Written Answers Nos. 422-431
422. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which she and her Department continue to strive for an even spread of development, job locations and digital hubs throughout the country, in such a way as to ensure the availability of an office setting in areas not previously sufficiently provided for through digital developments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62989/22]
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 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.
To date my Department has invested over €150 million 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. Approximately €14 million in funding has been allocated to almost 200 projects via the Connected Hubs fund enabling successful applicants add additional capacity to existing remote working infrastructure in digital hubs and BCPs throughout the country.
In May 2021 I launched the National Hub Network together with the connectedhubs.ie platform. The connectedhubs.ie platform offers a suite of booking, hub management and e-commerce applications to members of the Network. The Network includes a diverse range of remote working and co-working hubs and services, thus facilitating companies of different sizes. To date 298 hubs have joined the National Hub Network with this number growing all the time, meaning we are well on track to meet our target of 400 remote working hubs nationwide by 2025. The attached table provides a breakdown of the 298 hubs by county (including hubs that have been mapped and identified to join the network).
In addition to the National Hub 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 services as well as remote working services. 290 of 300 BCP sites are now live, with the remainder scheduled for completion by the end of Quarter 1 next year.
To date my focus has been on establishing the National Hub Network, achieving this initial critical mass and on raising awareness of the Network to relevant stakeholders, including to SMEs/business owners and new hub users. Following strong progress on the establishment phase of the project, my focus has now shifted to the next stage of development. To this end, officials at my department and their colleagues across government departments will begin drafting of a National Hubs Strategy.
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 significant opportunities for employers of all sizes to leverage the National Hub Network directly.
I have always been clear 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. Hubs, whether enterprise or community focused, draw employers and employees to areas of innovation and opportunity, including rural communities.
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 12th of December 2022)
|
Live on the connectedhubs.ie platform |
Mapped to be invited to join the connectedhubs.ie platform |
Total |
|
|
Carlow |
5 |
8 |
13 |
|
Cavan |
7 |
7 |
14 |
|
Clare |
13 |
10 |
23 |
|
Cork |
30 |
16 |
46 |
|
Donegal |
15 |
18 |
33 |
|
Dublin |
46 |
35 |
81 |
|
Galway |
24 |
31 |
54 |
|
Kerry |
19 |
9 |
28 |
|
Kildare |
8 |
6 |
14 |
|
Kilkenny |
3 |
7 |
10 |
|
Laois |
4 |
7 |
11 |
|
Leitrim |
9 |
17 |
26 |
|
Limerick |
13 |
13 |
26 |
|
Longford |
4 |
6 |
10 |
|
Louth |
8 |
9 |
17 |
|
Mayo |
22 |
18 |
40 |
|
Meath |
6 |
17 |
23 |
|
Monaghan |
6 |
9 |
15 |
|
Offaly |
6 |
11 |
17 |
|
Roscommon |
8 |
14 |
22 |
|
Sligo |
6 |
8 |
14 |
|
Tipperary |
10 |
21 |
31 |
|
Waterford |
8 |
10 |
18 |
|
Westmeath |
3 |
10 |
13 |
|
Wexford |
7 |
10 |
17 |
|
Wicklow |
8 |
3 |
11 |
|
Total |
298 |
332 |
630 |
423. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which her Department continues to monitor urban and rural community activity, with a view to addressing issues arising from Covid-19 or Brexit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62990/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will be aware, a whole of Government approach has been adopted in addressing the impacts of Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic. Detailed work has taken place across Departments and in State agencies in relation to monitoring and responding to both issues.
Within my own Department, the Covid-19 Stability Scheme provided support to the Community and Voluntary sector during the pandemic. The Town and Village accelerated measure also allowed for communities to implement innovative measures to address the issues of the pandemic. These were part of a range of measures to support both urban and rural communities.
Most recently, to address the cost of living challenges, my Department is administering the Community and Voluntary Energy Support Scheme (CVESS) which provides for a once-off payment to eligible charities and community and voluntary sector organisations towards their energy costs for 2022. Funding is also being provided for through the Community Support Fund to help manage the burden of increased energy and running costs incurred by local community groups.
My Department will continue to engage with all stakeholders in both urban and rural Ireland to ensure that the most relevant and effective measures are in place to offer support.
424. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which she and her Department expect to be able to assist those suffering from social isolation in urban or rural settings in 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62991/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAddressing the issue of individual isolation in communities has become more important than ever before. Many of my Department's policies and funding programmes aim to address social isolation issues in communities, and also deliver benefits by responding to the challenges facing vulnerable individuals.
My Department continues to provide funding to tackle social 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, and the Seniors Alert Scheme, amongst others.
SICAP is Ireland’s primary social inclusion funding intervention, delivered locally by Local Development Companies (LDCs) to help those in the greatest need access supports to enable participation in communities.
My Department’s Community Services Programme (CSP) 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 social isolation or because demand levels are not sufficient.
My Department is 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.
My Department is also responsible for a number of national policies containing measures to improve the lives of people throughout the country including Our Rural Future, which places an emphasis on building resilience and enhancing participation and inclusion in rural communities including older people and those with disabilities.
The issue of social isolation is one which concerns us all and I am committed to continuing my Department’s response to this issue through continued delivery of relevant programmes and policies.
426. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the full extent of awards made by her Department under the town and village renewal scheme throughout the country; her expectations in respect of this or similar schemes in the next year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62993/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Town and Village Renewal Scheme aims to assist with the rejuvenation of rural towns and villages throughout Ireland, making them more attractive places to live, work, and visit. In line with the commitment in Our Rural Future, the 2022 scheme prioritised the renovation of derelict and vacant buildings in our town centres, with a view to bringing these buildings back into use.
Since it was first introduced in 2016 over €149 million has been allocated to more than 1,600 projects across Ireland. It has supported a range of activities from improving public realm areas to initiatives such as the development of enterprise hubs and remote working facilities. These projects have been identified and developed by local community groups and businesses, in conjunction with their local authorities.
Each year the priorities for the scheme are reviewed and revised as appropriate by my Department. This year priority was given to projects that brought vacant and derelict buildings and sites back into use as multi-purpose spaces making our town and village centres more vibrant and attractive places to live and work.
I was delighted to announce details of allocations worth €27m under the Scheme yesterday. This incorporates a wide range of locally driven projects that will breathe new life into towns and villages across rural Ireland. Full details of all the approved projects are available on my Department's website.
Each year the priorities and focus of the scheme are reviewed and revised as appropriate and following this a decision will be made as to the structure and timing of the next call under the scheme.
428. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which, the CLÁR programme has assisted communities throughout the country, including County Kildare, in the past year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62995/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe CLÁR Programme provides funding for small-scale projects in designated rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population over a defined period. There are designated CLÁR areas in all counties with the exception of Dublin, Wexford and Kildare.
Since the programme was relaunched in 2016, it has supported a wide range of measures. Funding of over €57 million has been approved for almost 2,100 projects since its re-launch.
This year's CLÁR programme was launched in February and the measures funded under CLÁR 2022 were:
- Measure 1: Developing Community Facilities and Amenities
- Measure 2: Mobility, Cancer Care and Community First Responders Transport
- Measure 3: ‘Our Islands’
Funding of over €12 million was approved for almost 300 projects under CLÁR 2022. Details of the successful projects can be found on my Department’s website.
429. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which her Department has supported various communities throughout the country through the LEADER programme in the past year; her current engagements and future proposals in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62996/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe LEADER Programme is one of the key interventions of Our Rural Future, the Government’s Policy for rural development.
The programme includes specific funding themes to support rural economic development, enterprise development and job creation, social inclusion, and rural environment. Community groups and rural-based businesses can apply for funding under these themes.
Approximately 90% of project funding under the current programme has been committed by LEADER groups and I am aware that they continue to develop projects ‘in the pipeline’ in order to fully utilise the available budget.
Nationally, over 5,500 projects have been approved for funding in excess of €236 million since 2016 when the current LEADER programme became operational, of which over €34.2 million relates to 726 projects approved in 2022. Payments of almost €157 million have been made in respect of these projects with almost €40 million being paid out in 2022.
€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.
The process of selecting the LEADER groups will be open, transparent and competitive. Central to the formation of the Groups will be a clear partnership approach, with public and private interest groups coming together to deliver the programme in rural communities all across Ireland.
I am happy to confirm that the Expression of Interest stage to select the Groups to deliver the next LEADER programme is now open with a closing date of 16 December 2022. The allocations for each LEADER area have also been announced as part of this process.
It is now important that the key public and private stakeholders in communities across Ireland come together in partnership to deliver a LEADER programme that will build on the fantastic success of the programme over the last 30 years and to ensure that LEADER continues to play a central role in supporting rural communities into the future.
431. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the local development companies in Ireland that have a debt from any previous LEADER programme; the financial amount of those debts by company in tabular form; the debt repayment resolutions in place for each company; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63064/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe LEADER Programme is one of the key interventions of Our Rural Future, the Government’s Policy for rural development.
The programme is delivered by 29 Local Action Groups across the country which for the most part comprise the Local Community Development Committee as the LAG with the Local Authority as Financial Partner and the Local Development Company (LDC) as Implementing Partner. In four areas the LDC is the LAG in its own right. In previous LEADER programmes the LDC was the LAG responsible for the delivery of the programme in their respective area.
Rigorous compliance checks are in place to ensure the programme is delivered to a high governance standard. In the limited number of cases where a situation occurs that gives rise to a debt, my Department officials engage openly with the LDC concerned with a view to agreeing a mutually acceptable resolution plan.
There are no debts recorded against any LDC during the 2014-2022 programming period. However, there are currently debts recorded against three LDCs from the previous LEADER programme. A debt repayment plan, which is the subject of a High Court confidentiality clause, is in place and being adhered to in respect of one of the LDCs. In the case of the other two LDCs my Department officials are engaging with the companies concerned with a view to agreeing a resolution plan.
Table 1 below gives details of the outstanding debts in respect of these two LDCs.
I am satisfied that sufficient controls are currently in place that minimises the risk of debts arising into the future.
Table 1 - Local Development Companies with debts outstanding under the LEADER programme
|
Local Development Company |
Amount owed @ 30/11/22(including interest accrued) |
|
Mayo North East LEADER Partnership |
€158,619.79 |
|
Fingal LEADER Partnership |
€6,187.43 |
