Written Answers Nos. 15-30
15. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the financial allocations in 2016 and 2017 and to date in 2018 for the seniors alert scheme; the take-up to date of the scheme in County Limerick since 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25828/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe allocation for the Seniors Alert Scheme in 2016 was €2.3m of which €1.8m was spent. Following a review, I launched a new scheme which took effect on 1 November 2017. A media and information campaign was organised to support the launch.
The key features of the new scheme include:
- free monitoring of the alarm service for the 1st year;
- a person no longer has to be living alone to qualify;
- a self-declaration of limited means for eligibility; and
- an increase in administrative payments to Community Groups involved in rolling out the scheme.
I am pleased to say that since the launch of the new scheme, the demand has been unprecedented. During 2017, spend on the Scheme amounted to €2.7m, with over 12,700 applications approved and more than 10,000 installations completed. To the end of May 2018, over 9,200 applications were approved, with almost 10,000 installations completed.
Since the Seniors Alert Scheme commenced in September 2015, 1,648 participants have been approved for the Scheme in County Limerick.
My officials are carefully monitoring the scheme to ensure that current levels of demand can continue to be met from within the resources available to my Department.
17. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount of funding provided to counties Carlow and Kilkenny under the local improvement scheme in 2017; his plans to announce a new local improvement scheme in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25803/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) is a programme for improvement works on small private/non-public roads. The scheme is currently funded by my Department and administered through the Local Authorities.
In 2017, I allocated a total of €440,460 to Carlow County Council under LIS. An initial allocation of €250,000 was made in September and a further allocation of €190,460 was made to Carlow in November, on foot of savings elsewhere in my Department's Vote.
I allocated a total of €605,565 to County Kilkenny under the LIS in 2017. €315,000 was allocated under the first round of funding in September, and a further €290,565 was allocated in November.
Following on from the launch of the 2017 scheme, I announced details of the 2018 Local Improvement Scheme on 27th February this year, with an allocation of €10.8 million for the scheme nationally.
County Carlow was allocated €250,000 under the 2018 scheme, and County Kilkenny was allocated €315,000, in line with their original 2017 allocations.
As part of the 2018 LIS scheme, I also requested each County Council to compile a secondary list of suitable LIS road projects which they would be able to complete if additional funding becomes available for the scheme later in the year. I will be monitoring the situation in the context of my Department's overall expenditure performance over the coming months.
Detailed information regarding the 2018 projects selected by Carlow and Kilkenny County Councils for LIS improvement works can be found on the Rural Development pages of my Department’s website.
18. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount allocated under the local improvement scheme in 2018, both nationally and in County Louth; if there will be an additional round; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25856/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am very pleased to see the strong level of interest in the Local Improvement Scheme since I re-launched the scheme last September. For many years, there was no dedicated funding for LIS, due to the constraints on the public finances. However, the level of interest in this House, at County Council level, and from residents who live on LIS roads, shows the underlying need for the programme in rural areas where people need good access to houses, farmlands and amenities.
In September 2017, following a number of years with no dedicated funding for LIS, I approved €10 million for the scheme nationally. I allocated a further €7.4 million to the scheme from savings elsewhere in my Department's Vote at the end of November 2017. The total amount allocated to the scheme in 2017 was €17.4 million, which included an allocation of €250,000 for County Louth.
Following on from the successful re-launch of the scheme in 2017, I announced details of the 2018 Local Improvement Scheme on 27th February last. I have allocated an initial amount of €10.8 million to County Councils across the country this year under the scheme. The 2018 funding includes an allocation to Louth County Council of €250,000.
It is a matter for each County Council to decide which roads to prioritise for works from the funding allocated to them under LIS, and to ensure that all roads meet with the scheme criteria. A local contribution is also made towards the cost of the improvement works.
Detailed information regarding the 2018 roads selected by the Louth County Council for improvement works can be found on the Rural Development pages of my Department’s website.
As part of the 2018 LIS scheme, I also requested each County Council to compile a secondary list of suitable LIS road projects which they could complete if additional funding becomes available for the scheme later in the year. I will be monitoring the situation in the context of my Department's overall expenditure performance over the coming months.
19. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the programmes and schemes planned to develop rural areas outside towns and villages; the amount of expenditure he expects in these rural areas in 2018 in view of the fact that a large part of the rural population live in the rural countryside; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25026/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe rural development schemes currently operated by my Department are not confined to towns and villages.
For example, the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme provides funding for the development and maintenance of walking trails, cycleways and blueways which bring visitors to rural areas and support local job creation through the provision of services and accommodation. I recently launched the 2018 Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme with an indicative allocation of €12 million for projects that will be implemented up to the end of 2019.
Separately, the Walks Scheme is currently operating on 39 trails which traverse lands in the open countryside. Payments to participating landholders to maintain the trails will amount to approximately €1.8 million in 2018.
CLÁR is targeted at areas that have experienced significant levels of depopulation and supports many settlements outside of rural towns. The 2018 CLÁR programme has a funding allocation of €5 million. Similarly, the Local Improvement Scheme, by its nature, is focused on the roads in areas outside of towns and villages. I have allocated €10.8 million under the LIS for this year.
The LEADER programme has the capacity to deliver significant outcomes for all rural areas. Project proposals are developed at local level and submitted to Local Action Groups for approval. LEADER has a Vote provision of €35 million this year, supplemented by €5 million in capital funding carried over from 2017.
While the Town and Village Renewal Scheme primarily focuses on towns and villages, the scheme strongly encourages projects which reach out to the areas outside of those towns and villages. Funding of €15 million is available for the scheme this year.
I believe it is important to ensure that all areas of rural Ireland have an opportunity to avail of funding support. That is why the current programmes operated by my Department are available for local communities to come up with suitable proposals for funding. The new €1 billion Rural Regeneration and Development Fund will also be available for rural areas outside of towns and villages.
20. Deputy Eamon Ryan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the report on the community or public banking model will be published; his plans to establish an engagement or stakeholder forum to further examine the way in which such a model would be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25902/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for a Partnership Government includes a commitment to investigate the feasibility of 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. A total of 16 replies from a range of stakeholders was received.
Additionally, there has been substantial engagement and a number of meetings held with Irish Rural Link and the Savings Bank Foundation for International Cooperation - the international development wing of the Sparkassen group - on their proposal for a local public banking model in Ireland, based on the Sparkassen system.
The project team carefully analysed this proposal, as well as assessing all the submissions received during the consultation process, in order to make sure that all the ideas and opinions were considered and reflected in the report.
The report has now been completed and Minister Donohoe and I submitted it to Government for consideration in the last few weeks. I expect the report to be published very shortly and that there will be further engagement with key stakeholders at that stage.
21. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the significance which the rural regeneration fund will have for rural Ireland, with particular reference to rural towns and villages, further to the recent announcement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25784/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra40. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when he will provide further details on the rural regeneration and development fund, which will provide new funding streams for rural towns, villages and outlying rural areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25322/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra44. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the opportunities that are available for County Kildare projects to benefit from the Project Ireland 2040 rural regeneration fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25294/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 21, 40 and 44 together.
The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund will make a significant and sustainable positive impact on rural communities in the years ahead.
It can help strengthen rural Ireland through supporting job creation and addressing depopulation where this is an issue.
Under Project Ireland 2040, the Government has committed to providing €1 billion for the new Rural Regeneration and Development Fund over the period 2019-2027. The fund will be key to strengthening rural economies and communities as planned for in the National Planning Framework.
The fund will provide the opportunity to drive collaborative, coordinated and complementary packages of investments between Departments, agencies, Local Authorities and other public bodies to work together to transform rural towns and villages and surrounding areas.
Funding of €315 million has been provided over the period 2019 to 2022, which will allow both further activity under existing initiatives as well as the introduction of new investment initiatives under the Fund to be supported during this period. There are no specific counties earmarked for investment, or specific projects assigned to this Fund in the NDP; instead the Plan makes clear that allocations from the Fund will be made on a competitive bid based approach.
My Department is currently finalising arrangements for the detailed operation of the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, and I will announce the details in late June following consultation with relevant Government colleagues.
22. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when he expects to open the 2018 outdoor recreation infrastructure scheme; the amount of funding he plans to allocate towards this funding stream in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25292/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI launched the 2018 Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme on the 1st of June. The scheme provides funding for the development of new outdoor recreational infrastructure and for the maintenance and promotion of existing outdoor recreational infrastructure in rural Ireland. In the last two years, the scheme has funded trails, walkways, cycleways, blueways, and projects that improve access to recreational amenities across the country.
Under the 2018 scheme, applications will be accepted under three measures:
- Measure 1, will cater for small projects with a value of up to €20,000.
- Measure 2, will support medium sized projects, ranging in value from €20,000 to €200,000.
- Measure 3 is aimed at large projects ranging from €200,000 to €500,000.
I have made an indicative allocation of €12 million to the Scheme for 2018, across the three measures.
Local Development Companies, Local Authorities and State Agencies are all eligible applicants under the scheme. For the most part, I expect that projects under Measure 1 will be completed by the end of this year. Larger scale projects under Measures 2 and 3 are expected to be completed before the end of October 2019.
Further details of the scheme are available on my Department's website.
23. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development his plans to have further discussions with his counterparts in Northern Ireland on the development of cross-Border projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25853/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra27. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the discussions his Department is having with its counterparts in Northern Ireland on the development of cross-Border tourism projects that would be of particular benefit to rural communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25854/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 23 and 27 together.
Discussions between my Department and counterpart Departments in Northern Ireland take place primarily within the Steering Committee process for the PEACE IV programme, engaging directly on specific projects from time to time when necessary.
PEACE IV supports peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland, promoting social and economic stability particularly through actions promoting cohesion between communities. It is co-funded by the EU through the European Regional Development Fund.
My Department is an Accountable Department and provides funding under three themes - Shared Spaces and Services, Building Positive Relations, and Children and Young People. The Department's primary role in developing projects is as an adviser on the PEACE IV Steering Committee, together with other relevant Departments from Ireland and Northern Ireland.
The Steering Committee, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body as part of its overall management of PEACE IV, considers and approves all funding applications. I understand that almost all of the PEACE allocation will be committed by the PEACE IV Steering Committee this year and there are no plans at present to discuss projects outside of the Steering Committee process and associated engagements.
24. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he has made contact with the permanent secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland to discuss the improvement of cross-Border co-operation on issues concerning rural development and in recognition of the shared concerns which Brexit will bring to Border areas in the North and South. [25906/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Rural and Community Development I am a member of the North South Ministerial Council. However, my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine has primary responsibility with respect to the North South Ministerial Council relating to Agriculture and Rural Development.
The North South Ministerial Council (NSMC) has been unable to meet since the Northern Ireland Executive collapsed in January 2017 because there is no First and Deputy First Minister in place which is required to satisfy a number of statutory requirements in respect of NSMC Meetings.
Formal NSMC official-level Working Groups, required to prepare for NSMC Ministerial meetings in the areas of cooperation, are therefore not taking place.
However, officials from Departments in both jurisdictions have continued to work together in line with the previously agreed work programme of cooperation.
My officials have continued therefore to engage with their counterparts in relation to progressing projects under the co-operation measure under the current LEADER programme and within the North West Strategic Growth Partnership initiative being progressed by both Donegal Local Authority and Derry City Council.
North South cooperation on rural and community development issues brings tangible benefits to the daily lives of people in the border region and across the Island. It contributes to economic opportunity and development within these communities.
It is also a very practical manifestation of the peace process which allows for the normalisation of social and economic relationships between people across the island, to mutual benefit. It is for these reasons that the Government has prioritised the protection of the Good Friday Agreement in all its part, and the gains of the peace process, along with the avoidance of a hard border, in the Brexit negotiations.
I earnestly hope that a new administration can be put in place soon and I look forward to engaging with my counterpart in Northern Ireland at an early date in the future on issues of common interest within my Departments remit.
25. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the funding provided to a project (details supplied) in 2017; the funding that will be provided in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25855/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe organisation referred to by the Deputy (Men's Sheds) is a member-based network with associated member bodies throughout the country. My Department provides funding both to the central organisation and to its individual member bodies under a number of different funding streams.
The Men's Sheds movement has been a tremendous success. Since June 2017, the Irish Men's Sheds Association has approved applications for new sheds in at least 20 different counties and for several locations in Dublin. Men's Sheds are now present in every single county on the island, with at least three sheds in every county and some with many more. I sincerely congratulate the Association on its important work to date.
There is clearly a huge demand in communities around Ireland for somewhere where men can learn, create and communicate; where they can get informed on their physical and mental health; and where they can achieve things together in an enjoyable way. The phenomenal increase in Men’s Sheds is testament to the positive impact that they are having in communities around Ireland.
I provided funding of €14,900 on a once off basis, to the central Men's Sheds organisation, to purchase IT equipment to ensure better communication with its network members.
Under the RAPID (Revitalising Areas by Planning, Investment and Development) programme, my Department provided funding of €38,400 to eight member bodies to upgrade facilities and expand their activities.
Under my Department's Communities Facilities Scheme, I provided funding to 73 individual member bodies in 2017 to a value of €93,320.
The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), which commenced in most parts of the country on 1 January 2018, also provides support to individual member bodies around the country. 15 SICAP Programme Implementers have recorded activity to support 38 such bodies under the new programme to date.
SICAP Programme Implementers have also given 112 support interventions in areas such as community planning, social inclusion and equality issues, capacity building. However, no grants have been recorded to date to the network under SICAP 2018-2022.
Funding for such projects is also available under the LEADER 2014-2020 Programme. In 2017, four projects were approved for funding of €69,788.47. In the first five months of 2018 a further three applications have successfully been approved and the value of these applications is €72,616.98.
In addition, I am aware that LEADER funding has also been approved for facilities utilised by the member bodies of the organisation referred to by the Deputy.
26. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he is satisfied with the rate of capital expenditure in 2018 under the various schemes administered by his Department; if not, the steps he plans to take to address the shortfall in capital expenditure to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25025/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Revised Estimates in respect of the Department of Rural and Community Development sets out gross capital expenditure of €87.5m; this capital expenditure is supplemented by some €7.7m in respect of capital carried forward from 2017.
Whereas the Fiscal Monitor, which reflects an estimate of monthly expenditure, sets capital expenditure to be 62% behind profile to the end of May, the actual rate of capital expenditure is 46% behind profile to the end of May. (This includes both voted capital and capital carryover expenditure to date).
The main reason for this underspend is delayed expenditure in respect of the Town and Village Programme in Quarter 1 2018 due principally to the severe weather which hampered progress on a number of projects.
My officials have been in contact with the local authorities in respect of this programme, and I understand that it is expected that expenditure will meet profile by year end.
I am also carefully reviewing the spend for the LEADER programme. This 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) throughout the country which deliver funding in accordance with Local Development Strategies that have been agreed for each LAG area.
As of 10th June, 2018, 1,024 projects with a value of almost €29.5million have been approved for LEADER funding by the LAGs. A further 341 projects requesting over €19.2 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.
My Department is engaging with the LAGs who operate the scheme at local level to assess the progress on projects to date, so as to confirm the actual projects that will mature for payment in 2018, the estimated value of these claims and the month the claim will be submitted.
While the pace of approvals varies between Local Action Groups, I am confident that the progress being made by the LAGs, along with the administrative improvements which my Department introduced last year, will result in a continued increase in project approvals and payments under the LEADER programme over the coming months.
I will, however, be carefully monitoring spending across all capital subheads within my Department, so as to maximise the positive impact of 2018 funding for rural and community development and will consider reallocations as required.
28. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he has considered proposing that all legislation passing through Dáil Éireann be rural-proofed by his Department (details supplied). [25907/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department currently examines all policy Memoranda being submitted to Government to assess the potential impact of policy proposals on rural development. My Department is also represented on a number of Interdepartmental groups and ensures that the impact on rural development of proposals being discussed in those groups is appropriately considered.
The Action Plan for Rural Development also contains a measure to develop a new and effective rural proofing model which will ensure that rural development issues are considered in the decision-making processes of all Government Departments, State bodies and agencies.
In this regard, my Department intends to establish a working group shortly, which will include representation from other Government Departments, to consider the issue of a formal rural proofing model which can be applied across Government Departments and State Agencies.
29. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the dormant accounts action plan 2018 will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25904/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department commenced the process of preparing the 2018 Dormant Accounts Fund Action Plan in February of this year. 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 undertook a series of bilateral meetings to discuss the potential measures for inclusion in the Action Plan in further detail.
The 2018 Dormant Accounts Action Plan is currently being finalised and will be submitted to Government shortly. The Plan will thereafter be laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas and published on my Department’s website.
30. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the reason for delays in the provision of funds to local action groups for approved projects under the Leader programme; the average waiting time taken for the provision of funding to local action groups following final approval for a project under the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25802/18]
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 mandatory regulatory administrative checks must be 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.
As I have previously indicated, I have initiated a review in order to explore a reduction in the payment processing turnaround time, once a valid claim has been received by my Department, while still respecting the regulatory requirements.
