Written Answers Nos. 1854-1857
1854. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide an update on steps being undertaken by her Department to address connectivity issues on some sites with the WIFI4EU system. [18098/23]
View answerWiFi4EU is an initiative funded by the European Commission and co-funded in Ireland by my Department. The initiative aims to support the development of wireless broadband by providing a high-quality internet service, free of charge, in public spaces such as main streets, public parks, libraries, museums, and other public areas of high footfall.
Under the WiFi4EU scheme, local authorities applied through a competitive process to secure vouchers worth €15,000 each to install Wi-Fi hotspots within their municipalities.
Ireland’s local authorities could apply for up to 4 vouchers each throughout the lifetime of the initiative. Local authorities must install a minimum of 10 access points per voucher. Depending on the location chosen, one or more access point may be required in that location.
Our local authorities have secured 114 vouchers out of a maximum of 124 vouchers available, which makes Ireland one of the most successful countries to take part in the scheme. 30 of the 31 local authorities secured vouchers under the scheme.
My department provided co-funding of up to €15,000 for each voucher secured by the local authorities, effectively doubling the value of the investment.
To date, my department has provided total funding of €1,131,456 to support this initiative.
It is estimated that over 1,300 WiFi hotspots could be installed at locations across the country under the WiFi4EU initiative when completed.
To date, over 1,170 hotspots are ‘live’ across 27 local authority areas, and these services, including any connectivity issues, are managed directly by the relevant local authority.
1855. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department would consider applying the UNSDGs Acceleration Tool available from DECC to incorporate the Sustainable Development Goals into the National Action Plan on the Development of the Islands to help deliver meaningful actions and given the delays with its publication, as referenced in Parliamentary Question No. 68 of 23 February 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18126/23]
View answerMy Department’s statement of strategy includes a commitment to place the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the heart of our policies and align them with the SDG national implementation plan. In meeting this objective, my Department has given specific consideration to the SDGs in key policies.
The new National Islands Policy is in its final stages of preparation and will be published in the coming weeks. The SDGs will be mainstreamed into the Islands Policy, with each of its strategic objectives aligning with one or more of the SDGs. The use of UNSDGs Acceleration Tool is under consideration and has been discussed with the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications.
1856. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the Community Recognition Fund 2023 will be allocated to the successful groups. [18181/23]
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 (LCDC) 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.
1857. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of WTE forensic accountants and enforcement lawyers employed by the Charities Regulator in 2020, 2021, 2022 and to-date in 2023, in tabular form; and if this number will be further increased. [18248/23]
View answerThe Charities Regulatory Authority (the ‘Charities Regulator’) was established in October 2014 pursuant to the Charities Act 2009. The Authority is the State organisation responsible for registering and regulating all of Ireland’s charities, with the mandate to promote good governance practice.
My Department has been assigned responsibility for the Charities Regulator. It is important to note however, that the Regulator is fully independent in the performance of its statutory functions, including recruitment.
The specific grades of ‘forensic accountant’ and ‘enforcement lawyer’ respectively, are not applied within the Charities Regulator.
The Charities Regulator has an internal legal function consisting of two qualified solicitors and a qualified barrister, all three are full time staff members.
The Charities Regulator also currently employs two full time Accountant Grade 1 employees, and one full time Accountant Grade 2 employee respectively.
There are currently no plans to increase the number of specified grades in 2023.
