Holly Cairns
Question:72. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the step she is taking to support and promote employment and remote working on offshore islands. [28363/23]
View answerIsland Communities
Questions (72)
Written answers
Diversifying island economies is one of the five high-level Strategic Objectives set out in Our Living Islands - the Government's ambitious new 10 year national policy for the islands - which I published last week. Connectivity is vital for islands and the delivery of high speed broadband and supporting remote working infrastructure are key to delivering this.
Our Living Islands aligns with the Government's ambition to transform digital connectivity for rural communities and enterprises, as first set out in Our Rural Future, which I published two years ago.
I also published a three-year Action Plan last week to support the implementation of the islands policy. Among the key actions to be delivered under the Action Plan is the delivery of high-speed broadband to island-based schools, digital hubs and Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) to ensure a reliable connection to the internet for both education and remote working. Supports will also be provided to Remote Working Facilities on islands so that people can live and work within their own community.
There are currently 8 offshore islands with operational Broadband Connection Points. These BCPs are provided with a wireless temporary high-speed broadband connection for public use and are intended to be long-term, digitally-enabled community assets that allow for onsite internet use by the public.
When launching Our Living Islands on Árainn Mhór last week, I visited the islands digital hub, which was the first hub on an offshore island. I saw first hand the real difference it is making in enabling people to move to the island while continuing to work for their existing employer.
Questions Nos. 73 and 74 answered orally.
Island Communities
Questions (75)
Catherine Connolly
Question:75. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 659 of 25 April 2023, for an update on the development of Caladh Mór on Inis Meáin; the expected timeline for her Department to receive the updated draft business case and strategic assessment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27789/23]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy is aware, Galway County Council is the responsible authority for the maintenance and development of pier infrastructure on the Aran Islands, including Inis Meáin.
A steering committee consisting of representatives from my Department and Galway County Council meets regularly to monitor progress on the development of the piers on the Aran Islands including phase three of the Caladh Mór Pier. The most recent meeting was held two weeks ago.
As the Deputy is aware, the Public Spending Code sets out a number of important steps and decision gates in relation to projects such as this. In line with the Code, Galway County Council is currently preparing an updated draft business case and strategic assessment. This will be based on the findings and data obtained from the model simulation carried out by the National Maritime College of Ireland, along with consideration of the various options.
My understanding is that the main issue of concern relates to the narrow entrance to the pier that makes it difficult for vessels to enter the harbour safely during certain weather conditions.
Once Galway County Council has completed the strategic assessment and the updated draft business case, it will be submitted to my Department for review in line with the Public Spending Code.
As the Deputy will appreciate, it is not possible for me or my Department to predict when these documents will be received from Galway County Council, but I can assure the Deputy that my Department will continue to engage with the local authority to ensure the project is progressed as quickly as possible.
Regional Development
Questions (76)
Rose Conway-Walsh
Question:76. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development to outline any plans to strengthen the role of the Western Development Commission in order to drive investment in the West; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28360/23]
View answerWritten answers
Our Rural Future clearly recognises the economic potential of our rural regions, towns and villages and prioritises the objective of achieving balanced regional and rural development.
Within this context, the Western Development Commission (the WDC), aims to foster and promote economic and social development in the Western Region. Operating under the ageis of my Department, the WDC implements a range of innovative and targeted initiatives which help to deliver on their remit.
For example, a particularly notable achievement of the WDC is the delivery of the Western Investment Fund. This Fund was established two decades ago to invest public funds in businesses based in the West of Ireland. Over the years, this unique fund has yielded impressive results, generating a return of nearly two-and-a-half times its original value. This success has injected €3.3 billion into Ireland's economy, and in the past year alone the Fund has disbursed over €10m across a wide range of investments in the region.
The WDC has also been central in rolling out and developing the national hub network, ConnectedHubs.ie. This important initiative will see the establishment of a network of 400 remote working hubs, helping to bring jobs, investment and many social benefits to rural communities, including in the West.
Married to such initiatives, the global promotion of the Western region is another key focus for the WDC. For example, the Deputy may have seen the very successful TV series, Moving West, which is one of a range of initiatives aimed at highlighting the benefits of living, moving to and working in the West.
Outside of this valuable work of the WDC, I remain committed to supporting the development of and investment in the Western region, and Our Rural Future contains a range of actions and initiatives in this regard.
I will continue to work proactively with the WDC and with colleagues across government to support our shared goal of balanced regional development.
Rural Schemes
Questions (77)
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Question:77. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide an update on the roll-out of the Towns First policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28385/23]
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.
My Department co-chairs the National Oversight and Advisory Group for the policy with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. This Group seeks to oversee the delivery of the policy and ensures there is clear stakeholder visibility in relation to implementation. The Group met in December 2022 and April 2023 and will meet on a quarterly basis going forward to ensure that momentum is maintained.
The Town Centre First National Implementation Office was established last year and will be key to the success of the policy. The Office drives implementation at national level, supports the network of Town Regeneration Officers at a local level and coordinates stakeholder engagement. This structure has been put in place within the Local Government Management Association, and my officials are in ongoing contact with the National Office.
Central to the Town Centre First approach is the range of support funding in place, including my Department’s Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, and Town and Village Renewal Scheme.
Last November I announced funding of €115m for regeneration projects across rural towns under my Department's Rural Regeneration and Development Fund for 2022. These projects include a focus on combating vacancy and dereliction by regenerating iconic town centre buildings such as old hotels, banks, schools, and courthouses.
Similarly, last December I announced €27 million in funding to regenerate and breathe new life into rural towns and villages under the 2022 Town and Village Renewal Scheme.
I have now approved funding of €5.4 million to support the purchase of 23 vacant and derelict buildings in the first tranche of approvals under the 2023 Building Acquisition Measure.
I remain committed to ensuring the success of the Town Centre First policy in delivering on the goal of revitalising rural towns and villages as set out in Our Rural Future.
Question No. 78 answered orally.
Rural Schemes
Questions (79)
Seán Sherlock
Question:79. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of applications received under the community support fund to deal with energy bills to date; and their county of origin, in tabular form. [28047/23]
View answerWritten answers
Last November, I was delighted to launch the 2022 Community Support Fund (CSF) under the Community Enhancement Programme, with funding of €10 million to assist local community and voluntary groups across the country with a multitude of costs including energy and utility bills, other operating costs, minor upgrade works and small capital purchases.
The CSF funding is administered on behalf of my Department by Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) across the country, with support from their Local Authority. It should be noted a number of LCDCs are still assessing applications, and successful grantees are being announced on a county-by-county basis, therefore the information requested by the Deputy is not available in all cases, however, a breakdown of the information, where available, can be found in the attachment, which is being provided to the Deputy.
The 2022 CSF is now closed to applicants and details of successful projects will be published on my Department’s website www.gov.ie/drcd in the coming weeks.
In addition to the Community Support Fund, the Community and Voluntary Energy Support Scheme (CVESS) was launched last November to provide for a once-off payment to eligible charities and community and voluntary sector organisations, that fall outside the remit of other energy support schemes. The CVESS was extended and streamlined earlier this year to make it easier for organisations with multiple facilities to apply, and to allow section 39 organisations to receive CVESS funding in respect of any shortfalls in the energy cost funding provided to them by the HSE/Dept of Health. I was pleased to announce Tranche 5 of funding last month, which brought the total number of organisations supported to 846, with over €1.35m now disbursed.
I look forward to continuing to deliver meaningful supports like the CSF and CVESS to local communities as we support communities to respond to the challenges they face.
Island Communities
Questions (80)
Holly Cairns
Question:80. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the steps she is taking to improve public infrastructure on offshore islands. [28362/23]
View answerWritten answers
Our Living Islands, which I launched last week, is an ambitious new ten year national policy designed to support vibrant and sustainable island communities.
Good transport services and a developed infrastructure are recognised in the policy as important prerequisites for maintaining island populations. My Department’s aim is to seek to meet these requirements through current and capital investment via the Department itself and through other relevant Government Departments and organisations.
My Department has a dedicated annual capital allocation for the islands. This includes provision for a minor capital works programme to provide co-funding to encourage Local Authorities to undertake smaller infrastructure works projects on the islands. Works undertaken include, but are not limited to repairs to piers and roads (subject to roads being under charge of the Local Authority), maintenance or construction of slipways and retaining walls, works to prevent damage from erosion, the development of play grounds and public conveniences. My Department provides 90% of the funding for the minor works programme.
At the recent launch of our new national islands policy, Our Living Islands, I announced funding of €1.9 million for the first tranche of minor capital works for 2023.
In addition, I have introduced a dedicated islands funding stream under other programmes within my Department, under the CLÁR programme where assistance is provided for public and community facilities, and under the Local Improvement Scheme.
My Department also provides funding for major capital projects serving our offshore islands, such as the redevelopment of the piers at Inis Oírr, Inis Meáin and at Machaire Rabhartaigh serving Toraigh.