Written Answers Nos. 2079-2098
2079. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science how previous budgets for well-being, mental health and student services in higher education institutions were spent; the way it was administered; and the services provided by this funding. [39258/23]
View answerAs part of its broader sectoral objective of supporting students on their journey to success, in and through higher education, the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science has provided €20.9 million through the Higher Education Authority to Higher Education Institutions since 2020.
This funding consists of core funding and additional funding: core allocation of €2m, as well as an additional €3m, annually to help alleviate pressures in the area of student mental health arising from COVID in 2020 and 2021, and the cost-of-living crisis in 2022 and 2023.
This funding is to assist them in meeting the mental health and wellbeing needs of their student population and in implementing the HEA National Student Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Framework (2020) and the HEA Healthy Campus Charter and Framework (2021).
In 2022 an additional €900,000 was made available for supporting Ukrainian students registered in Irish HEIs and who are in Ireland under a temporary Section 60 order.
HEIs in receipt of this funding have distributed it in support of specific student-facing areas, such as:
- Recruitment of additional Student Counsellors
- Recruitment of additional Assistant Psychologists
- Head of Service posts
- Training staff to enable them to support and refer students to appropriate services
- Raising awareness among students of mental health and wellbeing services available, including through student outreach activities
The majority of new posts created through this funding have been counsellors, reflecting the capacity building phase of the implementation of the Framework.
Reports received by the HEA have demonstrated, the allocation of €20.9 million to HEIs over the past four years has made a positive impact on the mental health and wellbeing of students.
HEIs have reported a breadth of positive impacts, from a reduction in engagement times to an increase in the number of sessions provided.
2080. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science for clarification on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39312/23]
View answerThe Ukraine PLC Bursary Scheme was established by my Department in the 2022/23 academic year in response to the emergency situation in Ukraine. The Scheme, temporary in nature, provided access to further education in the academic year 2022/2023 and was aimed specifically at persons who:
• are living in Ireland
• have been granted temporary protection under section 60 of the International Protection Act 2015
• would like to participate in a SOLAS-approved full time post leaving certificate (“PLC”) course in their local Education and Training Board, and
• are not receiving the Back to Education Allowance from the Department of Social Protection
This financial support was limited to a period of one year, in the form of a bursary of €6,115 paid in monthly instalments to qualified persons who attend a SOLAS approved PLC course in the 2022/23 academic year.
I have recently approved the continuation of the Ukraine PLC Bursary Scheme for the 2023/24 academic year. The Scheme is currently being finalised and is expected to open for applications shortly. All information, including the application form, will be uploaded to the gov.ie website.
This financial support will continue to be for a limited period of one year, in the form of a bursary of €6,115 which will be paid in monthly instalments to qualified persons who attend a SOLAS approved PLC course in the 2023/24 academic year.
The only change from the 2022 Scheme is that progression rules are being introduced in the 2023 Scheme in order to bring the Scheme more in line with the Student Grant Scheme. This is designed to ensure that students are eligible for financial support for a PLC course where they are progressing in their studies and have not previously received financial support for a course or part of a course at the same QQI level in the State. It also ensures that students who already hold a higher education qualification cannot access the 2023 Scheme, in line with the Student Grant Scheme.
The Scheme will be open to students starting year one a PLC course or progressing into the second year of a two year course.
The Scheme will continue to be administered by the awarding authority, Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) on behalf of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.
2081. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will ensure that additional financial support will be provided to reduce undergraduate student contribution fees for this academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39412/23]
View answer2082. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if measures are to be introduced to reduce undergraduate student contribution fees this year; if he will ensure that students studying outside of the State will receive such support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39413/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 2081 and 2082 together.
I have been clear that I want to see the student's contribution towards tuition fees in higher education reduce in a meaningful way over the course of future budgets. In this regard I was pleased to secure Government agreement to the introduction of a permanent new rate of student contribution support through SUSI from September 2023.
For students whose families have incomes between €62,000 and €100,000, a new grant of €500 towards the undergraduate student contribution for free fees students is now available. I also increased the income limit for students to avail of the 50% student contribution grant. Information on the new €500 student contribution grant and other student supports are available on SUSI.ie.
In advance of Budget 2024, and as I did last year, I published an options paper setting out various possible measures to address the cost of education. I am doing this in order to facilitate public discussion on the various choices available to amend student supports. I will have regard to these options, including any options in respect of providing additional tuition fee supports, when making proposals in the context of Budget discussions.
2083. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the current progress and eventual timeline for the provision of grant support for Carlow library; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37358/23]
View answerMy Department issued a call for proposals on the 3 April 2023 for Local Authorities to submit projects to be funded under a new Libraries Capital Programme which will run from 2023 to 2027. The closing date for receipt of proposals was 16 June 2023 and an application was received from Carlow County Council for the Carlow Town Library project on 13 June 2023.
Proposals are currently being assessed by my Department and it is expected that successful projects, including the amount of Libraries Capital Programme funding being awarded, will be announced in Q4 2023.
I am also aware that Carlow County Council are currently progressing this project through my Department's Four Stage Capital Management Process. This is standard practice for all library projects to ensure that they are technically assessed and comply with the Public Spending Code and the Capital Works Management Framework. My Department issued Stage 3 approval to Carlow County Council on the 17 August 2022 and continues to engage with Carlow County Council on this matter.
2084. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the plans for the provision of a community hub in Carlow on the Tullow Road; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37359/23]
View answerCommunity Centres are the cornerstone of community life in many towns, villages and urban areas around the country. This Government recognises the important role they play in community life in Ireland, bringing people together and engaging with those who may be marginalised or disadvantaged.
With this in mind, I have put in place an integrated programme of supports for the establishment and development of community centres across schemes such as CLÁR, LEADER, the Community Support Fund, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, and of course the new Community Centres Investment Fund.
The 2022 Community Centres Investment Fund was warmly welcomed the length and breadth of the country. Over €45.8 million has been committed to the improvement and refurbishment of existing community centres across Ireland.
Following on from this, I wanted to assist community groups striving to build their own community centre to service local needs, so this year the focus of the Community Centres Investment has moved to new builds.
In March, I announced a €20 million Fund to support communities with ‘shovel-ready’ projects on green or brownfield sites to build new community centres. This Measure will target areas which do not have an appropriate facility to meet the needs of their area. The deadline for receipt of applications was 3rd July and the assessment process has now commenced.
I am happy to confirm that Carlow County Council have submitted an application in relation to the Tullow Road Development. All applications received are currently being assessed by my Department and it is expected that successful projects will be announced in Quarter One of 2024.
2085. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the development of a water activity hub in Carlow town park for users of the River Barrow as an amenity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37362/23]
View answerThe Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) is funded by my Department under Our Rural Future. The Scheme provides funding for the development and enhancement of outdoor recreational infrastructure such as walking trails, cycleways, blue ways and bridleways throughout rural Ireland. Since the launch of the scheme in 2016, funding in excess of €106 million has supported more than 1,500 projects across the country. A number of projects connected with the River Barrow have received funding from the Scheme in the past.
Measure 2 and 3 of the 2023 ORIS Scheme aim to provide funding for the development of medium and large scale recreational infrastructure. The deadline for applications under Measure 2 and 3 is October 27th 2023. No application for the proposed water activity hub has been received to date.
I understand, however, that it is the intention of Carlow Local Authority to apply for Large Scale Sports Infrastructure Funding for the proposed water activity hub in Carlow Town Park once the programme is opened for applications. This scheme falls under the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.
2086. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the operation of the Charities Regulatory Authority; the number of applicants awaiting registration; the average length of time a charity is waiting between submitting an application and the issuing of a registered charity number; the number of staff in the authority assigned to approving applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37505/23]
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 the registration of charities.
There are currently approximately 170 active applications submitted to the Charities Regulator which are at various stages of the registration process.
Each application for registration must be carefully assessed by the Charities Regulator to ensure that the applicant meets the specific requirements set out in the Charities Act 2009. The Act does not permit the Charities Regulator to reject an incomplete application. This means that the Charities Regulator must make a substantive decision on whether or not an applicant can be entered in the Register of Charities (“the Register) in each case. This can lead to significant ongoing engagement by the Charities Regulator with applicants over what, in some cases, can be a protracted period of time in order to get their applications to a stage where a fair and robust decision can be made.
While the Regulator endeavours to complete the registration process for applicants as efficiently as possible, the overall application process takes time – typically around six months - and it can vary from case to case in terms of when a decision can be made on an application.
The Chief Executive of the Charities Regulator is the final decision maker in relation to the approval of applications to be registered in the Register of Charities. There is a specialist registration team within the organisation tasked with assessing applications and escalating them for final decision when they are complete. This team has two support officers (Clerical Officers), six case officers (Executive Officers), a Higher Executive Officer and an Assistant Principal.
2087. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of valid applications received for assistance under the new facilities grant for new, large community facilities; when decisions will be made on these applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37712/23]
View answerCommunity centres are the cornerstone of community life in many towns, villages and urban areas around the country. This Government recognises the important role they play in community life in Ireland, bringing people together and engaging with those who may be marginalised or disadvantaged.
With this in mind, I have put in place an integrated programme of supports for the establishment and development of community centres across schemes such as CLÁR, LEADER, the Community Support Fund, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, and of course the new Community Centres Investment Fund.
The 2022 Community Centres Investment Fund saw over €45.8 million being committed to the improvement and refurbishment of existing community centres across Ireland.
My aim under the 2023 round of funding is to support communities with shovel-ready plans to build new community centres.
I was delighted to announce a €20 million fund in March for ‘shovel-ready’ new build community centre projects on green or brownfield sites. The Measure was open to both urban and rural communities. The minimum grant funding available was €1 million with the maximum being €6 million. As the grant funding is substantial, and for the purposes of compliance with public financial procedures, the lead party to an application must be a State-funded body, for example a local authority, a local development company or a State agency.
Following the July 3rd deadline for applications, I can confirm that 22 applications have been submitted in relation to The Community Centre Investment Fund 2023 (New Build). These applications are currently being assessed by my Department and it is expected that successful projects will be announced in the coming months.
2088. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development to provide a breakdown in tabular form of the distribution of funds under the town and village renewal scheme for the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38073/23]
View answerThe Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS) was first introduced in 2016 and is one of a series of national and local support measures designed to rejuvenate small rural towns and villages throughout Ireland under my Development’s rural development investment programme.
The Scheme provides supports for projects that revitalise Ireland's rural towns and villages. The projects supported range from public realm improvement, community parks, digital hubs, as well as the regeneration of derelict buildings, enhancement works at tourism attractions and other important local amenities.
Since the launch of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, over €156 million of funding has been approved for more than 1,700 projects across Ireland. Each year the priorities for the scheme are reviewed and revised as appropriate by my Department to respond to changing needs and opportunities in rural areas.
The 2023 Town & Village Renewal Scheme was launched on the 21 July 2023 and is designed to support the revitalisation of rural Ireland through a renewed focus on town centre regeneration and enhancing economic and social vibrancy in line with the Town Centre First policy. Closing date for receipt of application is 10 November 2023.
Funding under the Scheme is awarded on a competitive basis, with all applications being assessed for suitability against scheme criteria. Other relevant considerations which inform the assessment process include the number and progress of TVRS projects in the relevant local authority, and the geographical spread of projects.
A breakdown in tabular form of the distribution of funds under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme since 2018 is set out in the table.
Funding Allocated under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme
|
Local Authority |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
Total |
|
Carlow |
€786,118 |
€399,692 |
€815,998 |
€1,258,401 |
€1,482,769 |
€275,000 |
€5,017,978 |
|
Cavan |
€530,000 |
€604,914 |
€1,166,268 |
€1,351,985 |
€1,597,440 |
€485,000 |
€5,735,607 |
|
Clare |
€581,000 |
€721,109 |
€1,215,110 |
€1,118,860 |
€1,011,073 |
€350,000 |
€4,997,152 |
|
Cork City |
€0 |
€264,800 |
€240,000 |
€379,120 |
€75,000 |
€0 |
€958,920 |
|
Cork Co |
€1,001,800 |
€737,500 |
€1,170,540 |
€1,385,810 |
€932,000 |
€445,000 |
€5,672,650 |
|
Donegal |
€1,100,000 |
€764,400 |
€810,318 |
€748,664 |
€1,283,234 |
€265,000 |
€4,971,615 |
|
Dunlaoghaire/Rathdown |
€100,000 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€225,000 |
€0 |
€325,000 |
|
Fingal |
€597,960 |
€120,000 |
€422,429 |
€141,174 |
€186,000 |
€500,000 |
€1,967,563 |
|
South Dublin |
€0 |
€200,000 |
€9,450 |
€0 |
€0 |
€0 |
€209,450 |
|
Galway |
€900,000 |
€752,000 |
€1,105,323 |
€850,772 |
€1,012,075 |
€0 |
€4,620,170 |
|
Kerry |
€476,000 |
€810,486 |
€1,111,545 |
€918,531 |
€988,768 |
€500,000 |
€4,805,330 |
|
Kildare |
€520,000 |
€312,164 |
€854,533 |
€252,993 |
€1,094,950 |
€0 |
€3,034,640 |
|
Kilkenny |
€652,280 |
€391,600 |
€1,036,026 |
€1,335,340 |
€450,230 |
€450,000 |
€4,315,476 |
|
Laois |
€872,094 |
€437,761 |
€775,275 |
€1,056,352 |
€1,367,500 |
€175,000 |
€4,683,982 |
|
Leitrim |
€737,520 |
€324,511 |
€922,103 |
€1,432,087 |
€1,346,800 |
€485,000 |
€5,248,021 |
|
Limerick |
€963,918 |
€585,101 |
€1,030,861 |
€1,341,784 |
€1,636,229 |
€160,000 |
€5,717,893 |
|
Longford |
€593,856 |
€454,104 |
€711,061 |
€913,893 |
€719,950 |
€165,000 |
€3,557,864 |
|
Louth |
€892,157 |
€338,000 |
€745,490 |
€1,075,505 |
€436,731 |
€0 |
€3,487,883 |
|
Mayo |
€1,183,615 |
€838,533 |
€1,241,821 |
€118,946 |
€1,196,843 |
€225,000 |
€4,804,758 |
|
Meath |
€670,834 |
€585,792 |
€905,563 |
€930,503 |
€1,019,700 |
€410,000 |
€4,522,392 |
|
Monaghan |
€868,500 |
€569,536 |
€1,228,863 |
€1,093,458 |
€1,366,395 |
€500,000 |
€5,626,752 |
|
Offaly |
€1,300,000 |
€700,000 |
€1,250,000 |
€590,500 |
€1,475,000 |
€300,000 |
€5,615,500 |
|
Roscommon |
€880,000 |
€688,000 |
€1,228,885 |
€1,220,015 |
€1,462,420 |
€0 |
€5,479,320 |
|
Sligo |
€1,138,400 |
€564,000 |
€1,095,000 |
€1,570,000 |
€1,320,101 |
€125,000 |
€5,812,501 |
|
Tipperary |
€913,266 |
€684,615 |
€1,180,659 |
€1,475,587 |
€1,383,571 |
€500,000 |
€6,137,698 |
|
Waterford |
€756,000 |
€500,000 |
€805,127 |
€825,578 |
€1,125,023 |
€500,000 |
€4,511,728 |
|
Westmeath |
€452,000 |
€700,000 |
€575,600 |
€398,531 |
€988,008 |
€300,000 |
€3,414,139 |
|
Wexford |
€1,334,798 |
€691,206 |
€1,177,981 |
€1,254,358 |
€1,548,501 |
€500,000 |
€6,506,844 |
|
Wicklow |
€518,005 |
€250,173 |
€961,538 |
€692,925 |
€1,050,299 |
€0 |
€3,472,940 |
|
Total Funding Approved |
€21,320,121 |
€14,989,997 |
€25,793,367 |
€25,731,672 |
€29,781,610 |
€7,615,000 |
€125,231,767 |
2089. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she is considering a review of the amount of LEADER funding allocated to County Galway, with a view to increasing the allocation to bridge the shortfall in funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38164/23]
View answerThe LEADER Programme is a key intervention of Our Rural Future, the Government’s Policy for rural development which aims to deliver a range of actions to rural communities over the lifetime of the policy.
€250m has been made available for the LEADER programme for the period 2021 to 2027. This is comprised of €70 million for the transitional period 2021 to 2022 and an additional €180 million from 2023 to 2027, thus maintaining the level of funding provided for the 2014-2020 programming period.
County Galway has been allocated €12,628,253 in funding for the programming period 2021-2027 which is an increase of 3.55% over the previous seven-year period.
I am confident that the level of funding allocated for the 2021-2027 programming period is sufficient to meet the demand for grant funding from rural communities and businesses and to continue the effective operation of the LEADER programme.
It should also be noted that there have been substantial levels of additional investment in recent years in rural development by my Department through a range of schemes such as the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, the Walks Scheme, and the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme.
Since my recent announcement of the approval of the first two successful Local Action Groups (LAGs) to deliver the 2023-2027 LEADER programme my Department’s focus now is to complete the selection of the remaining LAGs to ensure a timely and smooth transition from the 2014-2020 programme.
2090. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the streams of finance (if any) for capital works available to a college (details supplied) which is a registered charity but provides education and job readiness in the area of agriculture; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38356/23]
View answerMy Department provides a range of targeted supports to communities across rural Ireland in delivering on the aims of Our Rural Future, Ireland's National Rural Development Policy. These supports include significant levels of capital investment across a number of funding streams in implementing a capital budget of over €200m.
Under a number of these schemes, funding has been available to educational institutions. For example, under both the Community Recognition Fund and the CLÁR programme funding has been allocated to such institutions. The projects funded are in the main for the provision of services for the whole community and as such funding is linked to the availability of the institutions facilities to the wider community. The focus of the funding has also been on minor capital investments such as the purchase of equipment, accessibility improvement works, and the provision of facilities such as Multi Use Games Areas. Such funding streams may, however, not be applicable to the case referenced in the Deputy's question.
2091. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 656 of 25 April 2023, if he will provide an update on the figures provided previously; the processing time for applications currently; the steps being taken to address these delays; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38405/23]
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 the registration of charities.
By way of update to Parliamentary Question No. 656 of 25 April 2023, there are currently approximately 170 active applications submitted to the Charities Regulator which are at various stages of the registration process.
Each application for registration must be carefully assessed by the Charities Regulator to ensure that the applicant meets the specific requirements set out in the Charities Act 2009. The Act does not permit the Charities Regulator to reject an incomplete application. This means that the Charities Regulator must make a substantive decision on whether or not an applicant can be entered in the Register of Charities (“the Register) in each case. This can lead to significant ongoing engagement by the Charities Regulator with applicants over what, in some cases, can be a protracted period of time in order to get their applications to a stage where a fair and robust decision can be made.
In 2023, to provide enhanced support and guidance to organisations wishing to apply to be entered on the Register, the Charities Regulator published new registration guidelines and a new dedicated webpage. It covers the key areas that must be considered, developed or established by an organisation prior to submitting an application. It also explains that certain types of organisations are excluded from being registered under the Act and other reasons why an organisation may not be registered as a charity.
2092. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of WTE IT security managers employed by the charities regulator in 2022 and to date in 2023, in tabular form. [38484/23]
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 the registration of charities.
I can confirm that no WTE IT security managers have been employed by the Charities Regulator in 2022 or 2023.
The Charities Regulator’s ICT infrastructure is provided by the Department of Justice Information Management & Technology (DoJ IM&T) division. It relies on an annual Statement of Assurance, from the Department of Justice Information Management & Technology division, that the controls provide assurance that the infrastructure, applications and networks delivered as part of the service provision are secure, regularly monitored and tested. The Head of Corporate Affairs in the Charities Regulator is responsible for the management of its IT services.
Website security functions are handled by the Cloudflare suite of applications. A third party provider conducts twice yearly penetration tests on the Charities Regulator website.
2093. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department has taken advice in respect of the use of artificial intelligence, AI, within her Department; if any section of her Department currently makes use of AI, and if she will outline the purposes it is utilised for and costs associated with same; and if she has consulted with any consultancy firms in respect of the use of AI. [38573/23]
View answerMy Department's ICT managed service is provided by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform through the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO).
I can confirm that my Department does not make use of artificial intelligence and has not engaged with any consultancy firms in respect of its use.
2094. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of each individual project approved under measures 1, 2 and 3 of the outdoor recreation infrastructure scheme in County Westmeath in 2022; the grant approved for each project; the current status of each project; and the completion dates for each project in tabular form. [38632/23]
View answerThe Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme is funded by my Department under Our Rural Future. The Scheme provides funding for the development and enhancement of outdoor infrastructure such as trails, walkways, cycleways, blueways and bridleways throughout rural Ireland.
The Scheme is central to Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors, the new National Outdoor Recreation Strategy, which is set to shape the future of outdoor recreation over the next five years. The Strategy will ensure that there is a joined up and coordinated approach to deliver maximum impact from the significant investment in the sector and to build on the natural advantages in place.
Since the launch of the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme in 2016, funding of in excess of €106 million has supported more than 1,500 projects across the country. Indeed, over €4.2 million of this has been allocated to 66 projects in County Westmeath.
The table below sets out the funding allocated by my Department to County Westmeath under Measure 1 and 2 of the 2022 Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme. No funding under Measure 3 was approved under this allocation.
|
Measure |
Project Name |
Grant Approved |
Status |
Expected Completion Date |
|
1 |
Tullaghan to Lough Owel upgrade works |
€18,217 |
Ongoing |
02/10/2023 |
|
1 |
Ladestown carpark improvement works |
€15,480 |
Ongoing |
02/10/2023 |
|
1 |
Lough Lene path upgrade |
€13,613 |
Ongoing |
02/10/2023 |
|
1 |
Toorfelim Greenway Access |
€30,000 |
Ongoing |
02/10/2023 |
|
1 |
Portlick Amenity Enhancement |
€30,000 |
Ongoing |
02/10/2023 |
|
1 |
Lilliput Amenity Enhancement |
€30,000 |
Ongoing |
02/10/2023 |
|
2 |
Killucan Royal Canal Cycle Link Surfacing |
€123,120 |
Ongoing |
01/07/2024 |
|
2 |
The Lene Way |
€95,086 |
Ongoing |
01/07/2024 |
|
2 |
Tullaghan to Levington Cycleway |
€106,797 |
Ongoing |
01/07/2024 |
2095. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of each individual project approved under the town and village renewal scheme in County Westmeath in 2022; and the grant approved for each project in tabular form. [38633/23]
View answerThe Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS) was first introduced in 2016 and is one of a series of national and local support measures designed to rejuvenate small rural towns and villages throughout Ireland under my Departments’s rural development investment programme.
The Scheme provides supports for projects that revitalise Ireland's rural towns and villages. The projects supported range from public realm improvement, community parks, digital hubs, as well as the regeneration of derelict buildings, enhancement works at tourism attractions and other important local amenities.
Since the launch of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, over €156 million of funding has been approved for more than 1,700 projects across Ireland, of which over €4 million has been allocated to Co Westmeath.
The following table outlines the status of each individual project approved under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS) in County Westmeath in 2022:
|
Scheme |
Town/Village |
Amount Approved |
Status |
|
Main TVRS |
The Downs |
€224,708 |
Ongoing, completion date is 31/08/24 |
|
Main TVRS |
Moate |
€112,500 |
Ongoing, completion date is 31/08/24 |
|
Main TVRS |
Milltownpass |
€100,800 |
Ongoing, completion date is 31/08/24 |
|
Building Acquisition Measure |
Killucan |
€300,000 |
Decommitted, project withdrawn by Westmeath County Council |
|
Building Acquisition Measure |
Moate |
€100,000 |
Decommitted, project withdrawn by Westmeath County Council |
|
Streetscape Enhancement Measure |
Kilbeggan |
€66,693 |
Ongoing, drawdown of funding due by 30/09/2023 pending completion of works |
|
Marketing Measure 2022 |
Countywide |
€50,000 |
Ongoing, completion date is 31/03/24 |
2096. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development to outline the role of public participation networks in climate action; if there are plans to increase the number of PPN staff in each local authority; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38904/23]
View answerPublic Participation Networks (PPNs) were established under the Local Government Reform Act of 2014. They provide representation for the community sector in local policymaking, giving local groups a greater say in local government decisions which affect their communities.
There is a PPN in each of the 31 local authority areas, and membership of a PPN is open to volunteer-led and not-for-profit groups in each area. When applying to join a PPN, organisations are required to specify whether they are from the community and voluntary, social inclusion or environmental pillars. The network has grown substantially since its establishment, and the 2021 PPN Annual Report indicated a PPN total membership of over 18,000 member groups, 655 of whom were Environmental Groups.
As the Deputy will be aware, the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 is a priority for Government and represents an important milestone in Ireland’s efforts to address climate change and the impact it is having on both Ireland and the world. PPNs are acknowledged in the legislation as key players at local level; the Climate Action Act requires Local Authorities to develop Climate Action Plans for their local areas every five years, and mandates the Local Authorities to consult with the PPNs in the development of those local plans.
PPNs are involved in a wide range of projects and initiatives at local level aimed at making a positive impact on the environment, including for example organising outdoor environmental events, partnering with relevant organisations to promote environmental issues and increase understanding of the work of the PPN environmental college, hosting webinars on environmental areas of interest and contributing to local policy making on environmental issues through their membership of relevant Strategic Policy Committees.
PPNs have also contributed to national climate action policy-making by taking part in the discussions on the national Climate Action Plan. PPNs took part in the 2021 Climate Conversations hosted by the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC), and in 2022 DECC invited all PPNs to host Climate Conversation workshops as part of the delivery of the National Dialogue on Climate Action. The aim was to widen the discussion and get a better understanding of how PPNs are leading their communities in climate action and dialogue and to feed their input into the Climate Action Plan 2023. During the resulting workshops, members of PPNs’ local communities raised issues, highlighted positive initiatives in their areas, and generated ideas for moving their regions toward more sustainable practices.
PPN staffing and skills issues are being examined in the context of the ongoing PPN structural review process. In line with the Programme for Government commitment, an independent review of PPN structures was undertaken in 2021. Its purpose was to assess the operation of the network to date, and to make recommendations as to how to build on existing strengths and support the future development of PPNs. The independent review report, produced by Mazars, was published in June 2022 and is available on the DRCD website.
Following the publication of the review report, a call for feedback was issued to all PPNs, Local Authorities, civic society pillars and to a range of related stakeholders. Stakeholders were asked to provide their feedback on the recommendations in Mazars report, priorities for action, and any other issues of concern which they would like to raise.
A Working Group has been established to oversee the development and implementation of a Roadmap of future actions, based on the Structural Review Report and feedback received on it from stakeholders. The Working Group is made up of a range of PPN stakeholder groups, including PPN staff and volunteers, civil society groups, local authorities and relevant government departments.
Staffing and skills was one of the areas identified during the structural review process, and in the discussions held by the Working Group in developing a draft Implementation Roadmap. The draft Roadmap has been agreed by the Working Group, and my Department has appointed an independent service provider to consult more widely with the PPN stakeholders on the draft Roadmap and make recommendations on its content based on the feedback received. Once that process is complete, the Roadmap is expected to be submitted for approval later this year. The Working Group will remain in place to oversee the implementation of the Roadmap and ensure it enhances the effectiveness of the PPNs.
Given the growth and change that has occurred since PPNs were established, the Implementation Roadmap will be an important stepping-stone towards enabling PPNs to continue to thrive. Given the huge level of engagement from stakeholders during this process, I have every confidence that PPNs will emerge from this process stronger.
2097. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she is planning to launch a further community recognition fund round; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38967/23]
View answerEarlier this year, accompanied by the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Minister Stephen Donnelly and Minister of State Joe O’Brien, I announced details of €50 million in funding for over 880 projects under the Community Recognition Fund.
At its core, this Fund recognises the efforts of communities who have gone above and beyond what might be expected during what has been a very challenging period. It will support towns and villages nationwide that have shown such generosity in welcoming people from Ukraine and other countries. The Fund is separate in its objectives and scope to any other public funding streams which aim to support the development of public service.
Through this initiative, communities will be assisted to develop projects ranging from large-scale multi-purpose sports facilities to walkways, cycle paths, playgrounds, equipment for sports clubs and community festivals. I look forward to seeing the benefits for communities across the country as these projects are delivered over the coming months.
The entire €50m fund has been allocated across all local authorities based on the number of new arrivals located there. It follows an extensive consultation process with local authorities who submitted individual list of projects for approval.
I have been delighted with the uptake of and engagement with the Fund to date. As part of the budgetary discussions, I will give consideration to seeking funding to ensure the continuation of this important support in the future. A key priority of course remains ensuring delivery of the range of projects approved across the country over the course of 2023 and 2024.
2098. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if horse trail riding recreation infrastructure development will be supported under the outdoor recreation infrastructure scheme; if she will update the scheme's press release and scheme information to include horse trail riding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38998/23]
View answerThe Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) is funded by my Department under Our Rural Future. The Scheme provides funding for the development and enhancement of outdoor infrastructure such as trails, walkways, cycleways, blueways and bridleways throughout rural Ireland. Since the launch of the scheme in 2016, funding of in excess of €106 million has supported more than 1,500 projects across the country.
The scheme is central to Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors, the new National Outdoor Recreation Strategy, which is set to shape the future of outdoor recreation over the next five years. The strategy will ensure that there is a joined up and coordinated approach to deliver maximum impact from the significant investment in the sector and to build on the natural advantages in place.
In line with Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors, outdoor recreation is defined as activities that take place in the natural environment, such as walking, canoeing, mountain biking, orienteering and wild swimming. I am pleased to confirm that horse riding is listed as an eligible activity in the 2023 ORIS scheme outline and applications for the development of horse trail riding recreation infrastructure will be considered for funding accordingly.
