Written Answers 51-59
51. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of applications that have been made by an organisation (details supplied) across all schemes that were received by her Department in 2021 and to date in 2022. [27817/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides a range of supports which Men's Sheds availed of in 2021 and 2022, depending on the works being completed.
For example, in 2021, the Community Enhancement Programme (CEP) provided funding of €4.5m for small capital grants to community groups to enhance their facilities. To date, 68 men’s sheds have received funding to the value of €126,804 from the 2021 CEP.
In November 2021, the €9m Community Activities Fund, under the Community Enhancement Programme, was launched to support community groups impacted by COVID-19. To date, 79 men’s sheds have received funding to the value of €111,406 from this fund. The Community Activities Fund is now closed to applicants. Details of successful projects will be available on my Department’s website at www.gov.ie/drcd.
In 2021, the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) provided small grants totalling over €41,000 to 44 Men’s Sheds. In 2022, to date SICAP has provided grants totalling over €5,800 to 5 Men’s Sheds.
Since 2021, 10 projects either for, or by Men’s Shed organisations have been approved for LEADER funding for a total of €264,087.
The Scheme to Support National Organisations (SSNO) runs from 1st July 2019 to 30th June 2022. The Irish Men’s Sheds Association was allocated €270,000 over the three year period of the scheme.
My Department also funded the Irish Men’s Sheds Association under the COVID-19 Stability Funding in 2020. The association did not apply for funding in 2021.
52. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of broadband connection points that have been established to date under the National Broadband contract; the average number of daily users of broadband connection points; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18799/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Public Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) Project is progressing well with 268 sites now live with the remaining sites to be installed by the end of the year. In total there will be approximately 300 Public BCPs in the network across Ireland. As the site connection rate grows the focus of the project is turning towards stimulating demand for use of the sites.
There are a number of programmes being run to increase awareness of the Public BCP network and improve the offering at each hub. There are 4 thematic strands that are being developed to offer programmes at BCPs covering remote working, arts and culture, E-Health and education and training.
Public BCP usage continues to rise as more are connected. As of May 27th, there are 268 sites live with an average daily usage of 286 guests. Of the total 7,723 guests for May to date, 1,063 are new guests and 6,660 are returning guests.
Compared with May 2021 figures there were 178 sites live with an average of 116 daily guests. Of the total 3,608 guests in May 2021, 635 were new guests and 2,973 were returning guests.
This increase in figures is really encouraging and demonstrates the positive impact of the BCPs as an integral resource in their communities.
Details of events at BCPs can be found at myconnectedcommunity.ie/events/.
This recently added function on the BCP network’s website will be updated over the coming months with additional details as new events are added.
53. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the way she is supporting local authorities to bring vacant properties in town centres back into use as remote working hubs. [27671/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraOur Rural Future, the Government's rural development policy for 2021-2025 places a clear emphasis on the transformative effect that remote working can have for rural communities. It also prioritises the revitalisation of rural towns and villages and recognises the importance of addressing the issue of vacant buildings in this regard.
A key deliverable under Our Rural Future was the publication earlier this year of Town Centre First - A Policy Approach for Irish Towns. This represents a whole of Government policy which aims to tackle vacancy, combat dereliction and breathe new life into our town centres.
My Department operates a number of schemes which directly support the development of remote working hubs in towns and villages across rural Ireland. To date, some €100m has been invested to this end under schemes such as the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund.
For example, in February of this year I announced funding of €18.5m to successful projects under the 2021 Town and Village Renewal Scheme. This included a range of remote working projects such as the development of the dilapidated convent building in Doon, Co. Limerick and the old Bank of Ireland building in Urlingford, Co. Kilkenny as hub facilities.
I have recently launched the 2022 Town and Village Renewal Scheme, which will again include an opportunity for the funding of projects that repurpose vacant buildings as remote working hubs. This year I have included a new Building Acquisition Measure as part of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme to support local authorities to purchase vacant and derelict buildings in 2022 for future development as community facilities, including remote working.
It is also important that existing remote working hubs are supported, and in this regard I launched the €5m 2022 Connected Hubs Call earlier this year. This funding will provide capital support to add capacity and improve the quality of existing hubs. This will help to ensure that such facilities can continue to provide high quality services in towns across rural Ireland.
I am committed to ensuring that the development of remote working hubs can continue to make a real impact in addressing issues of building vacancy and town regeneration across rural Ireland.
54. Deputy James O'Connor asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development her plans for the next round of the Community Activities Fund [27824/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn November 2021, the €9m Community Activities Fund was launched to support community groups impacted by COVID-19.
The fund supports groups, particularly in disadvantaged areas, with their running costs such as utility or insurance bills, as well as with improvements to their facilities.
Groups were also be able to use the funding to carry out necessary repairs and to purchase equipment within their community, such as tables and chairs, tools and signage, laptops and printers, lawnmowers, canopies and training equipment.
The once-off fund is administered locally by the Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs). The Community Activities Fund is now closed to applicants. Details of successful projects from each LCDC will be available on the Department’s website at www.gov.ie/drcd.
The Community Activities Fund was allocated under the Department’s Community Enhancement Programme (CEP). This programme provides small grants to community groups to enhance facilities in disadvantaged areas. The 2021 CEP is now closed and it is hoped to run another CEP later in 2022, however, details of this programme are not yet confirmed.
I encourage all organisations to check my department’s website www.gov.ie/drcd and to keep in touch with their Local Community Development Committee for information on funding opportunities.
57. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the steps she is taking to ensure that vacant buildings can be restored for use by community groups; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27625/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government recently published Town Centre First - A Policy Approach for Irish Towns. This represents a whole of Government policy and aims to tackle vacancy, combat dereliction and breathe new life into our town centres.
The policy is underpinned by significant levels of public investment spread across major Government schemes such as the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund, the Croí Conaithe (Towns) Fund and the Town and Village Renewal Scheme.
The Town and Village Renewal Scheme prioritises the renovation of derelict and vacant buildings in our town centres, with a view to bringing these buildings back into use as remote working hubs, and multi-purpose community spaces.
I launched the 2022 Town and Village Renewal scheme on 27 May and the scheme prioritises the renovation of derelict and vacant buildings in our town centres, with a view to bringing these buildings back into use as remote working hubs, and multi-purpose community spaces. I have also launched a new Building Acquisition Measure as part of the 2022 Town and Village Renewal Scheme to support local authorities to purchase vacant and derelict buildings in 2022 for future development as community facilities.
Similarly, the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund has now provided €278 million for 191 projects with an investment of some €376 million. The fourth call for Category 1 applications closed on the 29th April 2022. Category One projects are those that have full planning and other consents in place and are ready to commence at the date of application. This funding will assist in revitalising our rural towns and villages through planned, sustainable regeneration and development including addressing vacancy and the re-use of heritage and other existing buildings.
I have also recently introduced a new capital fund of €15 million which will provide funding for the improvement and refurbishment of existing community centres in both urban and rural areas. The focus of the Community Centre Investment Fund is to improve, refurbish and revitalise existing community centres.
58. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development her plans for a national census of social enterprise; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27818/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraSocial Enterprises are businesses that work primarily to improve the lives of people. Their core objective is to achieve a social, societal, or environmental impact. Like other businesses, social enterprises pursue their objectives by trading in goods and services on an ongoing basis. However, surpluses generated by social enterprises are re-invested into achieving their core social objectives.
One of the most important measures in the National Social Enterprise Policy for Ireland 2019-2022 calls for improved data relating to the extent of social enterprise in Ireland and the areas in which they operate. Historically, the lack of concrete data has impeded efforts regarding the provision of supports for, and raising awareness of social enterprise.
Following a competitive tender process, a consortium led by Amárach Research in collaboration with Social Enterprise Republic of Ireland (SERI) and the Irish Local Development Network (ILDN), have started work on the first baseline data gathering exercise of social enterprise in Ireland. My Department included a social considerations clause in the tender to ensure meaningful partnership and collaboration with social enterprise stakeholders and network.
I am pleased to see that all social enterprise networks and support organisations are engaging with the project. This is critically important to ensure maximum inclusivity and to ensure the results are representative.
The survey will identify key data, in aggregate form, such as the total number of social enterprises in Ireland, their regional spread, the primary sectors they are active in, their staffing levels and traded income.
I urge every social enterprise to take part in the survey, which is a unique opportunity to establish a reliable evidence base necessary for future policy development and delivery, which will benefit the whole sector.
59. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach the number of staff employed in his Department by gender and by civil service salary scale in tabular form. [27605/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table below.
Table 1: Department of the Taoiseach Staff by Grade and Gender - 31 May 2022*
|
Grade |
Total |
Male |
Female |
|
Secretary General |
2 |
2 |
0 |
|
Assistant Secretary |
5 |
2 |
3 |
|
Principal Officer |
16 |
8 |
8 |
|
Assistant Principal Officer |
43 |
14 |
29 |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
33 |
10 |
23 |
|
Administrative Officer |
18 |
8 |
10 |
|
Executive Officer |
37 |
10 |
27 |
|
Clerical Officer |
38 |
15 |
23 |
|
Services Staff (including cleaners) |
19 |
11 |
8 |
|
Total |
211 |
80 |
131 |
*excludes politically appointed staff
