Written Answers Nos. 623-639
624. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on the measures that his Department is taking to support alternative sources of peat for the horticultural sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56661/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is providing a number of supports in terms of identifying alternative sources of peat for the horticulture sector.
My Department commissioned Mr Seamus Boland of Irish Rural Link to assess levels and suitability of current stocks of peat across all suppliers for the Irish horticultural sector. This work entitled ‘Final Report on the assessment of the Levels and Suitability of Current Indigenous Peat Stocks and Identification of Sub-Thirty Hectare Sites and other recommendations to support domestic horticulture industry as it transitions to peat alternatives’ was published on 9th November. Mr Boland made a number recommendations to address the challenge of peat supply during the transitionary period to peat free alternatives. These recommendations are being considered across Government.
My Department committed €1.69 million to a five-year research project ‘Beyond Peat’ which is being led and co-ordinated by Teagasc. The aim of the project is to identify full and partial replacements for peat within professional horticulture, preferably from materials sourced within Ireland.
My Department is also funding two sustainability research projects through the EU Producer Organisation scheme for fruit and vegetables. The first project is looking at spent mushroom substrate and how this could be potentially used as a peat replacement material within the wider horticulture sector.
The second project is investigating the sustainable replacement of peat in mushroom casing material. Results from ongoing shelf and house trials are promising. The trials are at semi commercial levels and the outcome of the trials will determine the direction of future support.
625. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the recent departure of an organisation (details supplied) from a greyhound track; if it is related to the track's removal from the organisation's schedule for a two-week period in June 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56682/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraRásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) is a commercial state body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. RCÉ is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for RCÉ and, therefore, the question has been referred to the body for direct reply.
626. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there has been an investigation into the incident with an Irish greyhound (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56683/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraRásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) is a commercial state body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. RCÉ is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for RCÉ and, therefore, the question has been referred to the body for direct reply.
627. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current status of the review of control of horses legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56693/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Control of Horses Act 1996 provides powers to Local Authorities enabling them to appoint authorised officers under the Act to control stray and wandering horses in their areas.
The Act is currently under review within my Department with a view to simplifying and further improving the legislation. Plans are advancing and consultation with the Local Authorities is ongoing.
A broad stakeholder engagement process will follow, to facilitate a cohesive national approach in considering and implementing the proposals.
My Department also takes a preventive approach to equine welfare challenges by supporting initiatives educating young people in the care and welfare of horses. This work is carried out in close collaboration with the Local Authorities across the country.
628. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the plans that the Government has to support an organisation (details supplied) in County Wexford and across Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56622/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra629. Deputy Johnny Mythen asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the funding allocated to organisations (details supplied), per county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56623/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 628 and 629 together.
My Department has provided a range of supports which both Men's and Women’s Sheds have availed of, depending on the works being completed.
For example, In 2018 the Community Enhancement Programme (CEP) provided capital funding for community groups which included €0.5m that was ring-fenced for Men's Sheds and again in 2019, €0.5m was ring-fenced under the programme for both Men's & Women's Sheds. Again, in 2020 and 2021, Men's and Women's Sheds could apply to the CEP for small grants. Details of successful projects are at this link: www.gov.ie/drcd
In November 2021, the €9m Community Activities Fund was launched to support community groups impacted by COVID-19. This fund provided funding to support groups, particularly in disadvantaged areas, with their running/operating costs such as utility or insurance bills, as well as with improvements to their facilities. Men’s Sheds and women's sheds were free to apply for this funding via their LCDCs. Details of successful projects from each LCDC will be available on the Department’s website at: www.gov.ie/drcd
The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) has provided supports to over 200 Men’s Sheds since 2018, with small grants totalling over €98,000 awarded to 116 Men’s Sheds. This support is still is available from SICAP.
My Department also funded the Irish Men’s Sheds Association under the COVID-19 Stability Funding in 2020. They distributed €70,424 equally among their member sheds to support the organisation to continue to deliver services despite the challenges brought by COVID-19. The association did not apply for funding in 2021.
Funding for Men’s Sheds may also be available through the €70 million LEADER Transitional Programme. This programme, which will cover the period 2021-2022, came into effect on the 1 April 2021 for new project applications.
The Scheme to Support National Organisations (SSNO) provides multi-annual funding towards core costs of national, community and voluntary organisations. A new iteration of the scheme commenced on 1 July this year and will run until 30 June 2025. The Irish Men’s Sheds Association was allocated €243,158 over the 3 year period of the scheme
I was delighted to continue my Department’s funding support for Men’s Sheds by announcing funding of €800,000 recently. The initiative will see grants of up to €2,000 provided to over 400 Men’s Sheds nationwide, to assist them with running costs such as electricity or insurance bills.
The individual grants will be distributed to the Men’s Sheds via its representative body, the Irish Men’s Sheds Association (IMSA). In general, I would encourage all organisations to check on the www.gov.ie website in order to be aware of funding opportunities as they become available.
I also recently announced €100,000 in funding for Women's Sheds - details of how this funding can be applied for are currently being finalised, but any interested groups should contact the Department at womenssheds@drcd.gov.ie for further details.
630. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the plans in place to increase individual payments to Pobal participants on CSP schemes, particularly given the forthcoming increase in the minimum wage and the announced increases in the CE top-up; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56167/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra631. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if an extra payment will be made to CSP sponsors to fund an increase in the amount paid to CSP participants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56168/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 630 and 631 together.
My department's Community Services Programme (CSP) supports over 430 community-based organisations, to provide local services through a social enterprise model.
CSP funding is provided as a fixed annual contribution towards the cost of supporting an agreed number of full-time equivalent (FTE) positions including a manager, where warranted, with funding of €32,000 per annum provided towards the costs for the manager position and €19,033 per annum towards each FTE position.
The CSP contribution is not aligned with the minimum wage and does not meet the full salary cost of supported posts. It is a fixed annual contribution that must be co-funded by the organisations concerned from other sources, for example, from income generated from the use of facilities and services provided.
My department and Pobal have been working on the restructuring of the CSP, since the publication of the report on the independent review of the CSP in 2020 by Indecon International Economic Consultants.
As part of the restructuring process, a needs-based funding rate allocation model was designed for the CSP programme, as an alternative to the current flat rate payment model. The funding model was dependent on securing additional funding during the budgetary process. I am pleased to advise that we have secured an additional €3.5m for the CSP in 2023. CSP organisations that are operating in areas of high disadvantage, employing individuals from the prescribed programme target groups and having limited earning potential will benefit from the high funding rate category.
The revised funding rates to apply from January 2023 under the restructured programme were announced on 20 October. A total increase of €4,000 for both full time positions and managers is being provided for those organisations in the high funding category, with €2,000 per full-time position and manager being provided to those in the medium funding category. No change is proposed for the small number of organisations in the low funding category, these are organisations identified with the strongest earning potential and operating in less disadvantaged areas.
It is anticipated that the transitioning of organisations into the redesigned programme will occur in January 2023. The online application process closed on 14th October. The applications are currently being appraised by Pobal who administer the programme on behalf of my department and organisations will be notified of their funding allocations in December.
The staff in organisations supported by CSP, are not in a labour activation programme like the Community Employment Scheme (CE), which generally lasts 1 year, but can be extended by up to 2 years to complete a major education award. Scheme participants such as those on CE may also benefit from additional payments made to social welfare recipients including the Christmas Bonus and the most recent Cost of Living Support Payment, whereas the CSP contribution is a fixed annual contribution towards the cost of supporting staff.
632. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will re-examine the electoral divisions in the Clondalkin electoral area that are included in the LEADER programme in preparation for the new programme commencing in January 2023 in order to ensure that the full catchment of the rural areas of Baldonnel and Newcastle are included in the programme, with particular consideration for the ED that includes Newlands farm, which will soon be home to a vibrant local sports club; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56307/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraLEADER is a key programme within Our Rural Future, and as I announced recently the Expression of Interest stage to select the Groups to deliver the next LEADER programme is now open.
The aim of the LEADER programme is to provide supports for the development of Ireland’s rural areas focusing on the areas of most need. The programme is delivered in 28 sub-regional areas across the country which are for the most part aligned to the county boundaries. The exceptions to this are in County Cork which contains three sub-regional areas and in County Dublin. While the three administrative areas of County Dublin are largely comprised of urban areas there are rural communities in each area. These rural areas are combined to form one sub-regional area of Dublin Rural.
The Newcastle Electoral Division forms part of the Dublin Rural sub-regional area and includes the areas of Baldonnel Upper and Newlands Farm referred to by the Deputy. This area is currently covered by the Dublin Rural Local Development Strategy. It is envisaged that this coverage will be maintained in the upcoming programme.
I look forward to seeing the new programme being implemented and to ensuring that LEADER can continue to deliver real benefits to rural communities across Ireland.
I expect the new Local Action Groups to be operational and supporting project promoters in the second half of 2023 and I would encourage any group interested in applying for LEADER funding to contact their Local Action Group once the selection process has concluded to discuss their project proposal.
633. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the rural regeneration and development fund category one funding application submitted by Clare County Council to her Department for Kilrush maritime training centre; when a decision will be made on the application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56343/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Rural Regeneration and Development Fund provides funding for the development and construction of capital projects in towns and villages and rural areas across Ireland.
The fourth call for Category 1 applications to the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund closed on the 29th April 2022. Category 1 relates to large scale ambitious capital projects with all necessary planning and other consents in place, and which are ready to proceed.
On 10th November 2022, I announced the successful applications under this call. Funding of €115 million was approved for 23 projects worth €162 million. The application for the Kilrush Maritime Centre project submitted by Clare County Council was allocated funding of €3,536,919.
My Department will now commence a due diligence process with the successful applicants. Projects are initially approved for funding in principle and then progress through a further comprehensive contract approval process.
634. Deputy Neasa Hourigan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when she expects to open the energy support scheme for the charity sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56353/22]
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 allocated €10m to my Department to put in place a support scheme for community and voluntary organisations and charities. I am pleased to advise that applications for the Community and Voluntary Energy Support Scheme (CVESS) will open on 21st November.
The scheme will be administered by Pobal on behalf of the Department of Rural and Community Development, and will provide once-off support to organisations within the Community and Voluntary sector which fall outside the parameters of other energy support schemes being delivered by Government. Further scheme details are available on the Pobal website now and I would encourage intending applicants to check the scheme details over the coming days and familiarise themselves with the process so that they are ready when the scheme opens for applications.
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. I 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.
635. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the total operational budget for the national TidyTowns awards in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56386/22]
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.
I was delighted to announce Trim, Co Meath as the winner of Ireland's Tidiest Town 2022 at an award ceremony in the RDS last month. At the event I announced a funding package of €1.4 million to recognise the voluntary effort undertaken by Tidy Town groups the length and breadth of the country and to support groups preparing for next year's competition. Similarly, last year I announced the allocation of €1.5 million to support groups preparing for this year's completion, and €8.1 million has been allocated by my Department to the groups since my Department was established in 2017.
In addition to this, funding of €150,000 is allocated by my Department for the administration of the annual SuperValu TidyTowns competition. This funding is further supplemented by sponsorship from SuperValu, which meets expenses incurred in administering the competition.
636. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the total operational budget committed to the grow remote social enterprise in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56387/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Rural and Community Development does not provide any ongoing operational budget for the Grow Remote organisation.
My Department has provided some non-core funding to Grow Remote under our funding schemes, as follows:
Social Enterprise Supports: The Small Capital Grants Scheme for Social Enterprises was funded by the Dormant Accounts Fund. It provided grants for equipment, repairs or refurbishments to enable social enterprises to improve their service delivery. The scheme was administered on behalf of the Department of Rural and Community Development by the network of Local Development Companies (LDCs) which are located throughout the country. Under the 2019 Small Capital Grants Scheme for Social Enterprises, €9,000 funding was provided to Grow Remote via Bantry Chamber of Commerce.
Broadband Connection Points: The Broadband Connection Point (BCP) initiative is connecting circa 300 sites across the country with high-speed broadband. The BCP initiative was established to ensure that remote areas, particularly those that are likely to wait longest for connections, are provided with some access to high-speed broadband while waiting for the NBP roll-out to reach them.
BCPs are publicly accessible buildings, such as community centres, sports clubs and libraries that will allow the public to access the internet onsite. They are located in some of the most rural communities throughout each local authority area, including islands off Donegal, Mayo, Galway, Kerry and Cork.
In 2021, through a BCP thematic pilot programme, Grow Remote were funded €20,000. The purpose of this programme was to systematically support local communities to maximise their engagement and interaction with the BCPs. The project was structured around the creation of localised Grow Remote Chapters at or in close geographical vicinity of BCPs though the delivery of:
- Chapter Lead recruitment
- Chapter Lead training
- Chapter development & support This project helped to develop communities of remote workers in each area who, in turn, became part of Ireland's wider network of remote workers. This project upskilled local people, by building the skills and knowledge that they need to build and lead a remote worker community. Through this 5 month programme, Grow Remote had engagement from 29 BCP locations and 45 new on boarded chapter members.
637. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the cumulative budget allocated to the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund from 2017 to 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56388/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, established in 2018, provides funding for the development and construction of capital projects in towns and villages with a population of less than 10,000 and rural areas across Ireland.
Calls for applications to the Fund are sought under two categories – Category 1 and Category 2. Category 1 relates to large scale ambitious capital projects with all necessary planning and other consents in place, and which are ready to proceed. Category 2 provides smaller grant funding to enable the development of project proposals suitable for future calls for Category 1 applications.
To date, the Fund has allocated funding of €395 million for 215 projects nationwide costing €542 million.
The cumulative budget allocated to the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund for expenditure in the period 2019 to 2022 was €220 million.
638. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the cumulative budget allocated to the outdoor recreation infrastructure scheme from 2017 to 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56389/22]
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.
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).
Since the formation of my Department in 2017, funding of over €85 million has been approved for more than 1,300 projects under the Scheme. I have set out in the table below detail of annual funding allocated over this period.
Allocations under measures 2 and 3 of the 2022 Scheme will be announced in the coming weeks.
|
Year |
Value Approved (€m) |
|
2017 |
13.58 |
|
2018 |
20.84 |
|
2019 |
10.24 |
|
2020 |
15.77 |
|
2021 |
18.96 |
|
2022 |
5.98 |
|
Total |
€85.37 m |
639. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the cumulative budget allocated to the town and village renewal scheme connected hubs call from 2017 to 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56390/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraOur Rural Future (2021-2025), 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 support projects that facilitate remote working through the development of digital hubs, including the development of Public Broadband Connection Points (BCPs).
In May 2021 I launched the National Hubs Network together with its online platform, connectedhubs.ie, provides users with information on the location of, and facilities available at, remote working and enterprise hubs throughout Ireland. The platform offers a suite of booking, hub management and e-commerce applications to members of the Network. It 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.
To date over €100 million has been invested by my Department in the development of remote working facilities, through programmes such as the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund and the Town and Village Renewal Scheme. 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.
In 2021, for the first time the Rural Development Investment Programme’s Town and Village Renewal Scheme included a Connected Hubs Call in support of the National Hub Network initiative. The overall aim of the fund was to enable successful applicants develop and leverage the capacity and quality of Ireland's existing remote working infrastructure across the country. In 2021 almost €9 million in Connected Hubs funding was awarded to 118 successful applicants. A further €5 million in Connected Hubs 2022 funding was allocated to 81 successful applicants across the country. A full list of successful applicants is available via gov.ie (www.gov.ie/en/collection/49822-2021-connected-hubs-fund-successful-applicants/).
To date my focus has been on establishing the Connected Hub Network and 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 and the connectedhubs.ie platform.
I am also 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 a significant opportunity for employers of all sizes to leverage the National Hub Network directly.
