Vol. 575 No. 5
25 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the progress made to date in regard to the implementation of the CLÁR programme; the number of areas in respect of which plans have been submitted to his Department; the total projected budgets for these plans; when work on the implementation of the plans is likely to get under way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28566/03]
I launched the CLÁR programme, Ceantair Laga Ard-Riachtanais, for disadvantaged rural areas on 5 October 2001. CLÁR funds act as a lever to elicit funds from other sources. The 2003 allocation of €9.517 million is continuing this leverage and delivering an effective and comprehensive work programme.
The areas selected are those which have suffered the greatest depopulation since 1926, with the exception of the Cooley Peninsula, which was included based on the serious difficulties caused for that area by foot and mouth disease.
Arising from the commitment in An Agreed Programme for Government, on 17 January last I announced the extension of the CLÁR areas to include an additional 189 DEDs, bringing the total to 890 in 18 counties. The total population in the extended CLÁR areas has increased from 284,000 to 362,000.
26 Mr. Cuffe asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will expand on his recent speech to the National Rural Development Forum in County Tipperary. [28581/03]
77 Ms Lynch asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the main points of his address on 7 November 2003 to the fifth rural development conference; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28548/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 26 and 77 together.
At the National Rural Development Forum on 7 November 2003 I gave a brief outline of my vision for the future of rural development in a European Union context. I noted that despite investment through a range of programmes both at EU and national level, rural Europe has continued to decline. I stated that if we are serious about rural development, there is a need at a European level for a radical new approach to rural policies with a much broader agenda than heretofore.
Given that I am the first senior Minister in Ireland with a special rural development remit, and in the context of the enlargement of the European Union, I said I believed that it is absolutely vital that Ireland take a proactive part in shaping the European agenda towards rural development.
Such policies should, in my view, include recognition that rural areas must have multi-dimensional development policies and recognition that a total dependence on agriculture will not sustain the population in rural areas; clear spatial strategies, ensuring the continued maintenance and growth of rural populations; targeted funding for rural areas as a matter of urgency to ensure that infrastructure deficits in roads, telecommunications, water, public transport etc. do not inhibit rural growth – these funds in particular need to be targeted at declining and peripheral areas; provision that EU competition law does not operate in such a way that the provision of essential services becomes prohibitively expensive in rural areas; and recognition that enterprise support mechanisms need to ensure that rural areas can compete for enterprise development.
27 Mr. Coveney asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the reason he has reduced the budget for social inclusion and local development by more than ?11 million in the past two years; and his views on whether this is striking at the very heart of community life and voluntary activity. [28654/03]
28 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if the services and projects administered by ADM will be reduced as a result of the reduction of 6% in the Estimates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28649/03]
50 Ms Enright asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the reason, under the recently published Estimates for 2004, ?1.5 million has been transferred from subhead L, the local development and social inclusion measure, to the RAPID subhead; the cutbacks this will mean for schemes administered by ADM; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28648/03]
51 Mr. Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he has satisfied himself that a 2% increase in grants for the community and voluntary service and a 6% decrease in social inclusion measures, as announced in the Book of Estimates for 2004, are adequate for the needs of his Department. [28588/03]
64 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the cuts or means he will use to facilitate the 6% decrease in local development and social inclusion measures; the schemes he will fund under the RAPID ?4.5 million capital funding; if it will be through the local authority structure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28589/03]
83 Mr. Costello asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the reason the allocation in the Estimates for local development and social inclusion measures has been cut by 6% for 2004; the manner in which this reduction will be achieved; the implications for local development and social inclusions programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28544/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 27, 28, 50, 51, 64 and 83 together.
As the Deputies will be aware, subhead L in my Department's Vote for 2004 provides an amount of €42.2 million for local development and social inclusion measures. While the amount in this subhead in 2003 was €44.662 million, it should be noted that the provision in 2003 included a budget of €1.5 million to support the implementation of the RAPID programme. Therefore the real reduction in subhead L in 2004 is 2%.
This €1.5 million for RAPID in 2003 was not available for individual projects in RAPID areas but was provided to ADM to meet administration expenses and to provide support to RAPID area implementation teams. The allocation in 2004 is €1.3 million and for greater transparency is shown alongside capital moneys provided for RAPID in subhead Q2.
While I recognise there is a decrease in the funding for the local development and social inclusion measure over the past two years, funding for community and voluntary services has increased by 2% in 2004. I am confident that by targeting the money at the areas of the greatest disadvantage and ensuring maximum delivery on the ground, a full and comprehensive programme in these areas will ensue for 2004.
The additional capital allocation of €4.5 million in subhead Q2, RAPID, that has been made available will be used to progress smaller projects in RAPID areas that can be dealt with more effectively at local level. This funding will be used as leverage money to facilitate co-funding from other State agencies.
I hope to make an announcement in the near future about the precise way in which this money will be spent.
Question No. 28 answered with Question No. 27.
