Written Answers Nos. 1587-1599
1587. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if funding under town renewal scheme or any such funding was approved by her Department for an area (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12210/24]
View answerThe Department has a number of schemes that provide funding for projects in rural areas such as Elphin, Co Roscommon.
One such scheme is the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS). The scheme provides funding for the development and enhancement of outdoor recreational infrastructure such as walking trails, cycleways and blueways throughout rural Ireland. Since the scheme's launch in 2016, funding of almost €109 million has supported over 1,550 projects across the country. I launched the 2023 ORIS in June of last year with an allocation of €16 million, a €1 million increase on 2022. ORIS has provided €38,500 in funding to Elphin and has supported 3 projects.
The CLÁR (Ceantair Laga Árd-Riachtanais) Programme provides funding for small-scale projects in designated rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population over a defined period. Since the Programme was relaunched in 2016, it has supported a wide range of measures. Funding of €7.85 million was allocated for the 2023 CLÁR programme, an increase of €0.5 million in 2022. I expect to launch the CLÁR programme again in 2024. CLAR has provided €100,000 in funding to Elphin and has supported 2 projects.
The LEADER Programme is a key intervention of Our Rural Future and is delivered through Local Action Groups based on a community-led approach to rural development. It supports a broad range of activities that aim to respond to the needs of our rural areas. There were 5 projects approved for LEADER funding in Elphin, Co. Roscommon for the period in question to a total of €162,275.
The Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS) was designed to rejuvenate rural towns and villages throughout Ireland. Since its launch, over €156 million has been allocated to more than 1,700 projects across Ireland and has supported towns and villages the length and breadth of the country. I expect to announce successful projects under the 2023 shortly. TVRS has provided Elphin with €125,000 in funding which has supported 2 projects.
Under the 2022 Community Centre Investment Fund (CCIF), over €45.8 million was committed for the improvement and refurbishment of existing community centres across Ireland. The CCIF supported the development of a community centre in Elphin in 2022 and is providing funding of €285,019.05.
In summary, my Department has provided a total of €710,794.05 in funding to Elphin, Co. Roscommon since the inception of the Department in 2017.
1588. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if a Pobal deprivation index could be reviewed; if there is a process for appeal (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12280/24]
View answerThe Pobal HP Deprivation Index is Ireland's primary social gradient tool, commissioned by Pobal every five years following the completion of the national census. The most recent deprivation index was published in November 2023, using data 2022 census data.
The index provides a deprivation score for each of Ireland's 18,919 Small Areas, ranging from Extremely Disadvantaged to Very Affluent. The primary purpose of the index is to support Government Departments and state agencies to direct services and resources to the most disadvantaged communities on an objective basis, underpinned by robust data.
In respect of the organisation referred to, I understand that this query relates to the Sports Capital Grant administered by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport & Media.
I have been informed that under Sports Capital, an organisation is not simply scored based on the deprivation score of the Small Area in which they are located, but rather a wider catchment area is considered, by virtue of a bespoke radius drawn around the facility, with the average Deprivation score of all Small Areas within that area calculated.
For the purposes of appraisal under the Sports Capital Grant, the organisation will be scored on this bespoke radial score which considers close by areas of disadvantage, or the original Small Area score, whichever is lower (i.e. more advantageous to the applicant).
The Deputy might contact the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport & Media if any further clarity is required.
1589. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of exit and or severance and or redundancy packages granted by her Department, and bodies under her aegis and of bodies she funds in full or in part, of €100,000 and above but less that €200,000, by the amount and by each body in each of the years 2019 to 2023 and to date in 2024. [12356/24]
View answerI can confirm that between the years 2019 and 2024 no exit, severance or redundancy packages over a value of €100,000 were paid by my Department.
There are four organisations under the aegis of my Department. The Charities Regulatory Authority, Water Safety Ireland, the Western Development Commission and Pobal.
No staff from The Charities Regulatory Authority, Water Safety Ireland, the Western Development Commission received an exit, severance or redundancy payment for the years in question between the value of €100, 000 - €200,000.
I can confirm that there was one redundancy package made by Pobal in 2020 that had a value of €121,748. The payment complied with the relevant circular and was sanctioned by the Department of Public Expenditure NDP Delivery and Reform. Information relating to this payment is presented in the 2020 Financial Statement of the agency, which was subject to audit by the Comptroller and Auditor General
Given the remit of my Department, it provides grant aid to many community organisations and programmes across the country. It does not have a role in their operational matters.
1590. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the current number of live studies, reviews and research commissioned by her Department; the date by which each study, review and research is scheduled to be completed, in tabular form. [12633/24]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy in relation to live studies, reviews and research commissioned by my Department is set out in the table below:
|
Details of study/review/research |
Envisaged completion date |
|
Stakeholder consultation and revision of Public Participation Networks Implementation Roadmap |
Report expected to be completed in Q2 2024 |
|
Research on barriers to involvement in Public Participation Networks |
Report expected to be completed in Q3 2024 |
|
Feasibility study on the extension of the Connected Hubs platform to include remote working hubs in Northern Ireland |
Due to be complete in late October 2024 |
|
Government of Ireland-NUI Postdoctoral Fellowship in Rural Development - Research Project: Mapping Social Enterprises and their Impact on Sustainable Rural Development in Ireland |
Due for publication in Q3 2024 |
|
Review of Rural Policy in Ireland |
Report to be delivered in 2025 |
|
Assessing the Multi-dimensional Impact of Social Enterprise |
Due for completion in 2024 |
|
Evaluation of Pilot Community Development Programme (over 3 years) |
Due for completion in December 2024 |
|
Training Needs of the Community and Voluntary Sector |
This is a three part project with the first report finalised, while the other two are at final draft report stage and expected to be completed in Q2 2024 |
|
Research to compile an evidence based report setting out the current national practice of commissioning (and contracting) for services from the community and voluntary sector in Ireland |
Report expected to be completed in Q2 2024 |
|
Evaluation – Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme |
Review of the scheme, aiming to be completed in Q2 of 2024 |
|
National Volunteering Strategy -Research on Youth Volunteering: Building capacity for the future” with accompanying toolkit |
Due to be completed in Q2 of 2024 |
|
National Volunteering Strategy -Research on Volunteer recognition: Developing questions for the Irish Census on formal and informal volunteering |
Due to be completed in Q2 of 2024 |
|
Impact of the cost and availability of public liability insurance on the Community & Voluntary sector |
Due to be completed in late April 2024 |
1591. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when allocations under the Community Centres Investment Fund will be announced; the up-to-date position of an application under this fund for a community (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12636/24]
View answerLast year I announced a new €20 million fund to support communities with shovel-ready projects on green or brownfield sites for the construction of new community centres.
My Department received 22 applications to this fund from locations all around the country.
I can confirm that an application has been received in respect of the project referred to by the Deputy with €1,595,574 being sought from the fund. I'm pleased to note that the project approval process is almost concluded and I hope to announce the successful projects in the coming weeks.
1592. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development what schemes are available as part of a rejuvenation scheme for an area in Cork (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12704/24]
View answerMy Department supports vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities throughout Ireland by delivering a wide range of strategic interventions and investments throughout the country. These are underpinned by the Our Rural Future and Town Centre First policies whose key aim is to breath new life into rural towns and villages including by addressing vacancy and dereliction.
In relation to the specific query raised in relation state funded schemes for the painting of houses and commercial properties in a community, my Department has provided funding in this regard in recent years via support for the enhancement of streetscapes in rural towns and villages under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme. However, I understand that the area referred to in the Deputy's query is part of Cork City and thus does not fall under the rural support schemes administered by my Department.
I have, however, recently launched the Community Recognition under which Cork City Council has received an allocation of capital funding. The Fund has the potential to support a range of community resources and projects and I have asked local authorities (who will administer the scheme at local level) to engage with local communities in relation to proposed projects. Indeed, Cork City Council should also be in a position to advise as to any other potential streams of funding which may be available outside of my Department.
1593. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will publish a list of the NGOs funded by her Department; and the level the funding each NGO received in the past three years, in tabular form. [12726/24]
View answerIn order to achieve its business objectives my Department allocates significant resources across a number of sectors. These include local authorities, State agencies and other bodies including a range of organisations that might be considered non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
The Scheme to Support National Organisations (SSNO) is a key programme which provides multi-annual funding towards core costs of national community and voluntary organisations that demonstrate good governance and deliver services and supports that have a focus on one or more of the following: addressing poverty, social exclusion and promoting equality. The Scheme is administered by Pobal on behalf of my Department.
In addition my Department delivers a wide range of measures to support urban and rural communities, through a number of funding supports, including the Community Development Pilot Programme, Public Participation Networks (PPNs), supports for the development of philanthropy, Men's Sheds, volunteering supports, and funding to organisations to support individuals and groups from disadvantaged, marginalised and socially excluded communities.
However, there is no universally accepted definition of what constitutes an NGO and so my Department does not hold information on the NGO status, or otherwise, of bodies in receipt of funding. On that basis I am providing an indicative list of organisations commonly considered to be NGOs that my Department allocated funding to in the period in question. Details are provided in the attached table.
Further information on all schemes and programmes can be found on my Department's website www.drcd.gov.ie
1594. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of engagements, including online meetings, webinars, briefings and in-person meetings that she or officials from her Department and bodies under the aegis of her Department have had with an organisation (details supplied) including its representatives from 1 January 2019 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12746/24]
View answerDetails regarding engagements by my Department with the organisation referred to by the Deputy are set out in the table below.
|
DRCD Unit where Minister of State/Department Unit's Officials engaged with the National Women’s Council of Ireland. |
Number of engagements |
Online meetings, webinars, briefings or in-person meetings |
Context of engagement |
|
Rural Strategy and Social Enterprise Unit |
1 - Conference |
1 – Online Meeting, to finalise Conference details |
Rural Strategy supported the NWCI to host their Annual Conference in 2022 in Co Monaghan, to coincide with International Rural Women’s Day on 15 October.Minister Humphreys opened the Conference and two officials from the Unit also attended.The Conference provided a forum for rural women around the country, to gather and discuss topical issues of relevance and importance. |
|
Community and Voluntary Supports and Programmes Unit |
20 |
My officials have met with the PPN National Advisory Group 20 times since 2019. |
One member of the National Women’s Council of Ireland sat on the Public Participation Network (PPN) National Advisory Group until end 2023, representing the Community & Voluntary Social Pillar. |
|
Community and Voluntary Supports and Programmes Unit – Community & Voluntary Pillar |
9 |
2 in-person meetings in 2019. 7 online meetings from 2020 to 2023. |
The Pillar formally meets with my officials twice a year, with individual members also contributing separately as part of wider Departmental policy engagement. |
There are four agencies under my Department’s remit: the Western Development Commission, Pobal, Irish Water Safety, and the Charities Regulator. They are all independent legal entities responsible for managing their own corporate affairs in compliance with their statutory obligations. The details of the Oireachtas contact point for each of the agencies, who would be in a position to provide the Deputy with the requested information in respect of their organisation, are set out in the table below:
|
Agency |
Contact details |
|
Pobal |
oireachtasqueries@pobal.ie |
|
Charities Regulator |
oireachtas@charitiesregulator.ie |
|
Water Safety Ireland |
oireachtas@wsi.ie |
|
Western Development Commission |
oireachtas@wdc.ie |
1595. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if it is proposed to introduce a scheme that would help local authorities to put in place the necessary infrastructural changes in the older parts of cities and towns, for example, Blackpool in Cork, to fast track the rejuvenation of existing buildings and facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12887/24]
View answerThe 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. It supports the Our Rural Future vision for a thriving rural Ireland which is integral to our national economic, social, cultural and environmental wellbeing and development. Central to the Town Centre First approach is the range of support funding in place, including my department’s Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF), and Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS).
The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) provides investment to develop and deliver large scale capital projects in towns and villages with a population of less than 10,000, and outlying areas.
Calls for applications to the Fund are sought under two categories – Category 1 and Category 2. Category 1 relates to large scale ambitious capital projects with all necessary planning and other consents in place, and which are ready to proceed to construction. Category 2 provides smaller grant funding to enable the development of project proposals suitable for future calls for Category 1 applications.
The RRDF is open for applications from State funded bodies including local authorities, Local Development Companies, government departments and State agencies.
To date, 215 projects have been approved for RRDF funding of €415 million for projects costing €571 million.
I announced the fifth RRDF Category 1 call for applications last November, with a focus on revitalising our rural towns and villages through planned and sustainable regeneration that will drive greater economic activity and footfall, address vacancy and dereliction and ensure the re-use of heritage and other existing buildings. The call closed on the 8th February 2024. My Department received 60 applications to this call, seeking funding of over €334 million. Applications are currently being assessed by my Department.
The TVRS was introduced in 2016 and is one of several measures within the Department designed to rejuvenate rural towns and villages throughout Ireland. Since the launch of TVRS, over €156 million has been allocated to more than 1,700 projects across Ireland and has supported towns and villages the length and breadth of the country. I expect to announce successful projects from the 2023 call for applications in the coming weeks.
The type of investment referred to may also be eligible under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF), which is administered by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. It aims to deliver more compact and sustainable development, by part-funding regeneration and rejuvenation projects in Ireland’s five cities and other large towns.
1597. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development to provide details on all planned PPP projects and ongoing PPP contracts; the status of each project; the anticipated or known capital cost; the anticipated or known cost to the Exchequer over the lifetime of the contracts; the annual total payment of PPP unitary charges and the percentage share of the total capital budget for her Department and all public bodies under the aegis of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13202/24]
View answerI can confirm that neither my Department nor any of the agencies under my Department's aegis have any current or planned Public Private Partnership (PPP) projects in place.
1598. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide emergency funding to Clare County Council under CIS and LIS following a very rough winter period which made significant damage to the more rural roads in the County; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13328/24]
View answerAs part of Our Rural Future, the Government is committed to ensuring that the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) is funded into the future. The scheme funds repair works on non-public roads not normally maintained by local authorities.
In 2023 alone, a record investment of almost €30 million was allocated to local authorities nationwide, bringing the total amount invested in LIS since its re-introduction in 2017 to almost €130 million. over €1.37 million was allocated to Clare County Council to fund works in 2023 to complete works on their list of priority roads.
Whilst my Department is pleased to support efforts to ensure a high standard of roads in rural areas, primary responsibility for the upkeep and repair on public roads remains within the remit of the local authorities and the Department of Transport. Flood relief initiatives and associated schemes are funded via the Office of Public Works and local authorities.
The Community Involvement Scheme (CIS) is a joint venture approach between local authorities and local communities, carrying out maintenance and repair works on suitable regional and local roads. It is funded by the Department of Transport, and my Department has no role in this scheme.
I have made numerous representations to my colleague, the Minister for Transport regarding contributing to a jointly funded Local Improvement Scheme. I will continue to engage with the Minister and in the meantime I will work with local authorities to ensure that the LIS continues to deliver maximum benefits in rural communities across Ireland.
My Department is currently finalising the Local Improvement Scheme details for the coming year and an announcement on the terms and conditions of the scheme is expected shortly.
1599. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development what steps she will take to ensure that all 30 applications made under CIS and 146 applications made under LIS to Clare County Council will be funded by her Department in 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13329/24]
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 vital contribution that the scheme makes to connectivity in rural Ireland.
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 rural Ireland.
From 2017 to 2023, over €6.3 million has been allocated to Clare County Council to fund LIS works carried out on over 149 roads non-public roads. In 2023, over €1.37 million was allocated in LIS funding to Clare for repair and maintenance works on 22 roads benefiting 73 households.
While my Department provides funding, the selection of roads to be funded under the scheme is a matter for each local authority and is based on the priority or condition of particular roads in their county. Local authorities may rely on existing lists of eligible roads and/or advertise for new applicant roads.
My Department is currently finalising the scheme details for the coming year and an announcement is expected shortly. My officials will be in contact with local authorities as soon as it is announced and will work closely with local authorities to ensure this year's LIS funding is fully utilised.
With regard to the Community Involvement Scheme (CIS), this is a scheme funded by the Department of Transport. It is a joint approach between local authorities and local communities for the restoration/maintenance of suitable public roads and is a matter for my colleague the Minister for Transport.
