Written Answers Nos. 600-602
600. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount spent by her Department on legal costs or legal services in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [5391/24]
View answerMy Department was established on 19 July 2017. The information sought by the Deputy in respect of legal costs incurred by the Department since then is provided in the table below.
In 2018, the Department was assigned a designated point of contact for the provision of legal advice through the Office of the Attorney General, and this service provides for the majority of our ongoing requirements in this regard.
Separately, the Charities Regulatory Authority, which is an independent agency funded under a specific programme area of the Department, has also incurred costs for legal services over the period. These are not included in the table provided which, as stated, relate only to costs incurred directly by the Department.
|
DRCD Legal Services/Legal Costs |
Amount Spent, € |
|
2018 |
€2,655 |
|
2019 |
€1,855 |
|
2020 |
€2,796 |
|
2021 |
€5,340 |
|
2022 |
€33,253 |
|
2023 |
€63,630 |
|
2024 to date |
€0 |
|
Total amount spent by DRCD on legal costs or legal services |
€109,529 |
601. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount spent by her Department on the procurement of office space and furniture and office IT equipment in each of the past ten years and to date in 2024. [5409/24]
View answerMy Department currently occupies office space at Trinity Point, Dublin 2, and Government Buildings, Ballina, Co. Mayo. The offices occupied in Ballina are in the ownership of the Office of Public Works (OPW), while the lease arrangements in relation to Trinity Point are managed on the Department's behalf by the OPW. In both cases, no costs are directly incurred by my Department.
My Department also has responsibility for the Islands, with a small staffing complement based in Na Forbacha, Co Galway. This office space, located in the Connemara Gaeltacht is provided on an agency basis by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.
No other rental or purchase arrangements have been entered into for office space since my Department's establishment in 2017.
Set out in the following table are details of the expenditure on IT, Office Equipment and Furniture and Fittings since the establishment of my Department in 2017. All such procurement takes place in the context of Office of Government Procurement guidelines, and primarily through Office of Government Procurement frameworks.
The expenditure in respect of 2017 to 2022 are as set out in the Department's Appropriation Account while the amounts for 2023 and 2024 are provisional, and remain subject to audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General.
|
Year |
IT and Office Equipment (€000) |
Furniture and Fittings (€000) |
|
2024 |
-- |
96 |
|
2023 |
48 |
29 |
|
2022 |
48 |
-- |
|
2021 |
-- |
-- |
|
2020 |
133 |
-- |
|
2019 |
33 |
100 |
|
2018 |
247 |
104 |
|
2017 |
7 |
5 |
602. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the grants that are currently available for women’s sheds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5640/24]
View answerMy Department provides a range of supports which are available to Women’s Sheds, depending on the works being completed.
In December 2023, I was delighted to launch the Local Enhancement Programme (LEP) which replaces my Department’s Community Enhancement Programme, with capital funding of €6 million to assist thousands of community groups across the country. The overall €6 million LEP includes a special ring-fenced capital fund of €1 million to provide support for Women’s Groups (i.e., Sheds, Groups, Clubs, Networks etc…), and builds on the €100,000 ring-fenced for Women’s Sheds under the 2022 Community Support Fund.
In addition to the €1 million ring-fenced fund, Women’s Sheds will also be eligible to apply under the main Local Enhancement Programme funding stream, which will provide capital supports essential for the many small community groups and organisations, particularly those who serve disadvantaged areas in rural and urban areas.
There will be a particular focus on small capital works/improvements, and the purchase of equipment for community use. The funding may be used, but is not limited to; improved access for persons with a disability; enhancing community participation for disadvantaged and marginalised groups, and improving energy efficiency of community facilities to reduce ongoing costs.
The Local Enhancement Programme is administered on behalf of my Department locally by Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) across the country, with support from their Local Authority. Each LCDC will be advertising the fund and I would encourage all Women's Sheds to engage with their LCDC directly for details on how to apply.
The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) also provides supports to Women’s Sheds, for example in facilitating training courses and holding focus groups. This support remains available through SICAP.
Separately, funding under the LEADER programme is not targeted at any particular group or sector in rural communities. It is, rather, focused on a thematic approach to rural development. The budget for the LEADER programme is allocated for the duration of the programme rather than on an annual basis to allow more flexibility to the LAG in the allocation of funding.
Organisations, such as Women’s Sheds, may be eligible for LEADER funding but in the first instance contact should be made with the local implementing partner. Contact details for the Implementing Partners are available on my Department's website at www.gov.ie/en/publication/c45498-local-action-groups/.
I would encourage all groups to check my department’s website www.gov.ie/drcd , and to engage with their Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs), Local Development Companies and Public Participation Networks (PPN) to ensure they are aware of funding opportunities as they become available.
