Written Answers Nos. 119-133
119. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when and the way the Government will move on its commitment in the Programme for Government to support independent local action groups not reporting to the local authority or its LCDC subcommittees in the Leader application process given that the CAP budget is agreed by the member states. [38312/21]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, the negotiations on the CAP regulations were provisionally agreed at the Council of Ministers Meeting on 28/29 June. Technical discussions to finalise the legal text will take place under the Slovenian Presidency.
The Programme for Government contains a number of commitments in relation to the LEADER Programme, including a commitment to promote the role of independent Local Action Groups and supported by Local Community Development Communities.
Over the past number of months, officials in my Department have been engaging with stakeholders such as the Irish Local Development Network and the Local Government Management Agency, in the design of the next LEADER Programme. This consultation will continue as the process of agreeing the new CAP Strategic Plan with the EU Commission develops.
The question of the administrative structures for the delivery of the 2023-2027 programme will be considered as part of the design of the next CAP Strategic Plan, having regard, inter alia, to the provisions of the EU Regulations governing the structure of future LAGs, a review of the 2014-2020 programme and the outcome of consultations with all relevant stakeholders.
120. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the commitment to examine the scope to introduce new supports and incentives for the refurbishment of vacant properties to increase town centre living based on the report of the pilot town centre living initiative pursuant to Our Rural Future – Rural Development Policy 2021 – 2025; the details of the organization, State body or agency carrying out this examination; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38320/21]
View answerThere are a range of initiatives outlined in Our Rural Future which will contribute to addressing vacancy in our towns and villages.
The refurbishment of vacant properties is already being addressed by a number of funding streams delivered by my Department, including the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund and the Town & Village Renewal Scheme.
Our Rural Future includes a commitment to develop and deliver a Town Centre First approach to addressing the future development of our towns and villages. Linked to this it also commits, as part of Budget 2022, to examining the scope to introduce new supports and incentives for the refurbishment of vacant properties to increase town centre living.
This will be examined as part of the budgetary process this year and will be informed by the work of the Inter-Departmental Group (IDG) established to progress the Town Centre First Approach.
121. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if a provision will be made for additional rural recreational officers for the walk schemes in west County Cork delivered under a partnership (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38455/21]
View answer133. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the resources being considered for additional rural recreational officers for the walks schemes in west County Cork given further submissions by a partnership (details supplied) have been made under outdoor recreational infrastructure scheme for new walk schemes to be included for west County Cork with further rural recreational officers required to cover this area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38718/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 121 and 133 together.
The Walks Scheme, which is funded by my Department, contracts landholders to undertake maintenance work on National Waymarked Ways and other priority trails that traverse their lands. The landholders receive modest payments for maintenance work undertaken in line with agreed work plans.
My Department commissioned an external review of the Walks Scheme to examine the delivery and strategic development of the Scheme, and assess the role and resourcing of the Rural Recreation Officer (RRO) posts throughout the country. The reviewers were also required to consider the level of funding provided to the Local Development Companies to deliver the scheme. The final report was received by my Department this week and I expect to be in a position to publish the report after the contents have been fully considered. The recommendations contained in the review will inform decisions on the further strategic expansion of the scheme, including the resourcing of Local Development Companies.
West Cork Development Partnership has two very significant trails funded under the Walks Scheme – the Beara Way and the Sheep’s Head Way. There are almost 580 landholders funded under these two walks receiving funding of about €650,000. West Cork Development Partnership also receives funding for one full-time equivalent RRO position.
I am aware that an issue has arisen with the delivery of the scheme in West Cork and officials from my Department formally met with West Cork Development Partnership on Friday, 2nd July. I understand that the company outlined the challenges presented by the large number of participants on the Scheme in West Cork and the extensive area covered by the trails there. It is clear that the company has a significant workload relative to other areas and I believe that this is something that we can respond to as part of the implementation of the Review of the Walks Scheme.
I am committed to working with all of the stakeholders, including West Cork Development Partnership, to ensure that the scheme can continue to function effectively.
122. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if compliance and regulatory requirements will be reviewed in 2022 to ensure that no duplication of the process occurs given the burden of the cost of regulatory and compliance requirements to community, voluntary and charity groups. [38528/21]
View answerThe Charities Regulatory Authority (Charities Regulator) is the statutory body responsible for regulating charitable organisations in Ireland. The Charities Regulator was established on 16 October, 2014 pursuant to the Charities Act 2009.
The Programme for Government includes a commitment to update legislative provisions with the Charities Regulator, to ensure it has the necessary powers to increase trust and confidence in the management and administration of charities.
There is ongoing liaison between officials in my Department and the Charities Regulator to review the operation of the legislation to ensure that it is operating effectively, and to consider amendments to the 2009 Act. This work is at an advanced stage and I intend bringing proposals to Government in the near future to progress the legislation.
In 2019, my Department published Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities - A five year strategy to support the community and voluntary sector in Ireland 2019-2024. The strategy reaffirms the Government’s commitment to supporting the sector and addressing some of the burdens faced by service providers, whilst also recognising the reality of finite resources and the need to ensure that available resources are focused on providing effective services.
The strategy commits, inter alia, to develop appropriate compliance and monitoring arrangements and support capacity in the community development, local development and the broader community and voluntary sector to meet them, including:
- reviewing the appropriateness of regulatory compliance requirements;
- developing and implementing a strategy to reduce, streamline and standardise all public-funded programme and regulatory monitoring, reporting and compliance requirements, where appropriate,
- and resource and support organisations to fulfil compliance requirements.
The implementation of the strategy is being overseen by the Cross-Sectoral Group on Local and Community Development. A key role for this group is to support this Department in the prioritisation of objectives and actions to be progressed within the framework of annual workplans.
I recognise the concerns of the sector and I am committed to addressing this challenge in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.
123. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development her plans and timelines for further rounds of ORIS, CLAR, RRDF, town and village and community enhancement funding schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38521/21]
View answerDetails of funding under the RRDF, Town and Village Renewal Scheme, ORIS, CLAR, and Community Enhancement Programme are provided below:
RRDF
The third call for Category 2 applications to the Fund was announced on 12th May. The development of large scale projects requires significant resources and the Category 2 funding provided through this call will enable projects to reach a stage where they are developed to a high standard and ready to commence. This will ensure there is a pipeline of high-quality, ambitious projects ready to compete for funding in future Category 1 calls from the Fund.
I am seeking large scale projects for RRDF funding that will drive economic growth, combat dereliction and breathe new life into town centres. The closing date for applications to the recent category 2 call was 12pm on 30th July 2021. Guidance material and an applications form is available my Department’s website. I expect to also announce a further category 1 call this year.
Town and Village Renewal Scheme
Since its launch in 2016, almost €93 million has been allocated to more than 1,300 projects across Ireland. Under Budget 2021, €15 million has been allocated for the Town and Village Scheme. Expressions of interest are sought locally and a number of these are then developed into proposals by the Local Authorities and submitted to my Department by July 16th.
The 2021 Scheme will prioritise tackling vacancy in towns and villages, remote working and supporting town centre living. Priority will be given to projects that bring vacant and derelict buildings and sites back into use as multi-purpose spaces and/or for remote hubs or residential occupancy. Multi-purpose use includes enterprise spaces, arts, tourism, youth hubs and other community use. There are a range of other actions eligible including projects to develop parks, green spaces and recreational amenities in town centres.
CLÁR
Since the CLÁR programme was relaunched in 2016, it has provided funding of almost €39 million for over 1,600 projects.
A 10% increase in funding was secured for the scheme this year, bringing the allocation for 2021 to €5.5 million. CLÁR 2021 was launched on 15th March 2021 with a budget of €5.5m and the closing date for all Measures, except the Innovation Measure, was 7th May. The Innovation Measure closed on Friday, 21st May.
ORIS
Since 2016, funding of almost €68 million has been allocated to nearly 1,000 projects through the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme.
A 20% increase in funding was secured for the scheme this year, together with the continuing contribution from Fáilte Ireland, brings the total funding available for projects under the 2021 Scheme to €14 million. ORIS 2021 was launched on 23rd April 2021. The closing date for Measure 1 has passed and assessment of applications is underway. The closing date for Measures 2 & 3 and the Project Development Measure is Friday, 30th July 2021.
Community Enhancement Programme
From 2018 to 2020 €25 million has been provided in funding for the Community Enhancement Programme supporting over 8,000 community groups/organisations.
The 2021 CEP was launched on 10th May with funding of €4.5million. It provides small grants for projects or equipment enhancing facilities and one-off grants towards reopening or the sustainability of a facility. Applicants should contact the LCDCs that administer the programme for further details.
In order to allow flexibility, the Department did not set a national closing date. Each LCDC can set its own to best suit its area, but it must be no later than 16th July 2021. As a result the CEP closed recently in some LCDC areas and is open in others. Some funding is ring-fenced to provide small grants of €1,000 or less. It is administered by LCDCs in order to address disadvantage as identified in their Local Economic and Community Plan.
124. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which she continues to develop the concept of digital hubs with a view to facilitating employers and employees who may wish to replicate the original workspace location with a virtual presence resulting in a situation of benefit to both employers and employees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38181/21]
View answerThe 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.
I launched the National Hub Network, connectedhubs.ie, on 31 May in the Swinford Digiwest Hub in Co. Mayo. Since the launch, 113 hubs have signed on and are now using the platform, with an additional 49 hubs in the process of being onboarded. Furthermore, the number of hubs identified through the Western Development Commission's hub discovery process has increased to 505. These are in the process of being verified before they are mapped on connectedhubs.ie/nationalhubsmap.html. This interactive map provides useful information in relation to each of the hubs and the services that are available at each site.
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 recently announced funding of €15 million that is available under the 2021 Town & Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS). In line with Our Rural Future, a key focus of this year’s scheme is to renovate derelict and vacant buildings in our town centres, and specifically supports bringing vacant properties in town centres back into use or repurpose existing community or publicly owned buildings as remote working hubs.
In addition, I have also allocated €5 million to fund a Connected Hubs Call this year. This initiative will provide funding to support small scale capital works in existing hubs and Broadband Connection Points. Applications are currently being evaluated by my officials and I expect to shortly be in a position to announce the results of the evaluation process.
125. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will seek to avail of the facility of community-led local development funds such as the European Social Fund and European Regional Development Fund to add to the traditional Rural Development Programme funding and give the local action groups a sustainable budget for five to six years and also broaden their scope for action in this crucial time in the recovery of rural areas from Covid-19 and Brexit, given that the CAP budget is significantly reduced on previous funding periods, the 2014-2020 Leader programme budget was approximately 60% of the value of the same programme less than a decade ago and projections on existing figures indicating a further reduction to approximately 33% of the budget a decade ago. [38313/21]
View answerThe LEADER programme is co-financed by the European Commission under Pillar 2 of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), through the European Agriculture Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD).
In December 2020, I launched the Transitional LEADER Programme which came into effect from 1 April 2021 and will run to the end of 2022. A total of €70 million is being made available over this programming period. €65 million of this budget is available to Local Action Groups (LAGs) who deliver the programme and approve projects at local level. This allocation covers both core project expenditure and the administration and animation costs of the LAGs.
€20 million of this Transitional LEADER Programme is funded by the European Union Recovery Instrument, which will enable local communities and enterprises an opportunity to respond in a community-led local development manner to COVID-19.
The EU budget, the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), is a seven-year spending plan, allowing the EU to plan and invest in long-term projects. As part of this, EU Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) are allocated to Ireland according to the Irish Partnership Agreement, which was developed by stakeholders and the Irish Government, in conjunction with the European Commission. The current Partnership Agreement was adopted in 2014 for the period 2014-2020.
The Partnership Agreement is designed to ensure that ESIF funding is used to its full potential throughout Ireland and that funds complement one other. It is also designed to help prevent double funding. It is also framed by various evaluations and public consultations conducted within Ireland.
The Partnership Agreement for the next round of funding is currently being developed.
It is a matter for each Managing Authority for the funds referenced by the Deputy to decide how to disburse each fund. Officials within my Department are exploring the options for community-led local development funding within other EU funding streams.
The total level of funding available for the next LEADER Programme will not be finalised until the process of designing all of the interventions in the new CAP Strategic Plan is more advanced.
126. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the development of the rural proofing model promised as part of the Our Rural Future – Rural Development Policy 2021 – 2025; the timeline for the roll-out of the model; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38318/21]
View answerOur Rural Future is the most ambitious and transformational policy for rural development in Ireland for decades.
The policy contains 152 measures for delivery, developed across the whole of Government, with the underlying theme of economic, environmental and societal sustainability. The policy has a vision of vibrant and thriving rural towns and villages, with a key objective to maximise opportunities for individuals, communities and businesses in rural areas. It recognises that rural areas play an integral role in the economic, social and cultural recovery and well-being of the country.
The policy commits to developing an effective rural proofing model. This will ensure that all departments fully consider the effects of new proposals on rural communities, the needs for potential adjustments to better target the challenges and opportunities facing rural areas, and the identification of any impacts that may arise in this regard.
As outlined in the 2021 Our Rural Future Work Programme, available on my Department’s website, the rural proofing model process will begin later this year with a scoping exercise, including an assessment of international best practice in this area. As part of this process my Department will engage with international stakeholders, such as the OECD, to assess and learn from other countries’ experiences. My officials will also engage with colleagues across Government and with the Higher Education Network that is being established this year under another commitment in Our Rural Future.
We must ensure that any rural proofing process adopted by Government is effective, efficient and implementable. It is also of note that this model is not intended to replace the formal structures for the monitoring of policy implementation as overseen by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Recovery and Investment, chaired by An Taoiseach.
128. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she plans to expand the walks scheme; if further funding will be allocated to the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38174/21]
View answerMy Department administers the Walks Scheme through which landholders receive modest payments for maintenance works on approved walking trails that traverse their land. The payment is linked to an agreed work plan for the section of the trail maintained by the landholder.
The Walks Scheme is currently operating on 45 trails supported by 2,040 landholders and is being managed by 16 Local Development Companies (LDCs) around the country.
In December 2019, it was announced that 10 new trails would be added to the Scheme under the first phase of an expansion of the scheme. While the process of inspecting these new trails was delayed in part due to the COVID-19 restrictions, an online system was developed in late 2020 to carry out the necessary checks and inspections to allow the trails to fully join the scheme. To date, 6 of these new trails have been approved and payments have issued to landholders.
The Programme for Government contains a commitment to expand the Walks Scheme to achieve a target of 80 trails. A decision in respect of the further trails to be added to the Scheme will be taken following the publication of an external review of the Walks Scheme. Work in completing this review is well advanced and I expect to be in a position to publish the review shortly.
Trails that wish to be added to the Scheme are invited to submit an Expression of Interest to my Department. There is no closing date for Expressions of Interest at this time, and interested parties can continue to submit proposals for additional trails to be included in the scheme, through their Local Authority or Local Development Company. A trail must meet specific qualifying criteria in order to be considered eligible for the scheme, including being of a suitable standard to be included in Sport Ireland Outdoors' trail register.
129. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the rural youth assembly will be established; the way the assembly is expected to be structured; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38604/21]
View answerMy Department published Our Rural Future, a new five-year rural development policy, in March this year. It is the most ambitious and transformational policy for rural development in Ireland for decades.
The policy has a vision for vibrant towns and villages across rural Ireland, with economic, environmental and societal sustainability as an underlying theme, where communities, including young people, are empowered to take an active role in the decisions affecting their communities.
Our Rural Future was developed after an extensive consultation process which started in January 2019. This process included dedicated events for young people, in collaboration with youth organisations such as Foróige, which were tailored to the youth of rural Ireland and were dedicated to listening to the particular challenges they face.
Their feedback received from this process was extremely valuable and the workshops helped to identify a number of potential opportunities. As a result, the 152 policy measures in Our Rural Future include actions created specifically for the direct benefit of young people and to ensure their continued engagement, including the commitment to establish an annual Rural Youth Assembly.
We anticipate that the first Rural Youth Assembly will be held later this year. The format – whether a physical or virtual event – and the structure of the Assembly will be confirmed nearer the time following discussions with relevant stakeholders, including the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. It is intended that the outcomes of the first meeting of the Assembly will help inform future measures to be included in the implementation of Our Rural Future over the coming years.
130. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when funds held in the disbursement fund under the Dormant Accounts Fund will be distributed for the benefit of addressing social, economic or educational disadvantage or assisting persons with a disability; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38460/21]
View answerUnder the Dormant Accounts Fund legislation a Disbursement Scheme is prepared at least every three years. This sets out the objectives to be achieved by making disbursements from the account, and the strategies for achieving these objectives. Then, to give effect to the Disbursement Scheme, Action Plans must be prepared, at least once a year. These Action Plans contain details of programmes and projects to be funded under the Disbursement Scheme. They set out the maximum amount proposed for disbursement in relation to each programme or project during the period to which the Action Plan relates. Measures approved for funding in any Action Plan must, in the first instance, be funded from the Vote of the Department or agency concerned. The expenditure incurred in implementing an approved measure is then reimbursed from the Dormant Accounts Fund, rendering the measure Exchequer neutral. The Disbursement Schemes and Action Plans are available on the Department's website at www.gov.ie/en/policy-information/c376c9-dormant-accounts-fund/
The majority of measures approved in an Action Plan progress in that year, subject to the voted expenditure of each Department allowing for the measure to progress. It is also important to note that measures approved in an annual action plan may progress over a number of years and the allocations provided for can be disbursed from the fund over that period. As such, funds held within the disbursement fund are utilized on an ongoing basis. The utilization of funds has increased in recent years and total disbursements in 2020 stood at €93.5 million, which included €50 million in once off Covid-19 supports. Measures under the 2021 Action Plan are currently being progressed, and the Action Plan for 2022 will be published in the final quarter of 2021.
132. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the town and village renewal scheme following recent expressions of interest submitted to local authorities; if her Department has received funding applications from local authorities; if so, the likely timeline to approve applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38558/21]
View answerIn May, I announced funding of €15 million under the 2021 Town and Village Renewal Standard Scheme. The 2021 Scheme is a key part of Our Rural Future – the Government’s five year strategy to revitalise rural Ireland. This year the scheme has a particular focus on vacancy and dereliction, and supporting efforts to bring vacant properties back into use in our towns and villages.
The Scheme is administered through Local Authorities, who following consultation with local communities and businesses, submit up to 8 applications to my Department to be assessed on a competitive basis. The minimum grant is available is €20,000. I have increased the maximum grant available this year to €500,000.
The closing date for submission of applications to my Department is tomorrow, 16 July 2021. The assessment process will commence once all of the applications have been received and registered. I expect to announce the successful projects early in Quarter 4 of this year.
The deputy may also be aware that an additional €5m has been allocated under the scheme this year for investment in digital hubs through a separate Connected Hubs fund. This fund was launched on 29th April and is now closed for applications. It will support the development of Ireland’s first national network of remote working hubs and fund small scale capital works in existing hubs and Broadband Connection Points. The applications received are currently being assessed and it is expected that this process will be completed shortly.
