Written Answers Nos. 223-226
223. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Community and Rural Development and the Islands when the final tranche of decisions will be made for applications received under the Covid-19 stability fund for community and voluntary, charity and social enterprises; if organisations can be notified on the outcomes of their applications as soon as possible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25906/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is aware of the challenges facing community and voluntary organisations and is committed to working closely with the sector in managing through these, recognising that it will require a whole of Government approach.
The Community and Voluntary Sector Covid-19 Stability Fund provided up to €35 million from the Dormant Accounts Fund to organisations in the Community and Voluntary Sector and Social Enterprises. The Fund was intended to provide a targeted, once-off, cash injection for organisations and groups currently delivering critical front-line services to the most at need in our society and in danger of imminent closure due to lost fund-raised or traded income as a direct result of restrictions to counter the spread of COVID-19. The criteria of the scheme stated that any grants awarded would be dependent on the need identified and organisations approved for funding were prioritised on that basis.
My Department received 1,060 applications during the application periods. Due to the considerable interest in the Stability Scheme and to facilitate prompt drawdown, applications were assessed in batches and funding has been released in tranches. To date, three tranches of successful applications have been announced, allocating funding of over €25m to 489 organisations. This funding is now supporting the delivery of many critical front line services in every part of the country. A full list of successful applicants is available at the link below.
www.gov.ie/en/publication/3957e-covid-19-stability-fund-successful-applicants/.
Though the fund is closed to new applications, additional checks are continuing on a number of applications and a further announcement in respect of successful applicants will be made shortly. Decisions on outcomes of all applications are being communicated to applicants on an ongoing basis.
There are no plans for a further round of the Stability Scheme at present.
224. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Community and Rural Development and the Islands the position in relation to an application for aid through the stability fund by an organisation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25704/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is aware of the challenges facing community and voluntary organisations and is committed to working closely with the sector in managing through these, recognising that it will require a whole of Government approach.
The Community and Voluntary Sector Covid-19 Stability Fund provided up to €35 million from the Dormant Accounts Fund to organisations in the Community and Voluntary Sector and Social Enterprises. The Fund was intended to provide a targeted, once-off, cash injection for organisations and groups currently delivering critical front-line services to the most at need in our society and in danger of imminent closure due to lost fund-raised or traded income as a direct result of restrictions to counter the spread of COVID-19. The criteria of the scheme stated that any grants awarded would be dependent on the need identified and organisations approved for funding were prioritised on that basis.
My Department received 1,060 applications during the application periods. Due to the considerable interest in the Stability Scheme and to facilitate prompt drawdown, applications were assessed in batches and funding has been released in tranches. To date, three tranches of successful applications have been announced, allocating funding of over €25m to 489 organisations. This funding is now supporting the delivery of many critical front line services in every part of the country. A full list of successful applicants is available at the link below.
www.gov.ie/en/publication/3957e-covid-19-stability-fund-successful-applicants/.
Though the fund is closed to new applications, additional checks are continuing on a number of applications and a further announcement in respect of successful applicants will be made shortly.
I can confirm an application in respect of the organisation in question is under consideration and a final decision is expected shortly.
225. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Community and Rural Development and the Islands the amount of funding paid out by her Department for the commissioning of the pilot Town Centre Living Initiative report by a company (details supplied) which was published in June 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25757/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Town Centre Living Initiative Synthesis Report, which was published on 22 June 2020, is an independent report on the pilot Town Centre Living Initiative which was trialled in 6 different towns across the country between October 2018 and the middle of 2019.
The aim of the initiative, which was supported by my Department and led by the relevant Local Authorities, was to explore how to encourage increased residential occupancy in rural towns and villages and, at the same time, address the issue of vacant properties.
The report on the Initiative outlines the approach adopted by each of the participating towns and their future plans to achieve improved residential occupancy of vacant buildings in their town centres. The report also includes a number of suggested actions for further consideration.
The cost of this report was €12,880.
The learnings from the 6 towns involved in the initiative can now be drawn upon by other Local Authorities to develop their own approach to town centre living. This was one of the objectives the pilot and will enable the mainstreaming of the pilot approach into the operations of other Local Authorities.
Programmes such as the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund and the Town and Village Renewal Scheme can provide support for projects that emerge from the Local Authorities to support town centre living, subject to meeting the criteria of the relevant schemes and the quality of the proposals.
226. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Community and Rural Development and the Islands when the steering group which is to be established to review the suggested actions identified in the independent report on the pilot Town Centre Living Initiative will be operational; the details of the membership of the group; the terms of reference of the group; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25758/20]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe aim of the pilot Town Centre Living Initiative was to explore how to encourage increased residential occupancy in rural towns and villages and, at the same time, address the issue of vacant properties.
The independent report on the Initiative was published on 22 June 2020 and contained a number of suggested actions for further consideration.
An Inter-Departmental Steering Group is now being established to examine all of the suggested actions in the Synthesis Report in detail, with a view to bringing forward a set of proposals for consideration by Government. The Terms of Reference for the Steering Group and the membership of the Steering Group are currently being finalised.
