John Lahart
Question:86. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the additional supports that have been provided to the voluntary and community sector over the past two years. [45103/22]
View answerRural Schemes
Questions (86)
Written answers
My Department continuously engages with the community and voluntary sector including through the Cross Sectoral Group (CSG) and in implementing ‘Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities’, the five-year strategy to support the C&V sector.
My Department also delivers a wide range of supports to eligible community and voluntary organisations throughout the country.
These supports include, amongst others, the Community Centres Investment Fund, Community Services Programme Community & Voluntary Supports programme, Community Activities Fund, Community Enhancement Programme, and the Scheme to Support National Organisations.
Community organisations who are social enterprises can also apply for funding under the Dormant Accounts Fund Social Enterprise Measure. €2.3m in funding was allocated in 2020 and 2021.
In June, the Empowering Communities Programme was announced comprising €2m funding for a Community Engagement Worker in 14 small areas around the country which are experiencing significant disadvantage. This initiative is informed by the Community Development Pilot Programme, which I launched in 2021, to pilot community development initiatives that address poverty, social exclusion and inequality, and promote human rights.
The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), is our country’s primary social inclusion programme. The current iteration runs from 2018 until the end of 2023. Increases in the annual allocations have been achieved over the last couple of years and I was delighted to secure a 10% increase for 2022, the largest increase since the programme began. Over €250 million funding is allocated for the current programming period.
€5.5m funding is available in 2022 to support 29 Volunteer Centres, national organisations such as Volunteer Ireland and to support the implementation of the National Volunteering Strategy. This funding enables Volunteer Centres in each county to play a central role in facilitating and supporting the development of volunteering in their areas.
Targeted supports are provided my Department based on emerging needs of communities. In 2020, €4.2 million was provided under the COVID-19 Emergency Fund which targeted help at groups participating in the Government’s “Community Call” initiative. Through the COVID-19 Stability Fund Stability Fund my Department supported a total of 863 organisations delivering critical services to vulnerable people in 2020 and 2021 with total funding of €48.8 million.
And in June I announced an additional €10.5 million funding under the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme to support people arriving from Ukraine.
I am confident the supports provided by my Department will continue to support and enable the community and voluntary sector to continue to provide valuable much needed services communities throughout the country.
Questions Nos. 87 to 91, inclusive, answered orally.
Rural Schemes
Questions (92)
Claire Kerrane
Question:92. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide an update on the development of a rural-proofing mechanism, as outlined in Our Rural Future: Rural Development Policy 2021-2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44712/22]
View answerWritten answers
Our Rural Future is the most ambitious and transformational policy for rural development in Ireland for decades. The policy contains more than 150 measures for delivery across the whole of Government, with the underlying theme of economic, environmental and societal sustainability.
The policy commits to developing an effective rural proofing model within the lifetime of the policy. This will aim to ensure that all departments fully consider the effects of new proposals on rural communities and the need to better target the particular challenges and opportunities facing rural areas.
Following a competitive tender process, my Department engaged independent consultants to fully examine the issue of rural proofing in Ireland in order to provide a strong evidence basis for further action. Their work included consideration of rural proofing initiatives internationally so as to inform our approach based on the experiences of others. The consultants have provided their final report to my officials in my Department and it is now undergoing detailed consideration. I hope to receive the report shortly.
In addition, as DRCD will be hosting the 13th OECD International Rural Development Conference at the end of September, in collaboration with our OECD partners, we have designed in a session focussed on rural proofing of services such as healthcare provision in rural areas. This session will be facilitated by the OECD and the World Health Organisation, and will be held in plenary format with more than 400 people from right across the OECD area expected to attend. This presents an unparalleled opportunity to further enhance our understanding of international good practice regarding rural proofing. We will shape our planned next steps based on all of these elements.
My overarching objective is to ensure that we can deliver an effective, efficient and implementable rural proofing model that will support rural development and ensure that we maximise the opportunities for rural areas to the greatest extent possible.
Offshore Islands
Questions (93)
Holly Cairns
Question:93. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the Islands’ Action Plan. [44965/22]
View answer
Awaiting reply from the Department.
Rural Schemes
Questions (94)
Joe Carey
Question:94. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if consideration will be given to expanding the successfully introduced town centre first plans scheme, enabling towns and villages to map out their future development; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45183/22]
View answerWritten answers
The Town Centre First Policy is a major cross-government policy that aims to tackle vacancy, combat dereliction and breathe new life into our town centres, making them a better place to live, work and visit. The policy is an important deliverable under Our Rural Future, the Government's Rural Development Policy for the period to 2025.
A key step in delivering the Town Centre First Policy is the establishment of the National Implementation Office to ensure the delivery and implementation of the policy. The office is responsible for supporting Town Regeneration Officers in driving implementation of the policy and will also produce an Annual Implementation Plan that monitors progress and delivery. They will also be responsible for making sure that the initial 26 Town Centre First masterplans are delivered in a consistent manner ensuring best practice.
In addition to ensuring the first 26 Town Centre First plans are completed by June 2023, the Town Recreation Officers will also be responsible for identifying the next tranche of towns to develop Town Centre First masterplans. I would expect this next set of masterplans to be progressed in 2023.
Local authorities have begun appointing these Town Recreation Officers who will drive the development of Town Centre First Plans at local level across the country. The first of these officers have already taken up their roles, and it is expected that all Town Recreation Officers will be in place in the coming months.
I am committed to ensuring that the continued roll out of the Town Centre First policy will work to deliver on the goal of revitalising rural towns and villages as set out in Our Rural Future.
Rural Schemes
Questions (95)
Marian Harkin
Question:95. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she intends to review the local action group structure in the LEADER Programme; and if so, the criteria that she proposes to use for same. [45173/22]
View answerWritten answers
The new CAP Strategic Plan, which includes the LEADER programme, was recently approved by the EU Commission.
The details of the delivery model for the new LEADER programme are based on extensive consultation with stakeholders in relation to all aspects of the programme including the LAG structure.
The process of selecting a LEADER group for the new programme will be open, transparent and competitive. Central to the formation of the Group will be a clear partnership approach, with public and private interest groups coming together to deliver the programme.
Groups who wish to apply to implement LEADER will also be required to clearly demonstrate strategic direction and coherence with existing EU, regional and national rural development policies such as Local Economic and Community Plans, as well as demonstrating their connection to communities and the bottom up approach, and the financial capacity to deliver the programme to a high governance standard.
The open selection process for this round of LEADER does not prescribe a delivery model and it is open to any group to apply to become a LEADER group once they can satisfy the core elements of the selection process.
The new LEADER programme will also continue to align LEADER sub regional areas to county boundaries. However, important flexibility will be provided to eligible groups that wish to submit a Local Development Strategy that covers all or part of the sub-regional area or that would cover part of multiple sub-regional areas.
This overall approach has been developed to ensure both coherence with the principles of the LEADER model and conformity with the relevant EU regulations.
I expect to be in a position to announce the commencement of a two stage selection process for the new LEADER programme in the coming weeks, and I look forward to continuing to work closely with stakeholder to ensure we can build on the success of the LEADER programme over the last 30 years.
Sports Funding
Questions (96)
Neale Richmond
Question:96. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the supports that she is providing to sports clubs and community groups throughout the country to support their work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44789/22]
View answerWritten answers
The funding of sports clubs in the first instance is a matter for the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.
Through the Dormant Account Fund, which my Department manages across government departments, €12 million has been provided to the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media in 2022 for various sporting measures.
My Department's mission is to support vibrant and sustainable communities across this country, and in doing so to deliver on a wide range of strategic interventions, funding programmes and policies to support urban and rural communities including sports clubs, youth groups and voluntary and community groups.
These supports include, amongst others, the Community Centres Investment Fund, the Community Services Programme, Community & Voluntary Supports programme, Community Activities Fund, Community Enhancement Programme, Empowering Communities Fund and the Scheme to Support National Organisations.
Just this week I announced funding of over €2.75 million for 74 community projects nationwide. This funding, under the CLÁR Programme, will provide sports clubs, schools and community groups with grants of up to €50,000 to develop a range of projects that will benefit people of all ages. The successful projects include astroturf pitches, community gyms, playgrounds, basketball and tennis courts, outdoor pool tables, outdoor cinemas, walkways, public toilets and car park facilities.
All my Department’s policies are underpinned by extensive consultation with a wide range of stakeholders including rural and urban stakeholder groups, community groups, young people, Government Departments and State Agencies. This engagement process provides important insights into issues impacting on rural and urban communities, and in identifying areas for response relevant to the work of my Department.
Flexible Work Practices
Questions (97)
Claire Kerrane
Question:97. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the recent engagement that she has had with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment regarding remote working legislation; the way that this will support rural workers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44715/22]
View answerWritten answers
Our Rural Future clearly recognises the transformative role that remote working can have on rural communities. In the context of quality of life indicators, carbon reduction and sustainable regional economies, remote working has much to offer.
The National Hub Network interdepartmental group, chaired by the Secretary General of my Department, was established in 2020. The working group includes representation from key government departments and public bodies, including the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment.
On foot of that group’s co-operation, a nationwide network of 281 hubs is now established, supported by the online platform ConnectedHubs.ie. I am confident that the network will exceed its target of 400 hubs by 2025.
The Right to Request Remote Working Bill is one part of a broader Government strategy to make remote working a permanent feature of Ireland’s workforce.
Through the proposed legislation there will be, for the first time, a legal framework for requesting remote work. It will also provide clarity to employers on their obligations for dealing with such requests.
I undestand that it is intended to publish the the Bill itself later this year.
The Right to Request Remote Working Bill is one of several measures the Government has introduced to incentivise remote working. Others include the right to disconnect and substantial investment in remote working hubs across the country.
The use of remote working hubs can have a transformative impact on rural economies and communities and can facilitate a more equal geographical distribution of high value knowledge economy roles. The presence of remote working hubs with high-speed broadband will facilitate many to work locally and result in increased regional employment.
I and my colleagues in Government remain committed to ensuring that remote working can continue to deliver real benefits for people all across the country, as envisaged in Our Rural Future.
Rural Schemes
Questions (98, 141)
Seán Canney
Question:98. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will increase the amount of funding available for the 2022 allocation under the rural regeneration development fund; if she will provide additional funding to projects that have already received a grant allocation due to the unprecedented increase in construction costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44766/22]
View answerSeán Canney
Question:141. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will advance the necessary additional funding to bridge the gap between existing grants allocated through the Rural Regeneration Fund and the actual cost which is far higher due to the exceptional increase in the cost of construction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29033/22]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 98 and 141 together.
The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund has to date approved funding of €279 million for 191 projects nationwide costing over €379 million.
Projects which emerge as successful from calls for applications to the Fund are initially approved for funding in principle and then progress through a further comprehensive approval process before final confirmation of funding is provided by my Department. At each stage of this approval process, the project is reviewed by my Department to ensure it continues to meet its stated objectives, including financial sustainability. This review includes an assessment by an independent quantity surveyor to ensure all costs and contingencies have been included by the lead party for the project.
In line with best practice project management, all applicants to the Fund are asked to put in place a contingency budget at a level appropriate for the type of project being undertaken.
While I recognise the challenges currently faced by capital projects in terms of rising construction costs, a carefully calculated contingency budget will meet many of these challenges. Notwithstanding this, it is open to project lead parties to make a case to the Department for additional funding if the cost of an approved project significantly increases once the procurement process has been completed and the final cost of the project is confirmed. Any such case must be supported by a detailed justification from the lead party setting out the reasons for the increased cost, detailing exactly where the additional costs arose. As the project would have been approved based upon the original budget, a full value for money review with an updated business plan must be provided by the lead party before any additional funding could be considered.
Support is also available in relation to the significant ongoing effects of construction inflation, including through the recent Inflation Co-Operation Framework announced by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, and my Department is in close contact with lead parties in order to manage issues arising in that regard.
Rural Schemes
Questions (99)
Alan Dillon
Question:99. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the community centre investment fund will be announced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45180/22]
View answerWritten answers
The Community Centres Investment Fund was launched in April and the application closing date was Thursday 14th July 2022. The appraisal process is currently ongoing and all applications will be subject to a competitive assessment process based on the assessment criteria as set out in the fund guidelines.
Due to the high level of applications to the fund, it is expected to be quarter 4 of 2022 when applicants are notified of the outcome of the application and appraisal process.
Broadband Infrastructure
Questions (100)
Colm Burke
Question:100. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of broadband connection points that are now operational in Cork; the usage statistics for the broadband connection points if these are available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45000/22]
View answerWritten answers
The roll out of the Broadband Connection Point (BCP) network is progressing well. My Department continues to work closely with Local Authority Broadband Officers, colleagues at the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, and the two commercial partners, National Broadband Ireland and Vodafone, to complete each connection.
There are currently 282 Public BCPs live across the State. There are BCPs live in every county and in some of the most rural and isolated areas, including a number of our off-shore islands.
At present, there are 24 Public BCPs live in Cork County with one more site due for completion in the coming weeks. There are no BCPs live or currently planned within the Cork City Council area.
The usage of the live sites continues to grow from month to month. User numbers are gathered from the WiFi access points, which means that a guest is only counted if they are connected through a WiFi connection. At a number of Public BCPs, wired devices such as desktop PCs, smart screens and whiteboards, printers and scanners are facilitated. When these devices are used they are not captured as guest user sessions.
Across the whole network nationally I can confirm that the amount of monthly new and returning guests using BCP WiFi has grown from around 5,200 in January of this year to over 9,500 in August. Just over 27 terabytes of upload data and 74 terabytes of download data was used in January, which has grown to almost 123 terabytes of upload data and 177 terabytes of download data in August.
In Cork specifically in August 2022 there were 265 users of BCP WiFi, 2,020 gigabytes of data downloaded and 1,230 gigabytes uploaded. It should be noted that Cork County has some particularly well-developed public BCPs that allow access to wired devices, not least those with a focus on education and local enterprise. When the Cork County BCP Network is complete, it will be the largest in Ireland.