Written Answers Nos. 3448-3458
3448. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide an update on the indemnity scheme for mountain climbers and farmers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40680/21]
View answerIn June 2019, a new mandate was presented to Comhairle na Tuaithe which reinforces and strengthens its advisory role in relation to the sustainable development of the outdoor recreation sector in Ireland. Comhairle has established a number of new Subgroups, including a new Sustainable Uplands Recreation Subgroup. This Subgroup will focus, amongst other things, on reviewing the Mountain Access Programme and facilitating its expansion. It will also focus on enabling landowners to continue to allow access to recreational users by addressing issues which may be associated with recreational activity, including indemnity concerns.
As the Deputy is aware, my Department has, for some time, been examining how best to introduce a scheme to indemnify private land owners in upland areas who allow access to their lands for recreational purposes. This is a complex issue and my Department has been advised that an indemnity scheme such as has been proposed would require legislative provision and that a number of separate pieces of legislation might need to be amended.
In light of the complexities involved, my officials have been considering alternative approaches, including an insurance solution, that might be available to address the matter as an interim measure. My Department is actively pursuing the introduction of one of these options on a trial basis for the 2 existing Mountain Access Project areas. This is being brought forward in consultation with Comhairle na Tuaithe.
In addition, I will be exploring with the Attorney General the legislative changes that would be required to advance an indemnity scheme for these upland areas.
3449. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will put in place a specific fund for communities trying to maintain, repair and service defibrillators; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40691/21]
View answerSome of my Department's programmes fund the purchase of capital equipment such as through the Community Enhancement Programme (CEP). This programme provides small grants to community groups to enhance facilities in disadvantaged areas. The 2021 CEP was launched in May with funding of €4.5m, and is now closed to applications.
The CEP is administered by the Local Community Development Committees in each Local Authority area, on behalf of my Department. The fund covers the purchase of equipment (such as defibrillators) but does not generally cover operating costs related to the maintenance, repair, or service of defibrillators.
My Department does not operate a dedicated fund for maintenance, repair or service of defibrillators. There are currently no plans to introduce a specific current fund dedicated to this purpose.
3450. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail an bhfuil aon phlé déanta ag a Roinn le ESB Networks agus le NBI agus le hUisce Éireann maidir le cabla nua leictreachais, cábla snaithín optic agus píopa uisce a cheangal idir an mór thír agus na hoileáin Árann amach ó chósta na Gaillimhe le go mbeadh deis ag na hoileánaigh fuinneamh inathnuaite a ghinniúnt agus a dhíol isteach go hÉirinn, seribhís leathan bhanda snáithín optic a bheith acu agus soláthar uisce buan d’ard-chaighdeán a bheith acu; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [40744/21]
View answerMar is eol don Teachta, tá mo Roinn i mbun oibre ar Pholasaí Oileánda nua a fhorbairt. Mar chuid dó seo, tá cruinnithe déthaobhach ar siúl le Ranna Stáit eile chun plé a dhéanamh ar thorthaí an chomhairliúchán phoiblí agus na bealaigh gur féidir leo ionchur a bheith acu sa pholasaí.
Mar chuid don idirphlé seo, bhí na nithe atá ardaithe ag an Teachta faoi chaibidil ag na cruinnithe leis na Ranna ábhartha agus tá i gceist cruinnithe a thionól leis na páirtí leasmhara a bhfuil na seirbhísí seo faoina gcúram sa bhfómhar.
3451. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number and description of development projects that have begun in Fingal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40817/21]
View answer3452. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number and description of development projects that have begun in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40818/21]
View answer3453. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number and description of development projects that have begun in north Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40819/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 3451 to 3453, inclusive, together.
My Department delivers a wide range of policies and measures to support urban and rural communities. Funding strands include the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, LEADER, Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), Community Services Programme, Community Enhancement Programme, CLÁR Programme, Local Improvement Scheme, and funding for public libraries across the country.
My Department was allocated €341 million in the 2021 Revised Estimates, this ensures that we are in a position to further assist communities seeking funding and other supports for important local activities and projects. Groups or organisations qualify for support schemes or programmes provided by my Department where they meet the requisite eligibility criteria.
The funding amounts allocated by my Department for urban and rural development and renewal purposes in 2020 and 2021 is as follows: €314 million in 2020, and €209 million to date in 2021.
Unfortunately data is not available at project level at the granular geographical level requested by the Deputy. Kildare was allocated €7.6 million in 2020 and €2.2 million to date in 2021. Dublin was allocated €49.3 million in 2020 and €29.3 million to date in 2021. Cork was allocated €21.9 million in 2020 and €14 million to date in 2021.
Further details of funding allocations under specific schemes provided by my Department are available online at www.gov.ie/en/organisation/department-of-rural-and-community-development/
I am confident that the funding supports and policies provided by my Department are delivering, and will continue to deliver, tangible benefits for both urban and rural communities, supporting economic development, and enabling the local and community development sectors to continue to provide valuable much needed services and supports to all communities throughout the country.
3454. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the work of her Department regarding the Mobile Broadband Taskforce; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41048/21]
View answerThe Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce was launched in July 2016 with the objective of improving access to high-quality mobile phone coverage and broadband services in rural Ireland. The Taskforce consists of representatives from a number of Government departments and agencies and is supported in its work by Telecommunications Industry Ireland and the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg).
Over the operational lifetime of the Taskforce, it has addressed more than 70 targeted actions, worked on removing structural barriers to telecommunications deployment and addressed mobile coverage deficits, particularly in rural areas. Work on many of these actions continues, led by the action owners and supported by other Taskforce members.
Significant progress has been made by the Taskforce, although I am aware that there remains a range of strategic issues that will require multiple Government Department and agencies working together in order to solve.
As the Taskforce’s 2019 Work Programme has ended, attention has now turned towards the future orientation of the Taskforce, which will be informed by relevant Programme for Government commitments.
Officials in my Department and the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications have prepared a report on the Taskforce’s achievements and are currently evaluating which issues should be addressed by the Taskforce in the future.
Since its inception, the implementation and overseeing of the Taskforce has been, and remains, a joint commitment between the Departments of Environment, Climate and Communications and my Department. I will continue to work with my colleague the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications to agree a new direction for the Taskforce, which will build on the success and positive engagement that has taken place across central government, local government, statutory agencies and industry.
3455. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the details of the various forms of funding made available by her Department to local authorities regarding broadband connection points and remote working hubs; and the resources for areas that do not require broadband connection points for remote working due to the levels of connectivity. [41049/21]
View answerThe Broadband Connection Point (BCP) initiative is a key element of the National Broadband Plan and of Our Rural Future. BCPs are local facilities typically located in rural and isolated areas without adequate broadband services. These sites are provided with temporary high-speed broadband connections which will remain in place until fibre services are available at the site. It is planned to put in place some 300 BCPs in total.
These local facilities provide onsite internet use to their communities, supporting a range of services and activities including eHealth, remote working, arts and culture, and training and education. Currently, there are 203 Broadband Connection Points live and in use with more sites added on a regular basis. The remaining sites are in the process of being surveyed, installed or tested. The map of live BCPs can be found at: myconnectedcommunity.ie/. My Department, and the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, continues to support and invest in the BCP network.
Earlier this year I launched the Connected Hubs Fund. All BCPs and established hubs were able to apply for funding to increase capacity at their facilities. Last week I was delighted to announce 117 successful applicants were awarded a combined €8.8M, a significant increase on the €5M originally allocated to the Fund. The Fund not only supports hubs and BCPs to provide services to remote workers, but also promotes the National Hub Network and its shared resource, connectedhubs.ie
Since the platform launched, 121 hubs have signed on and are now using the platform. Furthermore, the number of hubs mapped through the Western Development Commission's hub discovery process has increased to 409. These can all be found at 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.
Furthermore, since 2016 my Department has invested more than €50 million in the development of remote working facilities through the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund. Investment in new remote working facilities will continue in 2021 through further calls for both schemes and I hope to add in additional schemes and supports for remote and co-working hubs, BCPs and other initiatives that help people to remain in their communities and encourage those living in the cities to consider a move to rural areas.
3456. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to previous Parliamentary Questions, if Louth County Council has submitted the revised scope for a project (details supplied); the status of the project that was approved €200,000 in early 2020 through the outdoor recreation scheme and is yet to be commenced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41107/21]
View answerThe Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme provides funding for the development of new outdoor recreational infrastructure and for maintenance and promotion of existing outdoor recreational infrastructure in rural Ireland.
Louth County Council were approved for funding of €200,000 under the 2019 Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme for the development and enhancement of the Boyne Greenway. I understand that this is the project referred to by the Deputy. To date, no funding has been drawn down on the approved project.
Louth County Council requested permission to revise the scope of the approved works and specific information was submitted in April but the information was not sufficient to facilitate an assessment of the request to change the approved project and further details were sought. This detail was provided as part of a revised application from Louth County Council on 18th June and this is now under consideration by my Department.
3457. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the steps she is taking to fulfil the Programme for Government commitment to encourage book clubs for older persons to tackle loneliness. [41145/21]
View answerAs Minister with responsibility for the public library service, I am aware that there are a wide range of services, including book clubs, being provided by our Library Authorities for all age groups. I recognise that, since the beginning of the pandemic, it is more important than ever that our older people remain socially connected, educated and entertained so it was pleasing to see so many Library Authorities promoting the formation of book clubs and also hosting their own book clubs online which made them more accessible to those who may be housebound or vulnerable.
However, it was also recognised that some older people may need to improve their digital skills so the Digital Ambassadors Programme was launched in Ireland’s libraries on January 20th 2021. This programme is a partnership between the LGMA Libraries Development Unit and Age Friendly Ireland and aims to support older people in accessing online library resources, particularly while physical library services were suspended as part of government measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The public library service also provides a wide range of online reading content including some 49,000 eBooks and 38,000 eAudiobooks, 4,000 magazines, 2,500 online newspapers from over 100 countries, over 500 e-learning courses and over 100 online language courses
Many Library Authorities have also been providing a free service for the past year or longer, delivering library items such as books, CDs and DVDs to the housebound and vulnerable and this has been highly valued by their many customers.
3458. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the next round of the rural regeneration and development fund will open for applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41307/21]
View answerThe Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) forms part of the wider rural regeneration and development programme which also includes the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme.
In terms of RRDF Category 1 (Major Projects), three calls for applications have been completed to date, while two calls for applications have been completed in relation to Category 2 (Seed Funding). Arising from the outcome of these calls, 89 Category 1 projects have been approved for funding of €215 million for projects worth €292 million. 75 Category 2 projects have been approved for funding of €34 million for projects worth €46 million. In total, funding of €249 million has been approved to date for 164 projects worth a total of €338 million.
The most recent announcement in relation to the Fund was the completion of the third call for Category 1 applications in April 2021, with 25 projects emerging as successful and funding of €81 million allocated.
I announced the third call for Category 2 applications in May 2021. The closing date for applications is the 30th July 2021 at 12pm. An application and guidance document is available on my Department's website.
A further call for Category 1 applications is expected shortly.
