Written Answers Nos. 1-20
12. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the total capital allocation to her Department in 2021, broken down by sub-head; the amount spent to date; if she expects this funding will be totally expended in 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49842/21]
View answerThe revised estimate for my Department for 2021 provides for a gross allocation of €351 million, with a gross capital allocation of €168.6 million. In addition, €13.18 million of unspent capital funding has been carried forward from 2020 giving a total capital allocation of €181.8 million for 2021.
As of 11th October 2021 the total capital spend amounted to €69 million. I am providing the Deputy with a breakdown of the allocations and spend with my reply.
The public health restrictions that were imposed earlier in the year across all sectors of society, including the construction industry, have meant unavoidable delays to capital project delivery.
Given these challenges, capital expenditure has been kept under constant review during the year so that the resources provided are put to best use. In this regard, funding of €10.5m was reallocated to the Local Improvement Scheme in July to double the amount funding for the scheme in 2021. This funding will be fully utilised by the Local Authorities by the end of the year.
My officials are working closely with local authorities to maximise spend across our capital schemes, and drawdown will ramp up over the coming weeks. I also expect to avail of a deferred surrender so that projects which are delayed can be funded next year. I will continue to monitor spend closely, and will ensure that our resources are put to best use for rural areas and communities.
Table 1: 2021 REV Capital Allocation and expenditure as at 11th October 2021
|
- |
2021 REV Capital Allocation |
Spend as at 11/10/21 |
|
V42 - RURAL & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT (GROSS) |
168.310 |
68.994 |
|
A - RURAL DEVELOPMENT, REGIONAL AFFAIRS & ISLANDS |
150.764 |
61.890 |
|
A.4 - RURAL SUPPORTS |
16.000 |
1.758 |
|
A.5 - LEADER |
44.000 |
41.465 |
|
A.6 - REGIONAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT |
1.120 |
0.593 |
|
A.7 - RURAL REGENERATION AND DEVELOPMENT |
87.000 |
17.918 |
|
A.8 - ISLANDS |
2.644 |
0.156 |
|
B - COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT |
17.546 |
7.104 |
|
B.6 - SUPPORTS FOR DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES |
1.267 |
1.267 |
|
B.7 - DORMANT ACCOUNTS MEASURES |
2.500 |
0.260 |
|
B.8 - PROGRAMME FOR PEACE AND RECONCILIATION |
2.650 |
0.000 |
|
B.10 - LIBRARY DEVELOPMENT AND ARCHIVE SERVICE |
6.629 |
1.077 |
|
B.11 – COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAMME |
4.500 |
4.500 |
13. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development her level of engagement with Cork County Council in meeting its demands on delivery of upgrades works on rural roads and laneways due to increased funding to €21 million in 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50106/21]
View answerThe Local Improvement Scheme (or LIS) supports the improvement of rural roads and laneways that are not normally maintained by local authorities. It makes an important contribution to connectivity in rural Ireland. Cork County Council has secured over €6 million in funding since the Scheme was re-established in 2017.
I launched the 2021 Scheme in May with funding of €10.5 million. The allocation to each Local Authority was based on the physical area of each county. Cork, as the largest county, was allocated €920,000. This was the maximum level of funding available to any individual county.
In July, I was pleased to be able to allocate an additional €10.5m under the Scheme, bringing the total level of funding to €21 million this year. This funding was made available on the understanding that it would be fully utilised by each Local Authority before the end of this year.
My officials engaged directly with each local authority, including Cork County Council, to establish the number of road projects they could complete by year-end and the associated level of funding required to deliver these before the end of the year. Each Local Authority received 70% of what they indicated they had the capacity to deliver before the end of the year. On this basis, Cork County Council secured some €493,000 under this second tranche, bringing their total funding in 2021 to over €1.4 million.
The approach to allocating funding to each County in 2022, including County Cork, will be reviewed in advance of the launch of the scheme next year.
16. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the anticipated amount of funding that is expected to be provided to counties Laois and Offaly through the Leader programme in 2021. [49417/21]
View answerThe LEADER programme is one of the key interventions implemented by my Department in delivering on the Government's vision for rural Ireland as set out in Our Rural Future.
In December 2020, I allocated an initial €20 million to the Transitional LEADER Programme to support locally-led rural development in 2021. In addition, in April 2021 I announced details of an additional €50 million to cover the period 2021-2022. This funding is designed to support the continued implementation of LEADER period in the transition period leading up to the introduction of the new Common Agricultural Policy from 2023.
Of the total allocation of €70 million, €65 was allocated to the Local Action Groups (LAGs) to cover both core project expenditure and their administration and animation costs. A further €3 million of the funding was allocated to support co-operation projects between LAGs, with €2 million being allocated to provide preparatory support for the next LEADER programme. Funding opportunities under the LEADER Food Initiative also remain in place until the entirety of funds are exhausted.
All the payment claims for 2021 projects have not yet been submitted in respect of Laois and Offaly. However, I can confirm that the amount allocated to Co. Laois for the transitional period is €2.1 million and to Co. Offaly is €2.3 million. It is open to each LAG to manage this funding over the two year transitional period.
I am confident that this level of funding will be sufficient to continue operation of the LEADER Programme in both LAG areas until the commencement of the new LEADER Programme.
17. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will consider funding options for rural SMEs that would have space on their premises that could be made available for the establishment of remote working hubs in rural villages; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50107/21]
View answerThe recent shift to remote working provides a unique opportunity for the revitalisation of our rural towns and villages through remote working.
My Department operates a number of funding schemes that focus on supporting remote working as outlined in Our Rural Future, the Government's Rural Development Policy for the period from 2021 to 2025.
The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund and the Town and Village Renewal Scheme both support the establishment of new digital hubs. Under this year's schemes, projects that bring vacant properties in town centres back into use as remote working hubs were eligible to apply for funding. Projects that repurpose existing community or publicly owned buildings in town or village centres to facilitate remote working were also eligible.
I also recently announced the awarding of €8.8 million in funding through the Connected Hubs stream to add capacity to existing remote working infrastructure in digital hubs and Broadband Connection Points across Ireland.
I am happy to confirm that I have secured additional funding as part of Budget 2022 across the range of services provided by my Department, including for the further support of remote working hubs. As my Department continues to implement supports for hubs under the 2022 suite of schemes, options for funding the repurposing of existing space held by rural SMEs can be examined as part of the scheme design process.
19. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 114 of 15 July 2021, the status of the development of Caladh Mór pier on Inis Meáin; the status of the preparation of the simulation model of the harbour by the National Maritime College of Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50138/21]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, Galway County Council are the body responsible for development of stage three of the Caladh Mór pier development on Inis Meáin. Officials from my Department have been in ongoing contact with the relevant officials in the County Council to progress this development.
As part of the preparatory works, the National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI) have been developing a model simulation for the harbour on Inis Meáin, which will inform the Business Case options for the development. Progress with the model simulation was somewhat delayed due to COVID-19 restrictions however the NMCI were able to host a small group of islanders, ferry operators and officials at their facility in Ringaskiddy in July for a demonstration of the initial iteration of the marine simulation.
I understand from Department officials who viewed the simulation that it presents vessel operators with an extremely realistic experience of sea conditions and that it is expected to greatly assist in identifying development options for the pier.
Following feedback from the various parties who attended the demonstration, the NMCI are furthering the development of the simulation and there will be a further, more extensive demonstration held upon completion. I understand that the local authority have recently received feedback from the NMCI as regards the updated simulation which will be discussed with my Department officials in the coming days. Following this, further steps will be taken to progress this project.
20. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the reason the shop front improvement scheme will not be extended despite the short timeframe and difficulties shopkeepers have had in carrying out works due to bad weather; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49846/21]
View answer21. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will ring-fence funding for an improved shop front improvement scheme taking into account the difficulties experienced in 2021 by applicants working within a short timeframe and very limited time to complete works; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49845/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 20 and 21 together.
The €7 million Streetscape Enhancement Initiative, which is a commitment in Our Rural Future, is designed to make around 120 of our rural towns and villages more attractive and welcoming places for locals and visitors alike. Property owners are being part funded to improve the facades of buildings, carry out artwork, and install features such as canopies and street furniture.
The initiative is being delivered by the Local Authorities on behalf of my Department, with considerable discretion provided to each Local Authority to design the scheme locally to meet their individual needs.
As the funding is being made available from savings elsewhere in my Department, Local Authorities had been advised that the projects must be completed and funding drawn down from my Department by mid-November. In practice, this has meant that many property owners are being asked to complete works before the end of this month in order for Local Authorities to meet this deadline.
Given the challenge this is presenting for some property owners, I am pleased to note that the deadline for the completion of works has been extended until 31st December 2021. In addition, more flexibility is being provided to each Local Authority to manage the completion of works locally and to subsequently report on the delivery of the scheme to my Department.
There has been a very positive response to this new initiative and I have no doubt that this funding will make a big impact on the appearance of our towns and villages. Any decision in respect of a further round of funding for streetscapes will be considered alongside other town and village investment priorities next year.
