Departmental Funding

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 June 2022

Tuesday, 14 June 2022

Ceisteanna (2019)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

2019. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the range of facilities that have been approved funding out of the island's capital subheading of her Department’s allocation broken down by heading (details supplied) since 2011; the amount approved under each heading; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30358/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Rural and Community Development

As the Deputy will be aware, responsibility for the Islands transferred to this Department in 2020.

The Government's objective is that sustainable, vibrant communities can continue to live on the country’s offshore islands. My Department recognises that for this to be achieved it is essential that investment is made in the maintenance and upgrading of island infrastructure.

To this end, I have increased the allocation available for capital works on the islands from €2.64m in 2021 to €4.64m for 2022. This will enable me to approve an expanded works programme this year, which will include the annual programme for Minor Capital Works on the offshore islands, co-funded by the relevant Local Authorities.

Below is a table outlining the expenditure under the Island Minor Capital Works programme by my Department since taking responsibility for the islands in 2020.

It is important to note that, at this point, only an initial tranche of funding has been approved for 2022, with further applications currently under assessment. An announcement on further funding for 2022 is expected in the coming weeks.

Year	County	Project Type	Funding Allocated
2020	Donegal	Consultancy report on Invasive species	€1,500
2020	Donegal	Roads	€132,333
2020	Donegal	Piers	€58,166
2020	Donegal	Recycling facilities	€11,863
2020	Mayo	Roads	€389,340
2020	Mayo	Piers	€77,750
2020	Mayo	Erosion	€63,182
2020	Mayo	Helipad	€107,606
2020	Galway	Piers	€101,317
2020	Galway	Airports	€13,427
2020	Cork	Playground	€37,500
2020	Cork	Roads	€191,583
2020	Cork	Piers	€31,500
2021	Donegal	Public Toilets	€42,750
2021	Donegal	Roads	€116,577
2021	Mayo	Roads	€861,349
2021	Mayo	Erosion	€11,445
2021	Mayo	Piers	€193,500
2021	Mayo	Helipad	€4,500
2021	Galway	Roads	€345,649
2021	Galway	Piers	€40,000
2021	Galway	Airports	€104,160
2021	Galway	Erosion	€63,750
2021	Cork	Playground	€10,000
2021	Cork	Roads	€172,478
2021	Cork	Bridge	€21,319
2021	Sligo	Roads	€3,227
2021	Sligo	Erosion	€2,800
2022	Donegal	Roads	€13,500
2022	Donegal	Piers	€108,594
2022	Donegal	Helipad	€14,320
2022	Cork	Roads	€19,800
2022	Cork	Piers	€10,800
2022	Cork	Helipad	€14,391
2022	Cork	Erosion	€13,500
2022	Cork	Public Toilets	€14,400
2022	Cork	Historical site feasibility study	€18,000
2022	Mayo	Roads	€31,500
2022	Mayo	Piers	€27,000

Furthermore, there has long been an issue in relation to the poor condition of many roads on the islands in Donegal which were not eligible under the Minor Capital Works programme as they were not in charge of the Local Authority. 

In December 2021, officials from my Department and from Donegal County Council finalised a policy that would enable the Department to provide 100% funding to repair and upgrade these roads once Donegal County Council were satisfied that there was a public right of way on each road, and once they agreed to take these roads in charge. Following agreement on the matter, I approved a sum of €2,090,000 for the upgrade of these roads.