Written Answers Nos. 46-64
46. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when his Department will publish the new guidelines for dog breeding establishments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19073/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra55. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the measures his Department is considering as a result of the public consultation process that will tighten up enforcement of regulations and licence conditions for dog breeding. [19072/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 46 and 55 together.
My Department has overall policy responsibility for the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010. Under the Act, Guidelines are in place for Dog Breeding Establishments and these are currently being revised by my Department. A draft was published as part of a public consultation process which ended in February 2017. The Department has completed its review of the submissions received and a Consultation Summary report, which provides a summary of the submissions made and details on the next steps in the process, has been published on my Department's website at http://drcd.gov.ie/dog-control/.
The next step in this process will be to produce revised Dog Breeding Establishment Guidelines, taking account of, inter alia, the submissions received and broader issues relating to enforcement of regulations and licence conditions.
As part of this review process, I have asked my officials to consider whether further measures in addition to revised Guidelines are required in these areas. I expect to have revised Guidelines ready for my approval before the end of Q2 of this year, together with recommendations regarding any further measures.
Amendments to the relevant legislation, if necessary, will be progressed subsequently.
47. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of projects that were approved for safety measures outside schools under the CLÁR programme; his plans for the programme in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19014/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraCLÁR is a targeted capital investment programme for rural areas which have experienced significant levels of depopulation. The programme was originally launched in October 2001 but was closed for applications in 2010. I re-opened the scheme in 2016 to support the development of these, frequently remote and significantly depopulated, rural areas through small-scale capital projects involving collaboration between Local Authorities and their communities, for the most part.
Under Measure 1 of the 2016 CLÁR programme, 514 projects were approved for safety measures in the vicinity of schools and community facilities, at a cost of €5,134,250.
Under the 2017 CLÁR programme, 101 projects were approved for safety measures in the vicinity of schools and community facilities, at a cost of €2,722,328.
The 2018 CLÁR programme was launched on 15th March, with an indicative allocation of €5 million which will be made available to qualifying projects under the following measures:
Measure 1: Support for Schools/Community Safety Measures;
Measure 2: Play Areas/MUGAs; and
Measure 3: First Response Support Measure.
The closing date for receipt of applications was 30 April. My officials will now assess all applications received against the criteria for the programme, and I hope to be in a position to announce the successful 2018 CLÁR projects in the coming weeks.
48. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount of the recently announced €190 million SICAP 2018-2022 fund that will be made available to local community development committee projects in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18908/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 20 April I launched the new Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme, or SICAP. This is a five year programme covering 2018 to 2022, and is a major investment to support the most disadvantaged individuals and communities in our society.
For 2018, the national allocation for the programme is €38 million. I am confident that over the five year term of SICAP my Department will, subject to the budgetary process each year, receive funding of some €190 million.
SICAP is overseen and managed by Local Community Development Committees, or LCDCs, and is delivered locally by Programme Implementers. Funding is allocated to different areas using a methodology which considers the relative deprivation levels across Ireland. In 2018, the allocation to the Programme Implementers overseen by the four LCDCs in County Dublin is €9.6 million. On that basis, I anticipate that some €48 million will be made available to County Dublin over the period of the new five year programme.
49. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the measures he is taking to address the issues raised in the report by the Comptroller and Auditor General on the Dormant Accounts Fund; and if the timely disbursement of such funding will be ensured to achieve the objectives of the legislation and the disbursement scheme. [18907/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra58. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if the required statutory review under the Dormant Accounts Act 2001 for the 2013-2016 disbursement scheme which expired at the end of November 2016 has been conducted; if so, if he will provide a copy of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19006/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 49 and 58 together.
I refer to my reply of 27th March 2018 to previous questions on this matter, which set out the position with regard to the review of the Dormant Accounts Disbursement Scheme 2013-2016 and the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General on the Dormant Accounts Fund.
In summary, the Comptroller and Auditor General's report contained a single recommendation that the statutory review of the Disbursement Scheme should be carried out to identify how well the scheme was implemented and how future schemes can be designed to ensure the scheme objectives are met. The report also stated that the review should consider the reasons for the low level of disbursements, whether allocating funds to measures which do not fully use the resources prevent other programmes from being funded, and how the available funding can be best applied.
My Department is currently undertaking the statutory review, which will be completed by the end of June 2018. The key focus of the review is to address the points raised by the Comptroller and Auditor General and to ensure that the significant resources currently available from the fund are used in an efficient and effective manner. The review will also identify and consider wider and longer term issues, including how to best ensure the long term sustainability of the Dormant Accounts Fund.
The preparation of the Dormant Accounts Action Plan 2018, which is currently under way, has been informed and guided by the issues raised by the C and AG and the ongoing review being carried out by my Department.
50. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the latest date by which all Leader funding will be approved for projects under the Leader Programme 2014 to 2020; the amount available for projects under the programme; the percentage and amount of the project funding allocated to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19099/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraLEADER is a multi-annual EU co-funded programme to support rural development. Ireland has an allocation of €250 million under the programme over the period 2014-2020, including both national and EU funding. The programme is administered by Local Action Groups (LAGs) who deliver funding in accordance with Local Development Strategies that have been produced for each LAG area. Projects can continue to be approved under the programme up to the end of 2020.
€220 million of the available funding has already been allocated to the 28 LEADER sub-regional areas throughout the country. This funding will be delivered in accordance with the Local Development Strategies for each area. The amount of funding available for projects, as outlined in these Local Development Strategies, is €164.5 million. The remainder of the €220 million covers the administration costs of the LAGs and their engagement with communities to generate projects.
Of this €164.5 million, almost €27 million has already been allocated to over 900 projects, representing over 16% of the total project allocation outlined in the LAG strategies. This funding will be drawn down as projects start to incur expenditure and submit payment claims.
In addition, a further €30 million is available to be allocated at a national level under a number of separate measures, including a food project initiative and support for co-operation projects where LAGs come together to jointly deliver a LEADER project. These are at an initial stage of delivery and will include funding for both projects and the administration and animation costs of the LAGs.
While the pace of approvals varies between LAGs, I am confident that the progress made by the LAGs in 2018, along with the administrative improvements introduced over the last year, will result in a significant increase in project approvals and payments under the LEADER programme over the coming months.
51. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the level of support his Department provides to encourage and facilitate volunteering, in particular in counties without a volunteer centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18901/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department's community and voluntary supports and programmes provide a cohesive framework of support for the community and voluntary sector. €3.5m is being provided in 2018 under this programme to support 21 Volunteer Centres, 8 Volunteer Information Services and a number of volunteer-supporting organisations, such as Volunteer Ireland.
Volunteer Information Services provide a valuable service in the promotion of volunteering in areas not covered by a Volunteer Centre. They act as a catalyst to encourage volunteering and also act as a conduit to match suitable volunteers with host organisations. While the aims of Volunteer Information Services are the same as Volunteer Centres, differences exist between the two, including the fact that Volunteer Centres operate on a larger budget than is currently allocated to Volunteer Information Services and consequently offer a wider range of services.
My Department has commenced discussions with Volunteer Ireland and the Volunteer Information Services to explore the possibility of upgrading Volunteer Information Services to Volunteer Centres on a phased basis. A report on the matter is awaited from Volunteer Ireland.
52. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the supports available for communities through the RAPID programme; the success of the programme to date; the detail of his commitment to disadvantaged communities under the social inclusion and community activation programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19092/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2017, with funding of €2 million, the RAPID programme supported almost 300 projects nationwide in amounts ranging from €300 to €64,500. For 2018, €2 million has again been allocated to the programme.
An additional €4 million is also included under the RAPID subhead. This includes funding of €3.5 million which is specifically for Dublin’s North East Inner City. This is being used towards addressing specific community structural issues in the area including community engagement, social employment and community development, and to support local community and youth projects through complementing existing programmes such as SICAP. €0.5 million is ring-fenced to satisfy legacy commitments to Sports Capital Grants under the original RAPID Programme.
Separately, on 20 April I launched the new Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme, or SICAP, which covers 2018 to 2022. This is a major investment to support the most disadvantaged individuals and communities in our society. I am confident that over the five year term of SICAP my Department will provide funding of some €190 million for the programme.
53. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the commitment in the Action Plan for Rural Development regarding improvements to 600 towns and villages by 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18985/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Town and Village Renewal Scheme is a key part of the Action Plan for Rural Development. The Plan contains over 270 actions across Government to help rural Ireland achieve its full economic and social potential.
Since the launch of the Action Plan for Rural Development in January 2017, I have allocated €21.6 million to 281 projects throughout the country under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme.
Last week, I launched the 2018 Town and Village Renewal Scheme, which will see up to a further 200 towns and villages benefit from an allocation of €15 million over the next 15 to 18 months.
A further call for proposal in 2019 will see the target in the Action Plan for Rural Development of supporting the revitalisation of 600 towns and villages over the period 2017-2019 being reached, or even exceeded.
It should be borne in mind that the Town and Village Renewal Scheme was first launched by this Government in the second half of 2016, and prior to the publication of the Action Plan for Rural Development €10 million was allocated to 170 projects under the scheme. The Town and Village Renewal Scheme has therefore provided in excess of €31 million to over 450 projects since 2016.
The Government’s commitment to supporting rural Ireland is underscored through Project Ireland 2040, which will see the creation of a new €1 billion Rural Regeneration and Development Fund to be launched in the coming months. This new Fund will provide an opportunity to deliver more integrated and ambitious projects which will further support the revitalisation of our rural towns and villages.
54. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the reason for delays in the provision of funds by his Department to local action groups for approved projects under the LEADER programme; the average waiting time for the provision of departmental funding to local action groups following final approval for projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19106/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraLEADER is a multi-annual programme for the period 2014-2020 which has a total budget of €250 million over the programming period. LEADER is administered by Local Action Groups (LAGs) which deliver funding in accordance with Local Development Strategies that have been agreed for each LAG area. Each LAG has been given a funding allocation for the duration of the programme. Project applications are made to, and approved by, the relevant LAG in each LEADER area.
Payment claims are submitted to my Department by the LAGs when projects are up and running and have incurred expenditure. The approved works must be completed by the project promoter prior to any final or phased payments being made.
Certain checks require to be carried out by the LAGs prior to the payment claims being submitted to my Department. A number of regulatory administrative checks must also be conducted by, or on behalf of, my Department before payment is issued to the LAG in respect of a project.
I understand that at present, a payment claim can take an average of 6 weeks to be fully processed once it is submitted to my Department due to the checks that have to be carried out. However, I have asked my officials to review the payment processes as a matter of urgency with a view to reducing this timeframe, while still respecting the regulatory requirements.
56. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he has requested an economic impact report on the potential effect of Brexit on the Border counties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19078/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Action Plan for Rural Development, which was published in January 2017, envisaged that a piece of research would be commissioned on the impact of Brexit on rural areas.
However, in the time since the publication of the Action Plan, a number of papers and commentaries have been published on the potential impact of Brexit on Ireland, including rural Ireland and the Border counties. In addition, a number of sectorial workshops on the issue have been held with local communities and other stakeholders by several Government Departments.
Given the volume of research that has been published on the subject of the impact of Brexit I have elected not to commission the carrying out of further research by my Department. However, the Government is continuing to work, through various State agencies, to provide support and advice to businesses on how to prepare for and address the possible impacts of Brexit on all areas of the country.
57. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the report on the Sparkassen public banking model will be published; the reason for the delay in publication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18912/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra62. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the public banking investigation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18910/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 57 and 62 together.
The Programme for a Partnership Government includes a commitment to investigate a new model of community banking for Ireland, including an investigation of the German Sparkassen model for the development of local public banks that operate within well-defined regions.
A project team comprising officials from my Department and the Department of Finance was established last year to progress this commitment. The project team carried out detailed research into the concept of a public banking model, with a particular focus on the Sparkassen model.
In addition, a public consultation process, seeking views on the concept of a community banking model, ran for four weeks. Members of the Oireachtas were also advised of the consultation process. A total of 16 submissions were received through the consultation process.
The Departmental officials have finalised their report and have submitted their findings to the Minister for Finance and myself. The report will be brought to Government for approval in the coming weeks.
59. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the rural recreation scheme will be announced; the number of projects that were funded via this scheme since 2017 to date in 2018; the action he has taken or plans to take in respect of increasing the number of participants in the rural walks scheme as per the programme for partnership Government commitment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19093/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme provides funding for the development of new outdoor recreational infrastructure and for the maintenance, enhancement or promotion of existing outdoor recreational infrastructure. In 2017 the scheme facilitated the development of numerous greenways, blueways, walks and other trails across the country. A total of €13.6 million was allocated to 251 projects under the scheme in 2017.
Lists of all projects funded under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme in 2017 can be found on my Department’s website at http://drcd.gov.ie/about/rural/rural-development/rural-recreation/.
The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme will continue to support important local, regional and national rural recreation projects in 2018 and I plan to launch the 2018 Scheme shortly.
My Department also administers the Walks Scheme which facilitates the development and maintenance of many of Ireland’s walking trails. The scheme involves landholders as key participants in the provision of high quality walking trails, by contracting them to undertake maintenance work on sections of National Way Marked Ways and other priority walks that traverse their lands. Participating landholders receive modest payments for maintenance work undertaken, in line with agreed work plans.
The scheme currently covers 39 trails, with payments made to approximately 1,900 landholders to maintain those trails.
The Programme for a Partnership Government and the Action Plan for Rural Development include a commitment to increase the number of trails covered by the Walks Scheme and my officials are working towards this objective. I intend to initiate a comprehensive review of the scheme’s operation this year in order to determine how best to expand the scheme and maximise the impact of the resources available to me. I anticipate that this review will be completed before the end of the year and that it will help identify priority walks that can be included in the expansion of the scheme.
60. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount of funding allocated to agricultural shows and tidy towns in 2017; his plans to repeat the contribution in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18925/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn 2017, I made €812,000 available, on a once off basis, towards the running costs of Agricultural shows around the country, in recognition of the impact which bad weather had on those shows during the summer months. 120 shows each received funding of up to €7,000 through the Irish Shows Association.
I also announced a once off funding scheme in November 2017 to mark the 60th anniversary of the Tidy Towns competition in 2018. Under the scheme, and based on the TidyTowns categories, TidyTowns Committees in villages were eligible to receive €1,000. Committees in small towns were eligible to receive €2,000; in large towns €3,000; and in large urban centres €4,000.
The purpose of the scheme was to recognise, in a small way, the hard work and dedication of the volunteers who have worked tirelessly over the past 60 years in the TidyTowns movement.
In total, over €1.3 million was allocated to over 900 TidyTowns Committees across the country under the scheme. I am delighted that so many Committees were able to avail of the grant and I hope that it will help in the work they carry out in 2018.
These were both once-off grants to mark special circumstances and I have no plans to run similar grant schemes for TidyTowns or Agricultural Shows in 2018.
61. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the dormant accounts action plan 2018; the engagement and consultation he has had in drawing up a plan; and the steps that are being taken to maximise the effectiveness of the funding available. [18906/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department commenced the process of preparing the 2018 Dormant Accounts Fund Action Plan in February. In order to initiate the process, I wrote to Ministers in February requesting that their Departments identify potential projects or programmes which might be included in the Action Plan.
Following the receipt of initial proposals from other Departments and agencies, my Department has undertaken a series of bilateral meetings to discuss the potential measures for inclusion in the Action Plan.
I can report that the preparation of the 2018 Dormant Accounts Action Plan is nearing completion and, following submission to Government, I hope to be in a position to publish the Plan in the coming weeks.
Without pre-empting the process of finalising the 2018 Action Plan, I would envisage that the Plan will allocate in the region of €40 million to fund measures aimed at tackling disadvantage. This will be similar to the amount approved in 2017, and a significant increase on the amounts approved in 2014 and 2016, which stood at €26.3 million and €28.5 million respectively. It is important that the level of funding to schemes, programmes and projects is sustainable, so that the fund can continue to support measures in a stable manner over the coming years.
Any measures put forward by Departments must, in the first instance, be provided for in the Vote of the Department or budget of the agency concerned. The expenditure incurred in implementing an approved measure is then reimbursed from the Dormant Accounts Fund. Each Department remains accountable for the administration of the programmes and schemes run under their remit using Dormant Accounts funding.
The forthcoming Action Plan will, as in previous years, set out the details of all new measures which have been allocated Dormant Accounts funding. However, as part of the ongoing review of the general administration of the Dormant Accounts Fund, the Action Plan will also include details of all measures previously approved for funding which are currently underway or which will commence shortly. This will provide for greater certainty and transparency in relation to the outstanding liabilities on the Fund. It will also potentially allow for increased use of the Fund in the future, including, for example, through the reallocation of decommitted funding to new measures.
63. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of projects that have been applied for and approved under the Leader programme to date; the number of applications being processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18923/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraLEADER is a multi-annual EU co-funded programme to support rural development. Ireland has an allocation of €250 million under the programme over the period 2014-2020, including both national and EU funding. The programme is administered by Local Action Groups (LAGs) which deliver funding in accordance with Local Development Strategies that have been agreed for each LAG area.
As of 30th April, 2018, 929 project applications with a value of almost €27 million have been approved for LEADER funding. A further 320 project applications requesting over €17.7 million in funding are at various stages in the approval process. This funding will be drawn down as projects start to incur expenditure and submit payment claims.
64. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the rural regeneration fund which was announced as part of Project Ireland 2040; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18984/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the National Development Plan, the Government has committed to providing €1 billion for a new Rural Regeneration and Development Fund over the period 2019 to 2027. The fund will provide the opportunity for co-funding of suitable investment projects in towns and villages with a population of less than 10,000, and outlying areas. The objective of the new Fund is to drive collaborative, coordinated and complementary packages of investment between Departments, agencies, Local Authorities and other public bodies, to transform our rural towns and villages and their outlying areas.
Proposals for funding will be made on a competitive bid-based approach, based on delivering on the objectives in the National Planning Framework to support rural Ireland. The Plan provides that proposals submitted for funding will have to demonstrate a contribution from State, local authority, state agency or other funding. This is currently the case in relation to the schemes operated by my Department and helps to achieve additionality.
Initial funding of €315 million is being allocated to the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund over the period 2019 to 2022. This initial phase will allow my Department to build on existing initiatives which it administers, as well as to support new collaborative initiatives as outlined above. The initial period of funding will also provide an opportunity for an assessment of both specific projects and the method of allocation of this funding, and will inform further allocations. Funding under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund will continue beyond 2022, to 2027.
As set out in the National Development Plan, my Department currently operates a number of schemes to support rural regeneration. These include the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, CLÁR and the Rural Recreation Infrastructure Scheme. While each of these schemes makes a valuable impact in its own right, I want to build on the synergies between the schemes to achieve better outcomes for people who live in rural areas.
The National Development Plan also envisages that, over time, these schemes will be integrated into the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund. This will provide an opportunity to align the schemes with complementary initiatives operated by other Departments to maximise the impact on rural communities of investment across national and local government, and achieve better value for money.
My Department is currently developing proposals for the detailed operation of the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, and I will announce the details following consultation with relevant Government colleagues.
