Robert Troy
Question:278. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will ensure a tidy towns grant is awarded to a group (details supplied). [45479/21]
View answerTidy Towns
Questions (278)
Written answers
I was delighted to be in a position to launch the 2021 Supervalu TidyTowns competition on 21st May last and look forward to the award ceremony later in the year. In my view, TidyTowns is a wonderful competition. It reaches in to practically every town and village in the country and promotes a sense of community and identity as well as instilling a sense of pride in that home town or village.
Last December, I announced funding of €1 million to help TidyTowns groups to prepare for the 2021 competition. This translated to a provision of up to €1,000 to every eligible TidyTowns group in the country and represented a top-up to the €1.4 million distributed to groups at the end of 2019.
In order to be eligible for this funding, a group must have entered the competition in any of the years 2017, 2018 or 2019. The group to which the Deputy refers had not entered the competition since 2009 and was not therefore eligible for the funding.
However, I have reviewed the position based on a review of entries to the competition this year. I am happy to say that any new and active TidyTowns Group that did not enter the competition in the period 2017-2019, but who are confirmed as having entered this year’s competition, are now eligible to apply for the €1,000 grant. Eligible groups will be contacted very shortly regarding the application process for this funding.
Cycling Facilities
Questions (279)
Kieran O'Donnell
Question:279. Deputy Kieran O'Donnell asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will consider extending the three year bike pilot initiative for the provision of high-quality upcycled bicycles and e-bikes for those on low incomes and or those who are most marginalised and disadvantaged to Limerick city given it is the only large city not included in the pilot; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45543/21]
View answerWritten answers
On 28 April, my Department, in collaboration with the Department of Transport, launched a three year pilot initiative for the provision of high quality up-cycled bicycles and e-bikes, for those on low incomes and or those who are most marginalised and disadvantaged.
Funding of up to €3m is being provided by the Department of Transport for this initiative over a three year period and will be made available through my Department's Community Services Programme, which is administered by Pobal.
The application process for this call closed on 28th May last. The Department received fourteen applications, with five applicants approved for support under this pilot initiative.
Organisations that were eligible to apply were those currently supported under the Community Services Programme or, alternatively, those in a Partnership/Consortium of which at least one member is currently a CSP supported organisation. While one application was received from a Limerick-based organisation, unfortunately, this applicant failed to meet the required eligibility criteria for the pilot.
Progress on the roll-out of this pilot initiative will be kept under review.