Thursday, 5 Nov 2020

Written Answers Nos. 1-25

Housing Regeneration

Questions (13)

Catherine Connolly

Question:

13. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 226 of 23 September 2020, if the inter-departmental steering group to review the suggested actions in the independent report on the pilot town centre living initiative has been established; when the steering group will be operational; the membership of the group; the terms of reference of the group; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34145/20]

Written answers

Minister for Rural and Community Development

An Inter-Departmental Group has been established which will consider the suggested actions in the report on the Town Centre Living initiative which was published in June.

This work will be part of the wider remit of the Group which will also seek to progress the commitment in the Programme for Government to develop a Town Centre First approach to the regeneration of our towns and villages. Town centre living is seen as an integral part of that approach.

The Inter-Departmental Group will be chaired jointly by my Department and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The first meeting of the Group will take place on 11th November .

Participation on the Group has been invited from the:

- Department of Finance,

- Department of Public Expenditure & Reform,

- Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment,

- Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media,

- Department of Environment, Climate & Communications

- Department of Transport, and

- County and City Management Association

It is envisaged that the work of the Inter-Departmental Group will focus on four interrelated strands:

- Governance and structures required at national and local government levels to deliver on a Town Centre First principle.

- The future economic and social purpose of towns and villages to ensure their viability.

- Town Centre Living, with a focus on considering the suggested actions in the report on the Town Centre Living initiative, and

- Co-ordination of investment and resources.

The Inter-Departmental Group will provide recommendations for consideration by Governmentunder each of these strands as they are developed.

One of the key messages which came through from the Town Centre Living report was the value of towns developing cohesive plans for their future development if they are to be attractive places in which to live. In this context, I have secured €2 million extra in Budget 2021 to support up to 50 towns to develop master plans of this nature. Further details of this scheme will be announced in 2021.

Post Office Network

Questions (14)

Paul Murphy

Question:

14. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will recognise the importance of the post office network for rural towns and villages. [33152/20]

Written answers

Minister for Rural and Community Development

My colleague, the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications, has policy responsibility for the postal sector, however, I am aware of the particular value placed by local communities, especially those in rural areas, on services such as those provided by the local post office.

Rural and regional development is at the heart of the Programme for Government. My Department is currently finalising a new five year rural development policy. This policy will recognise that strong rural economies and communities are vital in supporting and safeguarding the sustainability of vibrant towns and villages across the country.

Significant investment in rural Ireland is taking place across Government and my Department will continue to support communities across rural Ireland through a range of funding schemes and supports.

Budget 2021 has allocated a total of €341 million to my Department. Much of this funding will support the economic and social development of rural areas under my Department’s Rural Development, Regional Affairs and Islands Programme.

Funding is available for rural areas in my Department through: the €1 billion allocated to the rural regeneration and development fund, the CLÁR Programme, the Community Enhancement Programme, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and funding for our Public Libraries.

Funding is also delivered through the Community Services Programme, LEADER Programme and the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme where supports are tailored to the specific needs of individual areas.

To conclude, I want to acknowledge An Post and the postmasters around the country who have continued to provide vital services to their communities throughout the Covid-19 pandemic and they should be commended for that.

Flexible Work Practices

Questions (15)

Holly Cairns

Question:

15. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the details of the development of town and village hubs and broadband connection points announced in the budget, including the timelines for roll-outs and the means by which areas will be prioritised. [34169/20]

Written answers

Minister for Rural and Community Development

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, remote working has proven its value in maintaining economic activity and in the provision of many public services.

Building on the experience of the last few months, I believe that a structured approach to the provision of remote working facilities can be transformational for rural Ireland. Remote working can help to retain talented people in rural communities, encourage mobile talent to move to the regions, provide increased trade for local businesses, and revitalise our rural towns.

My Department has been working with the Western Development Commission to develop an integrated network of remote working hubs along the Atlantic Economic Corridor, from Kerry to Donegal. The WDC has identified and mapped more than 120 remote working hubs which serve that region. The approach to building this network, with shared back-office services, will serve as a model which can be replicated in other parts of the country.

In addition, 200 Broadband Connection Points will be connected before the end of this year, which will provide communities with free high-speed internet access. Up to 100 more BCPs will be connected in 2021. Many BCPs have the potential to provide remote working facilities in some of our most remote rural communities.

An additional €5 million was allocated under Budget 2021 for investment in digital hubs through the Town and Village Renewal Scheme. Over the last number of years this scheme has supported investment in remote working hubs and BCPs in town centres through applications made by the Local Authorities.

The additional funding for 2021 will be used to develop a national network of remote working hubs based on the AEC model, as well as upgrading existing facilities and BCPs throughout the country. An Interdepartmental Working Group, chaired by the Secretary General of my Department, has been established to progress this project and agree a work programme to ensure that the additional funding is fully utilised in 2021.

LEADER Programmes

Questions (16)

Dara Calleary

Question:

16. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development her plans for the LEADER programme in 2021 and 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34083/20]

Written answers

Minister for Rural and Community Development

The EU-funded LEADER programme has been in operation since 1991 and, since then, it has supported thousands of community-led projects here in Ireland and throughout the EU.

Under Ireland's current LEADER progamme, €168.7 million was allocated to Local Action Groups for project approvals over the lifetime of the programme.

At the end of October, there were over 3,500 projects approved by the LAGs, to a value of over €139 million. A further 341 projects requesting more than €21 million in funding are at various stages in the approval process.

The current LEADER programme comes to an end this year as far as new project approvals are concerned. The Programme for Government includes a commitment to prioritise a State-led programme to bridge the gap between the current LEADER programme and the next EU programme, which will not commence until 2022 at the earliest.

The objective of this commitment is to allow rural development projects to continue to be delivered under a Transitional Programme, using the LEADER model, until the new EU programme commences.

The design, duration and composition of the Transitional Programme is currently being finalised and I hope to be in a position to make an announcement shortly, outlining the details of the programme which will come into effect in 2021.

Community Services Programme

Questions (17)

Holly Cairns

Question:

17. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if additional funding will be provided to projects supported by the community services programme to make up for shortfalls as a result of Covid-19. [34173/20]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development (Deputy Joe O'Brien)

My Department currently supports more than 400 community organisations under the Community Services Programme (CSP) to provide local services through a social enterprise model. CSP funding is provided as a fixed annual contribution to the cost of an agreed number of full-time equivalent (FTE) positions and a manager, where warranted. The CSP co-funding contribution towards employing each FTE is €19,033 per annum and €32,000 per annum for managers.

In response to COVID-19 the Department put in place a €1.2m CSP Support Fund for 2020 which provided additional funding to many of these organisations, ensuring that they could pay their full-time CSP supported employees a maximum of €350 net per week, with a proportionate amount for part-time CSP supported employees.

In addition, to date, 147 CSP supported organisations have also availed of my Department's COVID-19 Stability Fund resulting in payments of over €6m to these organisations.

Pobal, who manage the programme on behalf of my Department, have undertaken a detailed review of the financial position of all the CSP supported organisations, as their ability to generate income has been greatly hampered by the Covid-19 crisis in many cases. The outcome of this review will inform decisions regarding any additional supports that might be required by these organisations. Any additional supports to be provided will be considered in light of available resources.

Question No. 18 answered orally.

Rural Regeneration and Development Fund

Questions (19)

Christopher O'Sullivan

Question:

19. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he will ensure the expansion and continued funding of the rural regeneration and development fund and CLÁR scheme given the fact LEADER funding is no longer available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34100/20]

Written answers

Minister for Rural and Community Development

Rural and regional development is at the heart of the Programme for Government which includes a commitment to prioritise a State-led programme to bridge the gap between the current LEADER programme and the next EU programme. The objective of this commitment is to allow local-led rural development projects to be delivered under a Transitional Programme until the new EU programme commences. I hope to be in a position shortly to announce the details of a Transitional LEADER Programme for Ireland, to come into effect in 2021.

My Department’s new Rural Development Policy, soon to be published, recognises that strong rural economies and communities are vital in supporting and safeguarding the sustainability of vibrant towns and villages across the country. €23 million in additional investment for rural Ireland will underpin this policy, a 7 % increase in Budget 2021 to €341million.

Almost €178 million of this will support the economic and social development of rural areas and contribute to regional development.

Since 2016 over €37 million has been approved for over 1,500 projects under the CLÁR programme for disadvantaged rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population.

The CLÁR 2021 budget is increasing by 10% to €5.5 million. I also announced €4.1 million for 115 successful projects under Measures 1 and 2 of CLÁR 2020 for safety measures around schools and community facilities, including the development of community recreation areas. Successful projects under Measure 3 of the CLÁR 2020 programme are to be announced shortly.

Rural Regeneration and Development funding is delivering significant investment across the country and aiding recovery.

Under RRDF to- date:

€131 million is approved for 63 Category 1 major projects which can drive sustainable rural regeneration and development.

€35 million is approved for 76 Category 2 projects which require development funding to bring projects to a stage where they are ready to apply under Category 1 calls. The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund is increased from €78 million in 2020 to €87 million in 2021.

LEADER Programmes

Questions (20)

Rose Conway-Walsh

Question:

20. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the funding provided for new LEADER projects for 2021; the funding identified for the delivery and administration of the LEADER programme for 2021; the reason no interim national rural development plan has been announced for the period 2021 to 2023 as was committed to in the programme for Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33585/20]

Written answers

Minister for Rural and Community Development

As the Deputy will be aware, due to delays at EU level, the next EU LEADER programme will not commence until 2022 at the earliest.

The Programme for Government includes a commitment to prioritise a State-led programme to bridge the gap between the current LEADER programme and the next EU programme. The objective of this Transitional Programme is to allow locally-led rural development projects to continue to be delivered using the LEADER model until the new EU programme commences.

The duration of the transitional period at EU level has not yet been agreed. We are therefore planning for Ireland’s Transitional Programme to run for an initial period of 12 months, but with the scope to extend this if necessary, to align with the outcome of the discussions at EU level between the Commission and the Parliament.

The total allocation for LEADER next year is €44 million. This allocation will be used to fund existing projects as they come to completion and submit payment claims. It will also fund new projects to be approved under the Transitional Programme, and it will support the administration costs of the LAGs in closing out the existing programme and delivering the Transitional Programme.

It is important to recognise that LEADER is a multi-annual programme and that payments in respect of projects which are approved in any given year are generally not drawn down until subsequent years as the projects are completed. Therefore, costs related to projects under the Transitional Programme are likely to be met from the provision in my Department’s Vote in 2022 and 2023, as well as in 2021.

The details of the Transitional Programme are currently being finalized and I hope to be in a position to announce the full details of project and administration allocations under the Programme shortly.

Tidy Towns Committees

Questions (21)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

21. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development her plans to hold a tidy towns competition in 2021. [34152/20]

Written answers

Minister for Rural and Community Development

I can assure the Deputy that it is my intention that the SuperValu TidyTowns Competition will take place in 2021. The competition has a unique place in Ireland’s culture and heritage. Since its inception in 1958 when it had 52 entrants, the competition has grown year-on-year to see a record number of 924 entrants in 2019.

Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, the 2020 SuperValu TidyTowns competition had to be cancelled on public health grounds. At that time, it would not have been possible for Committees around the country to deliver their projects in the usual way.

However, as we have moved through different stages of living alongside the pandemic, the TidyTowns volunteers have demonstrated that they can continue to do some of their activities while still following all of the necessary public health precautions. My Department has been supporting TidyTowns Groups in that work and has been keeping connected with groups through different communication channels, including a monthly newsletter highlighting their work.

It is important that we recognise and reward the great work that is happening around the country and the pride of place during these difficult times and that is why I am committed to holding a TidyTowns competition in 2021.

We may need to alter and adapt our approach to delivering the competition next year given the on-going constraints posed by COVID, but we can still retain the ethos of the competition that has stood the test of time so well.

My Department is currently considering the format of the competition for next year, having regard to restrictions on gatherings at each of the five levels of the Government’s Plan for Living with COVID-19, and the paramount need to protect the health and wellbeing of volunteers and adjudicators. The details of any changes in the competition will be shared with the TidyTowns groups well in advance.

Town and Village Renewal Scheme

Questions (22, 48)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

22. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when successful applications under the 2020 town and village renewal scheme will be announced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34101/20]

Ciaran Cannon

Question:

48. Deputy Ciarán Cannon asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when she expects to announce successful applications under the 2020 town and village renewal scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34161/20]

Written answers

Minister for Rural and Community Development

I propose to take Questions Nos. 22 and 48 together.

The Town and Village Renewal Scheme has a budget of €25 million this year, following the allocation of an additional €10 million to the scheme as part of the Government’s July Stimulus Package.

The scheme was adapted this year to assist towns and villages to respond to the impact of COVID-19. In addition to the standard Measure, the scheme also included three rounds of funding under an Accelerated Measure to support smaller scale projects that could be delivered immediately to assist towns and villages in adapting to challenges presented by the pandemic.

This particular Measure is now closed and, in total, I have announced funding of €10.4 million for 363 projects across the three funding rounds of the Accelerated Measure. Details of the projects approved are available on the Gov.ie website at https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/0012f5-town-and-village-renewal-scheme/ .

Applications under the standard Measure of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, which will focus on assisting towns and villages to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic in the medium-term, are currently being assessed. This Measure has a budget of €15 million, and the successful projects will be announced when the assessment process is complete.

LEADER Programmes

Questions (23, 33)

James O'Connor

Question:

23. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the funding being provided for the LEADER programme in 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34168/20]

Rose Conway-Walsh

Question:

33. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the breakdown of the €44 million announced for LEADER in the 2021 budget; the amount that will be directed for payment on allocations up to the end of December 2020; the amount that will be used for payments on allocation to be made in 2021; the amount envisaged to be directed to new projects commencing in 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34166/20]

Written answers

Minister for Rural and Community Development

I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 33 together.

The current 2014-2020 LEADER programme will come to an end this year. Due to delays at EU level, the next EU LEADER programme will not commence until 2022 at the earliest.

The Programme for Government includes a commitment to prioritise a State-led programme to bridge the gap between the current LEADER programme and the next EU programme. The details of this Transitional Programme are currently being finalised.

The total budget for the LEADER programme next year is €44 million. This allocation will be used to fund a combination of existing projects as they come to completion, for new projects to be approved under the Transitional Programme, and to support the administration costs of the Local Action Groups in closing out the existing programme and delivering the Transitional Programme.

It is important to recognise that LEADER is a multi-annual programme and that payments in respect of projects which are approved in any given year are generally not drawn down until subsequent years as they are completed. Therefore, costs related to projects under the Transitional Programme are likely to be met from the provision in my Department’s Vote in 2022 and 2023, as well as 2021.

I hope to be in a position shortly to announce the details of the Transitional Programme which will come into effect in 2021, including the amount allocated for new project activity.

Rural Development Programme

Questions (24)

Claire Kerrane

Question:

24. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the new rural development policy will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34162/20]

Written answers

Minister for Rural and Community Development

My Department is currently finalising a new rural development policy for the next five years. The new policy will be forward-looking, ambitious, and will build on the progress achieved through the Action Plan for Rural Development, which concluded in 2019. It will seek to strengthen and build resilience in our rural economies and communities and will identify policy measures for delivery in order to achieve these objectives. As was the case with the Action Plan, the new policy will reflect a whole-of-Government commitment to rural Ireland.

The new policy will recognise that strong rural economies and communities are vital in supporting our national recovery and enhancing our nationwide wellbeing. It will also emphasise the interdependence between urban and rural areas in this regard.

The process of developing the policy has included a wide range of consultation events with key stakeholders, including Government Departments, State agencies, rural stakeholder groups, young people, and the wider public. The insights and views captured through this extensive consultation process have helped to identify the issues that matter to people living and working in rural Ireland.

Over the past months, my Department has held a series of further discussions with key stakeholders to explore the short and longer-term impacts of COVID-19 on rural communities and economies and identify actions required to assist rural areas to recover from the impact of COVID-19. I hosted a public webinar on the topic on 24th September.

The inputs from these consultations are being factored in to the drafting of the policy and I anticipate that the final policy will be submitted to Government for approval in the near future, prior to its publication.

Local Improvement Scheme

Questions (25)

Brendan Smith

Question:

25. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the funding that will be provided for the local improvement scheme under the CLÁR programme in 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34155/20]

Written answers

Minister for Rural and Community Development

The 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.

The LIS is now a separate standalone scheme and is not delivered through the CLÁR programme.

Since the LIS was re-launched in its own right in 2017, over €58 million has been allocated to Local Authorities for improvements to qualifying roads under the scheme. The scheme is important for many people in rural areas, as these roads provide access to agriculture lands, homes and amenities such as graveyards and beaches.

An allocation of €10 million was made available this year for the Local Improvement Scheme, and works under the scheme are due to be completed by the end of the year.

Recognising the value of the scheme for people living in rural areas, I was very pleased to secure an increase in the allocation for LIS in Budget 2021. Funding for the scheme next year will increase by 5%, to €10.5 million. The distribution of this funding to each of the relevant Local Authorities will be announced early in 2021.