Written Answers Nos. 1899-1919
1899. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if Dublin City Council made an application under the town and village renewal scheme; and if so, if the council is eligible for same. [63428/22]
View answerThe Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS) is part of a range of measures to support the revitalisation of rural Ireland. The programme is funded under Project Ireland 2040 as part of Our Rural Future, the Government's Rural Development strategy for the period to 2025.
The focus of the Scheme is to provide support for projects located in rural towns and villages throughout rural Ireland with a population, in the main, of less than 10,000 people. The Town and Village Renewal Scheme does not cover urban villages located in Dublin city, and no application for funding was received from Dublin City Council.
1900. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if addiction services funded under section 39 can avail of the community and voluntary energy support scheme in order to receive financial support to assist with escalating fuel costs. [63531/22]
View answerNot-for-profit and voluntary organisations in the Community and Voluntary sector are woven into the fabric of community life across Ireland, but they are vulnerable to the impact of increased energy costs.
The budget announced on 27th September 2022 allocated €10m to my department to put in place a support scheme for community and voluntary organisations and charities to help with the additional energy costs incurred in 2022.
The Community and Voluntary Energy Support Scheme (CVESS), administered by Pobal on behalf of my Department, provides once-off supports to incorporated organisations and/or registered charities within the community and voluntary sector which fall outside the parameters of other energy support schemes being delivered by Government.
While applications for Phase One of the scheme closed on 2nd December, I can confirm that my department has streamlined the process for a further round of the scheme, which has been re-opened. Eligible organisations who missed the deadline for Phase One may apply under Phase Two, with the scheme remaining open until 20th January 2023.
Applications received under Phase One are being assessed in batches to support timely decision making and drawdowns of funds. I was pleased to announce the first tranche of successful applicants under Phase One in December, awarding over €250k to 180 organisations across the country. Payments have been issued directly into successful applicants' bank accounts, and a full list of recipients is available on Gov.ie.
The Department of Health through the HSE (Health Service Executive) will provide funding to organisations supported under Section 38 and 39 of the Health Act (2004) towards their additional energy costs, as well as not for profit nursing homes. If an organisation is funded by the HSE pursuant to Section 38 or Section 39 of the Health Act 2004, or run a not-for-profit nursing home, they are not currently eligible for the Community and Voluntary Energy Support Scheme (CVESS) and should apply under the relevant Department of Health scheme(s).
I can confirm that my Department are currently monitoring the situation in relation to Section 39 Community and Voluntary organisations, and are in discussions with the Department of Health to determine if additional support may be required.
My Department will continue to work with relevant stakeholders, including the community and voluntary sector, charities, local authorities and local development companies, to support community organisations across the country as they deal with the ongoing and emerging challenges. These Schemes are part of a range of supports introduced through Budget ’23 and everyone is encouraged to visit gov.ie/reduceyouruse to find out how they can make energy savings, where safe and possible to do so.
1901. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide a feedback mechanism to communities and groups who failed to obtain funding under the town and villages renewal scheme, to ensure that applicants can learn the reason that their applications were not successful; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63532/22]
View answerThe Town and Village Renewal Scheme is part of a range of measures to support the revitalisation of rural Ireland. The programme is funded under Project Ireland 2040 as part of Our Rural Future, Ireland's Rural Development strategy.
The Scheme is administered on behalf of my Department by the local authorities. Since the introduction of the Scheme in 2016, over €149 million has been approved for more than 1,600 projects across the country.
The 2022 Scheme placed particular emphasis on projects which support bringing vacant and derelict buildings and sites back into use as multi-purpose spaces. On 14 December 2022, I announced over €17 million for projects under the main 2022 Scheme which will benefit rural towns and villages the length and breadth of the country.
There was an extremely high level of interest in the main Scheme with 138 applications received to the value of €30.4m. Following assessment 75 projects were awarded funding of just over €17m.
As applications are submitted to my Department by local authorities my officials provide feedback in respect of unsuccessful applications directly to the local authorities. I would encourage the relevant communities and groups to engage directly with their local authority which submitted the application under the Scheme. It is open to local authorities to resubmit given projects under future calls for funding under the Scheme.
1902. Deputy Verona Murphy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide a report and-or feedback on the recent unsuccessful application by an organisation (details supplied) to the town and village renewal scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63651/22]
View answerThe Town and Village Renewal Scheme is part of a range of measures included in Our Rural Future to support the revitalisation of rural Ireland. The Scheme is administered on behalf of my Department by the local authorities. Since the introduction of the Scheme in 2016, over €149 million has been approved for more than 1,600 projects across the country.
On 14th December last, I announced over €17 million for projects under the 2022 Scheme which will benefit rural towns and villages the length and breadth of the country. The primary focus of the 2022 Scheme is to place particular emphasis on projects which support bringing vacant and derelict buildings and sites back into use as multi-purpose spaces.
Each year there are significant numbers of applications to the Town and Village Renewal Scheme which always exceed the level of funding available. The Cushinstown application, while scoring well, did not meet the minimum score for funding in 2022.
As the applications are submitted to my Department by the relevant local authority, feedback has been provided directly to Wexford County Council. It is open to the local authority to resubmit the project under future calls for funding under the Scheme.
1903. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will initiate a public consultation process regarding dog control regulations with all stakeholders to include organisations that maintain a register of dog owners and breeders, associations representing particular breeds (details supplied) and qualified dog trainers and behaviourists and vets; if she will examine the laws and regulations in other European countries with a view to establishing best practice in the regulation of dogs and how to apply the findings in Ireland; if the regulations governing the importation of dogs will also be examined with a view to updating the current regulations; if a public awareness campaign relative to the consultation will be undertaken to encourage persons to make a submission; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63761/22]
View answerThe Control of Dogs Acts 1986 to 2014, sets out a range of requirements for all dog owners or any other person in charge of a dog. The Control of Dogs Regulations 1998 set out further requirements that owners of specific breeds of dogs, including strains or crosses of those breeds, have to follow. Such dogs must be muzzled and led, on a sufficiently strong leash or chain not exceeding 2 metres in length, by a competent person over 16 years of age, when in a public place.
Concerns had been raised regarding the overall approach to the regulation of restricted breeds. Some stakeholders asserted that more breeds should be added to the list – especially given the newer breeds that have arrived in Ireland over the last number of years. Others believed that a different approach should be taken which would focus on the behavioural issues of individual dogs, rather than specific breeds and should move away from muzzling.
Following a review of this policy area, including a public consultation process to which over 1,000 responses were received and an examination of approaches in other jurisdictions, my Department published on gov.ie the report on ‘A Review of Measures relating to the Control of Dogs in Ireland’. A selection of the submissions received were also published alongside the report.
My Department is now identifying any necessary legislative amendments that may be required with a view to inclusion in the Government legislation programme.
Furthermore, last week, my officials and I met with the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue, T.D., to discuss how our departments can address shared concerns regarding dog control and ownership. We have agreed to establish a working group that will examine the various issues and consider all relevant legislative and enforcement issues in relation to dogs. This review will bring all the key players together to consider what action can be taken to keep both people and animals safe.
1905. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the reason that an application by a community organisation (details supplied) under the town and village renewal scheme was unsuccessful; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63797/22]
View answerThe Town and Village Renewal Scheme is part of a range of measures to support the revitalisation of rural Ireland. The programme is funded under Project Ireland 2040 as part of Our Rural Future. The Scheme is administered on behalf of my Department by the local authorities. Since the introduction of the Scheme in 2016, over €149 million has been approved for more than 1,600 projects across the country.
On 14th December last, I announced over €17 million for projects under the 2022 Scheme which will benefit rural towns and villages the length and breadth of the country. The primary focus of the 2022 Scheme is to place particular emphasis on projects bringing vacant and derelict buildings and sites back into use as multi-purpose spaces.
Each year there are significant numbers of applications to the Town and Village Renewal Scheme which always exceed the level of funding available. The application referred to by the Deputy, while scoring well, did not meet the minimum score for funding in 2022. As the applications are submitted to my Department by the relevant local authority, feedback has been provided directly to the relevant local authority. It is open to the local authority to resubmit the project under future calls for funding under the Scheme.
1906. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the stage 3 approval for the Stillorgan Library development will be given in view of the fact that the timeline for the development is dependent on the date of stage 3 approval to proceed to tender stage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63897/22]
View answerThe provision of library services, including the provision of library buildings, is primarily a matter for local authorities in their capacity as library authorities under the Local Government Act 2001.
My department is responsible for the Four Stage Capital Management Process which ensures public library projects comply with the Public Spending Code, Capital Works Management Framework and the Public Library Standards and Benchmarks. Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council submitted a Stage Three application under this process to my department on 27 July 2022 for the proposed development of Stillorgan Library and my department issued Stage Three approval to the County Council on 28 October 2022.
I understand that Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council have now published a request for tenders for the overall project, including the construction of Stillorgan Library.
My department looks forward to receiving a Stage Four application from Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council in advance of a contract being awarded for the construction of Stillorgan Library.
1907. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of approved applications on local improvement scheme waiting lists, by county, separating ordinary-private roads from community roads, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63917/22]
View answerThe Local Improvement Scheme, or LIS, supports the improvement of rural roads and laneways that are not normally maintained by local authorities. As part of Our Rural Future, the Government is committed to ensuring that the LIS is funded into the future.
The Scheme was reintroduced by my Department in 2017 following a number of years with no dedicated funding. I am committed to improving connectivity for rural residents, whether it be access to homes, farms or outdoor amenities. From 2017 to 2022, my Department has allocated over €100 million towards improvement works on over 3,700 non-public roads and lanes benefiting over 16,000 landowners and residents in these rural areas.
I launched the 2022 scheme with an initial budget of €11 million. Over the course of the year additional funding of a further €11 million was sourced from savings within my Department which brought the total for 2022 to some €22m.
I was pleased, as part of Budget 2023, to announce an increase in the base funding for LIS to €12 million.
The selection and prioritisation of eligible roads for approval is a matter for each relevant local authority to determine in line with parameters set out in the LIS Scheme Outline. The table below sets out the number of applications held by the relevant local authorities. Further detail as to whether an individual application supports access to community amenities is not held by my Department.
|
County |
Applications on hand |
|
Carlow |
48 |
|
Cavan |
199 |
|
Clare |
169 |
|
Cork |
153 |
|
Donegal |
1,453 |
|
Galway |
138 |
|
Kerry |
676 |
|
Kildare |
1 |
|
Kilkenny |
28 |
|
Laois |
43 |
|
Leitrim |
20 |
|
Limerick |
16 |
|
Longford |
37 |
|
Louth* |
10 |
|
Mayo |
157 |
|
Meath |
14 |
|
Monaghan |
79 |
|
Offaly |
42 |
|
Roscommon |
11 |
|
Sligo |
18 |
|
Tipperary |
58 |
|
Waterford |
42 |
|
Westmeath |
2 |
|
Wexford |
117 |
|
Wicklow |
28 |
|
TOTAL |
3,559 |
It is important to note that the number of applications on hand as outlined above can be recorded differently across local authorities. For example, some local authorities base figures on open ended application periods while others do not, and some local authorities retain applications for periods which can date back to as far as 2008 while others do not.
In addition, it should also be noted that figures for applications on hand do not infer that those applications can be delivered in a given time period. For example, as part of my Department's ongoing engagement with local authorities on this matter they have indicated that the maximum total of roads that could be delivered this year would be some 850 due to factors such as availability of contractors etc.
As set out in Our Rural Future, I am committed to ensuring the ongoing funding of this important scheme and I continue to seek the support of my colleague, the Minister for Transport, in order to fund the scheme into the future.
1908. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of local improvement scheme applications completed in each county in each of the years from 2016 to 2022, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63918/22]
View answerThe Local Improvement Scheme, or LIS, supports the improvement of rural roads and laneways that are not normally maintained by local authorities. As part of Our Rural Future, the Government is committed to ensuring that the LIS is funded into the future.
The Scheme was reintroduced by my Department in 2017 following a number of years with no dedicated funding. I am committed to improving connectivity for rural residents – whether it be access to homes, farms or outdoor amenities. From 2017 to 2022, my Department has allocated over €100 million towards improvement works on over 3,700 non-public roads and lanes benefiting over 16,000 landowners and residents in these rural areas.
I launched the 2022 scheme with an initial budget of €11 million. Over the course of the year additional funding was sourced from savings within my Department and I doubled the funding allocated to €22 million. I was pleased, as part of Budget 2023, to announce an increase in the base funding for LIS to €12 million.
I intend to continue to seek the support of my colleague, the Minister for Transport, in order to fund the strong demand which exists for the scheme in rural Ireland.
The table below sets out the details on a county basis since 2017 as the Scheme did not operate in 2016.
LIS Roads completed (2017 to 2022)
|
County |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
Total |
|
Carlow |
20 |
28 |
14 |
15 |
25 |
37 |
139 |
|
Cavan |
10 |
12 |
4 |
4 |
22 |
25 |
77 |
|
Clare |
28 |
30 |
12 |
12 |
20 |
25 |
127 |
|
Cork |
34 |
62 |
20 |
19 |
29 |
22 |
186 |
|
Donegal |
164 |
107 |
35 |
35 |
67 |
68 |
476 |
|
Galway |
57 |
69 |
36 |
30 |
49 |
50 |
291 |
|
Kerry |
41 |
61 |
21 |
9 |
18 |
23 |
173 |
|
Kildare |
0 |
12 |
8 |
4 |
8 |
11 |
43 |
|
Kilkenny |
16 |
16 |
9 |
7 |
19 |
11 |
78 |
|
Laois |
21 |
15 |
7 |
7 |
13 |
23 |
86 |
|
Leitrim |
20 |
24 |
11 |
9 |
17 |
31 |
112 |
|
Limerick |
18 |
22 |
13 |
8 |
42 |
27 |
130 |
|
Longford |
18 |
25 |
15 |
8 |
14 |
18 |
98 |
|
Louth |
8 |
6 |
6 |
10 |
10 |
12 |
52 |
|
Mayo |
89 |
144 |
74 |
53 |
91 |
31 |
482 |
|
Meath |
22 |
21 |
12 |
5 |
17 |
9 |
86 |
|
Monaghan |
21 |
28 |
14 |
12 |
26 |
14 |
115 |
|
Offaly |
23 |
31 |
16 |
14 |
29 |
32 |
145 |
|
Roscommon |
41 |
91 |
21 |
27 |
30 |
24 |
234 |
|
Sligo |
16 |
22 |
7 |
6 |
15 |
18 |
84 |
|
Tipperary |
10 |
32 |
21 |
20 |
25 |
35 |
143 |
|
Waterford |
17 |
20 |
3 |
5 |
14 |
11 |
70 |
|
Westmeath |
23 |
22 |
12 |
12 |
24 |
20 |
113 |
|
Wexford |
18 |
17 |
11 |
13 |
22 |
23 |
104 |
|
Wicklow |
7 |
15 |
10 |
6 |
14 |
8 |
60 |
|
Total |
742 |
932 |
412 |
350 |
660 |
608 |
3,704 |
1909. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she intends to include a measure under this year's CLÁR programme for improvements to parking, turning and other facilities on primary school grounds where the 80 km speed limit applies to ensure the safety of pupils, staff and parents, given that there are still schools in CLÁR areas that require such improvements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1002/23]
View answerThe CLÁR programme provides funding under a number of different measures for small-scale infrastructural projects in designated rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population over a defined period.
Since the CLÁR programme was relaunched in 2016, it has supported a wide range of measures. Funding of over €57 million has been approved for almost 2,100 projects. This included almost €22 million for safety related measures at schools/community facilities.
Under the CLÁR 2022 programme, funding of over €12 million was approved for almost 300 projects. The measures funded were:
- Developing Community Facilities and Amenities (Measure 1)
- Mobility, Cancer Care and Community First Responders Transport (Measure 2)
- ‘Our Islands’ (Measure 3)
The Measures to be included in the CLÁR programme are reviewed each year and will be reviewed again in advance of the next launch of the programme.
Safety measures at schools remains a priority for Government. It should be noted that the Safe Routes to School Programme (SRSP) aims to create safer walking and cycling routes within communities, alleviate congestion at the school gates and increase the number of students who walk or cycle to school by providing improvements to walking and cycling facilities. It is funded by my colleague, the Minister for Transport through the National Transport Authority and supported by the Department of Education.
€15m was allocated to support projects at 170 schools in the initial round of SRSP funding, announced in June 2021. A further €20m was announced in the second round of funding, announced in December 2022. This will support a further 108 schools, benefitting some 37,000 school children.
1910. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount of carryover of the 2022 capital allocation agreed between her Department and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform from 2022 into 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1360/23]
View answerThe Revised Estimates for 2023, which were published in December 2022, provide a gross estimate of €399 million for this Department, of which €198 million is current and €201 million is capital. The Revised Estimate also details that €14.5 million in unspent capital will be carried forward from 2022 for use in 2023, with €10.5 million allocated for use within A.7 Rural Regeneration and Development, and €4 million allocation for use within B.11 Community Enhancement Programme. The former will help meet demand under the three relevant schemes, Rural Regeneration and Development, Town and Village Renewal, and the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme. The latter will supplement funding for the Community Centre Investment Fund which recently announced substantial approvals for funding across the country. The use of capital carry forward has helped ensure all capital resources provided to the Department in 2022 are being put to use to support rural development and our communities.
1911. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount of the original capital allocation to her Department in 2022 that was transferred to current expenditure in 2023 by way of supplementary estimate; the reason for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1361/23]
View answerThe Department was provided with a supplementary estimate in November 2022, the main purpose of which was a substantive supplementary estimate of €10 million in current funding to facilitate the Community and Voluntary Sector Energy Support Scheme. This funding was additional non-core funding for the Department in 2022. The supplementary estimate also provided €150,000 in additional payroll funding due to the Building Momentum agreement.
The supplementary estimate also provided for two technical supplementary estimates. The first moved €4 million in capital funding to A.5 LEADER from A.7 Rural Regeneration and Development to meet additional demand under the LEADER programme from savings in A.7. The second moved €1.9 million from current to capital under the Dublin North East Inner City Initiative to account for the types of projects approved under that scheme in 2022.
The supplementary estimate did not provide for any 2022 capital funding to be transferred for current expenditure in 2023. However, provisional virement sanction was provided by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for use of up to €10.5 million in capital to fund current expenditure for Ukrainian supports for use in 2022, of which approximately €7.5 million was utilised.
1912. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the underspend of the capital allocation to her Department in 2022, including transfers to current expenditure and deferral of the allocation to 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1362/23]
View answerFollowing a supplementary estimate in November 2022 the gross allocation for the Department of Rural and Community Development in 2022 was €388.7 million, of which €194.8 million was current funding and €193.9 million was capital funding.
While a draft Appropriation Account is in preparation for submission to the Comptroller and Auditor General in March 2023, the provisional out-turn for the Department is estimated at €372.3 million, of which €202.3 million was current and €170 million was capital expenditure. In addition, €14.5 million in capital funding is being carried forward from 2022 for use in 2023. Therefore, the total combined gross spend and capital carry forward stood at €386.8 million, giving a gross saving of around €2 million, or 0.5% of the Department's budget. Around half of these savings related to administration and payroll savings.
The current spend of €202.3 million was around €7.5 million above the provision, with provisional virement sanction from capital to current in place for up to €10.5 million for costs relating to supports for the Ukraine response. The capital spend of €170 million along with the capital carry forward to 2023 amounts to €184.5 million in 2022. The aforementioned €7.5 million towards current Ukraine supports means that total capital resources of €192 million are accounted for through capital spend, capital carry forward, and current Ukraine supports. In addition to that spend, a capital carry forward of €16.86 million from 2021 to 2022 was fully utilised in 2022.
I would again note that these figures are provisional, with a draft Appropriation Account not due for submission until late March 2023. It should also be noted that the final movements of funds from capital to current remain subject to full sanction by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in early 2023, in line with public financial guidance.
The use of available resources across our programmes and schemes in 2022 represents an excellent outcome, which was made possible through proactive management of capital funding in particular. A strong pipeline of approved capital projects is in place which will ensure continued strong spend in 2023.
1913. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the grants or funding that were awarded by her Department or through schemes administered by her Department to an association (details supplied) in each of the years 2016 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1433/23]
View answer1914. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department has engaged with an association (details supplied) in relation to governance concerns raised by present and former members of its board and by many among its membership; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1434/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1913 and 1914 together.
Details regarding funding supplied to groups which form part of the association referred to by the deputy are set out in the table below. This funding was provided through the Community Enhancement Programme (CEP). This funding is administered locally by the Local Community Development Committees (LCDC) in each Local Authority area.
Details of the funding provided since 2018 (the first full year of the Department's operations under the CEP) to groups which form part of the association referred to by the Deputy include:
|
Programme Year |
Number of groups funded |
Total Funding |
|
2018 |
9 |
€7,225 |
|
2019 |
9 |
€7,611 |
|
2020 |
17 |
€19,552 |
|
2021 |
16 |
€17,265.90 |
|
Totals |
51 |
€51,653.90 |
In my role as Minister for Rural and Community Development I have no statutory function in relation to the governance of the association referred to by the Deputy. I have not engaged with the association in relation to any governance matters. The association is responsible for managing its own corporate affairs in compliance with statutory obligations.
1915. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the specific delegated functions that have been transferred to Ministers of State appointed in December 2022, in tabular form; and the date of transfer. [1476/23]
View answerI look forward to continuing to work closely with Minister of State Joe O'Brien to progress the broad remit of the Department of Rural and Community Development. The formal arrangements for the delegation of specific functions to Minister of State O’Brien are currently being put in place and will be completed over the coming weeks. These functions are in line with the functions he has undertaken previously with regard to community development and charities.
1916. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the name of the company, organisation or persons contracted to provide media training to her from 1 January 2021 to date; the costs incurred; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1513/23]
View answerNo such training has been organised for me by my Department.
1917. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when further information will be released regarding the 2023 community centres investment fund; if a timeline has been finalised for the fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1521/23]
View answerThe Government is aware of the challenges facing community and voluntary organisations and I was delighted to secure €20 million in funding under Budget 2023 to continue the Community Centres Investment Fund.
This builds on the €15 million which was announced under the fund in 2022. The huge interest in this fund shows how important community centres are for communities throughout Ireland. This Government is committed to providing funding to improve and upgrade these centres which will allow them to continue to provide services for communities to come together.
It is intended that the 2023 fund will be targeted primarily at new build community centres. The details of this scheme are currently being developed by officials within my Department and I hope to announce further details in quarter 1 of 2023.
1918. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if an application for funding by a community centre (details supplied) will be examined; and if the centre is entitled to any additional grant aid given the extenuating circumstances in this case. [1624/23]
View answerThe group the Deputy refers to was successfully awarded funding under Category 2 of the Community Centres Investment Fund. There was a huge volume of applications received and at this time, there is no additional funding available for any of the successful groups.
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. I would advise the group to complete the procurement process and evaluate the quotations received.
An information/help session is due to take place for successful Category 2 and 3 applicants at the end of the month and the group in question will have received notification on how to register for this session. I would advise them to attend the session which will provide information about the procurement and financial elements of projects.
1919. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will increase the amount of funding available to local authorities for the streetscapes and shop fronts scheme to meet the demand the application process has identified and ensure all eligible businesses receive funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1688/23]
View answerThe Town and Village Renewal Scheme is part of a range of measures to support the revitalisation of rural Ireland. The Scheme is funded under Project Ireland 2040 as part of Our Rural Future and is administered on behalf of my Department by the local authorities.
The Streetscape Enhancement Measure is an element of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and is providing grants to retailers and property owners in order to improve the facades of their buildings, carry out artwork or install features such as street furniture or canopies. The overall purpose of the Measure is to give our towns and villages a facelift and make them more attractive places to live, work or visit.
In August 2022, I announced the 26 towns and villages that will benefit from a €2.6 million fund to support the enhancement of streetscapes and shopfronts. The selected towns and villages are receiving funding of up to €100,000. The list of approved projects is available on my Department's website.
The Measures and funding provisions to be included in the Town and Village Renewal Scheme are reviewed each year and will be reviewed again in advance of the next launch of the Scheme.
