Tuesday, 29 Jan 2019

Written Answers Nos. 529-546

Walks Scheme

Ceisteanna (529, 530)

Aindrias Moynihan

Ceist:

529. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when he plans to reopen the rural walks scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3712/19]

Aindrias Moynihan

Ceist:

530. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the progress which has been made toward reopening the rural walks scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3713/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Rural and Community Development

I propose to take Questions Nos. 529 and 530 together.

The Rural Walks Scheme currently covers 39 trails, with payments made to approximately 1,900 private land-holders to maintain those trails.

The Programme for a Partnership Government includes a commitment to increase the number of walks covered by the scheme. In line with this commitment, funding for the scheme was doubled in Budget 2019 - from €2 million to €4 million - to allow this expansion to proceed.

I will shortly be initiating a review of the operation of the Rural Walks Scheme which will inform decisions regarding the expansion of the scheme. However, in order to be in a position to bring new trails on to the scheme as soon as possible, I will also be inviting Local Development Companies and Local Authorities in the coming weeks to submit expressions of interest in respect of trails that meet specific qualifying criteria, for consideration for inclusion in the scheme.

This process will enable my Department to identify, very quickly, the initial trails for inclusion in the expanded scheme, with additional walks to join the scheme on an incremental basis.

Rural Regeneration and Development Fund

Ceisteanna (531)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

531. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if his attention has been drawn to a matter (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3743/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Rural and Community Development

The first call for applications for the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund closed in September 2018. An amount of €1 billion is committed to the Fund over a ten-year period to support rural economic development and help build strong communities, with €55 million allocated to the fund in Budget 2019.

Applications made for the Fund are currently being examined by the Project Advisory Board, made up of representatives from key Government Departments and external experts, which was established to oversee the assessment process.

My role is to consider and approve the recommendations that emerge from the assessment process outlined above. The process of assessment for the first call for proposals is ongoing.

However, I am now informed that my Department is aware of concerns relating to a particular application and this matter will be dealt with appropriately.

Rural Regeneration and Development Fund

Ceisteanna (532)

Brendan Griffin

Ceist:

532. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development his views on a matter (details supplied). [4000/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Rural and Community Development

Under Project Ireland 2040, the Government has committed €1 billion to the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund over a ten-year period to support rural economic development and help build strong communities. The Fund has been allocated €315 million over the period 2019 to 2022, with €55 million set aside in my Department's budget for successful projects in 2019.

The first call for applications for the Fund closed at the end of September, and there was an excellent response from all across the country, with 280 applications received.

Applications for the Fund are currently being examined by the Project Advisory Board, made up of representatives from key Government Departments and external experts, which was established to oversee the assessment process. Category 1, "shovel ready", projects were prioritised in the assessment process in the first instance and Category 2 projects - those which need development funding to become potential Category 1 applications in future calls for applications - are also now being considered.

My role is to consider and approve the recommendations that emerge from the assessment process outlined above. While the process of assessment for the first call for proposals remains ongoing, I expect that a further announcement detailing successful Category 1 and Category 2 projects will take place shortly, with a second call for the Fund taking place later in the year.

Rural Recreation Policy

Ceisteanna (533)

Margaret Murphy O'Mahony

Ceist:

533. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the timeline for the roll-out of the Bill to protect landowners from claims by hill walkers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4009/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Rural and Community Development

The introduction of a National Indemnity Scheme is a key priority for my Department to support the continued provision of access to the countryside for recreational users on a permissive access basis.

My Department has been working to develop a scheme to indemnify private land owners with regard to the use of their lands for recreational purposes. In this context, my officials have been in contact with the State Claims Agency and the Attorney General's Office with a view to progressing the matter.

My Department has been advised that the proposed indemnity scheme should be underpinned by legislation, and my officials are now in the process of identifying the precise legislative requirements and processes required to give effect to the scheme.

This is a complex issue, and the legal rights of landowners must be considered and respected while trying to facilitate access to their lands for recreational users on a permissive basis.

However, I have asked my officials to review all the advice received to date and to prioritise the development of clear legislative proposals to have the scheme progressed and rolled out on a phased basis as soon as possible.

Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme Funding

Ceisteanna (534)

Seán Sherlock

Ceist:

534. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the moneys allocated specifically for projects in Mallow town by a partnership (details supplied) in each of the years 2012 to 2019; and the locations to which the moneys were allocated in tabular form. [4016/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Rural and Community Development

The partnership company referred to by the Deputy delivers a range of funding streams on behalf of a number of different organisations, including my Department. My Department does not have information in respect of all of these funding streams or of the specific projects that may have been funded.

In respect of my own Department, the partnership company is the Programme Implementer for the Social Inclusion Community Activation Programme, SCIAP. Table 1 provides details of the funding provided to the partnership company under this programme for the years 2012 to 2019.

The partnership company delivered the 2007-2013 LEADER Programme as a Local Action Group, LAG, and details of the funding provided to the partnership company in each of the years 2012 to 2016 are provided in Table 2. I understand that no LEADER projects were funded in Mallow during this period, as Mallow was not eligible for LEADER funding at that time.

The approach to the delivery of the LEADER programme changed in 2016. A funding agreement was signed with the North Cork Local Community Development Committee in 2016 to deliver LEADER 2014-2020 as the Local Action Group in North Cork. The partnership company continues to implement the LEADER 2014-2020 programme in conjunction with the North Cork LAG and is the point of contact for all potential applicants. Mallow is now eligible for funding under the new LEADER programme, however the allocation of funding to individual projects is a matter for the Local Action Group rather than the partnership company.

The North Cork LAG has an allocation of almost €5.1 million under the 2014-2020 LEADER Programme. The allocation is provided for the duration of the programme rather than on an annual basis, as this provides greater flexibility for Local Action Groups to manage their resources over the full duration of the programme.

Table 1: Funding provided tunder SCIAP in the period 2012-2019

Years	Allocations
2012	€450,939.83
2013	€398,789.67
2014	€419,374.00
2015	€277,433.00
2016	€275,392.00
2017	€275,392.00
2018	€283,654.00
2019	€283,654.00
Total	€2,664,628.50

Table 2: Funding provided under LEADER in the period 2012-2016.

Years	Payments
2012	€1,212,829.76
2013	€1,264,467.54
2014	€1,276,918.01
2015	€303,547.76
2016	€187,217.01
Total	€4,244,980.08

Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme Funding

Ceisteanna (535)

Seán Sherlock

Ceist:

535. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the moneys allocated specifically for projects in Fermoy town by a partnership (details supplied) in each of the years 2012 to 2019; and the locations to which the moneys were allocated in tabular form. [4017/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Rural and Community Development

The partnership company referred to by the Deputy delivers a range of funding streams on behalf of a number of different organisations, including my Department. My Department does not have information in respect of all of these funding streams or of the specific projects that may have been funded.

In respect of my own Department, the partnership company is the Programme Implementer for the Social Inclusion Community Activation Programme, SCIAP. Table 1 provides details of the funding provided to the partnership company under this programme for the years 2012 to 2019.

The partnership company delivered the 2007-2013 LEADER Programme as a Local Action Group, LAG, and details of the funding provided to the partnership company in each of the years 2012 to 2016 are provided in Table 2.

The approach to the delivery of the LEADER programme changed in 2016. A funding agreement was signed with the North Cork Local Community Development Committee in 2016 to deliver LEADER 2014-2020 as the Local Action Group in North Cork. The partnership company continues to implement the LEADER 2014-2020 programme in conjunction with the North Cork LAG and is the point of contact for all potential applicants. The allocation of funding to individual projects in Fermoy is a matter for the Local Action Group rather than the partnership company.

The North Cork LAG has an allocation of almost €5.1 million under the 2014-2020 LEADER Programme. The allocation is provided for the duration of the programme rather than on an annual basis as this provides greater flexibility for Local Action Group’s to manage their resources over the full duration of the programme.

Table 1: Funding provided under SCIAP in the period 2012-2019

Years	Allocations
2012	€450,939.83
2013	€398,789.67
2014	€419,374.00
2015	€277,433.00
2016	€275,392.00
2017	€275,392.00
2018	€283,654.00
2019	€283,654.00
Total	€2,664,628.50

Table 2: Funding provided under LEADER in the period 2012-2016

Years	Funding
2012	€1,212,829.76
2013	€1,264,467.54
2014	€1,276,918.01
2015	€303,547.76
2016	€187,217.01
Total	€4,244,980.08

Mobile Telephony Services

Ceisteanna (536)

Niall Collins

Ceist:

536. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 1013 of 15 January 2019, if he will provide a schedule (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4081/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development

In 2017, officials from my Department, the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment and a small number of Local Authorities met to examine the potential for mapping mobile phone black spots in Ireland.

On foot of these meetings, an invitation was issued in late 2017 to all Local Authorities to provide data on five to six prioritised local black spots.

Some Local Authorities provided details of more than the five to six black spots requested. However, the intention was only to identify areas of immediate priority for the purposes of the exercise in question, rather than to compile a definitive list of black spots across the country.

While the exercise was informative, it was not comprehensive. Of the 31 Local Authorities, only 17 returned data to feed into the exercise. The majority of Local Authorities did not have the capacity to carry out technical testing. Furthermore, the methods used to collect the data varied.

Simultaneously, mobile network operators and infrastructure providers were increasing the number of mobile phone sites in service, as well as upgrading existing networks. As a consequence, the data that was collected in 2018 only represented a snapshot in time for certain areas and could not be interpreted as a definitive source of information regarding mobile phone black spots. Nor would it be a fair reflection of the current situation, as network developments are taking place on an ongoing basis.

ComReg will shortly be publishing a national map of mobile phone coverage for 2G, 3G and 4G services. This map will show the quality of mobile phone coverage across the county and is a key deliverable of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce.

Local Improvement Scheme Funding

Ceisteanna (537)

Eamon Scanlon

Ceist:

537. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if additional funding will be provided for the local improvement scheme to local authorities, particularly in counties Sligo, Leitrim, Donegal and Roscommon, in order to clear the backlog of applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4102/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Rural and Community Development

The Local Improvement Scheme, or LIS, is a programme for improvement works on small private or non-public roads in rural areas. The scheme is now funded by my Department and is administered through the Local Authorities. It is a matter for the Local Authorities to prioritise the roads to be completed under the scheme.

As the Deputy may be aware, there was no dedicated funding for this scheme for a number of years due to constraints on public expenditure. However, I was very conscious of the underlying demand for the scheme in rural areas throughout the country.

I reintroduced the LIS in September 2017 and allocated a total of €17.4 million to Local Authorities for LIS roads in 2017.

In 2018, I allocated almost €21 million for LIS roads in two phases.

It is clear that there is a continuing demand for LIS funding in rural communities across Ireland, and I have therefore secured an allocation of €10 million for the scheme in my Department's Estimate for 2019. I will be announcing details of LIS 2019 in the coming weeks.

Seniors Alert Scheme

Ceisteanna (538)

Noel Grealish

Ceist:

538. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if grants are available for the provision of house alarms for those over 65 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4117/19]

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 toward the purchase by a registered community-based organisation of a personal alarm or pendant.

Following a review, a new version of the scheme came into effect on 1 November 2017. A number of changes were introduced under the new scheme, including the provision of free monitoring for the first year and a revision of the living alone requirements. I am pleased to advise the Deputy that the revised scheme has been a resounding success with unprecedented levels of demand for the new package.

The issue of the introduction of funding for the installation of house alarms is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Justice and Equality.

LEADER Programmes Expenditure

Ceisteanna (539)

Dara Calleary

Ceist:

539. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount allocated to each local action group, LAG, under the 2014 to 2020 LEADER programme; the amount expended under the programme in each LAG as at 31 December 2018; the percentage of the total spend to date of the amount allocated to each LAG as at 31 December 2018; the amount expended to date on project costs by each LAG as at 31 December 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4146/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Rural and Community Development

LEADER is a multi-annual programme with a total budget of €250 million over the period 2014-2020. An amount of €220 million of this funding has been allocated to the Local Action Groups, LAGs, throughout the country who deliver the LEADER programme. This funding is allocated to the LAGs for the full period of the programme.

The remaining €30 million is available for schemes to be delivered at a national level.

Table 1 provides details as at 31 December 2018 of:

- The allocations to the LAGs under the LEADER 2014-2020 programme;

- The total expenditure by LAG which includes the administration costs of the LAGs and the cost associated with their engagement with promoters to develop projects;

- The total expenditure expressed as a percentage of the LAG's allocation; and,

- The total expenditure incurred on LEADER projects.

There was a significant increase in both project approvals and expenditure in 2018. I am confident that the progress now being made by the LAGs in approving projects, along with the administrative improvements introduced by my Department, will result in a continued increase in project approvals and payments under the LEADER programme during 2019.

Table 1: LEADER expenditure data as of 31 December 2018.

Local Action Group	Total Allocation	Total Spend	% of Allocation Spent	Project Spend
Carlow	€6,416,803	€1,231,850	19	€766,514
Cavan	€8,522,286	€1,053,659	12	€398,960
Clare	€8,920,225	€1,736,249	19	€460,913
Cork North	€5,091,846	€1,293,448	25	€463,909
Cork South	€3,831,303	€792,008	21	€208,113
Cork West	€5,015,674	€983,997	20	€146,440
Donegal	€12,913,878	€3,224,321	25	€1,728,046
Dublin Rural	€6,370,438	€1,038,829	16	€376,806
Galway East	€7,655,851	€971,723	13	€21,367
Galway West	€4,540,033	€547,284	12	€102,284
Kerry	€10,219,868	€2,126,801	21	€724,370
Kildare	€5,261,600	€528,832	10	€57,827
Kilkenny	€7,791,573	€1,759,865	23	€562,570
Laois	€7,124,587	€1,017,114	14	€398,690
Leitrim	€5,998,475	€995,787	17	€368,803
Limerick	€9,276,594	€1,876,017	20	€480,115
Longford	€7,597,623	€690,735	9	€51,398
Louth	€6,101,862	€845,134	14	€212,238
Mayo	€11,121,432	€1,918,002	17	€496,612
Meath	€6,903,124	€856,012	12	€37,301
Monaghan	€7,592,720	€956,612	13	€331,873
Offaly	€8,036,764	€1,839,736	23	€951,892
Roscommon	€8,852,659	€1,043,305	12	€198,518
Sligo	€7,655,648	€1,260,698	16	€743,910
Tipperary	€10,103,443	€1,463,204	14	€450,879
Waterford	€7,522,796	€2,440,944	32	€1,595,104
Westmeath	€7,384,206	€1,010,155	14	€254,216
Wexford	€9,840,141	€1,299,583	13	€470,699
Wicklow	€6,336,549	€814,807	13	€103,759
Grand Total	€220,000,000	€37,616,713	17	€13,164,126

Town and Village Renewal Scheme

Ceisteanna (540)

Dara Calleary

Ceist:

540. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount allocated to each local authority under the town and village renewal scheme in each year since it was established; the amount expended by each local authority at the end of each such year to date in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4192/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Rural and Community Development

The Town and Village Renewal Scheme was introduced in the second half of 2016 and, to date, almost €53 million has been approved for more than 670 projects across the country.

The following tables detail the funding allocated to each local authority under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme in each of the years 2016, 2017 and 2018, and the cumulative amount paid by my Department against those allocations at the end of each year.

Payments in respect of the 2016 scheme were made in November 2016. The 2017 and 2018 schemes provided for payments on a phased basis. The 2017 scheme allowed for the drawdown of 50% of funding on certification that 20% of the works had been completed. The 2018 scheme allowed for 50% of funding to be drawn down on certification that 50% of expenditure had actually been incurred by the Local Authority. The tables reflect the amounts paid to Local Authorities on this basis for 2017 and 2018.

It should be noted that projects under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme can typically take 12 to 18 months to complete. The 2018 allocations under the 2018 scheme were announced on 5 October 2018.

2016 Town and Village Renewal Scheme

Local Authority/County	2016 T&V Funding Allocated	Payments made as at 31/12/2016	Payments made as at 31/12/2017	Payments made as at 31/12/2018
Carlow	€380,000	€380,000	€380,000.00	€380,000.00
Cavan	€380,000	€380,000	€343,750.00	€380,000.00
Clare	€380,000	€380,000	€374,962.00	€380,000.00
Cork	€380,000	€380,000	€380,000.00	€380,000.00
Donegal	€380,000	€380,000	€0.00	€380,000.00
Dublin	€380,000	€380,000	€312,204.00	€316,708.00
Galway	€380,000	€380,000	€360,806.00	€361,786.00
Kerry	€380,000	€380,000	€380,000.00	€380,000.00
Kildare	€380,000	€380,000	€151,638.00	€255,449.00
Kilkenny	€380,000	€380,000	€380,000.00	€380,000.00
Laois	€380,000	€380,000	€249,379.00	€380,000.00
Leitrim	€380,000	€380,000	€380,000.00	€380,000.00
Limerick	€380,000	€380,000	€285,650.00	€380,000.00
Longford	€380,000	€380,000	€380,000.00	€380,000.00
Louth	€380,000	€380,000	€380,000.00	€380,000.00
Mayo	€380,000	€380,000	€380,000.00	€380,000.00
Meath	€380,000	€380,000	€337,270.00	€380,000.00
Monaghan	€380,000	€380,000	€377,324.00	€379,923.00
Offaly	€380,000	€380,000	€285,000.00	€380,000.00
Roscommon	€380,000	€380,000	€297,803.00	€380,000.00
Sligo	€380,000	€380,000	€380,000.00	€380,000.00
Tipperary	€380,000	€380,000	€342,991.00	€377,507.00
Waterford	€380,000	€380,000	€380,000.00	€380,000.00
Westmeath	€380,000	€380,000	€313,400.00	€380,000.00
Wexford	€380,000	€380,000	€321,759.00	€380,000.00
Wicklow	€380,000	€380,000	€352,000.00	€307,750.00
Total	€9,880,000	€9,880,000	€8,505,936.00	€9,599,123.00

2017 Town and Village Renewal Scheme

Local Authority/County	2017 T&V Funding Allocated	Payments made as at 31/12/2017	Payments made as at 31/12/2018
Carlow	€884,488	€0	€842,668
Cavan	€929,688	€0	€555,062
Clare	€944,000	€0	€540,000
Cork	€1,347,827	€0	€960,466
Donegal	€1,159,000	€0	€399,796
Dunlaoghaire/Rathdown	€80,000	€40,000	€40,000
Fingal	€252,000	€12,000	€200,212
Galway	€1,004,231	€0	€948,231
Kerry	€868,472	€99,440	€252,386
Kildare	€416,403	€0	€287,205
Kilkenny	€873,364	€0	€387,307
Laois	€983,407	€0	€451,501
Leitrim	€1,098,538	€0	€641,944
Limerick	€1,087,943	€358,680	€492,193
Longford	€637,400	€0	€386,200
Louth	€775,726	€0	€465,016
Mayo	€1,348,178	€82,000	€642,089
Meath	€901,724	€0	€664,874
Monaghan	€580,000	€290,000	€125,887
Offaly	€300,000	€0	€100,000
Roscommon	€575,508	€0	€420,300
Sligo	€1,063,968	€0	€830,000
South Dublin	€20,000	€0	€0
Tipperary	€857,384	€0	€599,622
Waterford	€625,800	€0	€372,300
Westmeath	€596,000	€0	€356,214
Wexford	€1,157,525	€0	€624,078
Wicklow	€262,828	€0	€118,828
Total	€21,631,402	€882,120	€12,704,377

2018 Town and Village Renewal Scheme

Local Authority/County	2018 T&V Funding Allocated	Payments made as at 31/12/2018
Carlow	€786,118	€0
Cavan	€530,000	€0
Clare	€581,000	€0
Cork	€1,001,800	€0
Donegal	€1,100,000	€0
Dunlaoghaire/Rathdown	€100,000	€0
Fingal	€597,960	€0
Galway	€900,000	€0
Kerry	€476,000	€0
Kildare	€520,000	€0
Kilkenny	€652,280	€0
Laois	€872,094	€0
Leitrim	€737,520	€0
Limerick	€963,918	€0
Longford	€593,856	€0
Louth	€892,157	€0
Mayo	€1,183,615	€0
Meath	€670,834	€0
Monaghan	€868,500	€0
Offaly	€1,300,000	€0
Roscommon	€880,000	€50,000
Sligo	€1,138,400	€0
Tipperary	€913,266	€0
Waterford	€756,000	€0
Westmeath	€452,000	€0
Wexford	€1,334,798	€0
Wicklow	€518,005	€0
Total	€21,320,121	€50,000

Departmental Funding

Ceisteanna (541)

Tony McLoughlin

Ceist:

541. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the allocation of funding per scheme administered by his Department in counties Sligo and Leitrim in each of the years 2016 to 2018 and to date in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4211/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Rural and Community Development

The figures requested by the Deputy for my Department have been collated in the following table. Where fields have been left blank, this indicates that the scheme in question was not in operation in that particular year. For 2019, funding allocations have yet to be confirmed for the majority of schemes administered by my Department.

Scheme	Sligo 2016 €	Sligo 2017 €	Sligo 2018 €	Sligo 2019 €	Leitrim 2016 €	Leitrim 2017 €	Leitrim 2018 €	Leitrim 2019 €
Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme	92,152.50	970,275	782,240	226,092	480,000	1,050,153	40,000	496,019
CLÁR	598,400	351,216	424,540		274,800	485,154	451,465
Local Improvement Scheme		496,158	606,870.40			487,947	550,121
Demonstration Projects			20,000
Digital Innovation Programme			105,000
REDZ Schemes	800,000				300,000
Town and Village Renewal Scheme	285,000	970,768	1,038,400		310,000	998,538	637,520
Dormant Accounts Fund Social Enterprise Measure				109,550		153,001		95,430
Rural Regeneration and Development Fund				€687,000*
Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme	585,514	585,514	585,514	585,514	524,650	524,650	524,650	524,650
Communities Facilities Scheme (CFS)		64,500				64,500
Re-cast RAPID		64,500				64,500
Community Enhancement Programme (CEP) Incl. Men’s Shed fund			263,402	Funding allocation to be confirmed			189,068	Funding allocation to be confirmed

* Two projects were approved for funding under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund for Sligo in November 2018, for a total of €1,115,752. A figure of €687,000 of this allocation is scheduled to be spent in 2019.

LEADER has a total budget of €250 million over the period 2014-2020. An amount of €220 million of this funding has been allocated to the Local Action Groups, LAGs, throughout the country who deliver the LEADER programme. The remaining €30 million is available for schemes to be delivered at a national level. The funding which has been allocated to the LAGs is provided for the duration of the programme, rather than on an annual basis. This provides greater flexibility to the LAGs in managing their resources. Sligo has been given an allocation of €7.655,647.81 for the duration of the programme; and Leitrim has been given an allocation of €5,998,474.74.

The Seniors Alert Scheme is demand-led, and funding is allocated to meet the demand under the Scheme and not divided on a geographical basis. My Department is in a position to give participant numbers by county only. The lot-based tender system for suppliers combines a number of counties into each of the seven lots, and payments are made to the suppliers in each of these lots. Therefore, it is not possible to say with full accuracy how much funding has been given to each county.

The number of participants in the Seniors Alert Scheme in each county over the period requested is as follows:

Sligo: 161 (2016), 275 (2017), 447 (2018); Leitrim: 97 (2016), 178 (2017), 203 (2018).

Further information about all the schemes in my Department is available on my Department's website.

Mobile Telephony Services

Ceisteanna (542)

Anne Rabbitte

Ceist:

542. Deputy Anne Rabbitte asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the details and locations of each of the 64 mapped local mobile telephone black spots in County Galway in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4225/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development

In 2017, officials from my Department, the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment and a small number of Local Authorities met to examine the potential for mapping mobile phone black spots in Ireland.

On foot of these meetings, an invitation was issued in late 2017 to all Local Authorities to provide data on five to six prioritised local black spots.

Some Local Authorities provided details of more than the five to six black spots requested. However, the intention was only to identify areas of immediate priority for the purposes of the exercise in question, rather than to compile a definitive list of black spots across the country.

While the exercise was informative, it was not comprehensive. Of the 31 Local Authorities, only 17 returned data to feed into the exercise. The majority of Local Authorities did not have the capacity to carry out technical testing. Furthermore, the methods used to collect the data varied.

Simultaneously, mobile network operators and infrastructure providers were increasing the number of mobile phone sites in service, as well as upgrading existing networks. As a consequence, the data that was collected in 2018 only represented a snapshot in time for certain areas and could not be interpreted as a definitive source of information regarding mobile phone black spots. Nor would it be a fair reflection of the current situation, as network developments are taking place on an ongoing basis.

ComReg will shortly be publishing a national map of mobile phone coverage for 2G, 3G and 4G services. This map will show the quality of mobile phone coverage across the county and is a key deliverable of the Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce.

Legislative Process

Ceisteanna (543)

Pearse Doherty

Ceist:

543. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the legislation, including heads of Bills, from his Department that was sent to EU institutions before publication for the period of the Thirty-second Dáil; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4255/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Rural and Community Development

I can confirm that my Department has not sent any pieces of legislation to EU institutions for the period in question.

In relation to the Miscellaneous Provisions (Withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union on 29 March 2019) Bill 2019, and Brexit Preparedness and Contingency planning more generally, the Government continues to engage with the EU institutions and other Member States to ensure a coordinated approach to Brexit, where appropriate.

LEADER Programmes Expenditure

Ceisteanna (544, 545)

Pat the Cope Gallagher

Ceist:

544. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the capital expenditure to date of LEADER projects in County Donegal as per the LEADER programme 2014 to 2020; the projects allocated funding that have not drawn down the approved funding in the county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4274/19]

Pat the Cope Gallagher

Ceist:

545. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the level of funding committed to date under the 2014 to 2020 LEADER programme in County Donegal; the successful drawdown of funding to date by project in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4275/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Rural and Community Development

I propose to take Questions Nos. 544 and 545 together.

LEADER is a multi-annual programme for the period 2014-2020 and has a total budget of €250 million over that period. 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. The Local Action Group in Donegal has an allocation of approximately €12.9 million for the period of the programme.

To date, 104 projects with a grant value of over €4.3 million have been approved for LEADER funding in Donegal. Funding under LEADER is drawn down as projects incur expenditure and submit payment claims to my Department. To date, claims in excess of €750,000 have been drawn down in respect of projects in County Donegal.

Table 1 provides details of the projects approved to date in County Donegal and details of payments made, where applicable.

The level of project activity under the LEADER programme has increased significantly in 2018, and I am confident that the progress now being made by the LAGs in approving projects, along with the administrative improvements introduced by my Department over the last year, will result in a continued increase in project approvals and payments under the LEADER programme during 2019.

Table 1: LEADER projects approved in Donegal and the corresponding grant amounts paid as at 20 January 2019

Project Name	LEADER Grant Amount	Amount Paid to date
Acoustic Panels for Cranford Community Centre	€8,902	€0
Addition of Innovative Screening Plant to Provide New Screening Service	€195,398	€0
Áislann Chill Chartha CLG	€5,084	€5,079
Amazing Grace Yacht Charter (Ireland) Ltd	€102,481	€0
Ballybofey United Community Sports Facility	€156,694	€0
Ballyliffin & Clonmany Destination brochure	€18,484	€18,484
Ballyliffin Film Festival 2017	€14,813	€14,813
Ballyliffin Film Festival 2018	€17,918	€0
Ballyshannon Town Clock Development Plan	€16,000	€0
Banba's Crown - Inishowen's Digital Magazine	€7,500	€0
Binion Bay Caravan and Camping Facility	€33,493	€13,579
Bruckless Community Centre Renovations	€57,701	€57,041
Buncrana Youth & Community Development Company Ltd	€18,374	€18,374
Centre Enhancement Project	€28,215	€28,215
Club Gleacaíochta Ghaoth Dobhair	€8,200	€8,008
Comharchumann na nOileáin Beaga	€1,274	€0
Coastal Defense Forts	€6,000	€0
Coastal Explorers Programme	€47,550	€47,550
Coiste Cairde Bhun an Inbhir - Athchóiriú ar an choláiste	€14,258	€14,258
Coiste Forbartha Dhobhair Teo - Athchóiriú ar an Urlár	€14,046	€14,046
CoLabora European cooperation project on co-working spaces in rural areas	€5,986	€0
Comharchumann Forbartha Ghaoth Dobhair - Athnuachan aiseanna ag an Chrannóg	€2,673	€0
Comhlacht Forbartha an Tearmainn - Broadband	€3,874	€3,294
Comhlacht Forbartha an Tearmainn - Trealamh Ríomhaireachta	€4,241	€4,190
Community Archaeology Training Project	€4,990	€4,990
Community Sports and Recreational Facility including Meeting Room and Associated Works	€80,601	€0
Computer and Training Suite	€6,387	€6,387
Cursaí Oiliúna & Sábhaltachta	€4,400	€0
Development Lough Mardal Lodge Glamping Site	€100,185	€0
Development of Astro Turf Pitch	€149,726	€0
Development of Bundoran Community Centre	€100,000	€0
Development of Churchill Community Playground	€96,126	€0
Development of Kilmacrennan Community Playground	€52,799	€0
Development of Oakwell Log Cabin Self-Catering Accommodation	€146,400	€0
Development of Software and Marketing for Green Golf Travel	€12,092	€0
Donegal Community Governance LEADERship Project	€72,650	€0
Drumhome Columban Monastic Site Feasbility Study	€4,894	€0
Enchancement Works at St. Brigid's Community Centre	€33,355	€0
Enhancement works at Inver Community Centre to improve the energy efficiency of building	€60,483	€0
Enhancement works to Car-park and Security System and provision of seating.	€23,643	€0
Extension to Kerrykeel Fannet Community Hall	€22,875	€0
Feasibility & Analysis Study	€19,530	€0
Feile na hInse 2018	€19,456	€0
Feistiú Ionad ilchuspóireach Naomh Fhionain	€68,783	€33,500
Fit-out of extension to Raphoe Orange Hall	€7,895	€0
Glamping Villa's @ Wild Atlantic Camp	€200,000	€0
Glenties Village Enhancement Works	€9,568	€0
Guth na Rosann Teo - Tarchuradóir	€4,205	€0
Halla Naomh Bhríde	€14,682	€14,682
Hoist Away	€115,402	€86,443
Hydro Electric Power Scheme	€22,410	€0
ICMN Research & Development Feasibility Project	€7,020	€3,924
Illies Community Centre	€22,899	€22,899
Inch Island Wetland Biodiversity Project	€2,364	€0
Inishowen River Guardians	€32,869	€0
Installation of 3G playing surface - Sport hall project	€19,219	€18,773
Installation of small scale Broadband equipment in Bundoran Community Centre	€2,900	€0
Invest Letterkenny - The Full Story (Pedestrian Counters)	€3,080	€0
Ionad Eachtraíochta Ghabhla	€9,940	€0
Ionad Pobail Dhún Lúiche	€10,000	€10,000
Kerrykeel Village Enhancement Works	€7,164	€0
Lands of Eoghain Festival	€4,576	€4,576
Leave No Trace Training Programme	€81,846	€0
Malin Head Demo Kitchen	€9,713	€0
Manorcunningham Community / Youth Facility project	€27,886	€27,886
Monreagh Hall	€150,000	€109,815
Multi Purpose Sports Field	€88,077	€0
Nature of Innovation Co-operation Project	€5,374	€0
O Doherty's Keep Development Project	€29,336	€0
Páirc Phéile Uile-aimsire Phobal Eascarrach	€144,481	€0
Phase 2 works to Lifford Old Courthouse	€118,100	€0
Phase 3 Riverwalk	€28,377	€0
Photos from Ireland - photography tours and workshops	€4,590	€4,590
Publication of a Series of Books on Donegal's Heritage Railways	€8,695	€0
Purchase of Eskoskeleton Bionic Rehabilitation Suit	€121,035	€0
Rebuilding of Newtowncunningham Orange Hall	€150,000	€0
Recreational Rowing	€5,925	€5,925
Refurbishment and Upgrade of St. Anne's Hall	€200,000	€0
Refurbishment of Letterkenny CDP Premises	€21,664	€0
Refurbishment of St. Johnston Orange Hall	€20,080	€0
Renovation works to first floor of St. Conal’s Church for use by people with disability	€36,968	€0
Rockfield Community Hall Enhancement Works	€19,763	€0
Roll-out of Practice Uilleann Pipes Scheme	€5,250	€0
Set up of Awaken Adventure an outdoor adventure company	€4,502	€0
Set-up of Glenties Community Centre Computer Suite	€9,960	€0
Siopa Caife na Cultúrlainne	€5,917	€0
Slí Mara Thoraí Teoranta	€82,625	€0
St. Johnston & Carrigans FRC Computer Room Upgrade	€7,563	€0
St. Johnston Hall Lift Installation	€30,842	€0
Staidéar féidearthachta ar fhorbairt ar shean stáisiún an Gharda Cósta ag Cionn Fhánada	€16,790	€16,790
Stáitse infhillte don Ionad	€6,897	€0
Study into the potential for the development of goat milk in Donegal	€15,120	€0
Suile Centre	€177,127	€0
The Ballyshannon Port Heritage Project Business Plan	€15,000	€0
The Shannon-Erne Pilgrim Way Baseline Study	€5,537	€0
Trail Head - Ballybofey Riverside Walk	€10,720	€0
Trealamh Súgartha & Aclaíochta	€11,606	€0
Uirlísí Ceoil	€3,621	€0
Upgrade of Computer Suite in Tirhugh Resource Centre	€7,320	€0
Upgrade of Niall Mór Community & Enterprise Centre	€19,249	€0
Upgrade of Roof at Foresters Community Hall	€116,511	€0
Upgrading of B&B	€7,596	€0
Wild Ireland	€75,500	€30,000
Wild West Inishowen	€110,946	€110,946
Totals	€4,382,830	€759,054

Personal Micro Credit Scheme

Ceisteanna (546)

Michael McGrath

Ceist:

546. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a credit union incurs the loss of a loan (details supplied), whether the loan defaults and is not repaid; if not, whether there is a State guarantee in such cases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3830/19]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection

The Personal Micro Credit Scheme, PMC, provides for small-scale loans, ranging from €100 to €2,000 and known as It Makes Sense loans, by credit unions to borrowers who have difficulty accessing low cost credit. Currently 111 credit unions at 272 locations are participating in the scheme.

An Post facilitates the repayment of PMC loans for social welfare recipients who receive their payment through the post office, by utilising the Department's Household Budgeting facility to deduct the repayment amount from the social welfare payment and transmitting it onward to the relevant credit union. For borrowers receiving their weekly social welfare payment electronically into an account, the repayment method is by direct debit or standing order.

The It Makes Sense Loan is funded by the individual credit unions participating in the scheme. Each credit union assesses loan applications in line with the credit policy underpinning the It Makes Sense loan scheme. If an It Makes Sense borrower defaults on a loan repayment, the credit union bears the loss in the same way as for any of its other loan products. There is no State guarantee in place.

The credit policy underpinning the It Makes Sense Loan sets out a number of factors to assist credit unions with the loan decision process, a key factor of which is an assessment of the capacity and willingness of the borrower to repay.

In addition, in order to support participating credit unions, the PMC project team provides support and training to all credit unions offering the loans, and there is a helpdesk in place to assist them with any queries that may arise.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.