Written Answers Nos. 1964-1967
1964. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when it is intended to go to tender for the delivery of the Leader Programme for the CAP period 2021-2027; if in the meantime it is intended to make further interim funding available to the existing LAGs for the delivery of further projects; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20867/22]
View answerThe LEADER Programme is one of the key interventions of Our Rural Future, the Government’s Policy for rural development launched last year.
The draft CAP Strategic Plan, which includes LEADER, was submitted to the EU Commission by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine at the end of December 2021. This is in line with the timelines set by the EU Commission.
The process of negotiating and agreeing the plan with the EU Commission has thus commenced. The timeline for implementation of the new LEADER Programme, including the selection of new Local Development Strategies, is closely linked to this process.
Accordingly, my officials will continue to work closely with colleagues from the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine and the EU Commission over the coming months with a view to obtaining approval for the CAP Strategic Plan, as a matter of priority.
The €70 million Transitional LEADER Programme came into effect in April 2021 and will cover the period 2021 and 2022. €65 million of this budget has been allocated to the LEADER Local Action Groups (LAGs) who deliver the programme and approve projects at local level. This allocation covers both core project expenditure and the administration and animation costs of the LAGs. In addition, in the event that a LAG fully utilises their allocation of administration funding, they can avail of a maximum monthly contribution that will be Exchequer funded and will be available to them to the end of 2022.
A further €3 million of the funding has been allocated to support co-operation projects and innovation between LAGs, while the remaining €2 million has been allocated to provide preparatory support for the next LEADER programme.
The project funding available under the Transitional LEADER Programme continues to be allocated by the LAGs on an ongoing basis. I am confident that the level of funding available will be sufficient to meet the demand from rural communities and businesses and to continue the effective operation of the Transitional LEADER Programme through to the end of 2022.
1965. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if it is intended that one dedicated LAG will deliver the LEADER programme on the islands for the next LEADER Programme, as heretofore; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20868/22]
View answerThe LEADER Programme is one of the key interventions of Our Rural Future, the Government’s Policy for rural development launched last year.
An indicative budget of €180 million has been announced for the LEADER programme for the period 2023-2027. When taken together with the €70 million already provided for 2021 and 2022 under the Transitional LEADER Programme, a total of €250 million will be made available for the 2021 - 2027 period, thus maintaining the level of funding provided for the 2014-2020 programming period. The maintenance of the €250m funding allocation will underpin the continued contribution of the LEADER approach in delivering on the Government’s vision for Rural Ireland.
Preparations for the design and delivery of the next LEADER programme from 2023-2027 are well underway and there is ongoing engagement between my officials and stakeholders in this regard.
Decisions relating to the areas to be covered by the Local Action Groups will be considered as part of the ongoing programme design phase.
The ongoing engagement and consultation with stakeholders, combined with the funding allocation of €250 million indicated, will ensure that the LEADER programme from 2023 will continue to support and further develop our rural communities and businesses including our island communities.
1966. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if a piece of surveillance technology (details supplied) is being used by her Department or any agencies under her remit in view of the fact that there are security and privacy concerns associated with the use of same; the data protection policies on the use of artificial intelligence with respect to instances in which this technology is being used; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21241/22]
View answerThe equipment and software referred to by the Deputy is not in use at any of the offices of my Department or agencies under our aegis.
1967. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the supports which are available to charities to assist with rapidly rising energy and other costs in their premises; if she will commit to making available enhanced supports to charities to offset and absorb these costs in the context of any forthcoming Government package of supports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21287/22]
View answerI am aware of the challenges facing community groups in relation to utilities and insurance costs. In November 2021 I launched the €9m Community Activities Fund to support community and voluntary groups impacted by COVID-19.
The fund will support community groups, particularly in disadvantaged areas, with their running costs such as utility (Electricity, Heating charges) or insurance bills. Groups will also be able to use the funding to carry out necessary repairs and/or improvements to their facilities as well as the purchase of equipment such as tables and chairs, tools and signage, laptops and printers, lawnmowers, canopies and training equipment. The fund is being administered locally by the Local Community Development Committees in each Local Authority area and closed for applications on the 28 March, 2022.
In addition, I also launched the Community Centres Investment Fund on the 15 April 2022. This is a new capital fund with a budget of €15m to support community groups with the upgrade and refurbishment of existing Community Centres. This is an investment in both rural and urban communities across the country.
The Community Centres Investment Fund will support community groups, particularly in disadvantaged areas, with the upgrade and development of their community centre facilities.
The fund will assist with projects such as:
- works to improve communal facilities such as kitchen and toilet facilities;
- energy retrofitting, new windows/doors/heating systems;
- upgrades to lighting systems and stage areas;
- works to address safety concerns, including as a result of fire safety audits;
- works to improve disability access;
- improvements to assist in providing additional or better services to the community such as meals for the elderly and youth facilities;
- works to develop community centres as social hubs through the development of community cinemas, youth hubs and community libraries; and
- essential maintenance works, repairs to roof, etc.
Funding will be available under three categories, with grants of between €10k and €300K available:
- Category 1: Small scale projects/improvements to facilities - €10,000 to €25,000.
- Category 2: Larger scale projects - €25,001 to €100,000.
- Category 3: Major projects - €100,001 to €300,000.
Guidelines and a sample application form are available on my Department’s website.
My colleague the Minister for Environment Climate and Communications provides funding for the Communities Energy Grant as part of the Government's National Retrofit Programme. The Scheme is managed by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and is aimed at upgrading building stock and facilities to high standards of energy efficiency and renewable energy usage, thereby reducing fossil fuel usage, energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions.
The Communities Energy Grant supports cross-sectoral and community-oriented partnership approaches that deliver energy savings to a range of building types including public, commercial and community buildings as well as charitable organisations.
A budget of €43 million has been provided for the Community Energy Grant scheme in 2022. This represents a 43% increase on the 2021 funding allocation and is the largest ever budget for the Scheme.
