Written Answers Nos. 851-863
851. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the new community centre investment fund for County Clare; if her Department anticipates significant interest in the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27848/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI launched the Community Centres Investment Fund on the 15th April 2022. This is a €15m fund to support community groups, particularly in disadvantaged areas, with the upgrade of their community centre facilities.
Applicants must register as 'users' at www.gov.ie/drcd in advance of submitting an application. The application process opens on 7 June 2022 with a closing date of 14 July 2022.
Funding will be on the basis of a competitive assessment process and there will be no set county allocation. Guidelines and a sample application form are available at www.gov.ie/en/service/fec91-community-centres-investment-fund/.
Applicants can register for information events and online, interactive support clinics in respect of the fund at www.gov.ie/drcd.
852. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when successful projects in County Clare will be announced under the connected hubs fund to support the further development of remote working facilities across the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27849/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraOur Rural Future, Ireland’s Rural Development Policy 2021-2025, recognises the potential of remote working hubs as key economic assets for our rural towns and villages. Notwithstanding the clear benefits to individuals and families in terms of quality of life indicators, remote working from hubs will also support local economies, reduce carbon emissions and may arrest or reverse the depopulation of certain areas. Accordingly, over recent years my department has invested some €100 million in the sector, to build, improve and expand hubs.
Last May, I launched the National Connected Hubs network together with the connectedhubs.ie platform. The platform offers a suite of booking and hub management applications to members of the Network. There are currently 236 hubs live on the platform, with this number increasing on an ongoing basis. In total 8 of these 236 hubs are located in county Clare, with a further 14 hubs in county Clare mapped for invitation to join the network.
The attached table provides a full breakdown of connected hub platform figures.
My Department continues to fund the establishment and development of remote working hubs under a number of funding streams. For example, under the Connected Hubs 2021 funding call, over €209,700 was awarded to Clare County Council to fund 5 hub facilities within the county.
In February, I launched the 2022 Connected Hubs Call, a €5 million funding stream to further support remote working facilities (including BCPs) throughout the country and to add further capacity to the National Hub Network. The 2022 evaluation process has now concluded and I will be announcing the successful applicants very shortly.
Details of successful applicants will be available on www.gov.ie.
The development of a National Hubs Network is a key commitment in Our Rural Future and I am committed to continuing my Department's support for the ongoing development of a comprehensive and integrated network of remote working hubs in recognition of the vital role that they can play in our post-Covid recovery.
853. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the estimated cost of developing the 400 remote working hubs and the requisite support services identified in Our Rural Future and for additional remote working hubs in each of the 31 local authority areas across the country in 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27943/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraOur Rural Future, Ireland’s Rural Development Policy 2021-2025, recognises the opportunity for rural rejuvenation that remote working presents and commits to establishing a comprehensive and integrated network of remote working hubs over the lifetime of the policy to 2025.
In recognition of this, my Department continues to invest heavily in the establishment and strategic development of remote work hub facilities through various funding streams and initiatives, including via the development of Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) as long-term, digitally-enabled community assets.
To date my Department has invested approximately €100m in the development of remote working facilities across a range of schemes. For example, the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) and the Town and Village Renewal Scheme both support the establishment of digital hubs.
Under last year's schemes, projects that bring vacant properties in town centres back into use as remote working hubs were eligible for funding. The repurposing of existing community or publicly owned buildings in town or village centres to facilitate remote working were also eligible to apply.
In December 2021, a call for applications under the RRDF was announced. The fourth call for Category 1 applications closed on the 29th April 2022. To date RRDF has provided funding €76m in funding to remote working facilities.
In February of this year I announced almost €18.5m for projects under the 2021 Town and Village
Renewal Scheme. This included support for 28 projects related to remote working and hubs. I have also 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 also 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.
In addition to these funding streams, I have also made available significant funding for hubs to develop their capacity and facilities. Last May, I launched the National Connected Hubs network together with the connectedhubs.ie platform. The platform offers a suite of booking and hub management applications to members of the Network. There are currently 236 hubs live on the platform, with this number increasing on an ongoing basis. Table 1 contains a full breakdown for the Connected Hubs platform figures.
To support this expansion I provided the Western Development Commission with additional funding of €250k to develop connnectedhubs.ie as a national brand. This money also funded a national promotional campaign which was launched in February to raise awareness of the Connected Hubs network to relevant stakeholders, including SMEs/business owners and new hub users.
In addition, I have committed to funding the on-boarding and operational costs of the connectedhubs.ie platform for hubs across the country for the next 3 years. This is expected to cost in the region of €1.3m.
In July 2021, I allocated almost €9 million through the 2021 Connected Hubs Fund, which supported over 100 hubs and BCPs, enabling applicants to develop and leverage the capacity and quality of existing remote working facilities across the country. For example Galway County Council received approximately €230,000 to further develop eight BCP facilities throughout their county. Ballinasloe Enterprise Centre benefitted from approximately €71,000 in Connected Hubs 2021 funding.
In February this year, I launched the 2022 Connected Hubs Call, allocating a further €5 million in funding to add additional capacity to the existing remote working infrastructure in remote working hubs and Broadband Connection Points throughout the country. The closing date for this round of funding was 4 April. The evaluation process has now concluded and I will be announcing the successful applicants very shortly.
The development of a National Hubs Network is a key commitment in Our Rural Future and I am committed to continuing my Department's support for the ongoing strategic development of a comprehensive and integrated network of remote working hubs in recognition of the vital role that they can play in our post-Covid recovery.
TABLE 1 – Connectedhubs.ie - Remote Working Hubs by County (as of the 23rd May 2022)
|
County |
Live on the connectedhubs.ie platform |
Mapped to be invited to join the connectedhubs.ie platform |
|
Carlow |
4 |
9 |
|
Cavan |
5 |
9 |
|
Clare |
8 |
14 |
|
Cork |
23 |
17 |
|
Donegal |
12 |
18 |
|
Dublin |
41 |
32 |
|
Galway |
18 |
33 |
|
Kerry |
17 |
11 |
|
Kildare |
8 |
5 |
|
Kilkenny |
3 |
6 |
|
Laois |
4 |
6 |
|
Leitrim |
8 |
17 |
|
Limerick |
12 |
12 |
|
Longford |
3 |
7 |
|
Louth |
6 |
12 |
|
Mayo |
18 |
18 |
|
Meath |
0 |
20 |
|
Monaghan |
6 |
10 |
|
Offaly |
5 |
12 |
|
Roscommon |
4 |
15 |
|
Sligo |
4 |
9 |
|
Tipperary |
9 |
19 |
|
Waterford |
5 |
13 |
|
Westmeath |
1 |
11 |
|
Wexford |
6 |
10 |
|
Wicklow |
6 |
4 |
|
Total |
236 |
349 |
854. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which she has received applications from north Kildare under the rural and community development schemes operated by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28215/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra855. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which applications have been received in her Department from community-based groups in north Kildare for assistance under the schemes operated by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28216/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 854 and 855 together.
My Department’s mission is to promote rural and community development and support the creation of vibrant and sustainable communities across the country, including in Co Kildare. I am committed to the successful delivery of a number of programmes which provide financial and other supports to community groups and organisations.
These supports enable economic regeneration and also support communities to address gaps in meeting social needs.
I am happy to confirm that in excess of €2.8 million has been allocated to specific projects in County Kildare so far in 2022. Kildare was allocated €3.8 million in 2021.
Details of applications are not available at the granular geographic level requested by the Deputy, however details of applications received by my Department from County Kildare during 2022 to date under the following programmes are outlined below:
The LEADER programme is a key intervention implemented by my Department which will help to underpin the Government's rural development goals as outlined in Our Rural Future. LEADER is administered by 29 Local Action Groups (LAGs) which deliver funding in accordance with Local Development Strategies that have been agreed for each LAG area. Project applications are made to, and approved by, the relevant LAG in each LEADER area. 85 projects have been approved for funding to date under the LEADER programme to a value in excess of €4.8 million in the Kildare LAG area.
No applications located in Kildare were received to the third call for Category 2 applications which was completed in January 2022 under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund. The fourth call for Category 1 applications closed for applications is 29th April 2022. One application was received to this call from County Kildare.
Five application were received under the 2022 Connected Hubs Call. Applications are currently being evaluated and an announcement is expected in the coming weeks.
Under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS), 3 applications were received in 2022. Applications for all Measures under ORIS are now closed. Successful projects under Measure 1 and the Project Development Measure will be announced in the coming weeks. Measures 2 & 3 projects will be announced later this year.
I also launched the Community Centres Investment Fund on the 15th April 2022. This is a €15m fund to support community groups, particularly in disadvantaged areas, with the upgrade of their community centre facilities. Applicants must register as 'users' at www.gov.ie/drcd in advance of submitting an application. The application process opens on 7 June 2022 with a closing date of 14 July 2022.
The Community Enhancement Programme (CEP) provides capital funding to community groups in disadvantaged areas across Ireland. The 2021 CEP provided €4.5 million of grant funding for communities to enhance their facilities. In Kildare, 27 projects valued at €148,013 were funded under the 2021 CEP. The 2021 CEP is now closed and it is likely that another CEP will be delivered later in 2022. I would advise the local groups to check www.gov.ie/drcd on a regular basis for updates and to also make contact with their Local Community Development Committees for further details on the programme.
In November 2021, the once off €9m Community Activities Fund was launched to support community groups impacted by COVID-19 to carry out necessary repairs and to purchase equipment. This fund was administered locally by the Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs). Kildare was allocated €296,027 in funding under the Community Activities Fund. To date €219,744 has been awarded to 53 local projects . The 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.
Details of all programmes, including eligibility criteria, how to apply, and other information, can be found on my Department's website, www.gov.ie/drcd.
My Department will continue to support our communities and I am committed to reviewing funding priorities on an ongoing basis to ensure supports remain targeted at those most in need.
856. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the degree to which she and her Department continue to monitor the requirements of community-based groups throughout County Kildare with a view to offering assistance with particular reference to the post-Covid era; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28217/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra857. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which she expects to be in a position to offer assistance to various voluntary community groups throughout the country in the current year in order to address matters arising from or associated with Covid or other issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28218/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra858. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the degree to which she expects to be in a position to assist various youth groups throughout County Kildare and the country in general in order to encourage their development and if required, provide financial assistance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28219/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 856 to 858, inclusive, together.
My Department's mission is to support vibrant and sustainable communities across this country, including in Kildare, and in doing so to deliver on a wide range of strategic interventions, funding programmes and policies to support urban and rural communities including youth groups and voluntary and community groups.
Groups or organisations qualify for support schemes or programmes provided by my Department where they meet the requisite eligibility criteria. Funding includes the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), the Community Services Programme, the CLÁR Programme, the Community Enhancement Programme, and the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund. To date in 2022 my Department has provided over €2.8m in supports to Co. Kildare through various schemes.
The Covid-19 Stability Fund has also provided support over the last 2 years and while this fund has now closed, other funding streams, such as the Community Activities Fund recently announced by my Department and administered through Local Community Development Committees, continue to provide support to community and voluntary organisations.
My Department is also responsible for a number of national policies containing measures to improve the lives of people throughout the country. These include the National Policy on Social Enterprise, and Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities: 5 Year Strategy to Support the Community and Voluntary Sector 2019-2024.
Last year I launched Our Rural Future, a new whole-of-Government rural development policy. The policy is an ambitious blueprint for the social and economic development of rural Ireland over the next five years. It has the potential to have a transformative effect on rural communities and positive impacts on the lives of people living and working in rural areas. The policy is supported by 150 commitments across Government, which will address the challenges facing communities and deliver new opportunities for people living in rural areas.
All my Department’s policies are underpinned by extensive consultation with a wide range of stakeholders including rural and urban stakeholder groups, community groups, young people, women’s groups, Government Departments and State Agencies. This engagement process provides important insights into issues impacting on rural and urban communities, and in identifying areas for response relevant to the work of my Department.
I will continue to collaborate with my Government colleagues and to monitor the issues which impact our urban and rural communities in order to respond to emerging needs.
859. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which she and her Department continue to encourage the formation of digital hubs in order to enable those enterprises that can be accommodated offsite to participate fully in the workforce; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28220/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra860. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of digital hubs or enterprise parks throughout the country to which she and her Department have contributed by way of financial or other assistance; the extent to which such operations have provided for alternative workspace for small and large companies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28221/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra862. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the degree to which she and her Department have provided funding or advice to assist in the development of alternative work spaces in order to ensure an even spread of the population throughout the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28223/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 859, 860 and 862 together.
Our Rural Future, Ireland’s Rural Development Policy 2021-2025, recognises the opportunity for rural rejuvenation that remote working presents and commits to establishing a comprehensive and integrated network of remote working hubs over the lifetime of the policy to 2025.
In furtherance of this commitment, my Department continues to focus on adding capacity across the country including via a range of schemes including the development of Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) as long-term, digitally-enabled community assets.
To date my Department has invested some €100m in the development of remote working facilities across a range of schemes.
In May 2021, I launched the National Hub Network - connectedhubs.ie. The National Hub Network currently comprises 236 remote and co-working facilities across the State. These facilities have been onboarded to connectedhubs.ie, the shared online booking and payments platform for member hubs and their users. The network includes a diverse range of hubs, services and facilities, thus facilitating companies of different sizes. It is expected that, in time, the National Hub Network and the connectedhubs.ie platform will include more than 400 facilities.
In July 2021, I allocated almost €9 million through the 2021 Connected Hubs Fund, which was shared between more than 100 hubs and BCPs, to add capacity and improve the quality of existing remote working facilities across the country.
In December 2021, a call for applications under the RRDF was announced. The fourth call for Category 1 applications closed on the 29th April 2022. To date RRDF has provided €76m in funding to remote working facilities.
In February of this year I announced almost €18.5m for projects under the 2021 Town and Village Renewal Scheme. This included support for 28 projects related to remote working and hubs. I have also 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.
Also in February of this year, I launched the 2022 Connected Hubs Call, allocating a further €5 million in funding to add additional capacity to the existing remote working infrastructure in remote working hubs and Broadband Connection Points throughout the country. The evaluation process has concluded and I will be announcing the successful applicants very shortly.
The attached table provides a breakdown of current and pending connectedhubs.ie facilities by county.
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.
To date my focus has been on establishing the network and on achieving this initial critical mass. Following strong progress on the establishment phase of the project, my focus has now shifted to the next stage of development.
I have been clear throughout my tenure as Minister for Rural and Community Development that balanced regional development, sustainable and thriving communities, and indeed the wider national economy will all benefit from workers and employers embracing the remote working revolution.
I pleased to say that the connectedhubs.ie team have for some time been developing a corporate service to engage with and support corporate clients interested in using our nationwide network to accommodate their employees, but also to gain access to the vast pool of talent that Ireland has to offer, whether those talented people live in our cities, towns, villages or rural parishes. I believe that this work represents significant opportunities for employers of all sizes to leverage the National Hub Network directly.
I am committed to ensuring that the National Hub Network will continue to make a central contribution to the achievement of the Government's vision for rural Ireland, as set out in Our Rural Future.
TABLE 1 – Connectedhubs.ie - Remote Working Hubs by County (as of the 23rd May 2022)
|
County |
Live on the connectedhubs.ie platform |
Mapped to be invited to join the connectedhubs.ie platform |
|
Carlow |
4 |
9 |
|
Cavan |
5 |
9 |
|
Clare |
8 |
14 |
|
Cork |
23 |
17 |
|
Donegal |
12 |
18 |
|
Dublin |
41 |
32 |
|
Galway |
18 |
33 |
|
Kerry |
17 |
11 |
|
Kildare |
8 |
5 |
|
Kilkenny |
3 |
6 |
|
Laois |
4 |
6 |
|
Leitrim |
8 |
17 |
|
Limerick |
12 |
12 |
|
Longford |
3 |
7 |
|
Louth |
6 |
12 |
|
Mayo |
18 |
18 |
|
Meath |
0 |
20 |
|
Monaghan |
6 |
10 |
|
Offaly |
5 |
12 |
|
Roscommon |
4 |
15 |
|
Sligo |
4 |
9 |
|
Tipperary |
9 |
19 |
|
Waterford |
5 |
13 |
|
Westmeath |
1 |
11 |
|
Wexford |
6 |
10 |
|
Wicklow |
6 |
4 |
|
Total |
236 |
349 |
861. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which she and her Department have targeted areas of social isolation with a view to improving the prospects for those currently living in such areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28222/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn delivering on its mission, my Department provides a wide range of strategic interventions, funding programmes and policies to support communities. This includes measures to address the issue of isolation as referenced by the Deputy. Addressing the issue of individual isolation in communities became even more important during the COVID-19 pandemic.
My Department continues to provide funding to tackle isolation and support those in our communities in most need of assistance through schemes such as the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), the Community Services Programme, the CLÁR Programme and the Community Enhancement Programme.
The Community Services Programme (CSP), for example, currently supports over 420 community organisations to provide employment opportunities and local services through a social enterprise model. The CSP focuses on communities where public and private sector services are lacking, either through geographical isolation or because demand levels are not sufficient.
My Department is also 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.
Amongst the measures which will further support people living in rural areas is the rollout of Broadband Connection Points and the national hubs network. These will enable onsite access to digital services including digital skills training, remote work and study, community development activities and a range of arts, culture and social events.
My Department is also responsible for a number of key policies responding to the needs of individuals and communities throughout the country. These include:
Ireland's first National Volunteering Strategy 2021 - 2025, setting out a long-term vision for volunteering and volunteers in Ireland.
Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities: A Five-Year Strategy to Support the Community and Voluntary Sector in Ireland 2019-2024. This Strategy seeks to strengthen the community development, local development and community and voluntary sectors generally.
The National Policy on Social Enterprise, which sets out measures to build awareness of and strengthen and grow social enterprises.
Our Rural Future, the national rural development policy, which places an emphasis on building resilience and enhancing participation and inclusion in rural communities.
My Department is also developing a National Islands Policy and has undertaken a wide consultation process including public consultation on the islands to hear first-hand the challenges they face and how the Department can address these.
My Department continues to monitor issues impacting on communities in order to respond to emerging needs.
863. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which she continues to support the Leader Programme in all applicable areas throughout the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28224/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe LEADER Programme is one of the key interventions of Our Rural Future, the Government’s Policy for rural development launched last year.
The 2014-2020 LEADER programme had a total allocation of €250 million. €225 million of this budget was allocated directly to the Local Action Groups (LAGs) who deliver the programme and approve projects at local level. This funding was allocated to the LAGs for the programming period rather than on an annual basis to give them greater flexibility to manage their budgets. The balance of €25 million was provided for thematic projects which are approved at national level.
In December 2020, I launched the Transitional LEADER Programme, which came into effect from 1 April 2021 and will run to the end of 2022. A total of €70 million has been made available over this programming period. €65 million of this budget is available to LAGs who deliver the programme and approve projects at local level. This funding is distributed between the LAGs on a pro-rata basis, commensurate with the allocations made at the start of the 2014-2020 LEADER programme.
A further €3 million of the funding has been allocated to support co-operation projects and innovation between LAGs, while the remaining €2 million is being provided to support strategy development for the next LEADER programme.
Currently over 5,200 projects have been approved for funding of €220 million. Approximately €139 million has been paid to beneficiaries in respect of completed works with 3,250 projects receiving their final payment claim representing 62% of projects approved.
An indicative budget of €180 million has been announced for the LEADER programme for the period 2023-2027. When taken together with the €70 million already provided for 2021 and 2022 under the Transitional LEADER Programme, a total of €250 million will be made available for the 2021 - 2027 period, thus maintaining the level of funding provided for the 2014-2020 programming period. The maintenance of the €250m funding allocation will underpin the continued contribution of the LEADER approach in delivering on the Government’s vision for Rural Ireland.
Preparations for the design and delivery of the next LEADER programme from 2023-2027 are well underway and there is ongoing engagement between my officials, colleagues from the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine and the EU Commission with a view to obtaining approval for the CAP Strategic Plan, as a matter of priority.
The ongoing engagement and consultation with stakeholders, combined with the funding allocation of €250 million indicated, will ensure that the LEADER programme from 2023 will continue to support and further develop our rural communities and businesses.
