Parliamentary questions

Regeneration Projects

Bernard Durkan

497. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the expenditure to date under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund; the extent to which the fund has attracted local indigenous support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38974/21]

Regeneration Projects

Bernard Durkan

498. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of participants currently benefitting from or likely to benefit from awards made by her Department under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38975/21]

Digital Hubs

Bernard Durkan

499. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of persons currently benefitting from the use of urban or rural digital hubs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38976/21]

Social Isolation

Bernard Durkan

500. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the degree to which her Department continues to address the issue of rural isolation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38978/21]

Social Isolation

Bernard Durkan

501. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which she and her Department continue to address the issue of urban isolation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38979/21]

Regeneration Projects

Bernard Durkan

502. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development her plans to build on the success of her rural regeneration plans in all areas throughout the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38980/21]

Departmental Schemes

Bernard Durkan

503. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which she can foresee further development and expansion of the town and village renewal scheme with a view to maximisation of beneficial impact; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38981/21]

Departmental Schemes

Bernard Durkan

504. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of persons in urban and rural areas likely to benefit from initiatives taken by her and her Department through the aegis of the various schemes in place; if any new schemes or extension to existing schemes are proposed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38982/21]

National Broadband Plan

Seán Sherlock

491. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the engagement she or the agencies under her remit has had with the National Broadband Plan in the past two months. [38208/21]

Departmental Correspondence

Thomas Pringle

492. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if there are guidelines, written procedures or protocols or key performance indicators for acknowledgement of correspondence received and response to correspondence received, respectively by category of correspondence (details supplied) in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38248/21]

Rural Schemes

Catherine Connolly

493. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the examination into the establishment of a community ownership fund to help community and social enterprises buy or take over local community assets at risk of being lost to run as community-owned businesses pursuant to Our Rural Future – Rural Development Policy 2021 – 2025; the details of the organisation, State body or agency carrying out this examination; when the examination will be completed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38427/21]

Departmental Strategies

Holly Cairns

494. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the way her Department and public bodies and agencies under her remit are implementing Action 16 of the National Disability and Inclusion Strategy 2017-2021 (details supplied). [38498/21]

Departmental Strategies

Holly Cairns

495. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the way her Department and public bodies and agencies under her remit are implementing Action 32 of the National Disability and Inclusion Strategy 2017-2021 (details supplied). [38515/21]

Rural Schemes

Aindrias Moynihan

496. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the financial allocations in 2019, 2020 and to date in 2021 for the seniors alert scheme in County Cork; the take-up of the scheme since 2016 for County Cork; the changes made to the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38550/21]

Rural Schemes

Aindrias Moynihan

497. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if his Department has examined ways to address rural isolation and loneliness; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38551/21]

Rural Schemes

Aindrias Moynihan

498. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the approvals to date by the local action groups of funding for projects under the Leader programme by County Cork local action groups; the amount of expenditure to date on projects by County Cork local action groups; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38552/21]

Rural Schemes

Aindrias Moynihan

499. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount budgeted for the local improvement scheme in 2021 for County Cork; the demand for the scheme in County Cork and financial allocations to date by Cork local authorities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38553/21]

Departmental Funding

Paul Donnelly

500. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the progress made in relation to providing multi-annual funding for community, voluntary and charity sector. [38728/21]

Control of Dogs

Paul Donnelly

639. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when a review of measures relating to the control of dogs in Ireland will be published; and if this consultation document will also include questions on the restricted breeds of dogs. [37827/21]

Departmental Reviews

Holly Cairns

640. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the details of the social impact assessments carried out by her Department and public bodies and agencies under her remit since 1 January 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37299/21]

Broadband Infrastructure

Holly Cairns

641. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the steps she is taking to fulfil the Programme for Government commitment to support the development of broadband connection points across the country and the development of digital hubs which can support remote working in as many of the connection points as possible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37418/21]

Control of Dogs

Matt Carthy

642. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development her position on a proposed move of the dog control unit from her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37438/21]

Rural Schemes

Joe Carey

643. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when a school (details supplied) can expect a decision on the CLÁR funding application in relation to an outdoor classroom and a biodiversity park; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37688/21]

Charitable and Voluntary Organisations

Michael Fitzmaurice

644. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the Charities Regulator first became aware of the alleged misappropriation of funds relating to an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37798/21]

Departmental Legal Cases

Peadar Tóibín

645. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of legal cases brought against her Department in each of the past five years and to date in 2021; and if he will provide details on the nature of these cases. [37816/21]

Rural Schemes

Éamon Ó Cuív

339. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount sanctioned under the rural regeneration and development fund since its inception in 2019; the amount paid out under this scheme to date; the value of the applications on hand that are still being examined; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37028/21]

Rural Schemes

Éamon Ó Cuív

340. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount in the 2021 estimate for expenditure out of the rural regeneration and development fund including any carry-over from 2020; the amount spent to date in 2021 out of the fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37029/21]

Departmental Expenditure

Éamon Ó Cuív

341. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the total allocation of capital to her Department in 2021 including any capital carried forward from 2020; the amount of this spent to date in 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37030/21]

Departmental Schemes

Emer Higgins

342. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the section of her Department that was responsible for drafting the eligibility criteria for the stability fund for community and voluntary, charity and social enterprises; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37045/21]

Island Communities

Claire Kerrane

612. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she plans to share a draft copy of the new islands policy with those representing island communities to ensure a high level of consultation as part of the new policy; the stage the policy is at; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35858/21]

Public Participation Networks

Claire Kerrane

613. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department plans to review the public participation network and local authority participation structures as part of the review set out in the Programme for Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35868/21]

Departmental Data

Noel Grealish

614. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount of interest her Department has been charged for savings or other funds on deposit in Irish banks since negative interest rates were introduced by year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35939/21]

Freedom of Information

Catherine Murphy

615. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she is satisfied in the context of the freedom of information publication scheme that all logs are published and up to date in compliance with the Freedom of Information Act 2014; if not, the reason they are not published; and if she will update them as a matter of priority. [36130/21]

Freedom of Information

Catherine Murphy

616. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount collected on an annual basis since the Freedom of Information Act 2014 commenced in respect of fees attached to freedom of information requests submitted to her Department. [36148/21]

Freedom of Information

Catherine Murphy

617. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of freedom of information requests refused by her Department since the Freedom of Information Act 2014 commenced for the reason that search and copy costs would exceed the maximum threshold; the number of requests that were subsequently granted following engagement with the requester to narrow the scope of the request; and the costs associated with same. [36166/21]

Departmental Schemes

Éamon Ó Cuív

618. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will extend the pilot mountain access scheme to new areas in view of the fact that the original pilot areas were selected over ten years ago and that at time it was intended to extend the scheme to all mountain areas interested in it within a small number of years; the method by which new areas would be selected; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36184/21]

Departmental Schemes

Éamon Ó Cuív

619. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she plans to open up a new module under the community services programme for applications from rural areas of low employment and falling population to try assist the redevelopment of these areas particularly on the tourist front; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36189/21]

Departmental Schemes

Éamon Ó Cuív

620. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she plans to open up a new module under the community services programme for applications from rural areas of high unemployment, drugs misuse and deprivation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36190/21]

Control of Dogs

Mairéad Farrell

621. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the consultation document on a review of measures relating to the control of dogs in Ireland will be published; the number that relates to restricted breeds; if this includes the control of presa canario dogs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36466/21]

Departmental Schemes

Christopher O'Sullivan

622. Deputy Christopher O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if a provision will be made for a minimum of three rural recreational officers for the walk schemes in west County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36517/21]

Community Development Projects

Éamon Ó Cuív

390. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if it is planned in the forthcoming round of the Leader Programme 2023-2027 to have a dedicated LAG as before, administering the island Leader programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35071/21]

Island Communities

Éamon Ó Cuív

391. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when was it announced that the Government is developing a ten-year island development plan; the progress made with the plan to date; when it is hoped to publish and implement same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35072/21]

Island Communities

Éamon Ó Cuív

392. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she plans to increase the State contribution to community service projects on the islands to cover the full minimum wage and the employer’s PRSI in view of the difficulty on the islands in attracting a large local income stream; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35074/21]

Departmental Schemes

Holly Cairns

393. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will employ more rural recreational officers and ensure they are allocated according to the work plans being operated by the local development companies. [35194/21]

Departmental Schemes

Holly Cairns

394. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will employ an additional rural recreational officer in the west Cork Development Partnership to reflect the workload of the role. [35195/21]

Departmental Schemes

Jackie Cahill

609. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if payments are available for farmers for allowing public access onto their lands for walks; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34236/21]

Flexible Work Practices

Claire Kerrane

610. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if a list of all confirmed remote working hubs will be provided; the hubs that are currently operational; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34237/21]

Road Projects

Seán Canney

611. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will consider increasing the funding for the local improvement scheme to help meet the demands; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34299/21]

Charitable and Voluntary Organisations

Emer Higgins

612. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if the Charities Regulator was responsible for appointing trustees (details supplied); if so, the reason this decision was made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34332/21]

Departmental Policies

Holly Cairns

613. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the way her Department and public bodies and agencies under her remit fulfil their obligations under section 42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34860/21]