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Wednesday, 27 Jan 2021

Written Answers Nos. 922-941

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (922)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

922. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the budgetary analysis being carried out to plan for long Covid-19 impacts in his Department and each State agency under the remit of his Department in tabular form. [4480/21]

View answer

Written answers

The delivery of essential services to farmers, fishers and the food and forestry sectors is being prioritised by my Department and its agencies throughout the course of the pandemic. The necessary steps have been taken to ensure that producers and processors can continue to operate effectively and keep supply lines open and that the Department and agencies can operate as effectively as possible.

The Food Wise 2025 High Level Implementation Committee, chaired by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Marine and including the agri-food State Agencies, met five times in 2020, and Covid has been a standing item on the agenda. The cross-Government response; the continuity of services to the sector; specific supports; and the potential long-term impacts for the sector are discussed. A variety of supports to assist the sector been implemented including a scheme of aids to private storage under the CAP for certain dairy products, €50 million for beef finishing farms and a Temporary Fleet Tie-up Scheme for fishing vessels.

Many of the horizontal supports available to individuals and businesses are also available to the agri-food sector, including the Covid-19 Working Capital Loan Scheme and the Covid-19 Credit Guarantee Scheme (CGS), both of which are supported by my Department.

The agri-food sector faced many challenges on the domestic and international front last year arising from the economic impacts of the pandemic. Despite this, the sector has proven to be very resilient. Production has been relatively unaffected. After an initial decrease in farm gate prices, they have stabilised and recovered across most sectors.

Agri-food exports for 2020 are estimated at €14.3 billion, down marginally from €14.5 billion in 2019. This is a remarkable achievement considering the challenges food and drink producers have faced, including the complete shutdown of food services in many of Ireland’s export markets across the globe.

In Budget 2021, the Government prioritised management of the Covid crisis and Brexit. My Department and its agencies, in consultation with stakeholders, will continue to monitor the impacts on the agri-food sector as the situation evolves, and will continue to provide appropriate supports to the sector, as it has done throughout the pandemic to date.

My Department and its agencies are monitoring the impact of the pandemic on their own budgets in light of changes to expenditure in areas such as travel and subsistence that manifested in 2020 and which are likely to continue in 2021. The increased use of remote working and video conferencing technology platforms are likely to deliver savings and benefits on a longer term basis. However, there may also be additional costs associated with these ways of working that will have to be factored into the plans for the operation of future Remote Working policies. My Department is working with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and other Departments to contribute to a framework to support the implementation of these working arrangements for the civil service in the future.

European Maritime and Fisheries Fund

Questions (923)

Holly Cairns

Question:

923. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund; when details of the fund will be available to stakeholders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4498/21]

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Written answers

In June 2018, the European Commission published its proposals for a Regulation on the European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund for the 2021-27 period, as the successor to the present EMFF 2014-20. Following a period of negotiation in both the European Council and European Parliament, and subsequent trilateral negotiations between the co-legislators and Commission, agreement was reached in December 2020 on the Regulation. The Regulation is expected to be enacted by April 2021. Ireland is set to be allocated €142 million under the Fund and National co-funding is required.

The EMFAF, together with the Common Provisions Regulation, require Ireland to develop an Operational Programme, as a framework for the distribution of the Fund. In January 2020, my Department initiated the process of developing Ireland's new Seafood Development Programme 2021-27 with a public consultation process and a series of meetings with key stakeholders. A suite of SWOT and Needs Analyses were developed and my Department consulted again with stakeholders on these earlier in January through a day-long series of workshops with the interim Programme Monitoring Committee.

Work will continue on Programme development over the coming months, culminating in a final public consultation in the Summer and the final Programme document will then be submitted to the European Commission for its adoption. Individual support schemes will then be rolled out.

European Maritime and Fisheries Fund

Questions (924)

Holly Cairns

Question:

924. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of projects currently funded under the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund; if he will provide stop-gap funding to ensure the completion of projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4499/21]

View answer

Written answers

My Department's European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Programme 2014-20 is the principal source of development funding for the fisheries, aquaculture, and seafood processors sectors and for the socio-economic development and economic diversification of coastal communities traditionally dependent on fisheries through the seven EMFF Fisheries Local Action Groups. The Programme also funds control and enforcement of the CFP, our EU Data Collection responsibilities, marine biodiversity protection and some elements the Integrated Maritime Policy such as marine knowledge and marine spatial planning. The Programme is implemented through a suite of 18 individual schemes, most of which are implemented through Bord Iascaigh Mhara, with further details available at www.bim.ie/schemes.

The Programme operates primarily over the 2014-20 period, and is nearing its natural end with over 90% of Programme funds committed through grant offers and remaining funds to be committed this year. For now, most industry support schemes remain open for new applications. Funds are available to my Department and to BIM to pay outstanding approved grants in 2021.

A new Seafood Development Programme for the 2021-27 period under the European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund is presently being developed within my Department and I anticipate that it will be adopted by the European Commission and become operational by end 2021.

Disability Act Employment Targets

Questions (925)

Holly Cairns

Question:

925. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the absolute and relative number of persons with disabilities employed by his Department in each of the years 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2020; if these persons are in full-time or part-time roles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4520/21]

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Written answers

In accordance with Section 47(4) of the Disability Act 2005, my Department surveys all employees annually to establish the number of employees who have a disability. It should be noted that disclosure by individuals of their disability status is voluntary, as is the disclosure of the nature of any disability disclosed.

As required under Section 5 of the Disability Act 2005, my Department makes an annual report to the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform outlining the Department’s compliance with Section 47(4) of the Act.

I would like to point out that my Department has exceeded the 3% minimum requirement for employment of people with disabilities under Section 47(4) of the Act in each of the last 10 years.

The relevant data on staff within my Department for the years in question are shown in the table below:

Year

Total Number of Staff

Number of staff disclosing* a disability

Percentage

2015

3,136

124

4%

2016

3,114

136

4.4%

2017

3,258

133

4.1%

2018

3,369

128

3.8%

2019

3,430

138

4%

2020

3,740

141

3.8%

* Disclosure by individuals of their disability status is voluntary, as is the disclosure of the nature of any disability disclosed.

My Department has a Disability Liaison Officer who fosters awareness of equality and disability issues among staff and provides support, advice and guidance to staff and managers in ensuring staff with a disability have equal opportunities throughout their career in my Department.

My Department is a long time supporter of providing employment opportunities for persons with disabilities and has participated for many years in the Willing Able Mentoring (WAM) Programme. This programme provides a six month paid and mentored work placement for graduates with a disability. In the last few years, my Department has increased the number of placements it has made available under the WAM programme. Many former participants of the programme have gone on to secure permanent employment in the Civil Service.

My Department has participated in the Job Shadow Initiative on a continuous basis since 2009. Job Shadow Day is a national project, bringing people with disabilities and local employers together for one day to promote equal employment opportunities

In accordance with my Department’s Diversity, Equality and Inclusion policy, my Department explores initiatives with a view to increasing workplace opportunities for persons with disabilities. One very successful initiative has been collaboration with the Oireachtas on the Oireachtas Work Learning programme (OWL), a learning, development and socialisation programme for young adults with an intellectual disability. The programme aims to provide a real and applied learning experience to the participants in a safe and secure work environment, to support them in developing the skills which will lead them to access paid employment in the open labour market.

Appointments to State Boards

Questions (926)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

926. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of State and semi-State board appointments that fall under the aegis of his Department made since this Government took office including the name of the board or agency and the remuneration level associated with the board position in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4548/21]

View answer

Written answers

I wish to advise the Deputy that the information requested is set out in the attached table.

The Deputy should be aware that, with the exception of the Boards' positions reserved for representatives of specific stakeholders or officials from this Department, these are all filled through the Public Appointments Service (PAS)/State Boards process. In the case of officials serving as Board members, no remuneration is paid in respect of that work.

Name of State Board

Number of Board Appointments

Remuneration level associated with the board position

Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board

Nil

N/A

Bord Bia

Nil

N/A

Bord Iascaigh Mhara

4

€7,695

Rásaíocht Con Éireann

2

€8,100

Coillte

Nil

N/A

Horse Racing Ireland

5

€12,600

Irish National Stud

Nil

N/A

Marine Institute

Nil

N/A

National Milk Agency

Nil

N/A

Sea Fisheries Protection Authority

Nil

N/A

Teagasc

2

€11,970

Veterinary Council of Ireland

Nil

N/A

State Bodies

Questions (927)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

927. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a list of all State and semi-State boards that fall under the aegis of his Department; the level of remuneration being paid to each board member including chairpersons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4561/21]

View answer

Written answers

I wish to advise the Deputy that the information requested is set out in the attached table.

The Deputy should be aware that, with the exception of the Boards' positions reserved for representatives of specific stakeholders or officials from this Department, these are all filled through the Public Appointments Service (PAS)/State Boards process. In the case of officials serving as Board members, no remuneration is paid in respect of that work.

Name of State Board

Remuneration being paid to each Board member

Remuneration being paid to Chairperson

Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board

€5,985

€8,978

Bord Bia

€11,970

€20,520

Bord Iascaigh Mhara

€7,695

€11,970

Note: BIM Chair has opted to forego any remuneration except for out of pocket expenses.

Rásaíocht Con Éireann

€8,100

€12,600

Coillte

€12,600

€21,600

Horse Racing Ireland

€12,600

€21,600

Irish National Stud

€8,100

€12,600

Marine Institute

€7,695

€11,970

National Milk Agency

Nil

€8,978

Sea- Fisheries Protection Authority

SFPA is a 3 person executive management authority and board fees are not therefore applicable.

N/A

Teagasc

€11,970

€20,520

Veterinary Council of Ireland

Nil

Nil

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (928)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

928. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of funding allocated by his Department on the Covid-19 communications strategy since the beginning of the pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4753/21]

View answer

Written answers

My Department has participated in, and contributed to, the whole-of-Government communications strategy and public information campaigns related to Covid-19.

My Department has provided information as appropriate via established channels of communication including the Department’s website, official social media accounts and stakeholder communications.

Specific funding has not been allocated by my Department in relation to this.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (929)

Mattie McGrath

Question:

929. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of funding spent by his Department on the Covid-19 communications strategy since the beginning of the pandemic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4819/21]

View answer

Written answers

My Department has participated in, and contributed to, the whole-of-Government communications strategy and public information campaigns related to Covid-19.

My Department has provided information as appropriate via established channels of communication including the Department’s website, official social media accounts and stakeholder communications.

No additional expenditure has been incurred by my Department in relation to this.

National Broadband Plan

Questions (930)

Pa Daly

Question:

930. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of each broadband connection point planned in County Kerry on the National Broadband Plan in tabular form (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4423/21]

View answer

Written answers

Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) are among the first sites to be connected under the National Broadband Plan (NBP). These sites are typically located in rural and isolated areas, including our off-shore islands.

Sites are provided with a wireless connection by National Broadband Ireland (NBI), the company contracted to deliver the NBP in the State intervention area. Vodafone Ireland then install the customer premises equipment (control boxes/switches and wifi access points) which enables broadband services to be provided.

Nine sites have been selected by Kerry County Council to act as publicly accessible BCPs in the county. Of these, three have been fully installed. Of the remaining six sites, five have the initial connectivity installed through NBI and are awaiting the installation of WiFi access points by Vodaphone Ireland. The final BCP is still in the planning stages.

The table below sets out the current status of each of the BCPs in the county. In addition, there will be three school BCPs connected in Co. Kerry.

While NBI and Vodafone Ireland are continuing to connect BCPs on a daily basis, it is not possible, due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and current public health guidelines, to provide definitive dates for the connection of those BCPs which have yet to be fully installed.

An additional €5 million has been allocated to my Department this year for the development of remote working hubs, including at BCPs where appropriate. I hope to be in a position to announce the details of this scheme shortly.

Site

Status

Cable Station, Valencia

Connected

Chapeltown

Connected

Kielduff Community Centre

Connected

Killeenagh

NBI installed

Gneeveguilla (Tureencahill)

NBI installed

Cillín Liath

NBI installed

Railway Station Heritage Centre and Community Space

NBI installed

SAINT FIACHNA'S CHURCH

NBI installed

Derrynane House

In Planning

Remote Working

Questions (931)

Peadar Tóibín

Question:

931. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of remote working hubs in Ireland; the number that receive State funding; the number of persons that have been working in these hubs in each of the past five years; and the level of investment that has been made into these hubs by the State in each of the past five years. [4455/21]

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Written answers

The increased shift to remote working as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic has given us the opportunity for a greater regional distribution of jobs and to support a better quality of life for many people who previously spent many hours in long commutes.

In particular, remote working has the potential to transform rural Ireland, allowing people to build careers in good quality jobs while continuing to live closer to home, or for those that moved away to return to rural Ireland to raise their families.

There is currently no existing dataset which identifies all remote working hubs in Ireland, the number of people working in them, or the funding that they have received. The National Remote Work Strategy, which was published recently by the Government, acknowledges the lack of data currently available on remote working and commits to developing data on the incidence and frequency of remote work in Ireland.

Separately, a Working Group chaired by the Secretary General of my Department was established last October to oversee the development of a National Hub Network. The first phase of this Group’s work is to identify, map, survey and classify the various remote working facilities throughout the country. This exercise will also help to identify those hubs that have received State funding.

This work, which is currently under way, will lead to the establishment of an integrated network of remote working facilities with shared back-office services, and will provide a significant knowledge asset that can inform future investment in remote working facilities. I expect to be in a position to outline the results of this work over the course of the year.

A number of Government Departments and agencies have provided investment for the development of remote working facilities over the last number of year. My own Department has invested over €50 million in these facilities since 2016 through the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund.

A further €5 million has been allocated to the Town and Village Renewal Scheme this year to support the development of remote working infrastructure throughout the country. I hope to be in a position to announce details of this funding stream shortly.

Rural Regeneration and Development Fund

Questions (932)

Cathal Crowe

Question:

932. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will consider extending financial support via the rural regeneration and development fund or similar to bolster public transport services for Meelick, Parteen, Ardnacrusha and other communities in County Clare peripheral to Limerick city which are served by infrequent buses at present and leaving many isolated. [3640/21]

View answer

Written answers

The allocation of Rural Regeneration and Development funding is overseen by my Department with a view to supporting the development and delivery of ambitious and strategic projects which contribute to sustainable rural regeneration and development in towns and villages with a population of less than 10,000 and outlying areas. To date, 139 projects around the country have been allocated €166 million in support from the fund.

Applications are not limited in terms of sector. Projects allocated funding to date include town and village regeneration, enterprise development, tourism development, digital and co-working initiatives, libraries, arts and cultural facilities and sports and recreation facilities. Projects are often a combination of a number of these elements. However, it should be noted that no portion of funding has been ring-fenced for any particular sector or project type.

It would be open to a local authority or other State-funded body eligible under the rules of the scheme to make an application in relation to a public transport services project and the evaluation and marking system which is applied to projects, takes specific account of the extent to which national, regional and local strategic objectives are met by project proposals submitted. The application process is competitive in nature and applications undergo assessment by my Department under the oversight of a Project Advisory Board, comprised of representatives from key Government Departments as well as independent experts.

Recommendations for successful projects are then submitted to me, as Minister, based on the outcome of the internal evaluation process, the observations and advice of the Projects Advisory Board, and the alignment of the proposal with the overall objectives of the Fund and the requirement to achieve balanced regional development.

The third call for Category 1 applications - relating to projects with all planning and other consents in place and ready to commence works - closed on 1 December 2020. A further call for Category 2 applications – relating to projects that require further development - will be announced in early 2021.

Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme

Questions (933)

Holly Cairns

Question:

933. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development her views on doubling the amount of funding available through the outdoor recreation infrastructure scheme to help support more rails, walkways, cycleways and blueways and outdoor recreational infrastructure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3744/21]

View answer

Written answers

The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) provides funding for the development and/or enhancement of outdoor recreational infrastructure such as cycleways, walking trails, blueways and mountain access routes in rural areas. The scheme provides funding for small, medium and large-scale projects, with maximum funding of €500,000 for any single large-scale project.

Since 2016, my Department has invested almost €55.2 million in 920 projects under the scheme.

Exchequer funding for the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme in 2020 was €10 million. Recognising the importance of outdoor recreation to our physical and mental wellbeing, particularly at this time, I secured a 20% increase in funding for the scheme this year, to €12 million. This is a significant increase and I will keep the position under review in the context of Budget 2022 and beyond.

It should be noted that Fáilte Ireland also provides a financial contribution to projects approved under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme and will provide €4 million in additional funding for the 2021 scheme. The combined funding provided by my Department and Fáilte Ireland will allow for the approval of a large number of outdoor recreation projects this year.

Through the Department of Transport, the Government also provides funding for regional and national scale greenways, which are an important part of our outdoor recreation infrastructure.

Food Industry

Questions (934)

Patricia Ryan

Question:

934. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the Athy food hub; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3753/21]

View answer

Written answers

Arising from the first and second calls under the Rural Regeneration scheme, 63 Category 1 projects have been approved for funding of €131 million and 76 Category 2 projects have been approved for funding of €35 million. Category 1 relates to major capital projects that can drive sustainable rural regeneration and development, while Category 2 supports projects that require development funding to bring them to a stage where they are ready to apply under Category 1 calls.

The Athy Food Hub project was approved for funding under the second call for Category 2 applications, which was completed in August 2020. The lead party for the project is Kildare County Council. Following the completion of the due diligence process, the project was approved for funding of €311,159 to develop the project to a stage where it is ready to apply under Category 1 calls.

The third call for Category 1 applications to the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund closed on 1st December. My Department received 66 applications to this call and I understand that an application was received relating to the Athy Food Hub project, submitted by Kildare County Council.

The application process for the Fund is competitive in nature. Applications are currently being assessed by my Department under the oversight of the Project Advisory Board, comprised of representatives from key Government Departments and independent experts. Once the assessment process is complete, my Department will prepare a report setting out recommended projects and my role as Minister will be to consider that report and make final decisions in relation to the allocation of funding.

In light of the foregoing, it will therefore be a number of weeks before an announcement of successful projects can take place.

Digital Hubs

Questions (935)

Neale Richmond

Question:

935. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the conditions and purpose under which the €5 million fund for digital hubs can be applied; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3964/21]

View answer

Written answers

The increased shift to remote work over the last year by many employers and employees has highlighted the potential for remote working facilities to contribute to a greater regional distribution of jobs and to support a better quality of life for many people.

Remote and co-working facilities located in town centres also have the potential to increase footfall, support local businesses and contribute to the revitalisation of our rural towns. In this regard, I have secured an additional €5 million under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme this year for targeted investment in remote working facilities at hubs and Broadband Connection Points.

My officials are currently developing proposals for the operation of this scheme and I hope to be in a position to announce the full details shortly.

Remote Working

Questions (936)

Neale Richmond

Question:

936. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the various funds under which the building or development of co-working hubs can be applied for; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3965/21]

View answer

Written answers

Remote, or connected working has the potential to transform rural Ireland, allowing people to pursue careers in good quality jobs while continuing to live in their home place. It also has the potential to encourage more people to move to the regions, to provide increased trade for local businesses and to revitalise our rural towns.

A number of Government Departments and agencies have provided investment for the development of remote working facilities over the last number of years. My own Department has invested over €50 million in these facilities since 2016 through the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund. The LEADER programme can also support investment of this nature.

My Department has also invested in remote working infrastructure and connectivity through the Broadband Connection Points initiative.

I have secured an additional €5 million under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme this year to support the development of remote working infrastructure throughout the country. I hope to be in a position to announce details of this funding stream shortly.

Local Authority Funding

Questions (937)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

937. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the specific funding streams available to local authorities to apply for; the amount that has been given by county; the amount awarded under each scheme in each of the years 2018 to 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4062/21]

View answer

Written answers

It is not possible, in the time available, to compile the detailed information requested by the Deputy.

My officials are collating the information requested and a further reply will be issued to the Deputy shortly.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51
The Department works closely in cooperation with Local Authorities, providing core funding and also delivering funding programmes and schemes to which Local Authorities can make applications.
Appendix 1 provides details of the specific funding streams available to Local Authorities to apply for in tabular form and the amount awarded under each scheme to Local Authorities in each of the years 2018 to 2020 and to date in 2021.
The amount that has been given by county is provided in the attached Excel document.
For further information on core funding provided to Local Authorities by the Department see Appendix 2. Full details of all the Department’s programmes can be found on the Government of Ireland website, gov.ie.

National Broadband Plan

Questions (938)

Alan Dillon

Question:

938. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of broadband connection points in County Mayo; if a list of connection points which have gone live and those still in planning will be provided in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4134/21]

View answer

Written answers

Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) are among the first deliverables of the National Broadband Plan (NBP) and will provide high-speed broadband connectivity to publicly accessible sites in rural and isolated areas of the country, including a number of our off-shore islands.

Sites are provided with a wireless connection by National Broadband Ireland (NBI), the company contracted to deliver the NBP in the State intervention area. Vodafone Ireland then install the customer premises equipment (control boxes/switches and wifi access points) which enables broadband services to be provided.

As of Monday, 25 January 2021, from a total of ten BCP sites in Co. Mayo, six sites are now fully operational. A further three sites have been installed by NBI and are awaiting the installation of WiFi access points by Vodafone Ireland. One site is still in the planning stages.

The table below summarises the status of the BCPs in Co. Mayo.

Vodafone are installing sites on a daily basis and will continue to do so as and when they become available. The location of all BCPs which have been installed or which are planned at any point in time is available on NBI's website, at https://nbi.ie/bcp-map/.

In addition to the substantial Government investment already made in the BCPs, an additional €5 million has been allocated to my Department this year under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme for the development of remote working facilities at hubs and BCPs throughout the country. I hope to be in a position to announce details of this scheme shortly.

Site status

Site Name

Live

Taugheen Community Centre

Live

Bofeenaun Community Centre

Live

Islandeady Community Centre

Live

Killasser Community Centre

Live

Cushlough Community Centre

Live

Keel Community Centre

NBI installed

Belderrig Community Centre

NBI installed

Clare Island Library

NBI installed

Kilmovee Community Centre

In Planning

Finny community Centre

CLÁR Programme

Questions (939)

Neasa Hourigan

Question:

939. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development her plans to increase the CLÁR measure 4 grant to cover the cost of vehicle registration tax for mountain rescue organisations securing new vehicles for use in their vital rescue functions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4176/21]

View answer

Written answers

The CLÁR programme provides funding for small scale projects in designated rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population.

Since the programme was relaunched in 2016 it has supported a range of different Measures, including the First Response Support Measure which I understand is the Measure referred to in the Deputy's question.

The First Response Support Measure provided funding for vehicles and equipment directly involved in emergency rescue or first response efforts. Funding of approximately €2.8 million was provided to 144 projects under the First Response Measure from 2017 to 2019.

The Measures to be included in the CLÁR Programme are reviewed and revised each year. In 2020, new Measures were introduced to support CLÁR communities to deal with the impact of Covid-19 in their areas. As a result, funding was not provided for the First Response Support Measure in 2020.

Details of the Measures to be included for support this year will be announced when I launch the 2021 CLÁR Programme in the coming months.

Covid-19 Pandemic

Questions (940)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

940. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the examinations being undertaken in relation to the instances of Covid-19 compared with the Pobal areas of deprivation throughout the country; the mapping that is taking place to review Covid-19 clusters; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4261/21]

View answer

Written answers

The Pobal HP Deprivation index is Ireland’s primary social gradient tool, used by numerous state agencies for the identification of disadvantage, in order to target resources towards communities most in need. The index is recognised as a robust and reliable tool for the identification of relative levels of affluence or disadvantage across geographic areas, by utilising existing data from the national census. The index is commissioned by Pobal every five years, following the completion of the national census.

Since the State has begun to release Covid-19 infection rates at the Local Electoral Area level via the Covid-19 Data Hub, Pobal have undertaken a process to assign Deprivation scores to Ireland’s 166 Local Electoral Areas in order to compare these with Covid-19 Infection rates. Pobal regard the finding of this analysis as inconclusive, re-affirming that any analysis of geographic deprivation and Covid-19 infection can only meaningfully be done at a smaller geographic unit such as Electoral Division or Small Area.

Pobal do not currently have access to this level of granular data (Cases by Electoral Division or Small Area) which would be necessary to determine any relationship between infection rates and geographic deprivation.

If there are any further specific questions in relation to this analysis, Pobal are happy to liaise directly with the Deputy.

However, it is important to note that, from a public health perspective, analysis of the instances of Covid-19 across the country does not fall within the remit of my Department as it is more appropriate to the Department of Health.

Departmental Funding

Questions (941)

Dara Calleary

Question:

941. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the closing dates or anticipated closing dates for all funding schemes within her Department during 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4271/21]

View answer

Written answers

Question No. 184 answered with Question No. 158.

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