Written Answers Nos. 121-138
121. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the engagement that she has had with the stakeholders of a local amenity (details supplied) to include it under the outdoor recreation infrastructure scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53776/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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.
Earlier this year, I launched the 2022 Scheme with a budget of €15 million to support outdoor recreation projects nationwide. The Measures being funded under this year’s Scheme are:
Measure 1: Small Scale Repair/Development/Promotion and Marketing (up to €30,000)Measure 2: Medium Scale Repair/Upgrade and New Trail/Amenity Development (up to €200,000)Measure 3: Strategic Large Scale Repair/Upgrade and New Strategic Trail/Amenity Development (up to €500,000)Project Development Measure: Development costs for Strategic large Scale Projects (up to €500,000)
The 2022 Scheme is now closed for applications. In August, I announced the successful projects under Measure 1 and the Project Development Measure. I expect to announce the successful projects under the remaining measures in the coming weeks.
Since the formation of my Department in 2017, funding of over €5 million has been approved under the Scheme for Cork.
I am not aware of any recent direct engagement between local stakeholders and my Department in relation to the Gearagh, County Cork. However, it should be noted that applications under ORIS are developed and submitted to my Department by local authorities and local development companies, and all applications are required to demonstrate a collaborative approach, working with the local community and stakeholders.
122. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if any efforts will be made to provide an organisation (details supplied) based in County Donegal with an alternative source of funding after the foundation has been informed by Pobal that it can no longer avail of the vital funding that it requires. [53605/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI presume the Deputy is referring to Dormant Accounts funding which is provided to this organisation by Pobal, through a measure administered by the Department of Social Protection. As such, the Department of Rural and Community Development is not responsible for this measure or the relevant funding provided to the organisation in question.
I asked my officials in the Department of Rural & Community Development to liaise with colleagues in the Department of Social Protection. They are informed that funding is provided through a Measure to Support the Employment of People with Disabilities. This is a 16-month employment support measure for people with disabilities which began in September 2021 and runs up to the end of 2022. 45 projects have been funded up to an amount of €7.6 million under this Measure. Prior to applying for this Measure, all organisations were notified of the relevant timelines which were clearly indicated in the Call for Applications in April of last year.
Planning in relation to the Dormant Accounts Action Plan 2023 began in May of this year, and the Action Plan will be published shortly. The Department of Social Protection will be in a position to provide any further information on the relevant funding plans as required.
123. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will report on the progress of the pilot Bike and E-Bike Upcycling Initiative; if she is considering extending the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53856/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 28 April 2021, my department, in collaboration with the Department of Transport, announced the introduction of a three-year pilot initiative to develop a scheme for the provision of high quality up-cycled bicycles and e-bikes as an alternative to the Cycle to Work Scheme model, for those on low incomes and/or those who are most marginalised and disadvantaged.
A call for applications was launched in May 2021, with funding of €1 million per annum (€3m in total) being provided by the Department of Transport for this initiative, with the funding being made available through my department's Community Services Programme.
Organisations eligible to apply under the pilot were those currently supported under CSP or alternatively in a Partnership/Consortium of which at least one member was a CSP supported organisation.
Out of the fourteen applications received under the pilot initiative, five applications met the qualifying threshold under the eligibility and award criteria. The five applicants approved for support under this pilot initiative are:
- The Rediscovery Centre & Rothar Velo in Dublin 9.
- Frontline Bikes/ Frontline Make Change in Dublin 8.
- Treo Port Lairge CLG (aka Renew Enterprises) in Waterford.
- The Life Cycle Consortium in Galway – Westside Resource Centre and An Mheitheal Rothar.
- Sign & Cycle in Cork – Cork Community Cycles & Deaf Enterprises
Four of the applicants are in contract since 22nd July 2021 with the final contract commencing on 1st October 2022. Both departments have recently approved some budgetary amendments with funding of €675,318 issued to the applicants up to end September.
Should additional funding be made available for this purpose by the Department of Transport, consideration will be given to extending this initiative. However, any further iteration or extension of the scheme will be dependent on an interim evaluation of the five approved projects in 2023.
124. Deputy Steven Matthews asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the instruments being used by her Department to identify and address intergenerational poverty; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50432/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department's Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) 2018 – 2023 provides funding to tackle poverty and social exclusion at a local level through local engagement and partnerships between disadvantaged individuals, community organisations and public sector agencies. The programme is implemented nationally by 46 Local Development Companies.
The aim of SICAP is to reduce poverty and promote social inclusion and equality in Ireland through supporting communities and individuals using community development approaches, engagement, and collaboration. It supports communities and individuals to engage in issues affecting their lives and in the provision of support for lifelong learning and labour market opportunities.
SICAP has an explicit anti-poverty focus and works with 13 pre-defined target groups who are disadvantaged and marginalised and unable or unlikely to access mainstream supports. Among these target groups are Disadvantaged Children and Families, Disadvantaged Young People (aged 15-24), Lone Parents, Low-Income Workers/Households, the Unemployed, Travellers, Roma and People with Disabilities.
Local Community Development Committees and Local Development Companies work together to identify the needs for their area.
The issue of poverty, whether in urban or rural areas, is one which is entwined in a number of policy initiatives and actions delivered across a number of Government Departments. The Deputy will be aware that the Department of Social Protection leads on the Roadmap for Social Inclusion 2020 -2025. The Roadmap delivers an Integrated Framework for Social Inclusion, to tackle inequality and poverty and aims to reduce the number of people in consistent poverty in Ireland to 2% or less and to position Ireland within the top five countries in the EU under a number of leading social inclusion measures. My Department established a Food Poverty Working Group to co-ordinate the collective effort of all Departments and tackle the issue of food poverty in accordance with the commitments in the Roadmap. We will continue to deliver on the commitments and assist with this important work into the future.
Recent Budgets have consistently targeted supports on reducing the number of children in poverty and deprivation and I will continue to prioritise funding for SICAP within my Department’s overall voted expenditure.
126. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the role that her Department is taking in the National Drugs Strategy. [53843/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy officials have regular engagement with the Department of Health regarding the National Drugs Strategy. My Department is represented on the Strategic Implementation Group (4) of Reducing Harm and Supporting Recovery. This group comprises sectoral, agency and Departmental officials.
The strategy is relevant to my Department's work in the community and voluntary sectors as it is vital in ensuring the collective input of the statutory, community and voluntary sectors, to provide a coordinated response to drug and alcohol use in Irish society.
The strategy also involves mobilising communities and building their resilience to respond to the drug problem, particularly marginalised communities. This links well with my Department’s Social Inclusion & Community Activation Programme (SICAP 2018 - 2023), which supports those hardest to reach, and those who are most at risk of marginalisation.
My Department has two main goals within the strategy, which relate to providing community supports in collaboration with schools and other youth programmes, and improving the life chances of those that are marginalised in society. My Department will continue to assist with the important work of the National Drugs Strategy into the future.
127. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide an update on her efforts to support remote working; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52968/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra130. Deputy Ciarán Cannon asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development her plans for the development of remote working hubs in rural towns. [53866/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra138. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the work that is being carried out on remote working hubs and broadband connection points; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53090/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 127, 130 and 138 together.
Our Rural Future, Ireland’s Rural Development Policy was launched in early 2021. The policy recognises the opportunity for rural rejuvenation that remote working presents and the potential of remote working hubs as key economic assets for our rural towns and villages.
My Department operates a number of funding schemes that focus on projects supporting remote working through the development of digital hubs, including the development of Public Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) as long-term, digitally-enabled community assets.
In May 2021 I launched the Connected Hubs network together with the connectedhubs.ie platform. The Network includes a range of digital hubs and BCPs that cater for a wide variety of remote and co-working needs. The Connected Hubs platform offers a suite of booking, hub management and e-commerce applications to members of the Network. The Network also facilitates the sharing of innovation, experience and best practices across the community. These supports serve to maximise benefit to member hubs, hub clients, employers, local communities and the wider economy.
To date, approximately 295 hubs have joined the Connected Hubs Network. This number is growing all the time meaning we are well on track to meet our target of 400 remote working hubs nationwide by 2025.
Over €100 million has also been invested by my department in the development of remote working facilities through programmes such as the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund. Successful projects are developed in collaboration with local authorities and communities with many projects seeing vacant and derelict buildings in rural towns and villages converted into remote working hubs. This includes approximately €14 million in funding to almost 200 projects via the Connected Hubs fund, enabling successful applicants to add additional capacity to existing remote working infrastructure in digital hubs and BCPs throughout the country.
In addition to the Connected Hubs Network, my department is working closely with officials at the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications (DECC) and local authorities to establish the nationwide network of BCPs. BCPs are publicly accessible facilities, typically community centres and sports clubs, in predominantly rural and isolated areas. These facilities offer onsite internet access for a variety of community uses, including skills training and STEM activities for children and young people, eHealth initiatives and remote working. 282 of 300 BCP sites are now live, with the remainder scheduled for completion this year.
To date my focus has been on establishing the National Hub Network and the BCP network and on achieving the initial critical mass. Following strong progress on the establishment phase of both projects, my focus has now shifted to the next stage of development. To this end, my officials have been consulting with hub managers across the country, with local authorities and communities, and with other stakeholders, to better inform the future strategic direction of the National Hub Network, the connectedhubs.ie platform and the BCP program.
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 development of remote working hubs and BCPs in recognition of the vital role that they can play in our post-COVID recovery.
128. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 103 of 15 September 2022, if she will provide an update on the development of the pier on Inis Oírr; the expected timeline for the updating of the environmental reports to the standard required; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53793/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, Galway County Council is the responsible authority for the maintenance and development of pier infrastructure on the Aran Islands. A steering committee consisting of representatives from my Department, Galway County Council and the consulting engineers meets regularly to monitor progress.
Earlier this year, Galway County Council sought quotations from environmental consultancies to carry out a Gap Analysis Study. This was to review the environmental information available and to compile recommendations for the extent of further studies required which would form a part of the supporting materials for the Foreshore Licence.
The Gap Analysis study has been completed and submitted to my Department. The consulting engineers are compiling a list of required works that will need to be undertaken to update the environmental reports to the standard required.
Additionally, Galway County Council is in regular contact with the Foreshore Unit of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, which has agreed to assist the local authority with mapping the area where the licence will apply.
I understand that a meeting was held recently between officials from Galway County Council and the local community in Inis Oírr to discuss matters related to work on the pier, including traffic management, trading and new by-laws, which were recently adopted and have come into effect for the duration of the pier’s development.
My Department will continue to engage with the local authority to monitor progress of the development.
131. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide an update on the Islands Strategy; when the Strategy will be published; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53706/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, the Government is committed to publishing a 10 year policy on island development with associated three year action plans. Indeed the Programme for Government includes a commitment in this regard and, as Minister with responsibility for the islands, I am determined to ensure the policy is delivered.
The Government’s ambition for a national policy and action plan for the islands was set out in chapter 10 of Our Rural Future, the Action Plan for Rural Development 2021-2025, published in 2021.
The Deputy will be aware that an extensive consultation process has been completed by my Department, including meetings with island communities and relevant Government Departments and agencies. The feedback from this consultation process provided a valuable insight into the key priorities, and indeed challenges and opportunities, for our island communities.
An interdepartmental committee for the Islands was also established and its most recent meeting was held on 10 October 2022, where the initial draft was shared with committee members. The committee members were asked to review their Department’s draft input, and revert with revised actions. They were also asked to share their feedback, observations and overall recommendations regarding the initial draft of the policy.
I expect the policy and action plan to be finalised before the end of the year.
132. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide an update on the work of the town and village renewal scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53389/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Town and Village Renewal Scheme was first introduced in 2016. It is one of a number of measures designed to rejuvenate rural towns and villages throughout Ireland. The Scheme is funded under Project Ireland 2040 as part of Our Rural Future.
The Scheme is targeted at towns and villages with a population of 10,000 or less. It is managed on behalf of my Department by the local authorities.
Since the launch of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme in 2016, over €113 million has been allocated to more than 1,400 projects across Ireland. Each year the priorities for the scheme are reviewed and revised as appropriate by my Department.
In 2021 a new Project Development Measure was introduced for pre-development costs (e.g. surveys) with the aim of contributing to a pipeline of significant, well developed projects that may subsequently be progressed, subject to the availability of further funding.
The 2022 Scheme was again revised to introduce a number of new measures including the Building Acquisition Measure and the Marketing Measure. In July, I approved €7.5m under the Building Acquisition Measure and in September €1.1m was approved under the Marketing Measure.
The 2022 Scheme placed particular emphasis on projects supporting bringing vacant and derelict properties back into use as multipurpose community spaces. The maximum grant under the Scheme was increased in 2021 and remained at the increased amount of €500,000 in 2022 to permit additional projects of scale to be funded.
The 2022 applications are currently under assessment and I hope to make an announcement on these before the end of the year.
133. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the approximate number of community groups that are eligible for the Enhanced Community Group Fund to help with energy costs. [53844/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is aware of the challenges facing community and voluntary organisations and the charities sector in meeting the high cost of energy currently and is committed to supporting the sector in meeting these costs.
Not-for-profit and voluntary organisations in the Community and Voluntary sector are woven into the fabric of community life across Ireland, but they are vulnerable to the impact of increased energy costs.
The recent budget made €10m available to put in place a support scheme for community and voluntary organisations and the charities sector.
The framework for delivering this assistance is currently being developed by my Department to ensure access to support in a timely manner. As the details of the scheme are still being finalised taking account of other support schemes being developed across Government, it is not possible at this time to provide an estimate of the number of community groups that may be eligible. Full scheme details, including application timeframes and eligibility criteria will be announced shortly.
My Department will continue to work with relevant stakeholders, including the community and voluntary sector, charities, local authorities and local development companies, to support community organisations across the country as they deal with the ongoing and emerging challenges. We would encourage all groups to engage with Gov.ie, their Local Authority and Local Development Company so that they are aware of funding opportunities as they become available.
134. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the efforts that her Department is making in Coillte owned forest parks across the country; her views on the tourism and economic benefits from developing these amenities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53388/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn May this year, I announced €15 million of funding for Coillte as part of a new five year strategic partnership between my Department and Coillte to enhance outdoor recreational facilities on Coillte-owned land and to support increased tourism and economic activity in rural areas. This builds on the previous 5 year agreement which provided funding of €11 million over the period 2017-2021 and represents a significant investment by the Government in the development of these assets which will benefit rural communities and visitors alike.
Over the last 2 years we have seen a major increase in the number of people accessing outdoor recreation infrastructure. Coillte are uniquely placed to assist in building on that demand to ensure that people can continue to enjoy the unique advantages offered by the Irish countryside.
Coillte are Ireland’s largest landowner and are also the largest provider of outdoor recreation in Ireland by providing significant outdoor recreation infrastructure across its properties. They have over 260 recreational forests, 12 forest parks, 3000km of walking trails and six world class mountain biking trails throughout the country.
The funding provided by my Department will see Coillte further develop their outdoor recreation facilities across its recreational sites in order to meet the increased demand for access to its amenities. Works include maintenance and development of trails, cycleways, play areas, upgrading of car parking and toilet facilities to help manage the growing number of visitors.
The development of outdoor amenities is also central to the new National Outdoor Recreation Strategy, which will be launched later this year.
135. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development her views on increasing the annual funding for the Leader programme. [53615/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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. It forms part of Ireland's €10bn Common Agricultural Policy Strategic Plan, which was approved by Government earlier this month.
Funding is provided for the duration of the period rather than on an annual basis to allow more flexibility to the Local Action Groups to manage the programme budget in their areas of operation.
€250m has been made available for LEADER for the period 2021 to 2027. This is comprised of €70 million for the transitional period 2021 to 2022 and an additional €180 million from 2023 to 2027. This level of funding is evidence of the Government’s continued support for the LEADER programme, and matches the €250m provided for LEADER in the corresponding 7 year period from 2014-2020.
It is important to recognise that LEADER is a multi-annual programme and that payments in respect of projects which are approved in any given year are generally not drawn down until subsequent years, as projects are completed and payment claims are submitted. Therefore, costs related to projects approved and completed are met from the provision in my Department’s Vote on an annual basis.
I have also provided additional Exchequer funding for LEADER Groups administration in 2022 where they have exhausted their original funding, and I have confirmed that this funding will be made available again in 2023 as required.
I am confident that the level of funding allocated for the 2021-2027 programming period is sufficient to meet the demand for grant funding from rural communities and businesses and to continue the effective operation of the LEADER programme.
136. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will extend the place-based leadership development programme to include Cherry Orchard. [53713/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraFunded by my Department, the pilot Place-Based Leadership Development (P-BLD) Programme is being delivered in Darndale and Drogheda further to recommendations from the Nolan and Geiran reports. The Programme is an investment in local leaders to help them address the challenges experienced in those areas.
The P-BLD programme will strengthen the capacity of those already working hard to improve the quality of community life in Darndale and Drogheda. The programme will encourage and facilitate collaboration that will positively impact the culture of the area. It will build new community leaders to empower communities to address the issues they face. This approach will make a lasting impact and bring forward the solutions required.
I hope that the Place Based Leadership pilot programme will open up new perspectives and possibilities and provide opportunities for mutual learning that can be built upon and expanded to other communities in Ireland going forward, once we see the results from the initial pilot areas in Darndale and Drogheda.
137. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the measures that are being considered in providing grant assistance to support the important work carried out by local tidy towns committees across the country. [53841/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Supervalu TidyTowns competition is a unique community movement which has a huge impact on our communities throughout Ireland. It is an extremely effective and important sustainability initiative in Ireland, both from an environmental and community perspective.
It encourages communities to improve their local environment and make their area a better place to live, work and visit. The competition has evolved in recent years, widening its focus to supporting the UN Sustainable Development Goals
Communities involved in TidyTowns contribute to making places great locations to live in, to work in or to visit, where volunteers work together to make their own place brighter, friendlier and more inclusive.
Last year I announced a funding package of €1.5 million to support TidyTowns groups preparing for this year's competition. €6.7 million has been allocated by my Department to groups since my Department was established in 2017.
Under Our Rural Future, my Department also provides a wide range of supports to promote the development of rural areas, including through the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, the LEADER Programme, the Town & Village Renewal Scheme, the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme and the CLÁR programme. I would encourage TidyTowns groups to engage with their local authority or local development company to explore what funding sources may be available to support the valuable voluntary work undertaken.
I am looking forward to announcing the winner of Ireland's Tidiest Town 2022 this Friday in the RDS at an event sponsored by SuperValu.
