Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 20 May 2021
394. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the breakdown of local authority applications to her Department’s grant schemes since May 2019 to date in 2021, in tabular form; the reason for each funding application; the amount sought by each application; the amount awarded to each application; the successful or unsuccessful status of each application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27131/21]
View answerMy Department has provided, in Appendix 1, 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 2019 and to date in 2021. The amount that has been given by county is provided in the attached Excel document.
Details of all my Department’s programmes can be found on the Government of Ireland website, gov.ie.
My Department works closely in cooperation with Local Authorities, providing core funding including the following:
- LCDC Additional Staff Resources (payments by DRCD to Local Authorities) this relates to a funding contribution from this Department towards the cost of additional staff to support the community function in local authorities. It is expected that these posts will continue to support the Local Community Development Committee arrangements and the implementation of Local Economic and Community Plans in particular.
- DRCD partial funding to 10 local authorities to support the employment of Atlantic Economic Corridor Officers. Payments (€30,000 annually) are allocated on the basis of these Local Authorities being part of the Atlantic Economic Corridor. The local authorities in the AEC are – Donegal County Council, Leitrim County Council, Sligo County Council, Roscommon County Council, Mayo County Council, Galway County Council, Galway City Council, Clare County Council, Limerick City and County Council, Kerry County Council.
- The Department co-funds the employment costs of a Broadband Officer in each of the 31 LAs. The department supports broadband officers with a grant of €42,000 per local authority.
- Public Participation Networks (PPNs) 31 PPNs nationally, funding of up to €50,000 per annum has been allocated by the Department to each PPN. Their main function is to enable the public to take an active formal role in relevant policy making and oversight committees of the local authority, such as LCDCs and SPCs. This funding supports the ongoing operation and development of the network of 31 PPNs nationally.
