Tuesday, 25 May 2021

Written Answers Nos. 20-35

Departmental Programmes

Questions (20)

Matt Carthy

Question:

20. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development her proposals for the new CLÁR programme. [27955/21]

Written answers

Minister for Rural and Community Development

The CLÁR programme provides funding for small scale projects in rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population over a defined period. My Department reviews the type of initiatives to be funded under the Programme each year. I launched the 2021 programme on 15th March and the Measures being funded through this year's programme are:

- Measure 1 which supports School and Community Safety projects

- Measure 2 which supports Outdoor Community Recreation Facilities; and,

- Measure 3 which funds Community Wellbeing Supports. This includes funding for Community Gardens and Allotments and funding for Mobility and Cancer Care Transport vehicles.

In addition, this year I have introduced a new CLÁR Innovation Measure. This funding will be targeted at piloting new ideas which address specific challenges faced by communities in CLÁR areas, including rural isolation, population change, social disadvantage and marginalisation. The Measure provides a great opportunity for communities to identify the specific challenges they face and to come up with innovative ways to address them.

The closing date for receipt of applications has now passed and the assessment process has commenced.

My Department has also initiated a review of the designated areas under the CLÁR programme to examine the most recent changes in population patterns throughout the country on the basis of 2016 Census data. The review is also considering whether any factors other than depopulation should be taken into account in determining CLÁR areas in the future. Maynooth University is undertaking this analysis on behalf of my Department.

My Department has received a draft final report and I have requested some additional analysis to be undertaken which, I understand, is nearing completion.

Broadband Infrastructure

Questions (21, 22, 34, 48, 49)

Ruairí Ó Murchú

Question:

21. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the progress of broadband connection points; the typical time from installation to connection; the delays in the progress to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27948/21]

Ruairí Ó Murchú

Question:

22. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of digital hubs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27949/21]

Bernard Durkan

Question:

34. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which she continues to press for digital hubs throughout the country in both urban and rural areas presently deficient in investment in jobs (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27945/21]

Matt Shanahan

Question:

48. Deputy Matt Shanahan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of community hubs and hot desks that have been supported and developed through funding by her Department over the past 12 months; the usage activity within such hubs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27884/21]

Seán Sherlock

Question:

49. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development her engagement on the National Broadband Plan; and the number of remote hubs that are currently in operation or under construction supported by the State. [27973/21]

Written answers

Minister for Rural and Community Development

I propose to take Questions Nos. 21, 22, 34, 48 and 49 together.

Remote working at home, in digital hubs or Broadband Connection Points (BCP), has the potential to transform rural Ireland, allowing people to build careers in good quality jobs while continuing to live closer to home and generating economic activity in our rural towns and villages.

The BCP Initiative is one of the first deliverables of the National Broadband Plan. In the majority of BCPs a wireless broadband connection and internal customer-facing equipment is installed. When both elements are in place, the connection is established almost immediately.

To date, 178 of an approximately 300 sites have been fully installed and are ready for the public to use. There have been delays caused by the pandemic and Brexit, but these delays are reducing and the remaining sites are expected to be connected in the next few months.

My Department is also leading on the development of a National Hub Network. To date, we have identified more than 400 hubs across the country, not including the 300 operational and planned BCPs. All of these hubs and BCPs are eligible to apply for capital funding under the recently announced €5M Connected Hubs call.

In addition to the Connected Hubs call, the Town & Village Renewal Scheme has provided almost €3M to hubs and BCPs since the start of 2020. Over the same period, the Rural Regeneration & Development Fund invested approximately €25M in hub projects.

I am confident that remote working has a significant role to play in the economic and social development of rural and under-served communities. That is why all hubs, regardless of location, are eligible for the Connected Hubs call.

In keeping with the policy priorities set out in Our Rural Future, the development of and support for remote working capacity will be key for job creation and local economies throughout the country.

Question No. 22 answered with Question No. 21.

Departmental Policies

Questions (23, 28)

Denis Naughten

Question:

23. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the mechanism to be deployed to deliver on the commitments in Our Rural Future-Rural Development Policy 2021 to 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27831/21]

Seán Sherlock

Question:

28. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of Our Rural Future - Rural Development Policy 2021-2025; and the measures that have been implemented. [27977/21]

Written answers

Minister for Rural and Community Development

I propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 28 together.

‘Our Rural Future’, the new Rural Development Policy for 2021-2025, is the most ambitious and transformational policy for rural development in Ireland for decades, focusing on sustainability and optimising opportunities for individuals, communities and businesses.

The Policy contains over 150 measures for delivery over the lifetime of the policy. These commitments were developed in collaboration with Departments across the whole of Government.

A key component in the implementation of Our Rural Future is the commitment to produce Annual Work Programmes, which will detail the actions being undertaken and associated timelines for delivery.

The 2021 Work Programme is at an advanced stage of development. It is currently being finalised and will be published imminently. It will outline measures and actions for delivery in 2021, developed in conjunction with the Departments and agencies responsible for delivering on the ambition contained in Our Rural Future.

Many actions identified for 2021 are already underway or substantially advanced. These include the launch of the Connected Hubs initiative and the Transitional LEADER Programme, significant announcements of funding under the Rural and Urban Regeneration and Development Funds, and funding for active travel projects across the country.

The policy also commits to regular Progress Reports, the first of which will be published at the end of 2021, with subsequent Progress Reports to follow every six months.

Implementation of the Policy will be overseen by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Recovery and Investment, chaired by An Taoiseach, and supported by a Senior Officials Group comprising representatives from key Government Departments. Additionally, my Department will maintain ongoing engagement across Government and stakeholders as regards implementation.

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Questions (24)

Alan Dillon

Question:

24. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the support her Department is providing to cater for the demand for outdoor recreation infrastructure which has become ever more apparent during Covid-19. [27879/21]

Written answers

Minister for Rural and Community Development

As part of Our Rural Future, I want to see rural Ireland become a destination of choice domestically and internationally for outdoor pursuits . The availability of quality and accessible outdoor infrastructure is vital for both local residents and visitors alike.

Since 2016, my Department has allocated almost €68 million to nearly 1,000 projects through the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme. This includes almost €16 million for 226 projects approved earlier this year.

My Department also provides in the region of €2 million annually to fund the maintenance and improvement of trails and other amenities in Coillte forests.

This investment has never been more important. That is why I was pleased to secure a 20% increase in the budget available to my Department for Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure in 2021.

I launched the 2021 Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme on 23rd April last in collaboration with Fáilte Ireland. Funding is available for projects of varying scale, with a maximum of up to €500,000 for strategic large scale projects.

While the scheme will continue to support our trails, cycleways and blueways, I want to see more applications coming forward which will develop and improve access to rural Ireland’s unique, natural amenities such as our lakes, rivers and beaches, as well as our forests and mountains.

I am also pleased to announce that I am allocating an additional €123,000 in 2021 to Local Development Companies to cover additional materials and maintenance costs on trails included in my Department’s Walks scheme. This represents a 50% increase in such funding.

Finally, one of the recommendations in Our Rural Future is to develop a National Outdoor Recreation Strategy, and work in this regard is currently underway.

Departmental Schemes

Questions (25)

David Stanton

Question:

25. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the expected closing date for applications to the town and village renewal scheme; the way in which local persons and community groups may put forward possible project proposals; when it is envisaged that funding allocations will be granted in 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27986/21]

Written answers

Minister for Rural and Community Development

I announced details of the 2021 Town and Village Renewal Scheme on 3rd May last.

The Scheme is designed to make towns and villages better places to live and work, and is an important part of Our Rural Future. The closing date set for receipt of completed applications by my Department is 16th July. Following competitive assessment, I anticipate I will make an announcement of approved projects in the third quarter of this year.

The minimum grant available is €20,000 and I have increased the maximum grant available this year to €500,000. I sanctioned this increase to align the Town and Village Renewal Scheme with the type of projects and level of ambition identified in Our Rural Future. Successful projects will attract grant funding of 90%. Priorities identified under the scheme this year include tackling dereliction and supporting efforts to bring vacant properties back into use in our towns and villages, particularly for remote working and as multi-purpose spaces.

The Scheme is administered through the Local Authorities, who seek expressions of interest from local groups in towns and villages within each County. The Local Authorities will work closely with local communities and businesses over the coming weeks to identify proposals that can make a lasting impact. Local community groups with potential projects for funding should monitor their local Council's website for details or contact their Local Authority directly.

Once the expressions of interest process is completed by the Local Authority, up to 8 proposals are developed into detailed applications and submitted by the Local authority to my Department for consideration.

Broadband Infrastructure

Questions (26)

Claire Kerrane

Question:

26. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the provisions being implemented to deal with digital poverty in disadvantaged areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27970/21]

Written answers

Minister for Rural and Community Development

I can confirm that the public library service offers free access to Wi-Fi and PCs with internet connections and video calling capabilities. Some branches offer laptop and tablet lending services along with a range of other digital equipment including 3D printers and interactive screens.

Other relevant supports provided through my Department include:

The LEADER programme which includes Broadband under Rural Economic Development, Enterprise Development and Job Creation. This enables community groups and businesses to make project applications to their Local Development Company for funding to upgrade their ICT equipment, improve digital connectivity and access on-line services helping to combat “digital poverty” and allow for greater communication and business flexibility.

Local Development Companies complete work across Ireland with disadvantaged individuals and groups under the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), funded by my Department. This includes work relating to digital poverty. With SICAP support, the Local Development Company in Fingal developed 'Connect & Include Digital Poverty' which offers tailored, holistic supports to every family/individual with whom they work to address digital poverty.

Under the Broadband Connection Points (BCP) initiative, approximately 300 publicly accessible sites will be provided with high-speed broadband connection for public use. To date, 178 have been fully installed and are ready for use. BCPs will be present in areas without adequate broadband coverage in every County in the State.

This year, a series of pilot projects will commence at BCPs to trial the use of eHealth technologies, remote working facilities, arts/culture activities, and digital skills training courses. Digital skills training target cohorts will include those with low literacy and digital literacy levels, and young people at risk of leaving school early.

Seirbhísí Farantóireachta

Questions (27)

Pádraig MacLochlainn

Question:

27. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn den Aire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail cad é stádas an bháid farantóireachta nua atá saincheaptha d’Oileán Thoraí; cén uair a bheidh an bád réidh le seoladh; an mbeidh sí sásta cruinniú a bheith aici le muintir an oileáin; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [21491/21]

Written answers

Minister for Rural and Community Development

Mar is eol don Teachta déantar freastal ar Oileán Thoraí ó Ché Machaire Rabhartaigh ar an mórthír, agus bhí coimisiúnú bád nua do Thoraigh agus forbairt na céibhe ag Machaire Rabhartaigh liostáilte mar thograí faoin bPlean Forbartha Náisiúnta 2040.

Beidh tionchar ag an obair ar Ché Machaire Rabhartaigh ar an gcineál bád a bhéas ábalta feidhmiú go héifeachtach ón ché go hOileán Thoraí, agus mar sin tá forbairt na céibhe seo agus soláthar an bháid nua fite fúite lena chéile mar réitigh fad téarmach ar rochtain réidh ar an oileán.

Tá cé Mhachaire Rabhartaigh faoi chúram Comhairle Chontae Dhún an nGall agus tuigtear dom go bhfuil oifigigh mo Roinne ag obair le Comhairle Chontae Dhún na nGall maidir le plean forbartha do Ché Machaire Rabhartaigh a chur chun cinn.

Agus soiléireacht faighte faoin bhforbairt ar ché Mhachaire Rabhartaigh, beifear ábalta tabhairt faoi na céimeanna i dtreo an bháid nua a choimisiniú.

Question No. 28 answered with Question No. 23.

Departmental Programmes

Questions (29)

Matt Carthy

Question:

29. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development her proposals for the new LEADER programme. [27956/21]

Written answers

Minister for Rural and Community Development

Due to the delay at EU level in agreeing the post-2020 EU Budget, my Department developed a transitional LEADER programme to bridge the gap between the end of the 2014-2020 programme and 2023-2027 LEADER programme. In December 2020, I announced details of a Transitional LEADER Programme for the period 2021-2022, with an initial allocation of €20 million, which came into effect on 1 April 2021.

In line with the Government’s ambitious policy for the development of rural Ireland, Our Rural Future, I recently announced an increased allocation of €70 million for the Transitional LEADER programme, which is now EU co-financed. This funding will support locally-led projects which focus on many of the key themes of Our Rural Future such as building capacity and empowering local communities, embracing opportunities in the green economy, supporting remote working and the digital transformation, developing our outdoor amenities and creating jobs in rural areas

As outlined in Our Rural Future, The LEADER programme will play a key role over the lifetime of the policy in enhancing the participation of local communities in shaping their future and building leadership and resilience.

As the Deputy may be aware, LEADER is a multi-annual programme for rural development co-funded by the EU through the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The programme is based on a community-led approach to rural development and plays an important role in supporting communities and enterprises in progressing job creation, social inclusion and environmental projects at local level.

Preparations for the design and delivery of the next EU LEADER programme from 2023-2027 are underway. Officials from my Department are currently engaging with stakeholders on the design of the next LEADER programme and are working alongside officials from the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine in developing the next CAP Strategic Plan 2023-2027 which LEADER will form part of. It is anticipated that the next CAP and LEADER programme will commence in early 2023.

National Broadband Plan

Questions (30)

Rose Conway-Walsh

Question:

30. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the rural digital connectivity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27947/21]

Written answers

Minister for Rural and Community Development

While the provision of telecommunications services, both fixed and mobile, is a matter for the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, as Minister for Rural and Community Development I have a clear interest in connectivity in rural and underserved areas.

As the Deputy will appreciate, the single greatest impact that we can make to digital connectivity in rural areas is already in train: the National Broadband Plan (NBP). The NBP will be delivered through commercial investment by telecoms operators and other companies, and a State intervention in those areas is not considered commercially viable.

Among the first premises to be connected under the NBP are Broadband Connection Points (BCPs). These are typically publicly accessible sites in rural and isolated areas, including many of our off-shore islands.

BCPs are provided with a high-speed broadband connection for community use. My Department, in partnership with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, National Broadband Ireland and Vodafone Ireland will support the c.300 sites in the national BCP network for the next three years. There are currently 178 sites fully connected and ready for community use.

During the lifetime of the BCP initiative we will assist sites to develop their digital services. In this regard, my officials are currently planning pilot projects to test the feasibility of eHealth, education and training, remote working, and arts and culture initiatives.

My Department also co-funds the WiFi4EU initiative in Ireland. WiFi4EU is an EC initiative that supports the provision of Wi-Fi services in centres of public life, such as libraries and town squares. My Department has effectively doubled the funding available in Ireland, assisting local authorities to establish a nationwide network of c.2,000 Wi-Fi hotspots that will be free to use.

Lastly, my Department is working with the Local Government Management Agency and Microsoft to trial Airband TVWS technology in Ireland. This pilot project will test the viability of the ‘sharing’ of broadband in rural areas using unused radio spectrum.

Departmental Programmes

Questions (31)

Aindrias Moynihan

Question:

31. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the reason larger counties with larger CLÁR areas are limited to making the same number of applications as much smaller counties with smaller CLÁR areas; if an imbalance against CLÁR area residents in the larger counties is recognised; her plans to review this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27953/21]

Written answers

Minister for Rural and Community Development

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

Under the CLÁR 2021 programme, each Local Authority was permitted to submit up to 13 applications across Measures 1, 2 and 3(a) of the programme. These Measures provide funding for school and community safety interventions, outdoor community recreation facilities, and community gardens and allotments.

While each Local Authority is permitted to submit the same number of applications under the Measures, in previous years the number of projects approved in each county was decided by reference to the proportion of the CLÁR area within each county.

The approach taken ensured that counties with a proportionally larger CLÁR area, relative to the overall size of the county, received greater assistance under the programme.

I believe this is a balanced approach to the distribution of CLÁR funding.

I will keep the approach to selecting projects under review in 2021, while mindful of the need to provide funding where it is needed the most.

Finally, the Deputy may be aware that I also introduced a new CLÁR Innovation Measure this year. This funding will be targeted at piloting new ideas which address specific challenges faced by communities in CLÁR areas, including rural isolation, population change, social disadvantage and marginalisation. This Measure provides a great opportunity for communities to identify the specific challenges they face and to come up with innovative ways to address them. There was no limit applied in respect of the number of applications that could be submitted from any location.

Departmental Schemes

Questions (32)

Thomas Gould

Question:

32. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if a grant or support is in place to assist residents in Bridgetown, County Cork in petitioning the local authorities to apply for localised flood relief in the area and to strengthen the local community group. [27988/21]

Written answers

Minister for Rural and Community Development

My Department’s vision is for a sustainable society with individual and community wellbeing at its heart, supporting thriving rural communities, where all communities, urban and rural, have opportunities to grow, develop and participate economically, socially and culturally.

Our policies and programmes support that vision through providing supports that ensure all communities and individuals are empowered and have the capacity and opportunity to contribute to, and benefit from, improvements to the environment and the economy. This includes supporting participative democracy by developing the capacity of community groups to lobby for infrastructure and other enhancements to their areas.

My Department supports building capacity in communities and a thriving volunteer culture in a number of ways:

The Public Participation Network (PPN) is a structure that brings together volunteer-led groups in each local authority area from the Community and Voluntary, Environment, and Social Inclusion sectors. The PPNs are the main link between these groups and their local authorities, and they enable the groups to make their voices heard within formal local decision-making structures. It is important to note that PPNs are wholly independent entities and decide for themselves what networking and capacity-building supports they wish to provide to their member groups.

My Department supports and advances PPNs at a national level and they are accountable to my Department for their use of public monies and the activities they undertake on behalf of their communities.

Over the past 12 months, my Department has provided direct funding of €75,700 to each of the 31 PPNs around the country as well as providing structural supports, and this will continue into the future. The Department also chairs and provides administrative support to the National PPN Advisory Group.

In addition, my Department continues to work with stakeholders in delivering the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) to assist vulnerable and disadvantaged individuals and groups.

We also continue to enhance the capacity of Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) by implementing the recommendations of the LCDC review. We support Local Authorities to develop and implement new Local Economic and Community Plans (LECPs), taking account of the impact of COVID-19 on local businesses and communities.

Departmental Policies

Questions (33)

Paul McAuliffe

Question:

33. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she is considering extending the provisions in the status of the Our Rural Future - Rural Development Policy 2021-2025 with regard to revitalising rural towns and villages; the measures that have been implemented to cover urban villages; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27990/21]

Written answers

Minister for Rural and Community Development

Our Rural Future was launched in March 2021 and sets out the Government's blueprint for the development of rural Ireland over the next five years. It is supported by 150 commitments across Government, which will address the challenges facing communities and deliver new opportunities for people living in rural areas.

The policy will support the regeneration, repopulation and development of rural towns and villages to contribute to local and national economic recovery, and to enable people to live and work in a high quality environment.

The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) is a major programme which seeks to support large-scale, ambitious projects which can achieve sustainable economic and social development in rural areas. Administered by my Department, it has provided over €249 million for 164 projects across Ireland, to deliver projects worth a total of €338 million. The focus of RRDF is on rural towns with a population of less than 10,000 people and, as such, urban villages located within the main cities would not come under its remit.

However, the type of investment referred to by the Deputy may be eligible under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) administered by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. It aims to deliver more compact and sustainable development, by part-funding regeneration and rejuvenation projects in Ireland’s five cities and other large towns. Currently, the URDF part-funds 87 projects across the country.

An important feature of Our Rural Future is its commitment to produce annual work programmes. These will detail elements for delivery each year, which will be developed through ongoing consultation and engagement with rural stakeholders and colleagues across Government.

These annual work programmes will provide the opportunity for the addition of new measures or the further extension or expansion of existing measures.

Question No. 34 answered with Question No. 21.

Departmental Policies

Questions (35)

Michael Creed

Question:

35. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the way in which communities can make submissions as part of Our Rural Future - Rural Development Policy 2021-2025 towards creating digital hubs and shared workspaces; the funding and assistance being put in place by her Department in this regard; the awareness campaigns that are being planned; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26789/21]

Written answers

Minister for Rural and Community Development

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. This is a key focus of the Government's new rural development policy Our Rural Future.

Remote working, supported by appropriate infrastructure and facilities, has the potential to encourage more people to live in rural areas while working in good quality jobs, no matter where their employer is based. It can also help revitalise our rural town if remote working hubs are developed in their centres. There is also significant scope to leverage existing and future hub developments to support a reduction in commuting and a shift to active transport solutions.

Building on an initiative by the Western Development Commission in developing a network of remote working and co-working hubs along the western seaboard, an Inter-Departmental Working Group, chaired by the Secretary General of my Department, was established last October to oversee the development of a National Hub Network.

In addition to the supports and tools being developed under the National Hub Network programme, I have allocated €5 million to fund a Connected Hubs Call under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme this year. This initiative will provide funding to support small scale capital works in existing hubs, both public and private, and Broadband Connection Points. Details of the Connected Hubs Call were announced on Thursday April 29th and are available at: www.gov.ie/en/policy-information/d916d7-digital-initiatives-schemes/#connected-communities-initiative.

My Department also continues to invest significantly in the development of new Hub facilities across the country. Since 2015, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme has provided €7.8m in funding to hubs and hub-related projects. Many of the successful projects involve the regeneration of historic town centre buildings as Enterprise and Co-Working Hubs. I announced a further call for proposals under the Town and Village Scheme on the 3rd of May. Further details are available at: www.gov.ie/en/policy-information/01125e-town-and-village-renewal-scheme/

In addition to funding through the Town and Village Scheme, €65m has also been invested in hub projects through the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund since 2018. A further call for projects under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund will issue later this year.