Tuesday, 27 Sep 2022

Written Answers Nos. 607-615

Forestry Sector

Ceisteanna (607, 608)

Michael Lowry

Ceist:

607. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 647 of 14 September 2022, in stating that there is no licence requirement if a landowner wishes to remove some of this material from a site; if this is an unlicensed activity and that harvesting lop and top or brash from forestry harvesting sites is outside the scope of the felling licence system and requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47290/22]

Michael Lowry

Ceist:

608. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 647 of 14 September 2022, if the Department standard or guideline or guidance document that forest-owners should review when harvesting lop and top or brash from harvesting sites; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47291/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I propose to take Questions Nos. 607 and 608 together.

The Department's 'Standards for Felling and Reforestation' specifies the use of brash in creating and maintaining dense mats of brash and branch wood on all machine routes, to avoid soil damage, erosion and sedimentation.

Brash mats are typically concentrated on primary routes and in the junction of extraction paths and landing sites.

Removing lop on top or brash from site is not described in the Standards for felling and reforestation. Like any non licensed activities it is important that it is done in such a way that it does not interfere with the licence conditions being met. I understand lop and top or brash is sometimes removed from sites and used as a biomass for wood fuel. This should only be done on certain sites where the operation will not have any adverse effects on water quality.

Such operations are not usually set out in the conditions of a felling licence. However, it remains the duty of the person carrying out the activity to ensure that no conditions attached to the felling licence are breached during the course of the operations.

Question No. 608 answered with Question No. 607.

Sport and Recreational Development

Ceisteanna (609)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

Ceist:

609. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the development of a water activity hub in Carlow town park for users of the River Barrow as an amenity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47218/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Rural and Community Development

My Department's Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) provides funding for the development and enhancement of outdoor recreational infrastructure such as trails, walkways, cycleways, blueways and bridleways in rural areas.

A number of projects connected with the River Barrow have received funding from the Scheme. However I understand that the project referred to by the Deputy was approved funding by my colleague the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage under the Urban Regeneration & Development Fund (URDF).

I understand that Carlow County Council has been approved funding of €580,000 through the URDF to develop a Masterplan for Carlow Town. The funding will advance several strategic projects and one of these is the project referred to by the Deputy. I understand the project is currently under consideration by An Bord Pleanála.

Community Development Projects

Ceisteanna (610, 613)

Mattie McGrath

Ceist:

610. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the outcome of community centres investment fund applications will be known; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [46905/22]

Alan Kelly

Ceist:

613. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when applicants to the community centres investment fund will receive an update on any successful grant applications that have been submitted. [47142/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Rural and Community Development

I propose to take Questions Nos. 610 and 613 together.

The Community Centres Investment Fund application closing date was Thursday 14th July 2022, and the appraisal process is currently ongoing. All applications will be subject to a competitive assessment process based on the assessment criteria as set out in the fund guidelines.

Due to the high level of applications to the fund, it is expected to be quarter 4 of 2022 when applicants are notified of the outcome of the application and appraisal process.

Departmental Programmes

Ceisteanna (611)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

Ceist:

611. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development her views on increasing the annual funding for the CLÁR programme; if there are any further allocations to be made in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47024/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Rural and Community Development

The CLÁR programme provides funding under a number of different measures for small-scale infrastructural projects in designated rural areas.

The programme was re-launched in 2016 following a number of years when the scheme was closed to new applications. Measures to be included in the CLÁR programme are reviewed and revised each year, as appropriate. CLÁR has made significant investments at community level the length and breadth of the country. Funding of over €57 million has been approved for almost 2,100 projects since its re-launch.

I allocated €7 million to this year's programme, which I launched in February. This represents an increase of €1.5 million on last year’s budget.

The measures being funded under this year are:

- Measure 1: Developing Community Facilities and Amenities

- Measure 2: Mobility, Cancer Care and Community First Responders Transport

- Measure 3: ‘Our Islands’

The 2022 programme is now closed and details of the successful applications are published on my Department’s website.

Any decision in relation to future funding levels to support the programme is subject to the capital funding allocations as set out the National Development Plan, as well as the annual budgetary process.

Departmental Reviews

Ceisteanna (612)

Catherine Murphy

Ceist:

612. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide a schedule of the costs for all live studies, reviews and research projects undertaken or commissioned by her; and the details of the person or body that is conducting each study, review and research project in tabular form. [47051/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Rural and Community Development

The information requested by the Deputy is provided in the following table.

Live Studies

Question No. 613 answered with Question No. 610.

Library Projects

Ceisteanna (614)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

Ceist:

614. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the project under the library capital of Carlow town library, including the redevelopment of presentation buildings to include a new public library, culture, civic and learning space in Carlow town; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47216/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Rural and Community Development

The provision of library services, including the provision of library buildings, is primarily a matter for local authorities in their capacity as library authorities under the Local Government Act, 2001.

Carlow County Council submitted an application to my department in August 2020 for funding for the redevelopment of the Presentation Buildings to include a new public library, culture, civic and learning space. The Libraries Capital Programme was fully allocated at that time and Carlow County Council were advised to consider making an application for funding under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) which is administered by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. This funding was established to support sustainable development, through the regeneration and rejuvenation of Ireland's five cities and other large towns, such as Carlow Town.

Carlow County Council were also requested to simultaneously progress the project through my department's Four Stage Capital Management Process. This is standard practice for all new library projects, including URDF-funded library projects to ensure that they are technically assessed and comply with the Public Spending Code and the Capital Works Management Framework.

My Department has been liaising with Carlow County Council in progressing the Presentation Building Regeneration Project through the Four Stage Capital Management Process. My Department issued a Stage 3 Approval letter on 17 August 2022 which authorised Carlow County Council to proceed to tender. The letter also advised the Council to ensure that funding had been confirmed for the project in advance of proceeding to tender.

Rural Schemes

Ceisteanna (615)

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

Ceist:

615. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of a Tullow road community hub development in Carlow town and if funding has been allocated. [47217/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Rural and Community Development (Deputy Heather Humphreys)

From the information supplied by the Deputy my staff have advised me that the facility referred to is not yet built and only in the planning stage. All matters in relation to planning are dealt with by the relevant Local Authority and An Bord Pleanála. Based on the information available I believe that the Deputy’s query would be more appropriate to Carlow County Council.

Earlier this year I launched the Community Centres Investment Fund (CCIF) on the 15th April 2022. This is a new €15m capital fund to support community groups with the upgrade and refurbishment of existing community centres.

The Fund closed to applications on Thursday 14th July 2022, and I note that no application was received from the group mentioned by the Deputy. It should be noted that the development/building of new community centres is not covered this Fund.