Parliamentary questions

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]

National Broadband Plan

Thomas Gould

118. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will work with the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications to improve remote working facilities for persons in a location (details supplied) in areas which do not have high-quality broadband. [38634/21]

Community Development Projects

Marian Harkin

119. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when and the way the Government will move on its commitment in the Programme for Government to support independent local action groups not reporting to the local authority or its LCDC subcommittees in the Leader application process given that the CAP budget is agreed by the member states. [38312/21]

Departmental Schemes

Catherine Connolly

120. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the commitment to examine the scope to introduce new supports and incentives for the refurbishment of vacant properties to increase town centre living based on the report of the pilot town centre living initiative pursuant to Our Rural Future – Rural Development Policy 2021 – 2025; the details of the organization, State body or agency carrying out this examination; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38320/21]

Departmental Schemes

Aindrias Moynihan

121. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if a provision will be made for additional rural recreational officers for the walk schemes in west County Cork delivered under a partnership (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38455/21]

Regulatory Impact Assessments

Paul Donnelly

122. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if compliance and regulatory requirements will be reviewed in 2022 to ensure that no duplication of the process occurs given the burden of the cost of regulatory and compliance requirements to community, voluntary and charity groups. [38528/21]

Departmental Schemes

Brendan Griffin

123. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development her plans and timelines for further rounds of ORIS, CLAR, RRDF, town and village and community enhancement funding schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38521/21]

Digital Hubs

Bernard Durkan

124. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which she continues to develop the concept of digital hubs with a view to facilitating employers and employees who may wish to replicate the original workspace location with a virtual presence resulting in a situation of benefit to both employers and employees; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38181/21]

Departmental Funding

Marian Harkin

125. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will seek to avail of the facility of community-led local development funds such as the European Social Fund and European Regional Development Fund to add to the traditional Rural Development Programme funding and give the local action groups a sustainable budget for five to six years and also broaden their scope for action in this crucial time in the recovery of rural areas from Covid-19 and Brexit, given that the CAP budget is significantly reduced on previous funding periods, the 2014-2020 Leader programme budget was approximately 60% of the value of the same programme less than a decade ago and projections on existing figures indicating a further reduction to approximately 33% of the budget a decade ago. [38313/21]

Departmental Policies

Catherine Connolly

126. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the development of the rural proofing model promised as part of the Our Rural Future – Rural Development Policy 2021 – 2025; the timeline for the roll-out of the model; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38318/21]

Vacant Properties

Brendan Smith

127. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the new supports and incentives that will be introduced for the refurbishment of vacant properties to increase town centre living, as committed to in Our Rural Future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38456/21]

Departmental Schemes

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

128. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she plans to expand the walks scheme; if further funding will be allocated to the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38174/21]

Rural Schemes

Christopher O'Sullivan

129. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the rural youth assembly will be established; the way the assembly is expected to be structured; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38604/21]

Dormant Accounts Fund

Claire Kerrane

130. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when funds held in the disbursement fund under the Dormant Accounts Fund will be distributed for the benefit of addressing social, economic or educational disadvantage or assisting persons with a disability; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38460/21]

Community Development Projects

Steven Matthews

131. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if there is scope to expand the community enhancement programme in order for it to offer more substantial financial supports to local communities wishing to undertake renovations to their community centre or perhaps build a new community centre; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38017/21]

Departmental Schemes

Alan Dillon

132. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the town and village renewal scheme following recent expressions of interest submitted to local authorities; if her Department has received funding applications from local authorities; if so, the likely timeline to approve applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38558/21]

Departmental Schemes

Aindrias Moynihan

133. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the resources being considered for additional rural recreational officers for the walks schemes in west County Cork given further submissions by a partnership (details supplied) have been made under outdoor recreational infrastructure scheme for new walk schemes to be included for west County Cork with further rural recreational officers required to cover this area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38718/21]

Departmental Data

Joe Flaherty

485. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of staff by location and function in each office of her Department nationally by location; if the property is State owned or leased; and the detail of these leases in the case of those properties on a lease in terms of cost, term and next break date. [38849/21]

Rural Schemes

Bernard Durkan

486. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the funding allocated to date through the various schemes controlled by her Department by county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38963/21]

Rural Schemes

Bernard Durkan

487. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the funding allocated to date through the various schemes controlled by her Department in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38964/21]

Departmental Schemes

Bernard Durkan

488. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the degree to which her Department continues to target urban or rural deprivation by way of specifically designed assistance in financial terms; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38965/21]

Digital Hubs

Bernard Durkan

489. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which her Department has progressed the concept of digital hubs in order to minimise long commutes to work while at the same time replicating a work place environment both from the point of view of the employer and employee; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38966/21]

Digital Hubs

Bernard Durkan

490. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of digital hubs envisaged by her Department throughout the country with a view to enabling persons to remain in their own communities while in a work place environment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38967/21]

Departmental Schemes

Bernard Durkan

491. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of projects throughout the country in urban or rural areas currently in place through her Department aimed at addressing issues of social or economic disadvantage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38968/21]

Departmental Schemes

Bernard Durkan

492. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the degree to which she and her Department continue to liaise with urban and rural communities with a view to identifying the most appropriate means of offering support to meet their specific concerns particularly in the aftermath of Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38969/21]

Departmental Schemes

Bernard Durkan

493. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the success to date of the various initiatives introduced by her Department to address issues of social or economic deprivation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38970/21]

Departmental Schemes

Bernard Durkan

494. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development her medium to long-term objectives to ensure that economic progress is spread evenly throughout the country in a sustainable way; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38971/21]

Departmental Schemes

Bernard Durkan

495. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which her Department continues to be in contact with urban or rural based groups seeking to improve opportunities for employment and social development within the communities; the success of such schemes to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38972/21]

Departmental Schemes

Bernard Durkan

496. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the expenditure to date under the town and village renewal scheme by county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38973/21]