Jennifer Murnane O'Connor
Question:21. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development for an update on the Communities Centre Investment Fund in County Carlow. [20608/24]
View answerDepartmental Funding
Questions (21, 34, 42)
Niamh Smyth
Question:34. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development for an update on the community centre fund when it comes to existing centres getting investment for refurbishment/renovation; when this is likely to open to applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20631/24]
View answer
Ciarán Cannon
Question:42. Deputy Ciarán Cannon asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will open up a new round of funding for upgrade and refurbishment works in community centres in County Galway. [20898/24]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 21, 34 and 42 together.
Community centres are a vital resource for any community. They are where we go for community activities and events, and for social supports and social interaction. They are home to many of our cultural and sporting clubs. They are also where communities come together in times of difficulty and in times of celebration.
I have prioritised the development and enhancement of community centres across the country to improve access and provide suitable social spaces.
Under the 2022 Community Centre Investment Fund in particular, over €45.8 million was committed for improvement and refurbishment works on over 860 existing community centres across Ireland. There was a huge uptake of this funding and communities are now enjoying the improvements to the fabric of their community centres as a result of this Government initiative.
I am happy to confirm that approximately 600 of these projects are now complete or have submitted their final progress reports. These progress reports are currently being reviewed in advance of final payment.
Project extensions have been provided for approximately 250 projects, with a small number of other extension requests currently being assessed.
I am happy to confirm that there were eight projects funded in Carlow under the 2022 Community Centre Investment fund. Three of these projects have been completed.
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 and I announced a new fund to support communities with shovel-ready projects on green or brownfield sites for the construction of new community centres.
When I launched this fund last year with a €20 million allocation, I expected to approve 5 or 6 projects. Taking account of the quality of the applications and the identified needs, last month I was delighted to approve funding of €30 million for construction of 12 new community centres covering nine counties.
This funding will assist community groups striving to build their own community centre to service local needs and the level of interest has shown that these centres, when complete, will be the heart of many a community.
These projects are all on brown or green field sites and have all the necessary planning and consents secured so they are already at an advanced stage and ready to commence following a tender process.
The successful community centre projects will receive capital grants of between €1 million and €6 million to build multi-functional centres in areas that currently lack community facilities.
I am delighted to confirm that Tullow Road Community Hub in Carlow was successful in their application to the new builds scheme, with over €4.1 million being approved under the fund.
Deputy Smyth will also no doubt be aware that Rockcorry Community Centre was successful in their application in County Monaghan with over €2.6 million being approved under the fund.
Deputy Cannon will also be pleased to note that County Galway had two successful projects under this fund. Aras Lae, Maigh Cuilinn have been approved €6 million in grant aid and Newcastle Community Centre in Galway City was approved for over €4.3 million in respect of their application.
Through ‘Our Rural Future’, I want to support locally led, ground-up projects in local communities across the country. This funding is all about giving a helping hand to our local groups as they serve their communities with such dedication and generosity. I am always struck by the immense pride communities have in their locality. The community centre is a safe, positive and accessible space for all manner of community activities and I want to ensure that community centres continue to remain a hive of activity.
I am now giving consideration to the need for further rounds of funding and indeed the conditions that might be attached to any further iterations of the scheme in the context of available funding.
Control of Dogs
Questions (22)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:22. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will report on the work of her Department in combatting dog attacks on sheep and livestock; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20532/24]
View answerWritten answers
I believe it is important for dog owners to be aware of their responsibilities - not just to the general public but also to their dogs. For this reason, I launched a major national awareness campaign to alert dog owners to their responsibilities and to raise awareness of the dangers that can be posed to people and to livestock by uncontrolled dogs.
In addition, I announced the establishment of a high level stakeholder group to consider and make recommendations to strengthen policy in relation to these issues. I have appointed John Twomey as Chair of the stakeholder group, which comprises members with a broad range of expertise.
The group have been tasked with considering the policy and legislative matters under the remit of my Department, specifically the Dog Control Acts and the Dog Breeding Establishments Act. I look forward to receiving the recommendations of the group in due course.
I am committed to improving outcomes in relation to Dog Control in Ireland and in this context, I increased ‘on-the-spot’ fines for offences under the Control of Dogs Act, including trebling the fines for most serious offences from €100 to €300. Multiple fines can be issued where more than one offence occurs.
Finally, in addition to these measures, I also announced the establishment of a €2 million fund under a new Dog Control Support Initiative. This funding comes as a direct response to increased pressures on dog control services and will make immediate and tangible improvements to the dog control service across the country.
Island Communities
Questions (23)
Catherine Connolly
Question:23. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 45 of 5 March 2024, the status of the monitoring committee for the implementation of the new policy for the islands; the dates of all meetings to date; the date of the next meeting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20763/24]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy will be aware, I launched Our Living Islands - the National Island Policy 2023-2033 in June of last year. Our Living Islands is a substantial document – a ten-year policy backed up by rolling three year action plans. It has time-bound commitments so that Departments and agencies across Government can be held to account for its implementation.
Following the publication of the policy, I established a Monitoring Committee, chaired by my Department, to engage with key Government Departments, agencies and local authorities in relation to progress on implementation of the action plan.
The committee includes six representatives of the island communities, nominated by Comhdháil Oileáin na hÉireann, along with a representative of Comhar na nOileán, the local development company for the islands. The committee also includes representatives of Departments and State bodies which have key roles in the delivery of the policy and action plan.
The fist meeting of the Monitoring Committee was held on 7 December 2023. The second and most recent meeting was held in Galway on 6 March.
I understand that the relevant Departments and Agencies provided progress updates at that meeting, particularly in relation to actions with a timeline of Quarter 3 or Quarter 4 of 2023. Progress reports on implementation will be provided to me as Minister and to the Cabinet Committee as appropriate and published alongside the periodical reports on Our Rural Future.
The next meeting of the Monitoring Committee is scheduled for 23 May, following which the minutes of the previous meeting will be published on the Our Living Islands webpage on gov.ie once they have been agreed.
The terms of reference and membership of the Monitoring Committee are also published on gov.ie. They reflect the Government's commitment to ensuring that island communities are key participants in the process.
Island Communities
Questions (24)
Catherine Connolly
Question:24. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 59 of 5 March 2024, the status of the development of Caladh Mor on Inis Meáin; the status of the preparation of the preliminary business case; if the consultant has been appointed to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20764/24]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy is aware, Galway County Council is the responsible authority for the maintenance and development of pier infrastructure on the Aran Islands, including Inis Meáin.
There are regular meetings between officials from my department and Galway County Council to discuss and monitor the pier development in Inis Oírr and Inis Meáin. The last meeting was held on 16 April.
At that meeting, the officials discussed a document prepared by the County Council to appoint consultants to look at all possible options for providing safe harbour facilities on Inis Meáin. This process must be completed in accordance with the Government's Infrastructure Guidelines and Public Expenditure Requirements, published in December 2023.
The Department gave approval to the County Council in April to start the tender process to appoint consultants to undertake that work.
My Department and Galway County Council agree that there will be clear engagement with island representatives and the independent consultant to be appointed, ensuring that the entire community has input into the process.
My Department will continue to engage with Galway County Council to ensure the process is progressed without delay and a consultant appointed as quickly as possible.
Island Communities
Questions (25)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:25. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the progress made to date with the development of Céibh an Chalaidh Mhóir in Inis Meáin; the timeline for the processes that will have to be gone through to get this project to construction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20814/24]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy is aware, Galway County Council is the responsible authority for the maintenance and development of pier infrastructure on the Aran Islands, including Inis Meáin.
There are regular meetings between officials from my department and Galway County Council to discuss and monitor the pier development in Inis Oírr and Inis Meáin. The last meeting was held on 16 April.
At that meeting, the officials discussed a document prepared by the County Council to appoint consultants to look at all possible options for providing safe harbour facilities on Inis Meáin. This process must be completed in accordance with the Government's Infrastructure Guidelines and Public Expenditure Requirements, published in December 2023.
The Department gave approval to the County Council in April to start the tender process to appoint consultants to undertake that work.
My Department and Galway County Council agree that there will be clear engagement with island representatives and the independent consultant to be appointed, ensuring that the entire community has input into the process.
It is not possible at this early stage to give a timeline for the processes that will have to be gone through, but my Department will continue to engage with Galway County Council to ensure the process is progressed without delay and a consultant appointed as quickly as possible.
Rural Schemes
Questions (26, 27)
Bernard Durkan
Question:26. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent of the monies allocated and spent by her Department through the various schemes available to rural/urban community groups suffering from isolation/deprivation; the extent to which such expenditure continues to benefit directly from schemes under the aegis of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20835/24]
View answerBernard Durkan
Question:27. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which she intends to continue with her Department’s support for rural and/or urban community groups under the various schemes available in order to reassure people in these areas that it is her intention to continue with such programmes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20834/24]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 26 and 27 together.
My Department operates a range of programmes and schemes that support economic and community development in urban and rural areas throughout the country. The targeted investments and supports which my Department provides to regional, rural and local communities through a wide range of initiatives promote social inclusion, rural, town and village regeneration, outdoor recreation, facilitate new working opportunities, and foster regional enterprise growth.
Capital schemes including the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, LEADER, the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, the Local Improvement Scheme, and the Community Centre Investment Fund are delivering projects throughout the country.
Current funding supports such as the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) and the Community Services Programme (CSP) are helping to tackle social exclusion, unemployment, promote social cohesion and support thriving communities.
SICAP addresses high and persistent levels of deprivation through targeted and innovative, locally-led approaches. It supports disadvantaged communities and individuals including unemployed people, people living in deprived areas, people with disabilities, single parent families, people on a low income, members of the Traveller and Roma community and other disadvantaged groups. SICAP funding has increased by €8.3 million over 3 years, totalling €51 million in 2024.
The schemes administered by my Department are regularly reviewed and, where necessary, adapted and supplemented in response to emerging needs. Such examples are the Community Call Initiative, the Covid-19 Stability Scheme, the Accelerated Town and Village Renewal Scheme, the Community and Voluntary Energy Support Scheme and the Community Recognition Fund.
Budget 2024 provides my Department with a gross allocation of €431 million. This funding will allow me to maintain the excellent supports in place, and to provide some targeted increases. I also note the recent NDP ceilings provide funding certainty for the capital schemes operated by my Department.
My Department will continue to engage with rural and urban stakeholders to identify issues impacting on communities and respond to emerging needs. I am confident that the funding supports and policies provided by my Department will continue to deliver tangible benefits for both urban and rural communities.
Question No. 27 answered with Question No. 26.
Question No. 28 answered orally.
Question No. 29 answered with Question No. 12.
Library Services
Questions (30)
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Question:30. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development what efforts are underway to increase library membership and participation; and to provide an update on membership numbers at local authority libraries each year over the past five years. [20944/24]
View answerWritten answers
In July 2023, I launched the new Public Library Strategy 2023-2027 "The Library is the Place: Information, Recreation, Inspiration". This sets out 66 strategic actions under 9 strategic objectives and 3 strategic enablers for our public libraries, for the next five years. It is an ambitious forward-looking strategy which sets the direction of travel for the public library service and seeks to improve access, use and visibility of public libraries as an essential community service.
The strategy contains proposals to promote library use through national and local promotional campaigns and the provision of training to library staff on marketing and communications. The following initiatives will also help increase library membership and participation:
• Ireland Reads - a Government initiative funded by Healthy Ireland and supported by public libraries and many organisations that promote literacy and the arts. On Saturday 24th February, the people of Ireland were encouraged to take time out of their busy lives to ‘Get Lost in a Book’ and drop into their local library for Ireland Reads Day.
• Another such initiative is the first National Library Open Day which is planned for later this year.
• The First Five Little Library programme began in 2021 and for 2022 and 2023, the My Little Library Bag initiative was delivered to support 4 and 5 year olds starting school and to encourage them to join the library. In 2023, approximately 54% of the population of 4 and 5 year olds starting school availed of the programme.
• The following table provides the numbers of registered library members over the past five years. It should be noted that a change in the duration of library membership in 2019, as well as the impact of an automatic re-registration process put in place during the pandemic in 2020 when library buildings were closed, mean that direct comparisons of membership figures in 2019, 2020 and later years would not be completely accurate. Nevertheless, the trend is increasing growth in membership since the pandemic period concluded.
|
- |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
|
Members (registered) |
885,971 |
1,036,062 |
483,433 |
765,000 |
784,618 |
Departmental Policies
Questions (31)
Pauline Tully
Question:31. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the timeframe within which she plans to introduce a rural proofing model; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20900/24]
View answerWritten answers
Our Rural Future, Government's 5 year rural development policy to 2025, commits to developing an effective rural proofing approach to ensure the needs of rural communities are fully considered in the development of Government policies.
Last year, my Department published a body of research including the international experience of rural proofing which is available on the Department’s website. The available evidence is very clear that effective rural proofing has been difficult to successfully achieve and there is no ‘one size fits all’ approach. To inform the approach to rural proofing in an Irish context, my Department initiated Rural Proofing Pilots on a selected number of key policies as follows:
• the review of the National Planning Framework being led by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage;
• the development of the new Sustainable Tourism Policy led by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media;
• the development of the new National Hubs Strategy by my own Department; and
• the development of the new Social Enterprise Strategy due to be published shortly.
• The experience under the pilots has led us to understand that Rural Proofing is not a policy or a model. Rural proofing is a process. It speaks to the way in which we view policy through a rural lens and manage our work to help ensure that our policies and services understand, and take account of, the specific needs and capacities of rural communities.
• Broadly, in rolling out the rural proofing pilots, we have learned that the process should systematically ensure that;
• early consideration is given to identify those issues and capacities which particularly affect rural communities in order to place these are placed at the centre of the policy design process;
• rather than presuming that views will be proffered, as part our standard approach to public consultation, that rural communities are systematically prompted to reflect and advise on policy and any proposals as they relate to them as being a rural dweller as opposed to an urban dweller;
• in using a Place Based Approach to rural development, that policy makers and service providers must meaningfully engage with rural people and businesses who can articulate their own needs best.
• My intention is that a report on the work we have undertaken, together with a broad approach to a rural proofing process with guidance documents, will be made in the near future.
Question No. 32 answered with Question No. 12.
Rural Schemes
Questions (33)
Darren O'Rourke
Question:33. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will outline, in relation to the local improvement scheme, the amount of funding available for County Meath under the scheme; the initiatives taking place in County Meath; if she plans to increase funding available to County Meath under the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20810/24]
View answerWritten answers
The Local Improvement Scheme supports the improvement of rural roads and laneways that are not usually maintained by local authorities. As part of Our Rural Future, the government is committed to ensuring that the LIS is funded in the future.
I recently announced over €40 million in funding for the 2024 and 2025 Schemes, having secured an additional once off funding in respect of 2024.
This announcement brings the total amount of funding provided for LIS by my Department since its establishment in 2017 to just under €170 million. This total funding has resulted in improvement works on over 4,000 roads, benefitting almost 20,000 landowners and residents in these rural areas.
Between 2017 and 2023 Meath was allocated €4,268,431 in funding. Furthermore, Meath has been allocated €1,325,559 under LIS for the period 2024/2025.
Local authorities are now in the process of applying to my Department for approval for proposed repair works on eligible roads this year and will have until November to complete these works.
Question No. 34 answered with Question No. 21.
Question No. 35 answered with Question No. 12.
Question No. 36 answered with Question No. 12.
Broadcasting Sector
Questions (37)
Paul Donnelly
Question:37. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development to give a commitment to multi-annual funding for local community radio stations that operate the community services programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20939/24]
View answerWritten answers
The Department's Community Services Programme (CSP) currently supports over 430 community-based organisations, to provide local services through a social enterprise model. CSP provides an annual co-funding contribution towards each full-time equivalent (FTE) position being supported, and, where warranted, towards the cost of employing a manager.
The CSP currently supports thirteen radio stations throughout the country, as set out in Appendix I, with funding of €1.33m for 2024, supporting thirteen manager positions and thirty five FTE positions. Multi-annual contracts are in place up to 31 December 2027.
Indecon's Report on the Review of the CSP Programme published in 2020, recommended a review of the responsibility for funding specific services across Government Departments, including Community Radio Stations, to ensure that they are supported by the most relevant Departments and state agencies responsible for specific policy areas.
My Department will engage with those organisations in specified sectors to identify more appropriate funding sources and this has been provided for in their grant agreement contracts.
Service types that may be considered to be more appropriately supported by other departments and state agencies, that are already supported under the CSP Programme, will continue to be supported by the Programme, by exception, however, these were not considered a priority under the 2023 Open Call.
Appendix I – List of CSP supported Radio Stations
|
CSP supported organisations |
County |
No. of Manager positions |
No. of Full Time Equivalent positions |
2024 Allocation |
|
Dublin 15 Community Broadcasting Co-operative Society Limited |
Dublin - Fingal |
1 |
3 |
€ 104,525.00 |
|
Community Radio Castlebar F.M. CLG |
Mayo |
1 |
3 |
€ 114,750.00 |
|
Youghal Communications CLG |
Cork |
1 |
3 |
€ 104,525.00 |
|
South West Clare Community Radio CLG |
Clare |
1 |
4 |
€ 140,500.00 |
|
Kilkenny Community Communications Co-Operative Society Limited |
Kilkenny |
1 |
3 |
€ 104,525.00 |
|
Connemara Community Radio CLG |
Galway |
1 |
3 |
€ 104,525.00 |
|
Tipperary Mid-West Radio Co-Operative Society Limited |
Tipperary |
1 |
3 |
€ 114,750.00 |
|
Cork New Life Media |
Cork |
1 |
1 |
€ 58,175.00 |
|
Dundalk Media Centre CLG |
Louth |
1 |
4 |
€ 140,500.00 |
|
Claremorris Community Radio CLG |
Mayo |
1 |
2 |
€ 81,350.00 |
|
RosFM Radio CLG |
Roscommon |
1 |
1 |
€ 58,175.00 |
|
Athlone Community Radio CLG |
Westmeath |
1 |
4 |
€ 140,500.00 |
|
Liffey Sound Communications Co-Operative Society Limited |
South County Dublin |
1 |
1 |
€ 63,250.00 |
|
Totals |
13 |
35 |
€ 1,330,050.00 |
Rural Schemes
Questions (38)
Ruairí Ó Murchú
Question:38. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide an update on any engagement her Department has had with the Department of Transport and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage in relation to enhancement of the LIS allocations for counties affected by flooding, particularly Louth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20865/24]
View answerWritten answers
The Local Improvement Scheme supports the improvement of 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 in the future.
I recently announced €40 million in funding for the 2024 and 2025 Schemes. This announcement brings the total amount of funding provided for the Local Improvement Scheme by my Development since its establishment in 2017 to just under €170 Million. It represents my commitment to ensuring that LIS continues to receive adequate funding.
In response to feedback received, I have introduced a new flexibility for local authorities to include on their priority lists roads previously repaired under LIS but which have since been damaged by severe flooding in late 2023. If applying for remedial works on these roads, evidence should be supplied of when previous LIS repairs were carried out and documentary evidence of damage sustained as a result of flooding in 2023.
In relation to the Deputy's specific query, the Office of Public Works, in conjunction with local authorities, retains the primary responsibility for preventive and emergency flood relief measures.
Control of Dogs
Questions (39)
Niamh Smyth
Question:39. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she or her Department officials have had discussions with Cavan County Council on dog control matters, given that it was recently reported that no dog control fines were issued by the local authority last year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18145/24]
View answerWritten answers
As I advised the Deputy in my response to her previous question on this matter (Dáil question number 83) on the 5th March 2024 my Department of Rural and Community Development has overall policy responsibility for the Control of Dogs Acts 1986 to 2014. Local Authorities have responsibility for all operational matters under the Control of Dogs Acts including licensing and enforcement. Local Authorities are well placed to target measures in their areas.
My Department publishes annual statistics in respect of a range of the dog control responsibilities of local authorities. Information up to and including 2022, including the numbers of on-the-spot fines issued, by county and in tabular form, is available on the dog control statistics page on gov.ie. The Local Authority in question have reaffirmed the figures provided previously to my Department and which are published on gov.ie, indicating the number of fines issued in each of the years to 2022. The most recent figure available from 2022 states that 14 on-the-spot fines were issued in the Cavan area that year. My officials have requested 2023 statistics from all Local Authorities and I look forward to publishing these on gov.ie once available. I very much appreciate all the work of Local Authorities in collating and making statistics available. These statistics form the evidence base needed for better policy making and I look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with them in improving national policy.
Water Safety
Questions (40)
Seán Sherlock
Question:40. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the engagement she has had with local authorities with coastal beaches and inland swimming lakes on funding for extended lifeguard personnel; and if she intends to extend the lifeguard season in light of changing weather in months such as September. [20957/24]
View answerWritten answers
Water Safety Ireland (WSI) is the statutory, voluntary body and registered charity established to promote water safety and reduce drownings in Ireland. WSI has statutory responsibility for the promotion of public awareness of water safety; advancement of education related to the prevention of accidents in water; instruction in water safety; and the establishment of national standards for lifeguards.
In 2023 I launched WSI’s Strategic Development Plan 2023-2027. Goal 5, with its four corresponding objectives, specifically focuses on lifeguarding, both costal beaches and inland lakes.
While WSI is an independent body under the aegis of my Department, the employment of lifeguards is a matter for the relevant local authority under the Local Government Acts. Neither my Department nor Water Safety Ireland have a remit in respect of local government employment including lifeguards and the extension of the lifeguard season.
Water Safety Development Officers (WSDO) are employees of the relevant local authority, and their duties typically include purchasing of water safety equipment for lifeguards, instructors and examiners, and employment of lifeguards at swimming areas during the summer season.
Question No. 41 answered orally.
Question No. 42 answered with Question No. 21.
Questions Nos. 43 and 44 answered orally.
Rural Schemes
Questions (45)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:45. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will report on the work and progress of 'Our Rural Future'. [20533/24]
View answerWritten answers
Our Rural Future is the whole-of-government policy for sustainable rural development in Ireland. The policy was published in March 2021, and contains more than 170 commitments for delivery by government departments and their agencies. These measures support the economic, environmental, cultural and social development and wellbeing of rural communities.
Policy updates are provided through six-monthly Progress Reports and annual Work Programmes. The development of each Annual Work Programme allows for new measures and actions. These are added in light of any revised priorities, emerging opportunities and challenges.
The Fifth Progress Report, which provides updates for Quarter 3 and Quarter 4 2023, and the 2024 Work Programme have now been published. These are available to view, alongside previous Progress Reports and Work Programmes, on my Department's website at www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/c6f5d-our-rural-future/.
Looking at the broader implementation of Our Rural Future which runs until end 2025, of the original 154 measures, 46 (30%) are being implemented and are of an ongoing nature. Of the remaining 107 measures, a total of 87 (57%) have now been completed, although in many cases, activity beyond the original commitment is continuing and will be reported on over the remaining period of the policy. I am delighted at the level of progress to date across all contributing departments, which highlights this government’s continued commitment to rural Ireland.
As we are now in year 4 of the five-year policy, my Department has started the process of developing a successor to Our Rural Future. To support and inform this process, in December last I commissioned the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to conduct an independent review of rural policy in Ireland. The review has commenced and is due for completion in Quarter 2 of 2025, with officials in my Department liaising closely with the OECD for the duration of the review.
Departmental Schemes
Questions (46)
Darren O'Rourke
Question:46. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will outline, in relation to internships, apprenticeships and graduate schemes run by her Department, the places that are available in County Meath; the number filled in County Meath; if there are plans to increase same; the length of any waiting list for places in County Meath; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20811/24]
View answerWritten answers
My Department places a lot of importance on programmes providing pathways for people in marginalised groups to join the workforce. For example, my Department currently has two graduates taking part in the Willing and Able Mentoring (WAM) programme, a 10 month placement for people with disabilities.
My Department has also recently recruited a staff member on the Work Placement Experience Programme (WPEP). This is a Department of Social Protection initiative which gives people who have been long term unemployed a chance to gain work experience.
However, while my Department has offices located in Ballina, Dublin and Na Forbacha (Galway), it has no offices in County Meath.
Island Communities
Questions (47)
Catherine Connolly
Question:47. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 49 of 5 March 2024, for a status update on the transfer to her Department of land on Inisbofin on which the airstrip is situated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20762/24]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy is aware, the land on which the Inishbofin airstrip is located is currently owned by Galway County Council. These lands were acquired by way of a Compulsory Purchase Order by Galway County Council on behalf of the Department. Part of the site is intended for eventual use by the HSE for a primary care centre.
The transfer of these lands to my Department has been an ongoing process for a number of years. I understand there were outstanding legal and mapping issues but these have now been resolved.
I am advised that officials from my Department are currently working with the Chief State Solicitors Office and Galway County Council on ensuring the final relevant legal processes are undertaken and completed in order to transfer the lands to my Department as soon as possible.
In the meantime, part of the airstrip is being used by the Coast Guard as a helipad in the event of medical emergency evacuations. To further assist with such emergency evacuations, it is planned to install permanent lighting for the helipad later this year.
Youth Services
Questions (48)
Aindrias Moynihan
Question:48. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development for the up-to-date position on the recommendation of the National Rural Youth Assembly, Summary Report 2023 to provide a community liaison person who would facilitate contact between younger people in the community and Government bodies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20732/24]
View answerWritten answers
Our Rural Future, the whole-of-Government policy for the sustainable development of rural Ireland, committed to establishing an “annual Rural Youth Assembly to allow young people living in rural Ireland to make an on-going contribution to identifying and influencing policy issues that impact on them and their future.’
My Department holds lead responsibility for this commitment and has established a Rural Youth Assembly under the umbrella of the National Youth Assembly of Ireland. The Assembly provides a valuable forum for young people from rural areas to discuss issues of importance to them, including the challenges and opportunities associated with living, studying and socialising in rural Ireland.
The inaugural Rural Youth Assembly took place online on 16 November 2021, in partnership with the Department of Children, Equality, Diversity, Integration and Youth’s National Participation Office, followed by the first in person event in Collins Barracks in July 2022.
The 2023 Assembly took place last October at Dublin Castle and discussed the theme of Civic Participation of Young People in Rural Ireland. The 2023 Rural Youth Assembly Report, which is available on my Department’s website, details the proposals and recommendations made on the day.
The 2023 report also contains an update on the proposals and recommendations made at the previous Assembly in 2022, one of which centred on a Community Liaison Person to facilitate contact between the youth in the community and the Government bodies. The update confirms that the Public Participation Network (PPN) provides an appropriate structure designed to accommodate the full and diverse range of members including youth representatives.
PPNs, which are in place at local authority level, are specifically designed to;
• Facilitate the participation and representation of communities in a fair, equitable and transparent manner through the environmental, social inclusion, community and voluntary sectors on decision making bodies;
• Strengthen the capacity of communities and of the environmental, social inclusion, community and voluntary groups to contribute positively to the community in which they reside/participate; and
• Provide information relevant to the environmental, social inclusion, community and voluntary sector and acts as a hub around which information is distributed and received.
PPNs provide representation for the community sector in local authority policymaking structures, giving local volunteers a greater say in local government decisions which affect their own communities. Where community representation is required on local authority committees, such as Strategic Policy Committees or Local Community Development Committees etc., it must be sourced through the PPN.
In order to ensure diverse input by community groups into the decision-making process, it is essential that PPNs represent a range of perspectives from the community sector. To this end, the Department has commissioned research on barriers to involvement in PPNs which will explore the demographic characteristics of groups involved in all 31 PPNs. Youth participation will form one strand of the research, and one of the project deliverables is to make recommendations on developing a youth engagement strategy aimed at increasing the number of young people involved in PPNs.