or socially disadvantaged; or
2. The educational development of persons who are educationally disadvantaged; or
3. Persons with a disability.
Over one thousand applications were received during the application period. Due to the considerable interest in the Stability Scheme and to facilitate prompt drawdown, applications were assessed in batches and funding has been released in tranches. To date three tranches have been announced, supporting more than 480 organisations with funding of over €25 million. This funding is supporting the delivery of many critical frontline services in every part of the country.
In this context, I can confirm that the organisation in question was included in the most recent tranche of funding, which I announced on 4th September. A full list of successful applicants is available on my Department’s website. Further announcements will be made in the coming weeks.
1489. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire An Roinn Forbartha Pobail agus Tuaithe agus Oileán cén uair a dhéanfar cinneadh ar iarratas ó scoil (sonraí tugtha) faoi scéim CLÁR 2020 (Beart 1) de bharr na práinne a bhaineann leis an obair atá le déanamh taobh amuigh den scoil; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [21721/20]
View answerIs iad na hÚdaráis Áitiúla a chuireann iarratais faoi Bheart 1 agus faoi Bheart 2 de chlár CLÁR ar aghaidh chuig mo Roinn. I mbliana, tugadh cuireadh do gach Údarás Áitiúil a bhfuil réimsí sannta CLÁR ag teacht faoina gcúram suas le 10 n-iarratas a dhéanamh in éineacht faoi Bheart 1 agus faoi Bheart 2 den chlár.
Ba é an 28 Lúnasa an dáta deiridh chun iarratais a fháil faoi na Bearta sin. Cé gur chuir Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe 10 n-iarratas ar aghaidh faoi na Bearta atá i gceist, ní raibh aon iarratas san áireamh iontu maidir leis an scoil a bhfuil an Teachta ag tagairt di.
B'fhéidir gur mhaith leis an Teachta teagmháil a dhéanamh le Comhairle Chontae na Gaillimhe lena fháil amach an raibh iarratas faighte acu ón scoil atá i gceist.
1490. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Community and Rural Development and the Islands when a decision will be made on an application by a centre (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21875/20]
View answerI can confirm that my Department received an Expression of Interest from the centre in question under the Walks Scheme.
The Walks Scheme contracts over 1,900 landholders to undertake maintenance work on 39 National Waymarked Ways and other priority trails that traverse their lands. The landholders receive modest payments for maintenance work undertaken in line with agreed work plans.
Last year, my Department invited Expressions of Interest for additional trails to be included in the Walks Scheme. In December 2019, 10 new trails were to added to the Scheme. These trails constitute the first phase of an expansion which will see the Walks Scheme doubling in size to approximately 80 trails when all phases of the expansion are complete.
A trail must meet specific qualifying criteria in order to be considered eligible for the scheme, including being of a suitable standard to be included in Sport Ireland Outdoors' trail register.
I understand that the trail which is the subject of the application referred to by the Deputy will need to be inspected by Sport Ireland Outdoors to confirm that it meets the required standard before it can be considered for inclusion under the Walks Scheme.
In addition, my Department is currently conducting a overall review of the Walks Scheme to help inform the extensive expansion of the scheme. A decision on new trails to be added to the Scheme will be taken following the completion of that review.
1491. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Community and Rural Development and the Islands when a decision will be made on CLÁR applications for 2020; the number of measures advertised under the programme in 2020; the closing date for applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21949/20]
View answerThe CLÁR 2020 programme was launched on 25th. May last.
The programme provides funding for small scale infrastructure projects in rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population. This year, the supports provided through CLÁR have been tailored to help rural communities respond to the new COVID-19 environment, including through the addition of new funding measures.
The measures being funded under the 2020 programme are:
Measure 1: Schools/Community Safety Measures
Measure 2: Community Recreation Areas (new in 2020)Measure 3: Community Wellbeing Supports, comprising:
(a) Meals on Wheels and Linked Services (new in 2020)
(b)Mobility and Cancer Care Transport
The closing date for receipt of applications was Friday, 28th. August 2020. However, the closing date for receipt of applications under Measure 3(a) has been extended until Friday, 11th. September 2020, to allow for additional applications for funding for Meals on Wheels services that are not directly located in a CLÁR area, but where over 50% of their normal clientele reside within CLÁR areas.
To date, over 300 applications have been received by my Department across all Measures in the programme. My officials are currently assessing all applications received on a Measure-by-Measure basis.
I will announce the successful projects in respect of each Measure when the assessment process is fully complete.
1492. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Community and Rural Development and the Islands when a decision will be made on an application for CLÁR funding by a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22178/20]
View answerThe CLÁR programme provides funding for small scale projects in rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population. The Measures being funded this year under the 2020 programme are:
Measure 1: Schools/Community Safety MeasuresMeasure 2: Community Recreation Areas (new in 2020)Measure 3: Community Wellbeing Supports, comprising:
(a) Meals on Wheels and Linked Services (new in 2020)
(b) Mobility and Cancer Care Transport
I can confirm that an application in respect of the school referred to by the Deputy has been received by my Department under Measure 1.
To date, over 300 applications have been received by my Department under the programme, across all Measures.
My officials are currently assessing all of the applications received and I will announce the successful projects in respect of each Measure when the assessment process is fully complete.
1493. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Community and Rural Development and the Islands the measures she will take to save community centres that have lost and continue to lose bookings due to public health advice on operation of classes and training; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22210/20]
View answerCommunity centres are funded from a range of different sources across different Government Departments and agencies. Some of the supports provided by my Department are outlined below.
Funding is provided to over 400 community organisations under the Community Services Programme (CSP) some of which are operating community centres. My Department also developed a 2020 Support Fund which provided an additional once off payment to CSP organisations to cover a 12 week period from 26th March 2020.
The 2020 Community Enhancement Programme with funding of €2m which provides small capital grants to community organisations was launched in June. Separately, under the July stimulus package the Department launched a €5m fund for repairs or upgrades to community centres and community buildings. Details are available on the following link:
https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/2af76-minister-joe-obrien-announces-details-of-5m-funding-for-community-centres-community-facilities/
In addition, in 2020 my Department announced a package of supports for Community and Voluntary Organisations, Charities and Social Enterprises, which included a Stability Fund of up to €35m. Some community centres were eligible for this funding, depending on the activities and facilities that they make available.
Funding is also provided to rural community groups through the LEADER Programme, and this may be relevant to community centres. Details can be found at
https://www.gov.ie/en/organisation-information/216837-the-rural-development-and-regional-affairs-division/
While recognising that the social recovery of Ireland post COVID-19 will require a whole of Government approach, my Department will continue to work with relevant stakeholders, including Local Authorities and Local Development Companies, to determine how best this can be achieved and will continue to work to support community organisations and community centres across the country.
1494. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Community and Rural Development and the Islands the status of a CLÁR measure 3b application (details supplied). [22274/20]
View answerThe CLÁR programme provides funding for small scale projects in rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population. The measures being funded this year under the 2020 programme are:
Measure 1: Schools/Community Safety Measures
Measure 2: Community Recreation Areas (new in 2020)
Measure 3: Community Wellbeing Supports, comprising:
(a) Meals on Wheels and Linked Services (new in 2020)
(b) Mobility and Cancer Care Transport
The closing date for receipt of applications under Measure 3(b) was 28th August. I can confirm that an application from the organisation referred to by the Deputy has been received by my Department.
To date, over 300 applications have been received under the programme across all Measures.
My officials are currently assessing all of the applications received on a Measure-by-Measure basis and I will be in a position to announce the successful projects for each Measure when the assessment process is fully complete.
1495. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Community and Rural Development and the Islands the reason the revised local improvement scheme has a requirement that agricultural use much be proven for a road to be eligible for the scheme in view of the large number of rural persons that are not farmers and are living on poor roads that are not taken in charge by the council; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22470/20]
View answerThe Local Improvement Scheme, or LIS, is a programme for improvement works on small private or non-public roads in rural areas which are not under the normal maintenance of the Local Authorities. The scheme is funded by my Department and is administered through the Local Authorities.
As the Deputy will be aware, there was no dedicated funding available for this scheme for a number of years until it was re-launched in 2017. Since then, over €58 million has been allocated to the Local Authorities to deliver the scheme.
In March this year, €10 million was made available for the 2020 Local Improvement Scheme, with each Local Authority being provided with the same financial allocation as 2019.
The 2020 scheme continues the established principle that eligible roads include those that provide access to parcels of land of which two or more are owned or occupied by different persons engaged in separate agricultural activities. This is not a new requirement.
The 2020 Scheme Outline provides an additional clarification that applicants must provide documentation to verify that they are engaged in agricultural activities on the parcels of land accessed by the road project. The Scheme Outline also provides examples of the type of documentation required. This documentation will help to verify the eligibility of the expenditure awarded under the Scheme.
Other eligible roads under the LIS include those used for harvesting purposes and amenity roads used by the public for access to important community amenities.
1496. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Community and Rural Development and the Islands the number of vacant desk spaces available in accommodation allocated to her Department in Civil Service accommodation outside Dublin city; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22476/20]
View answerMy Department occupies offices in one location outside Dublin, at Government Buildings, Ballina, Co. Mayo. The office space in the building in Ballina is shared between five Government Departments.
In the normal course of events, there would be no vacant desks in the space allocated to us in the offices in Ballina. However, in line with the Government's current public health advice, the vast majority of the Department's staff are currently working from home. Any staff attending the workplace to carry out essential work do so in accordance with the Department's Covid-19 Response Plan, drawn up to fulfill the requirements set out in the Government's Return to Work Safely Protocol.
1497. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Community and Rural Development and the Islands if he will provide a schedule of advisers, special advisers and seconded civil servants working in her Department appointed and or recruited and or in an acting capacity; the roles and responsibilities attributed to each; and the salary scale for each role in tabular form. [22524/20]
View answerOn the commencement of every Dáil, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform issues guidelines setting out the arrangements for the staffing of Ministerial Offices. The appointment of Special Advisers is subject to section 11 of the Public Service Management (PSMA) Act 1997.
The Guidelines for the 33rd Dáil, which incorporate the principles of section 11 of the PSMA Act, have recently been issued.
The appointment of individual Special Advisers is a matter for each Government Minister subject to the terms set out in the aforementioned guidelines, although the appointments are also subject to formal Government approval. At this stage, I have assigned two Special Advisers to my Department, a Special Adviser on policy, and a Press Adviser.
The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform must be notified of the rate of salary to be paid in all cases for Special Advisers. These rates will then be published on the website of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
A breakdown of staff seconded into DRCD by grade is supplied in the table below. The staff in question operate in various roles with varying responsibilities appropriate to their grade across the structures of the Department. Staff seconded into DRCD retain their existing terms and conditions. Please see table below:
Staff Seconded to DRCD
|
Grade |
Number of Staff |
Standard ScalePPC |
Standard ScaleNon PPC |
Higher ScalePPC |
Higher ScaleNon PPC |
|
Agricultural InspectorTechnical Grade – AP equivalent |
2 |
from -to €63,523€88,158 |
from -to€60,434€83,881 |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Assistant Agricultural inspectorTechnical Grade – AO equivalent |
5 |
€33,971€66,118 |
€35,836€62,904 |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Assistant Principal |
1 |
€67,659€83,740 |
€65,356€79,681 |
€74,068€91,961 |
€70,490€87,495 |
|
Higher Executive Officer* |
3 |
€48,868€61,545 |
€46,517€58,556 |
€51,722€63,547 |
€49,226€60,462 |
|
Administrative Officer |
1 |
€32,405€61,545 |
€31,024€58,556 |
€45,502€63,547 |
€43,318€60,462 |
|
Total |
12 |
* 1 x HEO is in receipt of allowance pertaining to assignment to Private Secretary duties.
Currently the allowance is €19,653 per annum for officers on modified PRSI and €20,685 per annum
for those on full PRSI.
1498. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Community and Rural Development and the Islands the number of special advisers that will be hired by her Department. [22786/20]
View answerOn the commencement of every Dáil, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform issues guidelines setting out the arrangements for the staffing of Ministerial Offices. The appointment of Special Advisers is subject to section 11 of the Public Service Management (PSMA) Act 1997.
The Guidelines for the 33rd Dáil, which incorporate the principles of section 11 of the PSMA Act, have recently been issued.
The appointment of individual Special Advisers is a matter for each Government Minister subject to the terms set out in the aforementioned guidelines, although the appointments are also subject to formal Government approval. At this stage, I have assigned two Special Advisers to my Department, a Special Adviser on policy, and a Press Adviser.
