Written Answers Nos. 1839-1853
1839. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of staff within her Department who are based and working with the European Union in Brussels; their present roles and responsibilities; the posts and responsibilities presently vacant; the corresponding figures on 23 June 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16566/23]
View answerI can confirm that no staff within my Department are based and working with the institutions of the European Union in Brussels, and there are no vacancies in this regard.
The Department of Rural and Community Development was established on 19th July, 2017. Accordingly, no corresponding figures are available for 23 June 2016.
1840. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she intends on amending Section 81 part (3) of the Local Government Act 2001 in order to make the rules in relation to the local improvement scheme more relevant to the needs of modern rural Ireland, where a decreasing number of people are involved directly in farming; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16625/23]
View answerThe Local Improvement Scheme (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.
Our Rural Future also commits to supporting a vibrant, effective and sustainable agriculture sector, while the Department of Agriculture’s 2022 Agriculture Review and Outlook reports the presence of over 135,000 farms in Ireland.
The LIS was reintroduced by my Department in 2017 following a number of years with no dedicated funding. I am committed to improving connectivity for rural and island residents, whether it be access to homes, farms or outdoor amenities. Since 2017, almost €114 million has been allocated by DRCD to the scheme. Up to 2022 this has seen upgrade works on over 3,700 non-public roads and lanes benefiting over 16,000 landowners and residents in these rural areas.
The Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) is covered in legislation by the Local Government Act 2001, Section 81 part (3) provides that;
(3) A road authority may provide assistance by way of the carrying out of works, a financial contribution or otherwise towards the construction or improvement of a non-public road which—
(a) provides access to parcels of land of which at least 2 are owned or occupied by different persons, or
(b) provides access for harvesting purposes (including turf or seaweed) for 2 or more persons, or
(c) shall in the opinion of the road authority be used by the public
The legislation provides that the Scheme is subject to such other terms and conditions as the Minister may consider appropriate.
In this context, and given the need to best target available resources, the LIS Scheme Outline sets out the requirements of the scheme including a requirement in relation to two or more parcels being occupied by different persons engaged in separate agricultural activities. While my Department remains of the view that the current requirements underpin the efficient and effective use of resources, the terms and conditions of schemes are reviewed each year.
I am also pleased to confirm that funding for the Local Improvement Scheme has increased each year since 2021 with an allocation made of €20.5 million during 2021 and 2022 towards the scheme. I launched the 2023 scheme this February with an increase in the base funding to €12 million. I also announced an additional €0.55 million for improvement works on our offshore islands.
1841. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when grants under the Community Recognition Fund will be approved. [16847/23]
View answerIn January I launched the Community Recognition Fund which aims to support the development of community infrastructure and facilities in recognition of the contribution being made by communities across the country in welcoming and hosting significant numbers of arrivals from Ukraine and other countries.
The funding is specifically targeted at projects that are located in communities, towns and villages that are hosting the beneficiaries of Temporary Protection and/or International Protection applicants. The Fund aims to support the development of facilities that will be used in the future by all members of the community. It is separate in its objectives and scope to any other public funding streams which aim to support the development of public service needs arising from the significant number of arrivals from Ukraine.
The Fund is being administered at a local level by the relevant local authority. A funding proposal, comprising projects selected and prioritised locally, has been submitted to my Department by each local authority for final approval.
Proposals were required to be developed locally following direct engagement with impacted communities and consultation with the Municipal Districts, Local Community Development Committee, and the local Community Response Fora.
In most local authority areas, the level of funding sought far exceeded the available budget and each local authority had to prioritise projects based on need and gaps in local infrastructure. Proposals are now being assessed and I expect to announce successful projects in the coming weeks.
1842. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if the new round of Clár funding could be applied for by a school and a club (details supplied) jointly to develop a new car park and drop-off area that would take traffic off the local road and ensure better road safety in the local area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17126/23]
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. Under the CLÁR 2022 programme, funding of over €12 million was approved for almost 300 projects.
I launched the 2023 CLÁR programme in March of this year and the measures to be supported are:
• Developing Community Facilities and Amenities (Measure 1)
• Mobility, Cancer Care and Community First Responders Transport (Measure 2)
• ‘Our Islands’ (Measure 3)
School and community safety projects were previously eligible for support under CLÁR but since the launch of dedicated funding streams such as the Safe Routes to School Programme and the Active Travel Programme this is no longer the case.
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 with support from the Department of Education. The Active Travel Grants Programme, also managed by the National Transport Authority, funds important projects supporting strategic pedestrian and cyclist routes, and includes funding to enhance safe access to schools.
1843. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide her response to the recommendation in the University College Cork report: 'Housing and Sustaining Communities on the West Cork Islands', to "establish a gateway housing programme for the islands to attract newcomers, ensuring that plans are put in place to ensure the availability of housing for those wishing to remain on the island full-time at the end of the trial period". [17505/23]
View answer1844. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide her response to the recommendation in the University College Cork report: 'Housing and Sustaining Communities on the West Cork Islands', to "establish a multi-agency islands housing body in consultation with island residents to manage housing on the islands. Key to the success of such a body will be to ensure the meaningful and inclusive representation of all island residents". [17506/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1843 and 1844 together.
As the Deputy will be aware, my Department is currently finalising a new National Islands Policy. This policy will set out the Government's vision for supporting and sustaining our island communities.
Officials from my Department have engaged with the authors of the report referred to by the Deputy in order to discuss their findings and recommendations. The recommendations are now being considered by my Department in the context of the forthcoming National Islands Policy, in consultation with various stakeholders across Government Departments and State bodies, including the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and the relevant Local Authorities.
1845. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide an update on the proposed works for the Mell Greenway, Drogheda, following the further engagement from her Department offering an extension to 31 March 2023 to allow the local authority to progress the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17524/23]
View answerThe Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) provides funding for the development of new outdoor recreational infrastructure and for the maintenance and promotion of existing infrastructure.
In February 2020, Louth County Council was approved funding of €200,000 under ORIS to develop and enhance the Boyne Greenway. To date no funding has been drawn down on this project.
In September 2021, my Department approved a proposal by the Council to change the scope of the project, on the condition that a Project Implementation Plan would be submitted. A draft plan was submitted in January 2022 which indicated an expected completion project date of December 2022.
My officials have continued to engage with Louth County Council regarding the project. Unfortunately despite extensions previously granted by my Department, I understand as of the end of March 2023 Louth County Council had still not commenced work on the project. As a consequence, I regret that my Department was left with no alternative at this stage other than to decommit funding for the project.
I know the Deputy is a strong supporter of this project and I can assure him that my Department would be happy to receive a fresh application for consideration under a future ORIS funding round when Louth County Council have progressed the project to a shovel ready stage.
I believe it is incumbent on Local Authorities to utilise Government funding once it is allocated. In the case of this particular project over three years after the funding had been allocated, work had yet to even commence. The Deputy will appreciate this is unfair to other community groups in the country who could have used this funding during this time.
1846. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amounts in grant aid or funding awarded by her Department, or through schemes administered by it, to an organisation (details supplied) in each year from 2010 to 2022; and the projected funding for 2023. [17694/23]
View answerDetails regarding funding provided by my Department, since its establishment in July 2017, to the organisation referred to by the deputy are outlined below:
|
Year |
€ |
|
|
2017 |
€0 |
|
|
2018 |
€0 |
|
|
2019 |
€0 |
|
|
2020 |
€290,500 |
Provided through the COVID-19 Stability Fund for Community and Voluntary Organisations, Charities and Social Enterprises. |
|
€200,000 |
Provided through the LEADER Programme. The funding was approved by Kildare Local Action Group (LAG) for the development of a commercial kitchen. |
|
|
2021 |
€0 |
|
|
2022 |
€261,643.57 |
Provided through the Community Centre Investment Fund 2022 under Category 3, to fund the upgrade of windows and doors, and investment in energy efficiency and safety measures to a community building. |
|
2023 (to date) |
€0 |
All funding schemes operated by my Department are open to applications from eligible groups during the application timeframes set for each scheme or programme. Further information on all schemes and programmes can be found on my Department's website www.drcd.gov.ie.
1847. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of Departmental staff currently on sick or stress leave; and the number who took stress or sick leave in each of the past five years and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [17785/23]
View answerThere are currently 8 staff on sick leave with no staff having disclosed stress as the reason for absence. Employees are not obliged to state the nature of the illness on medical certificates or on the NSSO Human Resources Management System (HRMS) when self-reporting illness and absence.
The number of staff who availed of sick leave in each of the past five years and to date in 2023, is documented below in tabular form.
|
Year |
Number of staff who availed of sick leave including stress-related sick leave |
Number of staff who disclosed stress related sick leave |
|
2023 (to date) |
37 |
0 |
|
2022 |
96 |
0 |
|
2021 |
59 |
2 |
|
2020 |
59 |
1 |
|
2019 |
76 |
0 |
|
2018 |
66 |
2 |
Note: Figures supplied to my Department by the National Shared Services Office on 12.04.2023
1848. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of allegations of bullying made by departmental staff against departmental staff in each of the past five years, and to date in 2023, in tabular form; and if she will detail what actions are being taken by her Department to investigate the allegations, or if they are being investigated. [17803/23]
View answerThe Department of Rural and Community Development was established on 19th July 2017 to provide a renewed and consolidated focus on rural and community development in Ireland.
The Department is committed to protecting dignity and respect across the organisation. The key policy in place in this regard is the Dignity at Work Policy. This policy outlines the procedures in place and the steps which individuals may take if they believe that they have been bullied or harassed. All staff are made aware of the contents of this policy and the procedures to be followed as part of the induction process for new employees. This ensures that all members of staff are aware that all forms of bullying and harassment are unacceptable and that every staff member has a duty to behave in an acceptable and respectful manner.
In addition staff may be referred by the Department's HR Manager to the Civil and Public Service Mediation Service, as a means to resolve complaints of bullying and harassment, as appropriate, where local efforts to resolve complaints have been exhausted.
There have been nil bullying or harassment claims made since the formation of my Department.
1849. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of Departmental staff dismissed in each of the past ten years, and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [17821/23]
View answerThe Department of Rural and Community Development was established in July 2017.
Since the Department's establishment, I can confirm that there have been no employees dismissed.
1850. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the supports that her Department can provide for persons and or groups in the context of assisting persons with gambling addictions. [17829/23]
View answerGambling regulation and support measures to assist persons with gambling addictions is a matter for the Department of Justice.
While I understand that supports for that addiction are available, my Department does not have any specific funding supports in place to support individuals with gambling addictions.
1851. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide the resources necessary to secure extra dog wardens for Cork county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17928/23]
View answerIn late 2022, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine was tasked by the then Taoiseach, now Tánaiste Micheál Martin to lead a cross-government review of legislation regarding dogs. Minister McConalogue and I held a meeting in early January and we requested officials to convene a working group on the control of dogs’ issue. The terms of reference of the group are published on Gov.ie.
The working group examined issues related to dog control and made a number of recommendations for action. The report of the group has been published and is also available on Gov.ie. This Report recommends, inter alia, increasing the number of Dog Wardens nationally and this recommendation will now be progressed in the context of annual budgetary processes.
My officials will continue to work closely with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) to co-ordinate efforts in the area of dog control and related issues across government, and look forward to engaging with stakeholders as we progress this important work.
1852. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the next round of CLÁR funding will be open to applications. [18031/23]
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 depopulation 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 since its relaunch.
I launched CLÁR 2023 on 29 March 2023 and the measures to be funded are:
• Developing Community Facilities and Amenities (Measure 1)
• Mobility, Cancer Care and Community First Responders Transport (Measure 2)
• ‘Our Islands’ (Measure 3)
Details of the Programme are published on my Department's website.
1853. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the action she will take to ensure an organisation (details supplied) will engage in stakeholder consultation in relation to the recently published interim report of the Working Group on the Control of Dogs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18051/23]
View answerIn late 2022, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine was tasked by the then Taoiseach, now Tánaiste Micheál Martin to lead a cross-government review of legislation regarding dogs. Minister Mc Conalogue and I held a meeting on Monday 9th January and we requested officials to convene a working group on the control of dogs’ issue. The terms of reference of the group are published on Gov.ie.
The working group examined issues related to dog control and made a number of recommendations for action. The report of the group has been published and is also available on Gov.ie.
Recommendation 14 of the Report proposes the establishment of a stakeholders group on control of dogs issues. This group, to be convened by my Department, with representation from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, will provide a forum for stakeholder organisations to express their views on issues and possible solutions related to dog control issues.
I hope to be in a position to provide further information on the terms of reference and membership of this stakeholder group in the coming weeks. Any relevant organisation interested in engaging in this process should contact DogControl@drcd.gov.ie in the first instance.
While Control of Dogs legislation is under the remit of my Department, my officials continue to work closely with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) to co-ordinate efforts in the area of dog control and related issues across government, and look forward to engaging with stakeholders as we progress this important work.
