Written Answers Nos. 620-630
620. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if he will support calls for post-graduate medicine courses in Ireland to be upgraded from QQI level 8 to QQI level 9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6497/24]
View answerThe Medical Council is the regulator of the medical profession in Ireland. The Medical Council sets and monitors standards for undergraduate, and postgraduate medical programmes and the bodies that deliver them to ensure that curricula are in line with Medical Council rules, criteria, standards and guidelines.
I am not aware of any proposals to upgrade the Graduate Entry Medicine Programme to a level 9 qualification. Students graduating from these programmes graduate with the same award as those who have studied on the direct entry undergraduate programmes. Both programmes are placed on the National Framework of Qualifications at level 8, an honours degree.
621. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in view of the shortage of medical doctors and nurses in Ireland, if he will give consideration to introducing an additional qualification category for SUSI grants so that students who have already completed a QQI level 8 degree, and are undertaking an additional postgraduate course to train as a medical doctor or nurse (also QQI level 8) become, in principle, entitled to bursary support; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6498/24]
View answerThe main support available to students is the statutory based Student Grant Scheme where students are studying for the first time or are progressing to study at a higher level. This means that a student must be moving from year to year within a course, having successfully completed the previous year or be transferring from one course to another, where the award for the subsequent course is of a higher level than the previous course.
Students pursuing a second level 8 degree course, including graduate entry programmes, are not eligible for a grant as they do not meet the progression criteria of the Scheme. The objective of this policy regarding progression is to help as many students as possible to obtain one qualification at each level of study, meaning that an individual already holds a qualification, they are not eligible for funding at the same level again.
However, my Department is committed to working closely with the Department of Health and its agencies to ensure that the conditions are in place to support further growth in healthcare professions including increasing the supply of medicine graduates.
As the Deputy is aware, on 12th July 2022 the Minister for Health and I announced an agreement with the Irish medical schools to increase the number of places available for EU students by 200 over the next five years.
This marks a significant expansion in the number of places available to students applying through the CAO system. It increases the opportunities for students to progress to study medicine in Ireland and to help us build our talent pipeline.
This agreement included additional Graduate Entry Medicine (GEM) places. To date an additional 10 graduate entry places (5 in 2022 and another 5 in 2023) have been created, with the other 110 places on direct entry programmes.
In order to widen access to GEM programmes, and give assistance towards the financial burden on each student pursuing these programmes, the fees of participating EU graduate entry medicine students are partly subsidised by the State via the Higher Education Authority (HEA).
In the academic year 2022/23 the State contribution was €12,100 per student with the balance of fees payable by the student. This State subsidy is being increased incrementally. By 2026, all graduate entry places will be funded by the state at €14,500.
We also introduced a new system where bursaries that are provided to the most socio-economically disadvantaged students under the National Access Plan can retain those bursaries throughout their GEM programme.
My priority is to ensure that we build capacity in a sustainable way which will allow for steady, growth and forward planning by both the health and higher education sectors for a graduate pipeline to meet the needs of the health system and society as a whole.
622. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development what funding supports could be provided to a group (details supplied) for the purchase a vital piece of equipment. [6075/24]
View answerMy Department's CLÁR programme provides funding for small-scale projects in designated rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population over a defined period.
Under Measure 3 of the 2023 scheme, funding was provided for "Mobility, Cancer Care and Community First Responders Transport". This measure supported community first responders and search and rescue organisations that operate on a voluntary basis in CLÁR areas. This measure is designed to provide funding for the purchase and/or fit out of vehicles rather than specifically for equipment such as drones. Funding is not provided for operational costs.
The focus of supports under CLÁR is reviewed each year and I expect to announce details of the new Programme in the coming weeks. These details will be available on my Department's website.
Funding under my Department’s 2023-2027 LEADER programme may also be of assistance to the group concerned. Financial support under LEADER is not targeted at any particular group or sector in rural communities. It is, rather, focused on a thematic approach to rural development under the headings; Economic Development and Job Creation, Rural Infrastructure and Social Inclusion, Sustainable Development of the Rural Environment and Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation.
In order for a project to be eligible for LEADER funding, it must be compatible with the actions outlined in the approved Local Development Strategy in the sub-regional area concerned, and it must comply with the Operating Rules and EU Regulations in place for the programme.
Prospective applicants should, in the first instance, contact their relevant Local Action Group (LAG), through its Implementing Partner, to discuss the eligibility of the project and the funding that may be available. Details of Local Action Groups are available on my Department's website.
623. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department has received an application from a group (details supplied) via the community centres investment fund; if she recognises the importance of the organisation to Ballina and the strength of their funding application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6088/24]
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 providing a space to engage 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 investment, I wanted to assist community groups who are striving to build their own community centre to service their local needs. That is why, in 2023, the focus of the Community Centres Investment Fund moved to new builds.
Last year, I announced a €20 million fund to support communities with ‘shovel-ready’ projects on green or brownfield sites for the construction of new community centres. These shovel ready projects have all necessary planning and consents secured so they are already at an advanced stage and ready to commence following a tender process. This fund targets areas without an appropriate facility to meet their community’s needs.
The deadline for receipt of applications for the new build measure has now passed and I was very pleased with the response to this new initiative. In total, twenty-two applications for new build community centres were received by my Department.
I can confirm that an application for the project referenced by the Deputy has been received seeking investment of over €1.1 million from the fund. The assessment of all of the applications is almost complete and I expect to announce the successful projects shortly.
624. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of applications for charitable status submitted to the Charities Regulator for the years 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6277/24]
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.
The Charities Regulator is under the aegis of my department. It is important to note however, that the Regulator is fully independent in the performance of its statutory functions, including the registration of charities.
The table below sets out the number of applications for charitable status submitted to the Charities Regulator for the years 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.
|
Year |
Number of applications for charitable status received |
|
2020 |
1,375* (this figure includes 773 applications from schools) |
|
2021 |
610 (this figure includes 461 applications from schools) |
|
2022 |
506 (this figure includes 78 applications from schools) |
|
2023 |
393 (this figure includes 44 applications from schools) |
* The Charities Regulator began to register schools in 2020.
625. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the average processing time for charitable status applications made to the Charities Regulator for the years 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6278/24]
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.
The Charities Regulator is under the aegis of my department. It is important to note however, that the Regulator is fully independent in the performance of its statutory functions, including the registration of charities.
The table below provides the average processing time for charitable status applications made to the Charities Regulator for the years 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.
|
Year |
Processing Time |
|
2018 |
59 days |
|
2019 |
79 days |
|
2020 |
70 days |
|
2021 |
82 days |
|
2022 |
104 days |
|
2023 |
129 days |
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.
At present, the Charities 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. The Charities (Amendment) Bill, 2023, currently before the Oireachtas, contains an amendment to rectify this deficiency in the Act.
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.
626. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of staff assigned to charitable status applications within the Charities Regulator in the years 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6279/24]
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.
The Charities Regulator is under the aegis of my department. It is important to note however, that the Regulator is fully independent in the performance of its statutory functions, including the registration of charities.
The table below provides the number of staff assigned to charitable status applications within the Charities Regulator in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 respectively.
|
Year |
Staff assigned to charitable status applications |
|
2020 |
4 |
|
2021 |
6 |
|
2022 |
6 |
|
2023 |
7 |
627. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she has received any plans to establish a library in an area (details supplied); and if she will detail the costs of same. [6419/24]
View answerThe provision of library services, including the provision of library buildings, is primarily a matter for local authorities in their capacity as library authorities under the Local Government Act 2001. Accordingly, the delivery of library services in the area identified is primarily a matter for Cork City Council.
My department has been informed by Cork City Council that a potential site has been identified in principle for a library in Blackrock Mahon on the grounds of Nagle Community College, on the Avenue De Rennes. I am aware that discussions regarding this site are ongoing between the local authority and Cork Education and Training Board (Cork ETB). Both parties have committed to signing a Memorandum Of Understanding for the project, which will incorporate a youth services element. This is currently with legal representatives to finalise the details of the MOU.
Cork City Council have been advised of the requirement to progress the project through my department's four stage Capital Management Process. I understand that the City Council plan to submit a Stage 1 Application for Approval in Principle for the project to my Department in Quarter 1 2024. This requirement is to ensure that the project complies with the Public Library Standards and Benchmarks, which is the practice for all new public library projects. Costs for this project are currently unknown, as it is in the early stages of planning, but cost estimates will be contained in the Stage 1 Application when it is submitted.
628. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development to outline, in tabular form, the amount of funding granted under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund to projects in County Donegal, disaggregated by year funding was granted, title of project, amount of funding currently drawn down and estimated completion date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6437/24]
View answerThe Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) provides funding for the development and construction of capital projects in towns, villages and rural areas across Ireland.
To date, 215 projects have been approved for RRDF funding of €415 million for projects costing €571 million.
RRDF funding of €40.3 million has been allocated to 14 projects located in County Donegal. The table below lists the details of projects approved for funding in Donegal, as requested by the Deputy.
|
Year Funding Awarded |
Project Title |
Lead Party |
Project Cost |
RRDF Funding |
Funding Drawn down to date |
Estimated Completion Date |
|
2018 |
GTeic Gaoth Dobhair |
Údarás na Gaeltachta |
€2,000,000 |
€1,498,961 |
€1,498,961 |
Project Completed |
|
2018 |
Swan Park |
Donegal County Council |
€2,304,056 |
€1,724,495 |
€1,725,495 |
Project Completed |
|
2019 |
Ocean Innovation Centre Ireland |
Letterkenny Institute of Technology |
€3,632,876.00 |
€2,724,657.00 |
€0 |
Q3 2024 |
|
2019 |
Killybegs 2040 - Town Centre Regeneration Project |
Donegal County Council |
€5,423,583 |
€4,067,687 |
€1,815,879 |
Q2 2025 |
|
2019 |
Ailt an Chorráin (Burtonport)/ Oileán Árainn Mhór (Arranmore Island) - Harbour to Island Regeneration |
Donegal County Council |
€4,118,932 |
€3,089,199 |
€2,050,951 |
Q2 2025 |
|
2019 |
DigiWest |
Western Development Commission |
€214,912 |
€161,183 |
€161,183 |
Project Completed |
|
2020 |
Ballyshannon 2040 - Back to Ballyshannon |
Donegal County Council |
€247,500 |
€185,625 |
€116,980 |
Q3 2024 |
|
2020 |
Ramelton Historic Town Centre - A Restorative and Transformational Public Realm Scheme |
Donegal County Council |
€249,159 |
€186,869 |
€186,869 |
Q1 2024 |
|
2021 |
Ailt an Chorrain (Burtonport) Harbour Redevelopment Phase 2 Harbour Buildings |
Donegal County Council |
€2,295,290 |
€2,065,761 |
€87,603 |
Q3 2025 |
|
2021 |
Carndonagh TUS NUA Regeneration Project |
Donegal County Council |
€9,542,852.00 |
€8,218,982.00 |
€168,325.11 |
Q2 2025 |
|
2021 |
The Seed Project - Strenghten, Engage, Enable, Deliver |
Donegal County Council |
€9,756,969.00 |
€8,781,272.00 |
€253,770.60 |
Q4 2025 |
|
2022 |
Repowering Buncrana A NW Place Standard Project |
Donegal County Council |
€1,461,745 |
€1,169,396 |
€0 |
Q2 2025 |
|
2022 |
Cill Ulta: Northwest Bioeconomy Hub |
Údarás na Gaeltachta |
€245,149 |
€196,119 |
€24,000 |
Q2 2025 |
|
2022 |
Ramelton Re-Imagined |
Donegal County Council |
€7,949,898.00 |
€6,359,894.00 |
€0.00 |
Q1 2026 |
629. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount of funding granted to each county under the local improvement scheme for each year from 2017 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6438/24]
View answerThe Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) supports the improvement of non-public rural roads and laneways that are not normally maintained by local authorities. As part of Our Rural Future, the Government is committed to ensuring that the LIS is funded into the future. The scheme makes an important contribution to connectivity, which I view as an important issue for rural Ireland, whether it be access to homes, farms or outdoor amenities.
The Scheme was reintroduced by my Department in 2017 following a number of years without dedicated funding. Since then, almost €130 million has been invested in the scheme.
The table below sets out the overall funding allocated on a county basis from 2017 - 2023:
|
County |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
Total |
|
Carlow |
€440,460 |
€528,279 |
€250,000 |
€250,000 |
€463,931 |
€944,082 |
€567,772 |
€3,444,524 |
|
Cavan |
€335,080 |
€636,680 |
€269,254 |
€269,254 |
€1,119,389 |
€1,273,457 |
€1,741,411 |
€5,644,525 |
|
Clare |
€866,774 |
€1,038,844 |
€480,811 |
€480,811 |
€828,528 |
€1,238,015 |
€1,367,910 |
€6,301,693 |
|
Cork |
€1,151,985 |
€1,700,000 |
€900,000 |
€900,000 |
€1,412,738 |
€1,298,240 |
€2,755,923 |
€10,118,886 |
|
Donegal |
€3,384,000 |
€1,792,516 |
€677,456 |
€677,456 |
€1,188,403 |
€1,711,214 |
€1,990,509 |
€11,421,554 |
|
Galway |
€1,368,651 |
€1,942,000 |
€856,959 |
€856,959 |
€1,580,871 |
€1,682,841 |
€1,994,259 |
€10,282,540 |
|
Kerry |
€995,578 |
€1,209,990 |
€669,930 |
€669,930 |
€1,187,099 |
€1,495,490 |
€1,557,176 |
€7,785,193 |
|
Kildare |
€0 |
€329,591 |
€250,000 |
€250,000 |
€495,586 |
€435,326 |
€304,736 |
€2,065,239 |
|
Kilkenny |
€605,565 |
€679,683 |
€288,905 |
€288,905 |
€778,682 |
€628,610 |
€641,753 |
€3,912,103 |
|
Laois |
€812,270 |
€568,255 |
€250,000 |
€250,000 |
€554,259 |
€860,277 |
€1,231,151 |
€4,526,212 |
|
Leitrim |
€487,947 |
€550,120 |
€250,000 |
€250,000 |
€503,830 |
€1,081,038 |
€1,135,919 |
€4,258,854 |
|
Limerick |
€544,861 |
€684,349 |
€384,092 |
€384,090 |
€1,504,659 |
€930,989 |
€1,182,549 |
€5,615,589 |
|
Longford |
€302,443 |
€472,217 |
€250,000 |
€250,000 |
€393,041 |
€465,940 |
€593,350 |
€2,726,991 |
|
Louth |
€250,000 |
€250,000 |
€250,000 |
€250,000 |
€417,821 |
€448,273 |
€422,764 |
€2,288,858 |
|
Mayo |
€1,272,974 |
€1,843,235 |
€778,496 |
€778,496 |
€1,361,625 |
€610,944 |
€1,571,736 |
€8,217,506 |
|
Meath |
€474,290 |
€773,404 |
€326,394 |
€326,394 |
€803,937 |
€569,299 |
€994,513 |
€4,268,231 |
|
Monaghan |
€366,312 |
€540,841 |
€250,000 |
€250,000 |
€1,326,223 |
€932,889 |
€1,342,724 |
€5,008,989 |
|
Offaly |
€676,155 |
€644,654 |
€278,871 |
€278,871 |
€545,240 |
€674,785 |
€704,325 |
€3,802,901 |
|
Roscommon |
€421,258 |
€820,968 |
€355,104 |
€355,104 |
€445,495 |
€571,758 |
€512,825 |
€3,482,512 |
|
Sligo |
€496,158 |
€606,870 |
€256,154 |
€256,154 |
€470,542 |
€358,030 |
€896,127 |
€3,340,035 |
|
Tipperary |
€246,900 |
€794,400 |
€599,969 |
€599,969 |
€721,531 |
€1,125,773 |
€1,865,091 |
€5,953,633 |
|
Waterford |
€718,689 |
€607,047 |
€258,802 |
€258,802 |
€872,759 |
€587,176 |
€817,570 |
€4,120,845 |
|
Westmeath |
€516,324 |
€607,224 |
€256,433 |
€256,433 |
€628,389 |
€656,781 |
€515,416 |
€3,437,000 |
|
Wexford |
€494,493 |
€511,410 |
€329,878 |
€329,878 |
€653,786 |
€781,027 |
€1,030,935 |
€4,131,407 |
|
Wicklow |
€310,000 |
€668,135 |
€282,494 |
€282,494 |
€741,635 |
€637,748 |
€777,488 |
€3,699,994 |
|
Total |
€17,539,167 |
€20,800,712 |
€10,000,002 |
€10,000,000 |
€20,999,999 |
€22,000,002 |
€28,515,932 |
€129,855,814 |
A total of €13.55 million has been allocated to LIS in 2024, and my Department is currently finalising the scheme details for the coming year.
I intend to continue to seek the support of my colleague, the Minister for Transport, with a view to co-funding the LIS, in particular to address the strong demand that continues to exist for the scheme.
630. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she is aware of the severe backlog of applications on hand with Donegal County Council under the local improvement scheme as the annual funding provided to date has not been sufficient to clear it; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6439/24]
View answerAs part of Our Rural Future, the Government is committed to ensuring that the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) is funded into the future. This reflects the important contribution which the scheme makes to connectivity in rural Ireland.
As you know, the scheme was re-introduced in 2017 following several years with no dedicated funding. Between 2017 and 2023, my Department has allocated almost €130 million towards improvement works on over 4,000 non-public roads and lanes. These works have benefitted almost 20,000 landowners and residents in these rural areas.
In 2023 alone, I allocated almost €30 million in funding for LIS. This represents the highest ever annual investment under LIS and was the third consecutive year in which funding allocated to the scheme has increased. This reflects the priority that I have afforded to the scheme in recent years.
Last year over €1.99 million in funding was granted to Donegal County Council, including LIS funding for the repair of Island roads, bringing the total amount allocated to Donegal since 2017 to more than €11 million. This equates to 8.8% of the total funding to date, and the is largest investment in any county under the Scheme.
My officials liaise closely with local authorities to ensure that allocations are utilised fully each year. While my department funds LIS, it is administered by local authorities who prioritise road projects and establish eligibility as per Section 81 Local Government Act 2001.
Though much progress has been achieved in recent years, there still remains a waiting list of roads to be completed in Donegal and indeed nationwide.
A total of €13.55 million has been allocated to LIS in 2024 and my Department is in the process of finalising the terms of the Scheme with a view to addressing the backlog and to launch the Scheme as early as possible to ensure local authorities are given every opportunity to complete as many roads as possible.
Finally, I wish to re-iterate my commitment to funding the Local Improvement Scheme as I understand its importance to rural communities. My officials continue to engage with all local authorities in relation to the management of LIS waiting lists.
In addition, I have been in ongoing communication with my colleague, the Minister for Transport regarding his Department possibly contributing to a jointly funded LIS scheme which would allow us to more rapidly address the demand under the Scheme
