Written Answers Nos. 606-615
606. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development how many staff members in her Department have received training in cyber security in the past three years; what types of cyber security training programmes have been conducted; if she will provide details of these programmes; and of the staff trained in cyber security, how many have obtained accredited cyber security qualifications. [50804/23]
View answer607. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the expenditure on cyber security consultants and companies within her Department in the past three years; if her Department engaged in cyber security audits with outside firms in the past three years; if so, the expenditure on same; the amount her Department spent on cyber security consultants and companies in the past three years; and for a breakdown of these expenditures by year and type of service provided. [50822/23]
View answer608. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if there are any ongoing contracts or commitments with cyber security firms; and if details can be provided [50840/23]
View answer609. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department has a policy and plan in place to address a ransomware attack and restore her Department's IT systems. [50858/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 606, 607, 608 and 609 together.
My Department's ICT managed services are provided by the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO). In that context, there are no contractual arrangements entered into or payments made to cyber security firms directly by my Department in recent years.
The OGCIO implements a multi-layered approach to cyber security and to protecting ICT systems, infrastructures and services. It builds resilience into its ICT solutions as a matter of course, and has disaster recovery plans and sites in a Government Data Centre. Disaster recovery forms part of the overarching Business Continuity framework for all OGCIO clients, including my Department.
My Department recognises the importance of maintaining strong cyber security awareness. Working with the OGCIO, the Department ensures all staff are mindful of, and stay up to date on, evolving threats to information security from phishing attacks, malware, as well as from an increasingly sophisticated variety of social engineering deception schemes. Commonly, such schemes involve email or other communication that invokes urgency, fear, or similar emotions, leading the victim to promptly reveal sensitive information, click a malicious link, or open a malicious file.
The Department emphasises, in particular, the importance of maintaining mobile device security, maintaining strong passwords, verifying sources of suspicious emails. Working with the OGCIO, the Department provide regular information sessions to promote vigilance among staff.
Finally, I am advised that in terms of cyber security strategies, the OGCIO also works closely with the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) which is a division of the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment. It encompasses the State's national/governmental Computer Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT-IE), an internationally accredited response team focusing on enhancing both situational awareness and providing incident response for national cyber security incidents (including ransomware attacks).
610. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will consider establishing a fund for which Tidy Towns could seek rebates for tax paid on fuel, given increased costs borne by them as Tidy Towns committees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50988/23]
View answerThe Supervalu TidyTowns competition is a unique community movement which has a huge impact on our communities throughout Ireland. It is an important and effective sustainability initiative both from an environmental and community perspective. It encourages communities to improve their local environment and make their area a better place to live, work and visit in line with the objectives of Our Rural Future, the national rural development policy.
I am very conscious of the work undertaken by Tidy Towns Groups across the country and of the costs involved in this work. With this in mind, I have put in place direct financial to supports to Groups in recent years. At the national awards ceremony in Croke Park on the 6th of October, where I announced Abbeyleix as Ireland's Tidiest Town for 2023, I also announced a funding package of €1.5 million to support TidyTowns groups in their initiatives for the 2024 competition.
This funding brings the total allocation by my Department since 2017 to €9.6 million in direct funding to over 1,000 TidyTowns groups. The funding of between €1,000 and €4,000 is being provided to groups to assist them in preparing for the 2024 Competition.
Under Our Rural Future, my Department also provides a wide range of supports to promote the development of rural areas, including through the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, the LEADER Programme, the Town & Village Renewal Scheme, the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme and the CLÁR programme. I would encourage TidyTowns groups to engage with their local authority or local development company to explore what other funding sources may be available to support the valuable voluntary work they are providing for their local communities.
611. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department has any current contracts with any Israeli state agency, any Israeli-based company or any company based elsewhere in the world which is owned or part-owned by any Israeli state agency or by any Israeli-based company; and if so, the value of those contracts. [51051/23]
View answer612. Deputy Paul Murphy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department or any of its agencies are involved in any exercise, operation, training or research which includes involvement by any Israeli state agency, any Israeli-based company or any company based elsewhere in the world which is owned or part-owned by any Israeli state agency or by any Israeli-based company. [51069/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 611 and 612 together.
I can confirm to the Deputy that my Department does not have any current contracts with any Israeli state agency, any Israeli-based company, or any company based elsewhere in the world which is owned or part-owned by any Israeli state agency or by any Israeli-based company
I also can confirm to the Deputy that neither my Department nor any of its agencies are involved in any exercise, operation, training or research which includes involvement by any Israeli state agency, any Israeli-based company or any company based elsewhere in the world which is owned or part-owned by any Israeli state agency or by any Israeli-based company.
613. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when a decision will be made on the arrangements to deliver the next SICAP programme in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51101/23]
View answerThe Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), is our country’s primary social inclusion intervention. This is a national programme that is delivered in both rural and urban areas by Local Development Companies to help those in the greatest need. SICAP aims to address high and persistent levels of deprivation through targeted and innovative, locally-led approaches. The programme does vital work in helping individuals and groups, by improving the life chances of those who are marginalised in society, living in poverty or unemployed.
Following significant engagement with various stakeholders it was determined that a procurement process would be required under EU competition rules for the next iteration of SICAP 2024-2028. The approach selected involves two phases – an initial tender, followed by a negotiation phase, if appropriate, to allow tenderers to refine their bids.
The SICAP procurement process is run on a national basis with the responsibility for each individual SICAP contract area resting with the contract holders, the Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs). There are 53 SICAP contract areas in total.
My main priority is to ensure the continuation of SICAP service delivery while the new SICAP 2024 - 2028 tender evaluation process is concluding and new contracts are put in place.
The procurement process is currently ongoing in County Galway. Galway County Local Community Development Committee (LCDC), Contracting Authority for delivery of SICAP in Galway, are currently evaluating the tenders received for the 3 Contract Areas; Galway East, Galway West and Galway Islands.
An extension on delivery of the current SICAP programme (SICAP 2018 -2023) can be implemented by the LCDC should it be required, to ensure that a fair, transparent and robust process is implemented in the awarding of the new contracts.
614. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when a decision will be made as to who will deliver the LEADER programme in County Galway; the allocation they will have, broken down between administration and projects; when the LEADER programme will be open to new applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51102/23]
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. It supports a broad range of activities which aim to respond to the diversity of the local needs of our rural areas.
The process to select the Local Action Groups (LAGs) to deliver the 2023-2027 LEADER Programme is ongoing at present and the Local Development Strategies which were submitted by the applicant LAGs are currently being assessed.
To date LAGs have been approved in twelve sub-regional areas by the Independent Selection Committee (ISC) established to adjudicate on the strategies submitted by the applicant groups. Strategies in the remaining areas will be considered by the ISC over the coming weeks with a view to completing the selection of the remaining LAGs a by the end of the year. All applicant LAGs will be notified of the outcome of the selection process in their sub-regional area as they are approved. Once a LAG is approved it can commence the delivery of the programme in their area.
The allocation for the Galway sub-regional area for the 2023-2027 LEADER programme is €9,024,924. In line with EU Regulations the LAGs may use up to 25% of their allocation to cover their administration costs and costs associated with engaging with their communities while the remainder of the funding is available to support project activity.
A number of groups have submitted strategies for consideration in the Galway sub-regional area and the applicant LAGs have been made aware of the allocation that will be provided for the delivery of their strategy should their application be approved by the ISC.
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.
615. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the figure provided by her Department to maintain existing levels of service in 2024, under her respective remits ahead of Budget 2024; the figure granted by the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform in each case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51184/23]
View answerBudget 2024 provides the Department of Rural and Community Development with a gross allocation of €431 million. This will provide €210 million for capital investment, with the remaining €221 million for current expenditure. These allocations represent a core funding increase of €4 million for capital and €12 million for current, compared to 2023. The capital increase reflects the expenditure ceilings set out in the National Development Plan.
The increased capital funding is being allocated to existing capital programmes, and the additional €12 million in current funding is also being allocated to existing current programmes. The additional capital funding will allow some increases in core funding provisions for the Local Improvement Scheme, CLÁR, and the Community Centre Investment Fund. The current funding increases will allow the Department to maintain existing levels of services in 2024, and achieve some targeted service improvements. The Department will continue to manage its resources, on an ongoing basis, so as to maximise the impact for communities throughout Ireland.
