Parliamentary questions

Departmental Funding

Johnny Guirke

3447. Deputy Johnny Guirke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the last occasion on which a Department-wide review of all funding within her Department took place; the frequency of such reviews; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40642/21]

Rural Schemes

Brendan Griffin

3448. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide an update on the indemnity scheme for mountain climbers and farmers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40680/21]

Defibrillators Provision

Brendan Griffin

3449. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will put in place a specific fund for communities trying to maintain, repair and service defibrillators; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40691/21]

Na hOileáin amach ón gCósta

Éamon Ó Cuív

3450. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail an bhfuil aon phlé déanta ag a Roinn le ESB Networks agus le NBI agus le hUisce Éireann maidir le cabla nua leictreachais, cábla snaithín optic agus píopa uisce a cheangal idir an mór thír agus na hoileáin Árann amach ó chósta na Gaillimhe le go mbeadh deis ag na hoileánaigh fuinneamh inathnuaite a ghinniúnt agus a dhíol isteach go hÉirinn, seribhís leathan bhanda snáithín optic a bheith acu agus soláthar uisce buan d’ard-chaighdeán a bheith acu; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [40744/21]

Community Development Projects

Duncan Smith

3451. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number and description of development projects that have begun in Fingal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40817/21]

Community Development Projects

Duncan Smith

3452. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number and description of development projects that have begun in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40818/21]

Community Development Projects

Duncan Smith

3453. Deputy Duncan Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number and description of development projects that have begun in north Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40819/21]

Broadband Infrastructure

Ruairí Ó Murchú

3454. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the work of her Department regarding the Mobile Broadband Taskforce; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41048/21]

Broadband Infrastructure

Ruairí Ó Murchú

3455. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the details of the various forms of funding made available by her Department to local authorities regarding broadband connection points and remote working hubs; and the resources for areas that do not require broadband connection points for remote working due to the levels of connectivity. [41049/21]

Rural Schemes

Fergus O'Dowd

3456. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to previous Parliamentary Questions, if Louth County Council has submitted the revised scope for a project (details supplied); the status of the project that was approved €200,000 in early 2020 through the outdoor recreation scheme and is yet to be commenced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41107/21]

Community Development Projects

Holly Cairns

3457. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the steps she is taking to fulfil the Programme for Government commitment to encourage book clubs for older persons to tackle loneliness. [41145/21]

Rural Schemes

Brendan Griffin

3458. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the next round of the rural regeneration and development fund will open for applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41307/21]

Departmental Schemes

Claire Kerrane

80. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will increase funding to the local improvement scheme to meet demand; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38936/21]

National Broadband Plan

Seán Sherlock

81. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the details of her engagement with the National Broadband Plan in the past two months; and if she has confidence in the plan. [38495/21]

Men's Sheds

Claire Kerrane

82. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will examine the possibility of establishing a funding stream under her Department for an organisation (details supplied) which is a lifeline for persons especially in rural communities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38937/21]

Departmental Programmes

Holly Cairns

83. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the funding her Department makes available for the development and upgrading of playgrounds. [38168/21]

Voluntary Sector

Paul Donnelly

84. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if it will be ensured that a dedicated training and development strategy is developed and fully funded for the charitable, voluntary and community sectors in budget 2022. [38989/21]

Island Communities

Catherine Connolly

85. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 43 of 25 May 2021, to outline the status of the new policy for the islands; when she expects the new policy to be finalised; the position regarding the last meeting of the interdepartmental committee for the development of the islands which was scheduled for 30 June 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38316/21]

Public Procurement Contracts

Brian Stanley

86. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department has considered the role that social and labour procurement clauses could play in the development of economies in rural Ireland. [38307/21]

Regional Development

Claire Kerrane

87. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if progress has been made on establishing a community ownership fund to help communities groups purchase or take over local community assets for community use; if potential State-owned properties in rural towns and villages have been identified, as committed to in Our Rural Future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38458/21]

Road Projects

Thomas Gould

88. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide clarity in relation to local improvement schemes particularly in areas that were formally within the boundary limits of Cork County Council which now find themselves within the boundaries of Cork City Council which are no longer entitled to funding. [38620/21]

Vacant Properties

Holly Cairns

89. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the steps she is taking to address the issue of vacant and derelict buildings in towns and villages. [38173/21]

Community Development Projects

Violet-Anne Wynne

90. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the position regarding the activity of community group projects across the country; and her views on whether funding is distributed evenly across the country. [38666/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Bernard Durkan

91. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development her ongoing proposals and initiatives required arising from the impact of Covid-19 in all areas of the country, urban and rural; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38180/21]

Departmental Schemes

Claire Kerrane

92. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if progress has been made as part of the town centre first approach to provide and resource dedicated staff within local authorities to support town centre renewal, as committed to in Our Rural Future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38459/21]

Vacant Properties

Claire Kerrane

93. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development her plans to introduce new supports and incentives for the refurbishment of vacant properties to increase town centre living, following on from the pilot town centre living initiative; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38461/21]

Departmental Schemes

Seán Sherlock

94. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of applications for the Connected Hubs Fund currently with her Department. [38488/21]

Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Peadar Tóibín

95. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the types of enterprises that may apply for the newly announced Covid-19 supports funding (details supplied) under the Our Rural Future - Rural Development Policy 2021-2025. [38323/21]

Tidy Towns

Seán Sherlock

96. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of applications for this year's tidy towns competition. [38486/21]

Digital Hubs

Holly Cairns

97. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the progress in supporting the development of broadband connection points and the development of digital hubs in south-western areas of County Cork. [38171/21]

Charitable and Voluntary Organisations

Violet-Anne Wynne

98. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development her views on whether her Department’s engagement with the charities it provides funding to aligns with human rights models; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38667/21]

Departmental Funding

Seán Sherlock

99. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of applications from each local authority for each funding stream operated by her Department for 2020 and to date in 2021, in tabular form. [38487/21]

Departmental Schemes

Brendan Griffin

100. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if increased funding will be provided for local improvement scheme roads around the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38520/21]

Community Development Projects

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

101. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if there is scope to expand the community enhancement scheme to offer financial supports to communities that wish to undertake renovations on community centres or, potentially, construct new community centres; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38011/21]

Departmental Schemes

Brendan Smith

102. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if additional funding will be provided in 2021 for the local improvement scheme in the event of a reallocation of capital funding during 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38483/21]

Broadband Infrastructure

Ruairí Ó Murchú

103. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the work programme of the mobile phone and broadband task force; the estimated timeframe for when the task force will be established; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38308/21]

Departmental Schemes

Holly Cairns

104. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if additional rural recreational officers will be employed; and if so, if it will be ensured they are allocated according to the work plans being operated by the local development companies. [38170/21]

Island Communities

Alan Dillon

105. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the upgrading of the helipad on Inishturk Island; the stage the upgrade is currently at; when it is likely to be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38555/21]

Community Development Projects

Paul Donnelly

106. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development his views on measures to support community projects as they reopen; and if that support will continue until the pandemic is declared over [38526/21]

Community Development Projects

Brian Stanley

107. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department has considered introducing a model of community wealth building similar to that implemented in Preston, England and North Ayrshire, Scotland to help develop rural areas. [38306/21]

Broadband Infrastructure

Ruairí Ó Murchú

108. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department will primarily oversee and implement the work programme of the mobile phone and broadband taskforce; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38309/21]

Island Communities

Holly Cairns

109. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the publication of the islands policy. [38172/21]

Rural Schemes

Claire Kerrane

110. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the level of engagement she has had with other Departments to progress other areas of priority as outlined in Our Rural Future which do not come under her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38462/21]

Rural Schemes

Peadar Tóibín

111. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department has undertaken studies on the impact of youth emigration on rural Ireland. [38322/21]

Departmental Policies

Catherine Connolly

112. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the establishment of a forum for ongoing dialogue between local authorities, relevant policy Departments and island communities pursuant to Our Rural Future – Rural Development Policy 2021 – 2025; when she expects the forum to be up and running; the regularity with which the forum will hold meetings; the membership of the forum; the terms of reference of the forum; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38319/21]

Departmental Funding

Seán Sherlock

113. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of projects funded currently under the Rural Regeneration Fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38485/21]

Harbours and Piers

Catherine Connolly

114. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 44 of 25 May 2021, the status of the development of Caladh Mór pier on Inis Meáin; the status of the preparation of a simulation model of the harbour by the National Maritime College of Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38317/21]

Departmental Schemes

Holly Cairns

115. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will report on her engagement with an organisation (details supplied) concerning the employment of additional rural recreational officers. [38169/21]

Island Communities

Éamon Ó Cuív

116. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development her plans to improve the number and quality of the air services and ferry services to the islands; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37163/21]

Departmental Funding

Éamon Ó Cuív

117. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the progress made to date with the roll-out of the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund of €1 billion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37162/21]