Written Answers Nos. 1751-1764
1751. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of two grants applied for by a club (details supplied); the timeframe for a decision on both; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1379/25]
View answerIn June last year, I was delighted to announce a new round of funding to support community groups to upgrade and refurbish the community facilities in their areas. The Community Centre Investment Fund 2024 will provide funding of between €10,000 and €100,000 towards capital costs for the refurbishment of existing community centres.
The window for applying for the scheme closed in early September 2024. I approved in excess of €7.6 million for almost 400 community centres under category 1 of the fund in November last. These are projects seeking funding of up to €25,000.
I can confirm that the organisation referred to by the Deputy has submitted an application under category 2 of the Community Centre Investment Fund 2024. All applications in respect of category 2 projects, which are applications seeking funding of up to €100,000, are currently being assessed. It is expected that successful projects will be announced in the coming weeks.
I understand that the organisation referred to by the Deputy also submitted an application to Cavan County Council under the 2024 Community Recognition Fund.
The Community Recognition Fund is being administered at a county level by each local authority. Applications under this fund can be submitted to the Department of Rural & Community Development by local authorities across three phases. Cavan County Council has not submitted an application to the Department of Rural & Community Development in respect of the organisation referred to by the Deputy under phase 1 or 2. It may be the case that an application in respect of this group may be submitted by the local authority under the third and final application phase. The organisation may wish to discuss this project application directly with Cavan County Council.
1752. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when works will commence on the redevelopment of Inis Oírr Pier. [1513/25]
View answerGalway County Council is the responsible authority for the maintenance and development of pier infrastructure on the Aran Islands, including on Inis Oírr.
There are regular meetings between officials from my department and Galway County Council to discuss and monitor the pier development on the islands. The last meeting was held on Tuesday 14 January, and the next meeting is scheduled for 11 February.
I gave approval to Galway County Council in July 2023 to issue a request for tender for the development of the Inis Oírr pier. Galway County Council is the contracting authority and is therefore responsible for all aspects of the procurement process.
The closing date for receipt of Stage 2 tenders was 23 August. Since then, Galway County Council has carried out the assessment and evaluation of all valid tender responses.
I understand that Galway County Council will shortly submit the Final Business Case for the project to my Department for review, seeking Ministerial approval to proceed to award the contract in accordance with the Government's Infrastructure Guidelines.
The Department will continue to engage with Galway County Council to ensure this project is progressed without delay.
1753. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department and agencies under the aegis of her Department have policies on the use of artificial intelligence (AI) within the Department and those agencies; whether training has been provided to staff on the use of AI; if her Department has used AI, including large language models, in the preparation of legislation or statutory instruments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1587/25]
View answerMy Department follows the current advice from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) as set out in “Cyber Security Guidance on Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) for Public Sector Bodies” published on 1 June 2023. All staff in the Department have been informed of the Department's position on this issue.
Training has not been provided to staff on the use of AI. I can confirm that AI, including large language modelling, is not used in the preparation of primary legislation or statutory instruments.
There are 4 agencies under the aegis of my Department. These are Pobal, The Charities Regulatory Authority, Water Safety Ireland, and the Western Development Commission. As independent legal entities, such bodies are responsible for managing their own corporate affairs in compliance with statutory obligations. Operational decisions, including round the use of generative artificial intelligence tools, are a matter for the bodies concerned.
1754. Deputy Joanna Byrne asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the reason the €1,150,000 funding scheme specifically allocated for Men’s Sheds, enabling each shed to apply for grants of up to €3,000 for their running costs, was discontinued; if Men’s Sheds will receive the same level of funding through the Local Enhancement Programme 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1652/25]
View answerMy Department provides a range of supports which are available to Men's Sheds.
In November 2023, I met with members of Men’s Sheds at their first ever national conference in Virginia, County Cavan, called ‘Shedfest’, where I announced current funding of €1 million to support Men’s Sheds throughout the country. The initiative saw grants of up to €3,000 provided to 378 Men’s Sheds nationwide to assist them with running costs such as electricity or insurance bills.
This funding built on the €800,000 announced in November 2022 to support Men’s Sheds. The individual grants were distributed to the Men’s Sheds via its representative body, the Irish Men’s Sheds Association (IMSA).
I was delighted to announce the Local Enhancement Programme (LEP) 2025 in November 2024, with funding of €7 million to assist thousands of community groups across the country. Under the LEP, Men's Sheds are eligible to apply directly to their Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) for funding under both capital and current funding streams. This will allow Men's Sheds to apply for running costs as well as small capital works for the purchase of equipment for their facilities.
The LEP is administered on behalf of my Department locally by LCDCs across the country, with support from their local authority. I would encourage all Men's Sheds to engage with their LCDC directly for details on how to apply.
Since 2018, under the LEP and its iterations, over 1,300 Men’s Shed projects have been allocated funding of over €2.3 million.
The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) provided supports to 283 Men’s Sheds under SICAP 2018-2023, with small grants totalling over €223,000 awarded to 125 Men’s Sheds. In 2024, SICAP provided supports to approximately 126 Men’s Sheds under SICAP 2024-2028. 20 Men’s Sheds have received grants totalling over € 16,000.
The Scheme to Support National Organisations (SSNO) provides multi-annual funding towards core costs of national, community and voluntary organisations. The current iteration commenced on 1 July 2022 for a three year period. The scheme has been extended for a further 6 months from 30 June 2025 onwards to facilitate a review of the SSNO. The Irish Men’s Sheds Association (IMSA) has been allocated total funding of €283,684 over the three-years and 6 month period of the scheme.
My officials reached out to the Irish Men’s Sheds Association (IMSA) late last year with regard to funding and they advised that they were not in a position to submit a proposal for distribution of grants at that time, but that they would be in contact with my Department in 2025.
I would encourage all groups to check my department’s website www.gov.ie/drcd, and to engage with their LCDCs, Local Development Companies and Public Participation Networks (PPN), to ensure they are aware of funding opportunities as they become available.
1755. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the full address and Eircode of each property that is directly occupied by her Department where that address is located in Dublin, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1770/25]
View answerMy Department has its headquarters in Dublin, and this is the only building it occupies in Dublin The address is Trinity Point, 10/11 Leinster Street South, Dublin 2, D02 EF85.
1756. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development to provide a schedule of all foreign travel undertaken by her and their accompanying officials in 2023 and 2024, including flight, hotel, transfers and other miscellaneous costs. [1867/25]
View answerInformation relating to the destination and cost of Ministerial foreign travel are regularly updated on the Department's website and are available here: www.gov.ie/en/collection/ee623f-ministerial-expenses/.
The information in the table below includes the cost of flights, hotels and expenses for my travel and those officials accompanying me.
|
Dates |
Destination |
Cost of Travel including flights, hotels and expenses |
|
23-26 January 2023 |
Berlin |
€3,896.08 |
|
10-14 March 2023 |
London |
€4,488.62 |
|
19-20 March 2023 |
Manchester |
€2,196.99 |
|
25-29 May 2003 |
Porto |
€1,969.49 |
|
12-19 March 2024 |
USA - Chicago |
€9,044.28 |
1757. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the level of funding provided for the present Leader programme; the funding provided for the previous programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1946/25]
View answer1758. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the level of funding provided for the present Cavan Leader programme; the funding provided for the previous programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1947/25]
View answer1759. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the level of funding provided for the present Monaghan Leader programme; the funding provided for the previous programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1948/25]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1757, 1758 and 1759 together.
The LEADER Programme is a key intervention of Our Rural Future, the Government’s Policy for rural development which aims to deliver a range of actions to rural communities over the lifetime of the policy. It supports a broad range of activities which aim to respond to the diversity of the local needs of our rural areas.
It is delivered through Local Action Groups (LAGs) across rural Ireland. A feature of the LEADER programme is that it is based on a community-led, bottom-up approach to rural development.
The LEADER programme is co-financed by the European Commission under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), through the European Agriculture Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). The budget for the CAP for the period 2021-2027 forms part of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), or the EU Budget for that period.
The total amount of funding allocated to the LEADER programme for the period of 2021-2027 is €250 million.
This funding is made up of €70 million for the Transitional LEADER programme for the years 2021 and 2022, with the remaining €180 million allocated for the period 2023-2027, maintaining the level of funding for the programme in line with the €250 million allocated for the corresponding 7 year period of the 2014-2020 LEADER programme.
The funding is allocated to the LAGs at the outset of the programme to provide them with greater flexibility managing their budgets over the programming period. Funding is then paid out by my Department as costs are incurred and claims for payment are submitted.
I am confident that the level of funding allocated for the 2021-2027 programming period will be sufficient to meet the demand for grant funding from rural communities and businesses.
Details of the allocation of funding provided for Cavan and Monaghan, under the 2014-2020 LEADER Programme, the Transitional Programme covering 2021-2022, and the 2023-2027 LEADER Programme are provided in the below table.
|
Cavan |
Monaghan |
|
|
Total 2014 - 2020 LEADER allocation |
€8,522,286 |
€7,592,720 |
|
Total 2021 - 2027 LEADER allocation, of which |
€8,888,387 |
€8,229,081 |
|
· Transitional (2021 - 2022) allocation |
€2,517,948 |
€2,243,303 |
|
· 2023 - 2027 LEADER allocation |
€6,370,439 |
€5,985,778 |
1760. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development to provide an update on the provision of community recognition fund to Louth County Council; when a decision on applications will be made; when the funds will be provided for distribution by Louth County Council to successful groups; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1986/25]
View answerThe Community Recognition Fund (CRF) was first introduced in 2023 to recognise the huge efforts made by communities in welcoming and supporting people coming to Ireland. Through the 2023 allocation, funding of €50 million was approved for some 900 projects. I was delighted to announce a further €50 million in funding under the CRF on March 15th last.
Applications under the current round of funding can be submitted by local authorities across three phases, so as to allow flexibility and adequate engagement and collaboration at a local level. The closing date for receipt of applications under phase 1 was May 31st last, with the second phase closing on September 30th, 2024 and the third phase extended until 28th February, 2025.
Under this new round of funding in 2024, Louth has been awarded an allocation of €1,317,173 which brings the total allocation provided to Louth County Council under the CRF to over €2.8 million.
Local authorities are required to engage and collaborate with communities to identify the most appropriate projects for support. It is a matter for each local authority to identify the most appropriate locations for funding based on their analysis of the level of arrivals in each location and in the context of previous funding supports wand local needs.
On August 2nd, €16.5 million to deliver 185 community projects across the country was announced under phase one of CRF 2024. My Department did not receive any proposals under phase one from Louth County Council.
My Department is currently assessing applications under phase 2 of CRF 2024 including those from Louth. It is expected that the successful projects will be announced in the coming weeks, and funding is then provided as the works are completed.
1761. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the towns within Kerry that were funded for works under the rural regeneration and development fund in the years 2019 to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1997/25]
View answerThe Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) is a strategic capital investment fund that is key to the delivery of Ireland's rural development policy, Our Rural Future 2021-2025. RRDF provides funding for the development and construction of capital projects in towns, villages and rural areas across Ireland. Funding is allocated to local authorities and other State-funded bodies, who take the lead role in individual projects.
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. Category 2 provides smaller grant funding to enable the development of project proposals suitable for future calls for Category 1 applications.
In Kerry, since 2019, funding of €15.9m has been allocated to ten projects, which are detailed in the table below.
|
Year Funding Awarded |
Call |
Category |
Project Name |
Location |
Total RRDF Funding |
|
2019 |
1 |
2 |
Dingle Workhouse Masterplan |
Dingle |
€415,000.00 |
|
2019 |
1 |
2 |
Baile na Fheirtéaraigh Development |
Baile na Fheirtéaraigh |
€292,500.00 |
|
2019 |
1 |
2 |
Úibh Ráthach Action Plan |
Gaeltacht Uíbh Ráthach, Iveragh Taskforce |
€175,000.00 |
|
2019 |
2 |
1 |
Listowel Food Hub |
Listowel |
€1,670,550.00 |
|
2020 |
2 |
2 |
Cahersiveen Town Centre Regeneration Project |
Cahersiveen |
€2,056,380.00 |
|
2021 |
3 |
1 |
Gteic Uíbh Ráthaigh |
Iveragh Peninsula |
€2,467,151.50 |
|
2022 |
3 |
2 |
Listowel 'Where Stories Begin' |
Listowel |
€729,304.00 |
|
2022 |
3 |
2 |
Killorglin Town Centre SMART Rural Regeneration Project |
Kilorglin |
€961,800.00 |
|
2024 |
5 |
1 |
Cahersiveen Town Centre Regeneration Project |
Cahersiveen |
€6,460,780.80 |
|
2024 |
5 |
1 |
Kilorglin Town Centre Smart Regeneration Project |
Kilorglin |
€672,000.00 |
1762. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development to provide details of any public contracts in her Department provided to companies or individuals who do not pay tax in Ireland, including the names of the contractor, value of the contract and purpose of the contract, in tabular form. [2041/25]
View answerThe Department of Rural and Community Development is committed to achieving value for money for the acquisition of goods and services which are essential to support its work. In this context competitive tendering for contracts is used by my Department, supported through use of the Procurement Guidelines for Goods and Services published by the Office of Government Procurement (OGP), making use of the OGP central framework agreements wherever possible.
Procurement takes place in accordance with the Directive on Public Procurement and the European Union (Award of Public Authority Contracts) Regulations 2016, which enable fair competition between suppliers through advertisement of tender competitions. It is open to companies and individuals who are tax resident outside of Ireland to participate in these tender competitions.
It is a condition of a contract award by my Department that all successful tenderer(s), for the term of any contract(s), are in compliance with all EU and domestic tax laws. Successful tenderers must supply their Tax Clearance Access Number and the Tax Reference Number to the Department to facilitate online verification of their tax status prior to any payments being made.
However, this documentation does not provide information as to the tax residency of suppliers. Therefore, as this information is not available to my Department, I am not in a position to provide any detail in relation to the matter raised by the Deputy.
1763. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development to provide details of any public contracts issued to a company (details supplied) over the last ten years, including the value of the contract and the purpose of the contract, in tabular form. [2059/25]
View answerI can confirm to the Deputy that since my Department was established in 2017, no public contracts have issued to the company referenced.
1764. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the progress to date in finalising the review of the CLÁR areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2071/25]
View answerMy Department's CLÁR programme provides targeted investment funding for small scale infrastructural projects in designated rural areas.
The areas originally selected for inclusion in the programme in 2001 were those which suffered the greatest level of population decline from 1926 to 1996. The average population loss in the original CLÁR areas over the period 1926 to 1996 was 50%.
In 2006, an analysis of the 2002 Census data was carried out by Maynooth University and the programme was extended to include areas with an average population loss of 35% between 1926 and 2002.
A national review of CLÁR areas was subsequently undertaken in 2021 using the 2016 Census data. From the review it is clear that many areas have seen population growth in the relevant period rather than decline, and indeed the most recent census data published by the Central Statistics Office points to further population growth across all counties since 2016.
The details of the review continue to be considered by my Department. In addition, the implications of the latest Census data would need to be evaluated before any decisions are made in relation to changing areas eligible for funding under the CLÁR programme. I believe that the current designation has served us very well and any future changes must add value to the scheme.
Furthermore, it is important to consider the context in which CLÁR now operates. I have developed a suite of supports for communities in rural areas so that there is a range of different funding options available to rural communities, be they in CLÁR areas or otherwise. This includes the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme, the Community Recognition Fund, and the Community Centres Investment Fund.
