Wednesday, 23 Mar 2022

Written Answers Nos. 231-242

Nitrates Usage

Questions (238)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

238. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Nos. 1999, 2000 and 2001 of 19 January 2022, if the information regarding chemical fertiliser provided for the years 2014 to 2021 will be provided per month for each individual year in tabular form; if he will confirm the quantity of chemical fertiliser produced within the State in each of the years 2014 to 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15492/22]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The table below sets out imports of chemical fertiliser per tonne by month for the years 2014 to 2021 (Source CSO Statistics).

Ireland is a relatively small market in respect of fertiliser sales and their usage compared to many of our EU neighbours. No fertilisers are manufactured in Ireland, resulting in indigenous fertiliser companies being price-takers, dependent on global supply and demand and subject to euro exchange rates against the US dollar and other currencies.

Chemical fertiliser

Departmental Contracts

Questions (239)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

239. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she has engaged a company (details supplied) in respect of the services it provides from 2011 to date in 2022; the number of times she has engaged this company; the services used; and the total cost of all engagements with this company. [15187/22]

Written answers

Minister for Rural and Community Development

My Department, which was established in July 2017, engaged the company Word perfect translations ltd. for Irish Translation Services 12 times at a total cost of €10,870. The table here provides a breakdown of the details.

Dates Company was engaged from 2017 to date in 2022	The services used	Cost €	Number of times used
2017			Nil
2018	Irish Translation Services	€9,908.89	9
2019	Irish Translation Services		Nil
2020	Irish Translation Services		Nil
2021	Irish Translation Services	€961.04	3
2022	Irish Translation Services		Nil, to date
2017- to date in 2022	Irish Translation Services	€10,869.93	12

Departmental Contracts

Questions (240)

Louise O'Reilly

Question:

240. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of contracts that her Department has with a company (details supplied); the location, nature, value and type of contract in each case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15414/22]

Written answers

Minister for Rural and Community Development

My Department, which was established in July 2017, has not entered into any contracts with the company referenced (details supplied).

Departmental Schemes

Questions (241)

Holly Cairns

Question:

241. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the timelines for any potential funding stream in 2022 for community centres and community facilities; and if she will report on the potential to create a specific LGBT+ community resource centre fund in recognition of the need for infrastructure investment for the LGBT+ community nationwide and to build on the positive impact of the LGBT+ project funding in 2021. [15504/22]

Written answers

Minister for Rural and Community Development

Earlier this month, I announced the introduction of a new Community Centres Investment Fund (CCIF).

This new capital Fund will provide funding of €15 million for the upgrade and refurbishment of existing community centres across the country for use by everyone in our communities. Under the Fund groups and organisations based in both rural and urban communities can apply for grants ranging from €10,000 to €300,000.

Guidelines and application forms will be available to view shortly at www.gov.ie.

Separately, since 2019, my Department has provided funding through the Dormant Accounts Fund to support LGBT+ community organisations across the country. The 2022 Dormant Accounts Action Plan was announced last November and included €200,000 for supporting LGBT+ community organisations. The main purpose of this funding is to help the organisations make the existing community infrastructures inclusive and welcoming to the LGBT+ community and to provide pop-up LGBT+ services in areas not currently serviced. This is in line with my Department's commitment to implement actions in the National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy 2019-2021.

Following an application process, funding was allocated to the Local Authorities who engage with the LGBT+ organisations at local level and ensure that these actions are implemented.

Departmental Schemes

Questions (242)

Holly Cairns

Question:

242. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the funding streams available to men’s sheds to acquire their own premises to operate out of. [15505/22]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development

My Department provides a range of supports which Men's and Women's Sheds can avail of depending on the works being completed.

Since 2018, the Community Enhancement Programme (CEP) provided capital funding for community groups which included €0.5m that was ring-fenced for Men's Sheds and again in 2019, €0.5m was ring-fenced under the programme for both Men's & Women's Sheds. The CEP ran again in 2020 and 2021 providing small capital grants to community groups to enhance their facilities and towards the reopening of facilities.

In November 2021 the €9m Community Activities Fund was launched and it continues into 2022 to support community groups impacted by COVID-19. This fund will support groups, particularly in disadvantaged areas, with their running/operating costs such as utility or insurance bills, as well as with improvements to their facilities. Men's and Women's Sheds are free to apply for this funding via their LCDCs, and should contact them directly to submit an application.

Funding for projects may also be available through the LEADER Transitional programme. This will cover the period 2021-2022, and came into effect on the 1 April 2021 for new project applications.

Since 2018 the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) has provided supports to over 200 Men’s Sheds, with small grants totalling over €98,000 awarded to 116 Men’s Sheds. This support is still is available from SICAP.

The Scheme to Support National Organisations (SSNO) provides multi-annual funding towards core costs of national, community and voluntary organisations. The current scheme runs from 1st July 2019 to 30th June 2022. The Irish Men’s Sheds Association was allocated €270,000 over the three year period of the scheme. My Department also funded the Irish Men’s Sheds Association under the Stability Fund in 2020, with €70,424 in current funding to support the organisation to continue to deliver services despite the challenges brought by COVID-19.

I encourage all organisations to check on www.gov.ie and to keep in touch with their local LCDC for information around funding opportunities.