Tuesday, 15 Jan 2019

Written Answers Nos. 1012-1031

Departmental Programmes

Ceisteanna (1012)

Dara Calleary

Ceist:

1012. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of applications made by each local authority to the digital innovation programme since established on an annual basis in tabular form; the number of applications made by each local authority to the programme that were approved and not approved by his Department; the amount of funding allocated to approved applications in each local authority annually; and the amount of approved funding that has been expended in each year. [54287/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development

The Digital Innovation Programme was launched in 2018. The purpose of the programme is to encourage Local Authorities to support digital development in their areas. Projects must promote, support, or otherwise advance at least one of the pillars outlined in the scheme criteria and must show the potential for public benefit.

Applications are required to meet certain criteria that include evidence that the project will take an innovative approach, provide a public benefit and meet prescribed draw-down timescales. Applications that satisfy these criteria are deemed to be valid applications and are then assessed by an evaluation panel.

All Local Authorities were invited to apply for funding under two calls for proposals under the Digital Innovation Programme in 2018. This resulted in 36 valid applications progressing to evaluation stage, and 21 projects being approved for funding. In addition, a number of Local Authorities submitted applications that were not deemed valid in the context of the scheme criteria and, as a consequence, did not progress to the evaluation stage. Details of the valid applications received from each of the Local Authorities who submitted proposals, along with the number of applications approved and the funding awarded, are provided on Table 1 below.

Since its inception, €700,094 has been awarded under the Digital Innovation Programme. All of the funding awarded has been drawn down by the Local Authorities.

Further details of the projects funded by my Department through the Digital Innovation Programme can be found on the Department’s website: www.drcd.gov.ie.

Table 1 - Digital Innovation Programme: Applications by Local Authority

	Local Authority	Valid applications received	Applications approved	Funding awarded
1	Tipperary	4	2	€14,000
2	Meath	1	0	-
3	Longford	2	0	-
4	Roscommon	2	0	-
5	Sligo	2	2	€105,000
6	Wicklow	4	2	€9,600
7	Mayo	2	2	€66,244
8	Westmeath	1	1	€53,000
9	Cork City	2	1	€8,000
10	Offaly	3	2	€80,000
11	Fingal	2	2	€112,000
12	Galway County	1	0	-
13	Galway City	1	1	€24,000
14	Donegal	2	2	€103,000
15	Dublin City	2	1	€24,000
16	Cavan	2	0	-
17	Clare	1	1	€28,000
18	Kildare	1	1	€41,250
19	Kerry	1	1	€32,000
		36	21	€700,094

Mobile Telephony Services

Ceisteanna (1013)

Dara Calleary

Ceist:

1013. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the details of each local authority that has and has not, respectively, mapped local mobile phone blackspots to date in tabular form; the number of blackspots identified by local authority; and the funding and guidance supports available by his Department to local authorities to map these blackspots. [54288/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development

The Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce was established in July 2016 to examine broadband and mobile phone coverage deficits in Ireland and identify tangible actions to improve the quality of these services.

The Taskforce Report was published in December 2016, and included 40 actions to alleviate barriers to mobile phone reception and broadband access. An Implementation Group was established in 2017 to oversee the delivery of the actions in the Taskforce’s report. Progress reports on the delivery of these actions are published on my Department's website on a quarterly basis.

With regard to the specific issue of mobile phone blackspots, my officials, in conjunction with the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, are actively engaged with Local Authorities and mobile phone operators to identify priority blackspots and take action to address this issue.

During 2017, officials of both Departments worked with a group of Local Authorities to identify the issues associated with mapping local blackspots. Building on this exercise, a call was issued to all Local Authorities in 2018 to map local blackspots and identify infrastructure that could potentially be used to improve telecommunications services.

Seventeen of the thirty one Local Authorities have provided data on blackspots. Table 1 below provides details of these seventeen Local Authorities and the number of blackspots they each identified.

The blackspot information provides indicative data on poor coverage in specific rural areas and along national and regional roads. However, it should be borne in mind that the number of blackspots changes as new telecommunications infrastructure is rolled out and upgraded.

The Department will continue to work with the telecommunications providers throughout 2019 to ensure that new infrastructure is targeted to the areas most in need. It should also be noted that the imminent publication of ComReg's national coverage map will give a more accurate reflection of mobile phone coverage throughout the country.

With regard to funding and support, my Department provided €35,000 to each Local Authority in 2018 to support the appointment of a Broadband Officer. Broadband Officers are tasked with co-ordinating broadband and telecommunications development in their Local Authority areas. Broadband Officer funding increased to €42,000 for 2019. My Department has also assigned liaison officers to support Local Authority Broadband Officers in this and other initiatives. At the implementation stage of the blackspot data collection exercise, a technical information document was provided to every Local Authority to guide them in their work.

My Department continues to support Local Authorities and communities across Ireland to deal with broadband and mobile phone service deficits. For example, my Department recently awarded a grant of €35,000 to erect a mobile phone mast in Malin Beg, Co. Donegal under the Digital Innovation Programme. This project is a partnership between the local community and a telecommunications provider that provides an opportunity to test a solution to mobile phone blackspots in a rural areas.

Table 1 - Local Authorities who provided data on Mobile Phone Blackspots

	Local Authority	Blackspots
1	Carlow	36
2	Donegal	6
3 & 4	Galway City Council / Galway County Council	64
5	Kerry	56
6	Kildare	6
7	Leitrim	18
8	Limerick	36
9	Longford	84
10	Mayo	2
11	Meath	8
12	Roscommon	19
13	Sligo	4
14	Tipperary	29
15	Waterford	4
16	Westmeath	8
17	Wicklow	10

The following revised table was received on 7 February 2019

Table 1 - Local Authorities who provided data on Mobile Phone Blackspots

	Local Authority	Blackspots
1	Carlow	36
2	Donegal	6
3	Galway County Council	66
4	Kerry	56
5	Kildare	6
6	Leitrim	18
7	Limerick	59
8	Longford	84
9	Mayo	7
10	Meath	9
11	Roscommon	19
12	Sligo	4
13	Tipperary	29
14	Waterford	4
15	Westmeath	9
16	Wicklow	9
17	Cork County	12
	Total	433

Local and Community Development Programme

Ceisteanna (1014)

Dara Calleary

Ceist:

1014. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development his plans to update the Framework Policy for Local and Community Development in Ireland published in 2015. [54289/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Rural and Community Development

The Framework Policy for Local and Community Development was published by Government in January 2016. It sets out a high-level vision for the State’s support for local development and community development and underpins all relevant policies, programmes and interventions for local development and community development.

My Department established a Cross-Sectoral Group on Local and Community Development in May 2017 to develop an implementation plan for the Framework Policy. The Cross-Sectoral Group is chaired by my Department and comprises members drawn from the relevant stakeholder sectors, including the community development, local development and community & voluntary sectors, as well as local and central government.

The implementation plan will serve as a de facto update of the Framework Policy. It will draw on the feedback received from the original consultation on the Framework Policy in 2015, outputs from the National Forum on Local Development and Community Development held in November 2016, outputs from a cross-sectoral workshop held by my Department in November 2017, and the recent deliberations of the Cross-Sectoral Group.

I expect a draft plan to be submitted for my consideration in Q1 2019 and I hope to bring it to Government for approval shortly thereafter.

Peace and Reconciliation Programme

Ceisteanna (1015)

Dara Calleary

Ceist:

1015. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount of funds allocated here over the 2014 to 2020 period and expended in each year to date in tabular form by Exchequer and EU funding to the PEACE IV 2014-2020 Programme for Peace and Reconciliation. [54290/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Rural and Community Development

PEACE IV is an EU funded cross-border programme which 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 managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), one of the North-South Bodies established under the Good Friday Agreement. My Department is an Accountable Department for PEACE IV and provides funding under three of the four programme measures, namely Shared Spaces and Services, Building Positive Relations, and Children and Young People.

The total funding allocated to date under these measures is approx. €179m, with c.€38m and €141m allocated to applicants based in Ireland and Northern Ireland respectively. While certain applicants may be based in one or other jurisdiction, they may be supported by the PEACE programme to deliver services on a cross-border basis. Accordingly, funding approved for applicants in Northern Ireland may support services delivered in the border counties of Ireland and visa versa. It is not possible to disaggregate these allocations on a 'jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction' basis.

The PEACE IV programme was approved by the European Commission in November 2015. Expenditure commenced in 2017 and will continue until 2023. The total funding disbursed by the SEUPB to applicants in the border counties to date and the indicative annual allocation from 2019 to 2023 are set out in the table below.

Up to 85% will be reimbursed by the EU over the lifetime of the programme.

Spend2017	Spend2018	Indicative Allocation2019	Indicative Allocation2020	Indicative Allocation2021	Indicative Allocation2022	Indicative Allocation 2023
€0.17m	€1.2m	€6.76m	€10.21m	€10.59m	€6.32m	€3.15m

Voluntary Sector Funding

Ceisteanna (1016)

Dara Calleary

Ceist:

1016. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the volunteer centres in each county and local authority; the annual funding allocated to each over the period 2016 to 2018, in tabular form; the allocations for 2019; and the amount of funds expended in each year. [54291/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development

My Department’s Community and Voluntary Supports and Programmes provide a cohesive framework of support for the community and voluntary sector. This programme supports 21 Volunteer Centres, 8 Volunteer Information Services in areas which do not currently have a full-time Volunteer Centre, as well as a number of national organisations such as Volunteer Ireland and Young Social Innovators.

Details of the allocations and amounts paid to the Volunteer Centres are set out in the following table. These allocations are paid in two annual tranches. In addition, a specific allocation has been paid annually since 2016 to Volunteer Ireland to support the Volunteer Information Services in areas not served by Volunteer Centres. This allocation amounted to some €11,000 per Volunteer Information Service per annum.

Work is currently underway in relation to the 2019 allocations which will be notified to all Volunteer Centres shortly.

	2016	2017	2018
Carlow Volunteer Centre	€100,575	€110,600	€110,600
Clare Volunteer Centre	€80,000	€103,000	€103,000
Cork Volunteer Bureau	€112,603	€123,800	€123,800
Donegal Volunteer Project	€117,986	€129,800	€129,800
Dublin City Volunteer Centre	€256,758	€282,400	€282,400
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Volunteer Centre	€86,901	€103,000	€103,000
Fingal Volunteer Centre	€104,263	€114,700	€114,700
Galway Volunteer Centre	€121,148	€133,200	€133,200
Kerry Volunteer Bureau	€107,951	€118,800	€118,800
Kildare Volunteer Bureau	€110,000	€121,000	€121,000
Limerick Volunteer Centre	€133,312	€146,600	€146,600
Longford Volunteer Centre	€64,923	€90,000	€95,000
Louth Volunteer Centre	€103,730	€114,100	€114,100
Mayo Volunteer Bureau	€102,242	€112,500	€112,500
Meath Volunteer Centre	€100,552	€110,600	€110,600
Monaghan Volunteer Centre	€65,457	€90,000	€95,000
Sligo Volunteer Centre	€94,900	€106,400	€106,400
South Dublin Volunteer Centre	€155,528	€171,100	€171,100
Tipperary Volunteer Centre	€142,169	€156,400	€156,400
Westmeath Volunteer Centre	€104,741	€115,200	€115,200
Wicklow Volunteer Bureau	€117,096	€128,800	€128,800
Overall Total:	€2,382,835	€2,682,000	€2,692,000

Security of the Elderly

Ceisteanna (1017)

Dara Calleary

Ceist:

1017. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of applications received to the seniors alert scheme in each of the years 2016 to 2018, by county; the number of applications approved and not approved respectively, by county in tabular form; and the number of completed alarm installations. [54292/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Rural and Community Development

My Department is responsible for the Seniors Alert Scheme which encourages community support for vulnerable older people in our communities through the provision of personal monitored alarms to enable them to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind. Funding is available under the scheme towards the purchase by a registered community based-organisation of a personal alarm or pendant.

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.

I am pleased to say that since the launch of the new Seniors Alert Scheme, the demand has been unprecedented. During 2017 over 12,600 applications were approved and more than 10,000 installations completed. During 2018, over 19,200 applications were approved, with 20,288 installations completed.

Since September 2015, Pobal has operated the scheme on behalf of my Department. The table below provides information of approved participants and installations by county from September 2015 to the end of 2018. The number of ‘not approved’ applications amounts to 1,135 over that period. This number includes both unsuccessful applications and applications withdrawn by the applicant prior to approval for a variety of reasons. It is not available on a county basis at present. A further 3,076 approved applications were cancelled by participants prior to installations for a variety of reasons, including changes of circumstances of the applicant such as admission to hospital or residential care and other changes in living arrangements.

Approved participants by county by year, and completed installations by county:

County	2015	2016	2017	2018	Total Approved Participants to 31 December 2018	Completed Installations
Carlow	18	136	213	305	672	607
Cavan	14	79	119	256	468	465
Clare	92	319	482	480	1,373	1,321
Cork	146	1,070	1,434	2,246	4,896	4,484
Donegal	45	174	444	552	1,215	1,204
Dublin	181	1,165	2,650	4,744	8,740	8,295
Galway	81	538	872	1,410	2,901	2,885
Kerry	14	294	450	813	1,571	1,469
Kildare	69	247	383	562	1,261	1,194
Kilkenny	87	149	336	424	996	929
Laois	25	263	329	203	820	793
Leitrim	16	93	178	128	415	409
Limerick	82	375	666	993	2,116	2,001
Longford	14	58	143	157	372	356
Louth	35	317	438	187	977	970
Mayo	65	296	481	718	1,560	1,543
Meath	47	214	374	782	1,417	1,264
Monaghan	7	91	168	243	509	496
Offaly	37	135	299	371	842	824
Roscommon	19	134	204	233	590	572
Sligo	24	158	275	365	822	814
Tipperary	99	447	633	955	2,134	2,007
Waterford	28	134	221	471	854	758
Westmeath	12	124	245	320	701	664
Wexford	37	156	303	888	1,384	1,252
Wicklow	18	144	269	422	853	785
Total	1,312	7,310	12,609	19,228	40,459	38,361

Security of the Elderly

Ceisteanna (1018)

Dara Calleary

Ceist:

1018. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount of capital and current funding respectively, allocated to the seniors alert scheme in each of the years 2015 to 2018, in tabular form; the 2019 allocation; and the amount expended in each year to date. [54293/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Rural and Community Development

My Department is responsible for the Seniors Alerts Scheme which provides funding for personal monitored alarms for older people to enable them to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind. 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. In addition to the provision of the alarm equipment, there were modifications to the qualifying conditions of the scheme, and the first year of monitoring is free to each new participant.

I am pleased to say that since the launch of the new Seniors Alert Scheme, the demand has been unprecedented. During 2017 over 12,600 applications were approved and more than 10,000 installations completed. During 2018, over 19,200 applications were approved, with 20,288 installations completed. With the huge increased demand for the scheme and the provision of one year free monitoring, expenditure in 2017 and 2018 exceeded the allocation available for the scheme. However, in both years savings were identified from other areas within my Department's allocation to ensure that all new applicants could be provided for. There is also provision under the Dormant Accounts Fund Action Plan 2018, which also covers 2019, for funding to meet the additional and exceptional demands of the Scheme.

As this is a demand led scheme, it is kept under continuous review by officials in my department to ensure adequate funding can be made available to meet the requirements of all qualifying applicants. I intend that this will also be the case during 2019.

Year	Allocation €,000	Spend €,000
2015	2,350	1,540
2016	2,300	1,800
2017	2,300	2,683
2018	2,300	6,984
2019	2,300

Scheme to Support National Organisations

Ceisteanna (1019)

Dara Calleary

Ceist:

1019. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount of current and capital funding respectively, allocated to the scheme to support national organisations in each of the years 2015 to 2019, in tabular form; and the amount expended in each year to date. [54294/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development

The Scheme to Support National Organisations (SSNO) has a primary focus on the provision of core funding to national organisations that demonstrate good governance and deliver services and supports that have a focus on one or more of the following: addressing poverty, social exclusion and promoting equality.

The scheme provides multiannual core funding to national organisations, and allocations are provided across the total period of each iteration of the scheme. The funding provided is all current, with no capital provision.

The last iteration of the scheme ran for a 24 month period from 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2016, with a fully expended allocation of €8,015,518.

The current scheme commenced on 1 July 2016 and will cease on 30 June 2019. Almost €16.7m was allocated to 71 national community and voluntary organisations over the three year period of the scheme.

A Review of the 2016-2019 Scheme was undertaken by the Department, in conjunction with Pobal, to formulate the next iteration of the scheme which was advertised in December 2018 and is due to commence in July 2019. It is expected that the 36 month funding allocation for the proposed scheme will be broadly in line with the current scheme.

Public Participation Networks

Ceisteanna (1020)

Dara Calleary

Ceist:

1020. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount of current and capital funding respectively, allocated to the public participation networks in each of the years 2015 to 2018, in tabular form; the 2019 allocation by local authority; and the amount expended in each year to date by local authority. [54295/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development

Since 2015, current funding of up to €50,000 per annum has been allocated by my Department in respect of each PPN, provided this was supplemented by a minimum of €30,000 per annum from each local authority’s own resources. This funding is to be used for the cost of the employment of a Resource Worker, and ongoing operational costs such as office accommodation and training. There is no capital funding available to PPNs.

Set out in the following table is the amount expended since 2015 by each PPN.

The expenditure shown for 2018 is made up of actual expenditure from January to the end of September, with an estimated expenditure figure in respect of October to end December 2018. A full account of expenditure for 2018 will be supplied by each PPN in early 2019.

PPN	2015	2016	2017	2018
Carlow	€43,851.08	€101,176.07	€80,485.68	€91,475.27
Cavan	€44,686.08	€73,304.64	€73,232.00	€73,332.00
Clare	€80,004.35	€86,283.86	€77,594.97	€84,693.73
Cork City	€37,569.00	€83,688.00	€76,764.28	€54,922.02
Cork County	€130,117.00	€89,568.00	€97,112.00	€96,135.00
Donegal	€52,644.71	€41,125.63	€76,395.35	€80,000.00
Dublin	€52,771.04	€60,927.12	€80,650.92	€83,000.00
Dun Laoghaire / Rathdown	€31,764.36	€32,995.33	€76,378.85	€79,947.90
Fingal	€76,415.00	€108,591.01	€89,740.40	€86,869.00
Galway City	€73,933.50	€80,200.74	€79,831.77	€80,000.00
Galway County	€35,197.95	€43,653.00	€70,596.79	€80,847.49
Kerry	€61,452.20	€86,434.42	€82,860.26	€88,003.92
Kildare	€88,549.39	€55,128.91	€42,358.44	€51,646.33
Kilkenny	€24,246.19	€69,528.43	€80,684.67	€73,002.33
Laois	€51,769.21	€76,256.00	€77,024.00	€80,000.00
Leitrim	€42,243.68	€83,823.04	€66,647.00	€80,000.00
Limerick	€78,490.00	€78,093.10	€80,901.70	€0.00
Longford	€27,936.00	€81,992.87	€81,611.93	€80,000.00
Louth	€54,957.58	€79,478.63	€85,427.83	€87,157.00
Mayo	€74,339.20	€80,500.29	€76,602.40	€80,002.00
Meath	€13,498.37	€83,906.16	€93,248.86	€80,000.00
Monaghan	€84,776.30	€80,936.63	€80,111.93	€80,000.00
Offaly	€13,457.79	€36,816.44	€69,618.44	€84,431.92
Roscommon	€38,789.91	€79,878.33	€80,531.24	€80,000.00
Sligo	€79,006.66	€77,055.57	€86,784.77	€80,000.00
South Dublin	€66,269.29	€83,044.53	€103,019.98	€33,455.42
Tipperary	€102,901.54	€86,402.06	€81,487.68	€80,500.00
Waterford	€82,042.00	€89,358.15	€82,972.11	€83,000.00
Westmeath	€80,228.24	€85,990.00	€100,597.95	€122,054.00
Wexford	€81,753.25	€81,603.49	€82,755.08	€82,819.89
Wicklow	€50,563.67	€74,317.07	€80,987.77	€85,994.00

As Limerick did not have a functioning PPN during 2018, there was no expenditure to record. My Department is continuing to work with Limerick City and County Council to ensure that Limerick PPN is re-established as soon as possible.

Work is currently underway in relation to the 2019 allocations, which will be notified to all PPNs shortly.

Charities Regulation

Ceisteanna (1021)

Dara Calleary

Ceist:

1021. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount of current and capital funding allocated to the Charities Regulatory Authority in each of the years 2014 to 2018, in tabular form; the 2019 allocation; and the amount expended in each year to date. [54296/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development

The Charities Regulator was established on October 14, 2014. Audited financial statements for the first period were produced for the 14 months to December 2015, in accordance with Section 30(2) of the Charities Act 2009. Annual financial statements were produced thereafter. The accounts for 2018 are not yet available.

	2014	14 months to Dec 2015	12 months to Dec 2016	12 months to Dec 2017	12 months to Dec 2018	2019
Capital spend		€122,188	€130,933	€401,382	Not available
Total current expenditure per audited accounts		€1,655,943	€2,675,854	€3,328,307	Not available
Budget allocation	€300,000	€1,419,000	€2,665,000	€4,379,000	€4,446,000	€4,490,000

Charitable and Voluntary Organisations

Ceisteanna (1022)

Dara Calleary

Ceist:

1022. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of organisations on the Charities Register as at 31 December in each of the years 2014 to 2018, in tabular form; the number of organisations that were taken off the register as at 31 December in each year, in tabular form; the number of investigations carried out in each year in accordance with the Charities Act 2009; the number of imposed intermediate sanctions annually; the number of prosecutions annually in the period; the number of fines imposed annually; and the value of all penalties in each of the years 2014 to 2018. [54297/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development

The Charities Regulatory Authority was established in October 2014 pursuant to the Charities Act 2009. The key functions of the Regulator are to establish and maintain a public register of charitable organisations operating in Ireland and ensure their compliance with the Charities Acts.

My Department has overall policy responsibility for the Charities Regulator. However, the Authority is fully independent in the performance of its statutory functions. Neither I nor my Department have any role in the decision making process of the Authority.

My Department receives regular updates from the Charities Regulator regarding the number of charities registered and de-registered. The numbers over the 2014-2018 period are as follows:

Year	Number of organisations on the Register of Charities as of 31 December of the relevant year	Number of organisations de-registered in the relevant year*
2014	8,450	0
2015	8,233	217
2016	8,003	314
2017	9,061	699
2018	9,799	579

*All organisations de-registered to date have been de-registered because they no longer have an entitlement to an exemption under section 207 or 208 of the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997 (charitable tax exemption - commonly referred to as a CHY number)

One of the functions of the Charities Regulator is to carry out investigations in accordance with the Charities Act 2009. Part 4 of the 2009 Act, which gives investigative and protective powers to the Charities Regulator, was commenced on 5 September 2016. Part 4 of the Act includes the powers to appoint inspectors to investigate the affairs of charitable organisations and to impose intermediate sanctions on charitable organisations in respect of which there is a contravention of provisions of the Act.

The number of charitable organisations in respect of which inspectors were appointed to investigate the affairs of the charitable organisations under Part 4 of the 2009 Act is as follows:

2016 - 1

2017 - 2

2018 - 1

The number of intermediate sanctions imposed on charitable organisations under Section 73 of the Charities Act 2009 is as follows:

2016 - 0

2017 - 1

2018 - 1

In 2017, the Charities Regulator secured one prosecution in respect of breaches of the provisions of the Charities Act.

The Charities Act 2009 does not provide the Charities Regulator with the power to impose fines or penalties. This is a matter for the courts.

Charities Regulation

Ceisteanna (1023)

Dara Calleary

Ceist:

1023. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of appeals made to the Charity Appeals Tribunal under section 45 of the Charities Act 2009 in each year since being established; the number of cases heard and adjudicated on; and the number of cases in which an appeal was successful and not successful in each year. [54298/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development

Section 75 (1) of the Charities Act 2009 provides for the establishment of the Charities Appeal Tribunal. The role of the Charity Appeals Tribunal is to hear and adjudicate on appeals against certain decisions of the Charities Regulatory Authority (the ‘Charities Regulator’).

The Rules for the Charities Appeals Tribunal were made under the Charity Appeals Tribunal (Charities Act 2009) Rules 2018, SI No. 209 of 2018. The Rules came into force on 4 July 2018.

To date no appeals under Section 45 have been received by the Tribunal since its establishment.

Dormant Accounts Fund Grants

Ceisteanna (1024, 1025)

Eamon Scanlon

Ceist:

1024. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if a charity (details supplied) will be considered for funding under the dormant accounts fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54359/18]

Eamon Scanlon

Ceist:

1025. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if an organisation (details supplied) will be considered for funding under the dormant accounts fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54360/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development

I propose to take Questions Nos. 1024 and 1025 together.

The 2018 Dormant Accounts Action Plan, which was published in July, approved funding of up to €39.7 million for 45 different measures across ten different Government Departments.

In line with the provisions of the Dormant Accounts Acts, the measures identified in the Action Plan target social, economic and educational disadvantage; and people with a disability. The approved measures will support a wide range of projects and programmes relating to issues such as social inclusion, assisting migrants, support for carers, speech and language therapy, support for dementia sufferers and sports measures. The majority of measures will commence in 2019, subject to voted expenditure being available within each relevant Department.

With regard to the ways in which individual organisations can apply for funding, it is a matter for each relevant Department as to how they deliver their own measures. For example, my own Department recently granted capital funding to a range of social enterprises that are addressing disadvantage and disability through their work, following a process which was administered by Pobal.

With regard to the specific organisations referred to, I am aware that the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport administers Dormant Account measures through Sport Ireland, who periodically invite applications for possible projects and programmes from the National Governing Bodies, Local Sports Partnerships and other agencies directly involved with disadvantage and disability. Through these measures the Department of Transport has recently made Dormant Accounts Funding available to the Irish Wheelchair Association. I am also aware that Acquired Brain Injury Ireland was recently approved for Dormant Accounts Funding of €170,000 through a measure administered by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection. This is to support the set up of a national support network for carers of people with an acquired brain injury.

LEADER Programmes

Ceisteanna (1026)

Robert Troy

Ceist:

1026. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the grant options for a community centre seeking a new well water supply to its facility. [54432/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Rural and Community Development

Responsibility for the provision of water services lies with my colleague, the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government in conjunction with Irish Water and the Local Authorities.

However, within my own Department’s remit, assistance may be available under the LEADER Programme for work of this nature, subject to certain conditions. Applications for LEADER funding are made directly to the Local Action Groups (LAGs) which deliver the programme in each LEADER sub-regional area. Contact details for all LAGs are available on my Department’s website at: https://drcd.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/180813-Update-Contact-Details-for-LEADER.pdf.

Funding may also be available in certain circumstances under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme for the works described, depending and nature of the project and its potential role in supporting town and village regeneration. The Town and Village Renewal Scheme is a key component of the Government's Action Plan for Rural Development and is part of a package of national and local support measures to revitalise rural towns and villages throughout Ireland.

I anticipate that the 2019 Town and Village Renewal Scheme will be open for new applications, via the Local Authorities, during the first quarter of the year.

Departmental Expenditure

Ceisteanna (1027)

Joan Burton

Ceist:

1027. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the budget and spend in his Department for marketing, media and social media in each of the years 2016 to 2018; the projected spend for 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54470/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Rural and Community Development

The details requested by the Deputy are set out in the table below. As my Department was established on 19th July 2017, the information provided commences on that date and includes the remainder of 2017 and total expenditure in 2018.

	2017	2018
Photography	€3,249	€6,040
Advertising	€12,712	€7,491.86
*National Ploughing Championships exhibit	€47,233	€143,433
Project Ireland 2040 Video Production	NIL	€6,297.92
Social media	Nil	Nil

*My Department hosted a joint exhibit with the Department of Culture, Heritage & the Gaeltacht at the Ploughing Championships in 2017 and 2018. In 2017 the Department of Culture, Heritage & the Gaeltacht was the lead exhibitor and therefore incurred the higher percentage of costs. In 2018, my Department was the lead exhibitor and incurred the higher percentage of costs.

In terms of projected spend in 2019, my Department is preparing a communications strategy which will govern our internal and external communications priorities for next year. Any decisions in relation to spending on media and other communication channels will be met within existing allocations.

Departmental Staff Data

Ceisteanna (1028)

Joan Burton

Ceist:

1028. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of staff in his Department employed to work on marketing, media and social media in 2018. [54487/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Rural and Community Development

I can confirm that apart from one Press Adviser my Department has no dedicated staff for media, marketing, social media etc. The Department has a Communications Unit, comprising five staff, which incorporates the Press Office, and which deals with elements of internal and external communications, such as the website, staff information, press queries etc, as well as other corporate functions.

CLÁR Programme

Ceisteanna (1029)

Niamh Smyth

Ceist:

1029. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the timeframe for the launch of CLÁR funding in 2019; when he expects this funding to be open to applications in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1270/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Rural and Community Development

The CLÁR programme provides funding for small scale infrastructural projects in disadvantaged rural areas that have experienced significant levels of depopulation. The aim of CLÁR is to support the sustainable development of designated CLÁR areas with the aim of encouraging people to continue live and work in those areas. The funding provided under CLÁR works in conjunction with local funding and on the basis of locally identified priorities.

The CLÁR programme was closed for new applications in 2010. However, I re-launched the programme in the second half of 2016 and since then, over 1,200 projects have been approved for total funding of €25 million.

I anticipate that the 2019 CLÁR Programme will be opened for new applications in the first quarter of this year. Decisions regarding specific measures to be supported under the programme will be made shortly.

Community Services Programme Administration

Ceisteanna (1030)

Charlie McConalogue

Ceist:

1030. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development his plans to increase the hourly rate of funding under the community services programme administered by Pobal from €8.65 per hour to the minimum wage rate of €9.80 per hour in view of the fact that the organisations availing of the funding are finding it difficult to meet this shortfall; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1405/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Rural and Community Development

The Community Services Programme (CSP) supports more than 400 community organisations to provide local services through a social enterprise model. CSP funding is provided as a fixed annual contribution to the cost of a manager and an agreed number of full-time equivalent (FTE) positions, with €32,000 per annum provided for a manager and €19,033 per annum for each FTE position.

The CSP contribution is not aligned with the minimum wage, rather it is a fixed annual contribution that must be co-funded by the organisation concerned from other sources, for example, from income received from the public use of their facilities and services.

My Department will shortly commence a review of the CSP. The review will consider inter alia funding levels and funding structures, and how the programme fits with overall Government priorities and my Department’s other community programmes and policy objectives. It is expected that the review will be completed by Q3 2019 and it will help inform decisions on the future shape and structure of the programme.

In the meantime, I am providing €1 million in 2019 to continue the CSP Support Fund, which will help alleviate the financial challenges faced by the smaller CSP supported organisations pending completion of the review. I am also increasing the amount of the additional contribution per FTE paid under the fund from €350 in 2018 to €1,100 in 2019. Some 260 CSP supported organisations will qualify for support from the fund and I expect to make an announcement in this regard shortly.

Community Services Programme Data

Ceisteanna (1031)

Joan Burton

Ceist:

1031. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if Pobal has statistics in relation to the number of staff employed in community centres nationally and the salary of each; and if same will be made available. [1523/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Rural and Community Development

Funding for staff in community centres is provided through a number of public-funded schemes, including my Department's Community Services Programme (CSP). The CSP supports more than 400 community organisations to provide local services through a social enterprise model. Funding is provided as a fixed annual contribution to the cost of a manager and an agreed number of full-time equivalent (FTE) positions, with €32,000 per annum provided for a manager and €19,033 per annum for each FTE position.

The CSP currently provides a contribution to the salary costs of an estimated 60 manager and 320 FTE posts in around 120 community centres. This contribution must be co-funded by the organisations concerned from other sources, for example, from income received from the public use of their facilities and services. Moreover, all internal operational matters, including general employment issues and salary levels relating to CSP supported posts are solely matters for the Boards of those organisations to manage as the respective employers. Accordingly, neither my Department nor Pobal can provide the information sought by the Deputy in relation to salaries.

Funding may also be provided for staffing in community centres through schemes supported by other Government Departments, for example, the Rural Social Scheme and the Community Employment Programme managed by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection.