Written Answers Nos. 689-696
690. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the details of the new community development approach to be piloted by her Department in Drogheda, County Louth from February 2022 (details supplied); if she will publish the framework governing the pilot initiative; the amount of money her Department will allocate to the initiative in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55729/21]
View answerMy Department is piloting a new community development project in two areas, including Drogheda, in 2022. This 'place-based approach' is aimed at helping to develop leaders in the community, so that local organisations can improve how they work together in the area.
Total funding of €188,650 is being provided by the Department to cover the 18 month programme in both areas. The programme will be championed by local development companies in the areas who, under the oversight of the relevant local authorities, will lead on the delivery of the programme.
Further information on the programme will become available as the projects progress.
An evaluation and a review of the impact of the programme on participants, their organisations and collaborative engagement will be conducted during and at the end of the 18 month programme.
691. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will be providing updated guidelines to public libraries in respect of the use of library buildings for study and reading given the need for the use of such facilities by further and higher education students. [55731/21]
View answerI am pleased to advise the Deputy that, as announced by the Government on 30 August 2021 in its plan for the next phase of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, “COVID-19: Reframing the Challenge, Continuing Our Recovery and Reconnecting”, certain activities in libraries were allowed to resume from 20 September. I can confirm that this includes the provision of study and reading spaces, with appropriate protective measures in place.
However, the provision of public library services is a matter for each local authority in their capacity as library authorities under the Local Government Act 2001 and there may be certain branches where it is currently not possible to offer reading or study spaces, due to space restrictions or staffing issues.
The ongoing operation of public libraries will be kept under review to ensure that they are in line with prevailing public health guidelines.
692. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if there is additional funding available to offset the rising costs of construction for projects which have already been approved for grant aid but will fall short on funding for projects (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55822/21]
View answerThe LEADER programme is a key intervention implemented by my Department which will help to underpin the Government's rural development goals as outlined in Our Rural Future.
LEADER is administered by 29 LAGs which deliver funding in accordance with Local Development Strategies that have been agreed for each LAG area. Each LAG has been given a funding allocation for the duration of the programme. Project applications are made to, and approved by, the relevant LAG in each LEADER area.
With regard to the project referred to by the Deputy, I can confirm that the project received approval for a LEADER grant amount of €72,285 on the 12th October 2021. In line with the programme operating rules the LAG may not increase the level of funding approved in respect of an individual project.
However, outside of the project specific funding, the project promoter may wish to consult with their Local Community Development Committee with regard to their eligibility for funding under the Community Activities Fund. This €9 million fund which I launched last week with my colleague Minister Joe O’Brien will support groups, particularly in disadvantaged areas, with their running costs, as well as with improvements to their facilities. Groups will also be able to use the funding to carry out necessary repairs and to purchase equipment such as tables and chairs, tools and signage, laptops and printers, lawnmowers, canopies and training equipment.
This once-off fund will be allocated under my Department’s Community Enhancement Programme and in order to ensure there is sufficient flexibility to allow funding to be targeted to where it is needed in each Local Authority area it will be administered locally by the Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs).
693. Deputy Maurice Quinlivan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when she envisages the Community Services Programme reopening for new applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55935/21]
View answerMy Department's Community Services Programme (CSP) supports over 420 community organisations to provide local services through a social enterprise model. The CSP provides an annual co-funding contribution of €19,033 for each fulltime equivalent (FTE) position being supported, and, where warranted, provides €32,000 towards the cost of employing a manager.
Qualifying organisations must be social enterprises capable of generating income from their activities in order to meet the full salary costs of the supported posts, for example, from income received from the public use of facilities and services.
In 2020, an independent review of the CSP was undertaken by Indecon International Economic Consultants, on behalf of my Department. The final report was published on 30 September 2020 and was accompanied by a high level action plan outlining the timeline for the phased implementation for the restructuring of the programme. My Department and Pobal, who administer the programme on behalf of my Department, are currently working on the restructuring of the Programme in conjunction with the CSP Consultative Group.
Pending the transition to the new restructured programme, the scheme is closed to new applications through the Expression of Interest process. However, there are a number of organisations with plans currently under consideration and if approved, they will be supported under the programme from January to April 2022 onwards. In addition, it is anticipated that the Programme will open calls to address identified gaps in service delivery in early 2022.
694. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount of funding allocated under the Connected Hubs Fund by county in tabular form; the number of applicants that received funding; the estimated completion or progress to date on each project that was successful in securing funding in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55991/21]
View answerOur Rural Future, Ireland’s Rural Development Policy 2021-2025, recognises the opportunity for rural rejuvenation that remote working presents and also the potential of remote working hubs as key economic assets for our rural towns and villages.
My Department operates a number of funding schemes that focus on projects supporting remote working through the development of hubs, including the development of BCPs as long-term, digitally-enabled community assets.
In July this year, through the Connected Hubs funding stream, I awarded close to €9 million in funding to over 100 successful applicants, details of which are available on the Department's website. This funding supports the addition of capacity to existing remote working infrastructure in digital hubs and broadband connection points throughout the country. Table 1 in the attached file provides the Connected Hubs funding allocations by county, including the number of successful applications. Currently, some 75% of successful applications have indicated to my Department that they are scheduled to complete before year end, with 18% of projects projected to finish in quarter 1 2022. A small number of projects have been unable to proceed. My Department continues to engage with individual projects in relation to their expected completion dates to account for any possible changes to the timelines indicated to my Department.
The development of a national hubs network is a key commitment in Our Rural Future and I am committed to continuing my Department's support for the development of remote working hubs in recognition of the vital role that they can play in our post-Covid recovery.
Appendix 1
Table 1 – Connected Hubs 2021 Funding Allocation By County
|
County |
Successful Applications |
Allocation |
|
Carlow |
1 |
103,320 |
|
Cavan |
2 |
236,016 |
|
Clare |
1 |
209,700 |
|
Cork |
8 |
425,456 |
|
Donegal |
7 |
551,324 |
|
Dublin |
18 |
670,676 |
|
Galway |
9 |
654,211 |
|
Kerry |
12 |
746,091 |
|
Kildare |
5 |
263,573 |
|
Kilkenny |
3 |
235,438 |
|
Laois |
5 |
199,686 |
|
Leitrim |
2 |
323,368 |
|
Limerick |
4 |
404,688 |
|
Longford |
1 |
234,678 |
|
Louth |
3 |
129,208 |
|
Mayo |
5 |
337,142 |
|
Meath |
1 |
222,354 |
|
Monaghan |
4 |
354,925 |
|
Offaly |
2 |
287,282 |
|
Roscommon |
3 |
327,445 |
|
Sligo |
4 |
213,797 |
|
Tipperary |
6 |
426,110 |
|
Waterford |
1 |
240,890 |
|
Westmeath |
2 |
139,215 |
|
Wexford |
3 |
319,029 |
|
Wicklow |
3 |
132,600 |
|
Multiple Counties |
3 |
515,981 |
|
TOTAL |
118 |
8,904,203 |
695. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if a breakdown of grants awarded by project and location since the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund was launched to date will be provided in tabular form (details supplied). [55992/21]
View answer696. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if projects should apply for category 2 funding in order to be considered for category 1 major projects funding in relation to seed fund grants under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund; the projects which were awarded funding under category 2 that are intended for further funds under category 1 by project and location in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55993/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 695 and 696 together.
The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund provides investment to ambitious and strategic projects that support rural renewal, strengthen and build resilience in rural communities and assist in the regeneration of towns and villages with a population of less than 10,000 and outlying areas. The lead party in an application must be a State funded body.
The Fund seeks applications under two categories. Category 1 relates to large scale ambitious capital projects with all necessary planning and other consents in place and which are ready to proceed. The minimum request from the Fund for Category 1 projects is €500,000. Category 2 relates to detailed project development and enabling initiatives to reach Category 1 readiness. There is no minimum request for funding for Category 2 projects.
The application process for proposals under the Fund is competitive in nature. Applications are assessed by my Department under the oversight of the Project Advisory Board, comprised of representatives from key Government Departments and independent experts. Once the assessment process is complete, my Department submits a report to me setting out projects which have emerged from the assessment process as suitable to be recommended for funding. I then consider that report and make the final decision in relation to the allocation of funding.
It is important to note that success in Category 2 calls relates only to securing grant funding for the cost of project development. It does not follow that any proposal which is successful in any Category 2 call will automatically be in line for funding under future Category 1 calls. Category 2 projects which are progressed to Category 1 readiness will be subject to a competitive application process under future calls. Proposals invited under Category 1 calls are not required to have previously received Category 2 funding.
The third call for Category 2 applications closed on the 30th July 2021 and I expect to be in a position to announce the successful applications before the end of the year. The fourth call for Category 1 applications will also be announced before the end of 2021.
Tables outlining the funding awarded under both Categories are set out at the following links.
