Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 September 2020
252. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Community and Rural Development and the Islands the degree to which she plans to disperse funds from her Department to eligible groups nationwide, with particular reference to areas in need of rejuvenation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24559/20]
View answer260. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Community and Rural Development and the Islands her plans to reward community activity in such a way as to generate improved economic activity in both urban and rural areas faced with particular difficulties; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24567/20]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 252 and 260 together.
The Department for Rural and Community Development was established in 2017 to support the creation of vibrant and sustainable communities across this country. My Department delivers a coherent package of supports to strengthen and rejuvenate rural and urban communities. These supports enable economic growth and development and also support communities to address gaps in meeting social needs, including those caused by higher levels of deprivation. The Department delivers funding support for rejuvenation of areas across the following three programmes:
Rural Development Investment Programme-€149.7m. These programmes include; Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF), LEADER Programme, Town and Village Renewal Scheme, Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure scheme (ORIS), Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) and the CLÁR Programme
Community Funding Programmes-€153.9m. These programmes include; Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), Community Services Programme (CSP), Community Enhancement Programme (CEP), PEACE IV, Public library funding, Dormant Accounts Funding. This funding also supports communities faced with difficulties due to marginalization and isolation.
The 2020 Town and Village Renewal Scheme has been tailored to focus on interventions that can support the economic and social recovery of our rural towns and villages, to generate improved economic activity and assist them in responding to the challenges presented by COVID-19. Car parking improvements expressly designed to encourage increased footfall in town centres and that deliver a benefit to the community as a whole are included among the activities that are eligible for funding.
The July Stimulus Package provided an additional €10 million of funding that allowed for the expansion of the Scheme and brought the total funding available for the Scheme this year to €25 million. This funding will provide funding for more projects in rural towns and villages to respond to the challenges presented by COVID-19. A total of €6.1m has been approved for 226 projects to date in 2020 with additional successful projects due to be announced in due course. The closing date for the Standard Town and Village Renewal Scheme is 30th September 2020 with communities being encouraged to submit their applications through their Local Authority by that date.
The Community Enhancement Programme, was launched in 2018 to address disadvantage in urban and rural communities. The 2020 Community Enhancement Programme (CEP) with funding of €2m, launched in June. Additionally, a further €5m from the July stimulus package, was launched by the Department in August 2020, under the CEP for community centres and community buildings.
Under Project Ireland 2040, the Government has committed to providing €1 billion for a new Rural Regeneration and Development Fund over the period 2019 to 2027. Initial funding of €315m was secured over the period 2019 to 2022. This represents an unprecedented commitment by Government to strengthen our rural economies and communities. The objective of the Fund is to support collaborative, coordinated and complementary packages of investment between Departments, agencies, Local Authorities and other public bodies, to pool their assets and work with communities to generate improved economic activity, transforming our rural towns and villages and their outlying areas. The Fund provides an unprecedented opportunity to make a significant impact on rural communities which will transform rural Ireland for the better and shows that the Government understands the need for proper investment in rural Ireland.
The CLÁR programme provides funding for small scale projects in designated rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population. Under the 2020 programme a “Schools/Community Safety Measure” is being funded. This may fund the provision of safety related infrastructure in the environs of a school or community space such as lighting, car park and footpath upgrades and digital speed safety signs. The CLÁR programme 2020, launched at the end of May, closed for applications under these measures at the end of August last. The applications received are now being assessed and it is hoped to announce successful projects by November.
The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) is worth €190m over five years to the end of 2022. My Department funds Local Development Companies to work with disadvantaged individuals and groups, offering service users an integrated range of supports i.e. Lifelong Learning and Training; CV and Interview Preparation; Personal Development Courses; Self-Employment training; Business Planning and Budgeting Supports and helping them onto a work placement programme such as CE or T?s.
The Community Services Programme, provides funding to organisations delivering services in disadvantaged communities. More than €46m is available to support community organisations under the programme in 2020.
In addition, since its establishment, my Department also relaunched the Local Improvement Scheme for private rural roads and laneways.
My Department published the 1st National Policy on Social Enterprise in 2019. Social enterprises play an important role in creating jobs, in investing in people, and in supporting communities.
The Strategy to Support the Community & Voluntary Sector in Ireland Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities sets out a long-term vision for our communities in Ireland. The Strategy sets a general direction for Government policy in relation to community development, local development and the community and voluntary sectors for the next five years and beyond. I was delighted funding in the 2020 Budget Allocations supports the implementation of the actions detailed in the Strategy. This will include enhanced supports for the structures which drive local engagement in decision making – the Public Participation Networks and the Local Community Development Committees.
The Action Plan for Rural Development which had cross-Departmental delivery, reached the end of its three-year timeframe at the end of 2019. The Forthcoming Policy for Rural Development 2020-2025 builds on the Action Plan for Rural Development, but with a more forward-looking approach to the policies, programmes and structures needed to embed economic and social development in rural areas and underscore the interdependence of urban and rural areas in national economic, social and cultural recovery. DRCD is leading on ensuring strong coherence across key Government policies to ensure that rural communities and economies are in a strong position to:
- adapt to future challenges e.g. changing demographics within rural communities, climate change adaptation, Brexit, post-COVID recovery, and to
- take advantage of available opportunities (e.g. diversification of rural economies, new ways of working, increased Government investment targeted at balanced regional development).
The Policy will deliver for rural Ireland in an integrated and strategic way across Government, with DRCD playing a central co-ordinating role.
I am confident that these plans will propose actions that will support rural economic development and the local and the community development sectors who continue providing valuable needed services and supports to both urban and rural communities.
In the present COVID environment the supports provided by my Department to assist communities is more important than ever. In this regard, my Department will continue to host online engagements with stakeholders on the short-term and longer-term impacts of COVID-19 on rural areas and any consequential actions which need to be taken to assist the economic and social recovery of these areas. These engagements will input into the development of the new rural policy for Ireland for 2020-2025 to be published shortly.
