Written Answers Nos. 925-927
925. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Community and Rural Development and the Islands if funding unspent in an initiative (details supplied) will be reallocated to other measures such as community facilities with LEADER; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24131/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraLEADER is a multi-annual programme with a budget of €250 million over the period 2014-2020. €225 million of this budget was allocated at the outset of the programme to Local Action Groups (LAGs) who deliver the programme and approve projects at local level. The balance of €25 million is provided for thematic projects and is allocated at national level once the projects have been approved by the LAGs.
The initiative referred to by the Deputy is one of the national thematic schemes funded under the programme. It is an important scheme which can be particularly helpful to companies in the current challenging operating environment. There are no proposals at present to reallocate any of this funding to the LAGs for community type projects.
926. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Community and Rural Development and the Islands the status of the mobile broadband task force; and if she has met with same. [24151/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce was launched in July 2016 to be a driving force for improving access to telecommunications services throughout Ireland.
Since its inception, the Taskforce has addressed more than 70 targeted actions to alleviate connectivity barriers and resolve issues that negatively impacted on the rollout of essential telecommunications infrastructure in rural areas.
The completion of the Taskforce’s 2019 Work Programme marked the end of the Taskforce as originally constituted. A Final Three-Year Review Report, detailing the progress made by the Taskforce since 2016, is due for publication in Q4 of this year.
Attention has now turned towards the future orientation of the Taskforce in line with the Programme for Government commitment to continue to support the work of the group.
While I have not yet had an opportunity to meet the Taskforce members, officials from my Department and the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment have had engagements with the members and with industry on the future direction of the group. Based on these engagements, the Departmental officials are actively discussing future options for the Taskforce, to ensure it remains effective in enhancing the quality of mobile phone and broadband services around Ireland.
I envisage that a new direction for the Taskforce will be agreed in the near future which will build on the success and positive engagement of the group up to now across central government, local government, statutory agencies and industry.
927. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Community and Rural Development and the Islands the number of Exchequer-funded projects over €1 billion overseen by her Department; the expected rise in cost in both numerical amount and percentage terms in tabular form, and delays as result of Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24305/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Rural and Community Development is not responsible for any projects of this scale.
