Thursday, 15 Dec 2022

Written Answers Nos. 18-37

Greenways Provision

Ceisteanna (18)

Fergus O'Dowd

Ceist:

18. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide an update on the proposed works for the Mell Greenway, Drogheda, following the further engagement from her Department offering extensions and assistance to Louth County Council to ensure that the monies would not be lost further to the approvement of €200,000 for the project through the outdoor recreational scheme in February 2020; if a final decision has been made on the project; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62717/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Rural and Community Development

The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) provides funding for the development of new outdoor recreational infrastructure and for the maintenance and promotion of existing infrastructure.

In February 2020, Louth County Council was approved funding of €200,000 under ORIS to develop and enhance the Boyne Greenway. To date no funding has been drawn down on this project.

In September 2021, the Department approved a proposal by the Council to change the scope of the project, on the condition that a Project Implementation Plan would be submitted. A draft plan was submitted in January 2022 which indicated an expected completion project date of December 2022.

My officials have been in ongoing contact with Louth County Council, who have advised that further delays have been experienced with the project as it is subject to planning approval by An Bord Pleanála. The Council have also advised that the revised project will not be deliverable as approved as estimated costs have increased.

Given the issues that have arisen with the delivery of this project, an extension to the 31st of January has been approved to allow the local authority to progress the project.

My officials will continue to engage with Louth County Council regarding the project. If sufficient progress has not been made by the approved extension date, a decision will be made to decommit this funding. In the case of decommitment, it would be open to Louth County Council to submit a new application under future rounds of funding once the necessary consents are in place.

Departmental Schemes

Ceisteanna (19)

David Stanton

Ceist:

19. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 1150 of 12 July 2022, the number of applications that have been received and approved in County Cork under the local improvement scheme to date in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62792/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Rural and Community Development

As part of Our Rural Future, the Government is committed to ensuring that the Local Improvement Scheme is funded into the future. The scheme makes an important contribution to connectivity in rural Ireland.

As I outlined earlier, the scheme was reintroduced in 2017 following a number of years with no dedicated funding. From 2017 to 2022, my Department has allocated over €100m to support the upgrade of over 3,600 non-public roads and lanes benefiting over 16,000 landowners and residents in these rural areas. This is testimony to Government's commitment to enhancing rural connectivity.

I launched the 2022 scheme with an initial budget of €11m. Shortly after the original question was tabled in July by the Deputy, I again doubled the LIS allocation originally envisaged in Budget 2022.

This year alone I have invested €22m in the Scheme. This constitutes a substantial portion of my Department’s overall capital budget of €208m – over €10%.

In 2022 €1.3m was allocated to upgrade LIS roads in County Cork. This has improved connectivity for 108 landowners and residents in rural cork communities.

Indeed, since the scheme was reintroduced in 2017, my Department has allocated over €7.36 million to County Cork, representing the third highest allocation nationally.

I was pleased, as part of Budget 2023, to announce an increase in the base funding for LIS to €12 million. I will continue to closely monitor expenditure patterns next year in my Department and should savings emerge, I will give consideration to again allocating additional funding to the scheme.

Departmental Bodies

Ceisteanna (20)

Denis Naughten

Ceist:

20. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the date of the most recent meeting of the mobile phone and broadband taskforce; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [57925/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Rural and Community Development

The Mobile Phone and Broadband Taskforce was re-established in December 2021 with an inaugural meeting co-chaired by myself and Minister of State Ossian Smyth TD, involving participation from all key State stakeholders.

In April 2022, we held a full meeting of the Taskforce with both State and Industry representatives. After this meeting the Terms of Reference and Work Programme for 2022-2023 were agreed and published on www.gov.ie.

The most recent meeting of the Taskforce took place on November 16th 2022. The purpose of the meeting was for action holders to provide a progress update on the status of each of their actions.

The actions in the Work Programme relate to improving mobile phone coverage in rural areas, examining issues around planning permissions and licensing for, and sharing of, telecoms infrastructure, the use of public assets for telecoms purposes, and improving the quality and availability of information for consumers of telecoms services and products.

This iteration of the Taskforce will meet biannually and will meet again in Quarter 2 of 2023. Prior to the next meeting of the Taskforce an Annual Stakeholder Forum will be held in Quarter 1 of 2023. This forum presents an opportunity for state and industry colleagues to come together and take part in panel discussions and presentations and to meet in a less formal setting than the biannual Taskforce meetings.

I am pleased with the progress to date and with the willingness of all stakeholders to engage with the Taskforce, and I look forward to the continuing work of this important forum.

Departmental Funding

Ceisteanna (21)

Paul Donnelly

Ceist:

21. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will report on any progress made in relation to multi-annual funding for the community, voluntary and charitable sectors. [62715/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development

In August 2019, my Department launched Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities, the Strategy to support the community and voluntary sector in Ireland.

This Strategy was developed in consultation with the Cross-Sectoral Group and an annual workplan to progress its implementation is agreed with the Group.

Work in 2022 is ongoing in respect of a number of the objectives outlined in the Strategy including:

- a Training Needs Assessment to identify gaps and make recommendations on how best to build capacity in the sector;

- Values and Principles for engagement and collaboration between Government and the C&V Sector have been adopted on a whole of Government basis and work is on-going on championing those values and principles and ensuring their use in practice;

- funding has continued to be provided to support the work of the All-Ireland Endorsement Body promoting appropriate standards in training of community development practitioners; and

- the first national Civic Forum for dialogue between the state and the C&V sector, which was co-designed with the sector, was held in November.

I do recognise that many community and voluntary organisations receive funding from the State on an annual basis. Objective 4 of the Strategy commits to reviewing the national practice in relation to commissioning, to scoping and developing a sustainable funding model to supporting the community and voluntary sector, recognising the importance of, inter alia, a multi-annual funding approach.

Some of my Department's programmes already operate on a multi-annual basis, for example the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), the Community Service Programme (CSP) and the Scheme to Support National Organisations (SSNO) respectively.

The SSNO, for example, plays a significant role in Government’s support to our national community and voluntary organisations. The SSNO provides multi-annual funding towards core costs of national organisations delivering services and supports, with a focus on one or more of the following: addressing poverty, social exclusion and promoting equality. Those organisations supported by the SSNO operate at the very heart of our communities, providing much needed supports for our most disadvantaged and vulnerable citizens.

A new iteration of the SSNO commenced in July of this year and will run until the end of June 2025. This new scheme builds on the developments of the previous 2019-2022 iteration of the scheme, to help strengthen and consolidate the administrative and operational capabilities of recipient organisations.

The SSNO 2022-2025 has proven to be a highly competitive process. Following evaluation, funding of just over €21 million has been provided to 82 organisations. This is an increase of 8 additional organisations being supported under the new scheme and represents an increase of over €2 million in funding in comparison to the last iteration.

Departmental Funding

Ceisteanna (22)

Alan Farrell

Ceist:

22. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the funding provided through the Community Centre Investment Fund in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62071/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Rural and Community Development

The Government is fully aware of the challenges facing community and voluntary organisations at the moment and I was delighted to secure €20 million in funding under Budget 2023 to continue the Community Centres Investment Fund.

The huge interest in this fund in 2022 shows how important community centres are for communities throughout Ireland. This Government is committed to providing funding to improve and upgrade these centres which will allow them to continue to provide vital services for communities.

Under the 2022 fund, applications were invited under 3 Categories with funding of up to €300,000 available:

- Category 1: Small scale projects/improvements to facilities up to €25,000

- Category 2: Larger scale projects €25,001 to €100,000

- Category 3: Major projects €100,001 to €300,000

On October 12th, I announced over €12.5 million in funding for 580 successful Category 1 applicants. On December 8th, I was delighted to announce a further €33 million in funding for 278 successful Category 2 and 3 applicants. Details of the successful applicants are available on my Department’s website, www.gov.ie/drcd.

It is intended that the 2023 fund will be targeted towards new build community centres, as well as upgrades and improvements to existing centres. The details of this scheme are currently being developed by officials within my Department and I hope to launch the fund in quarter 1 of 2023.

Ukraine War

Ceisteanna (23)

Charles Flanagan

Ceist:

23. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will report on the measures that have been taken by her Department to support Ukrainian refugees living in rural Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [61795/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development

My Department has responsibility for the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) 2018 – 2023 that 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 (LDCs).

Since the start of this crisis, flexibility has been offered by my Department in relation to SICAP so that its some 600 community development workers can contribute locally in responding to the needs of the people from Ukraine to help them settle in and engage with local communities.

€10.5 million was announced by my Department earlier this year for the community response to support people arriving from Ukraine. €5 million funding was allocated to SICAP in recognition of the ongoing contribution being made by the programme, this additional funding ensures that normal SICAP service delivery can be maintained along with the on-the-ground response and services for the people arriving from Ukraine. A further €5 million was allocated for the "Ireland for Ukraine Fund" which is being administered by Community Foundation Ireland. In addition, funding of €0.5 million was provided for volunteer centres to deal with increased activity and demands on those centres and on the volunteers helping to deal with this crisis.

Some services that are available through SICAP to support Ukrainians include transport services; access to health care; access to school places; services to older people; Ukrainian community engagement; personal skills and wellbeing, lifelong learning and access to the labour market. Some of these supports are delivered on a one-to-one basis and in a group setting.

My Department will continue to monitor the situation and keep it under review, and I am delighted to have secured additional funding of €10million for SICAP in budget 2023 to deal specifically with new arrivals from Ukraine.

I am also very pleased to have secured funding of €1million for the volunteering element of the Ukraine response in 2023, to continue to support the ongoing efforts of volunteers and Volunteer Centres to respond to the needs of displaced Ukrainians and the ongoing community response to the crisis.

Departmental Funding

Ceisteanna (24)

Brendan Griffin

Ceist:

24. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she has been successful in her endeavours to secure additional funding from within Government for LIS; if she has reviewed local authority capacity to utilise any additional funding that may be allocated to them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62787/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Rural and Community Development

The Local Improvement Scheme, or LIS, supports the improvement of rural roads and laneways that are not normally maintained by local authorities. As part of Our Rural Future, the Government is committed to ensuring that the LIS is funded into the future. The scheme makes an important contribution to connectivity in rural Ireland. I am also committed to improving connectivity for rural residents – whether it be access to homes, farms or outdoor amenities.

The Local Improvement Scheme was reintroduced by my Department in 2017 following a number of years with no dedicated funding.

From 2017 to 2022, my Department has allocated over €100 million towards improvement works on over 3,600 non-public roads and lanes benefiting over 16,000 landowners and residents in these rural areas.

I launched the 2022 scheme with an initial budget of €11 million. My Department was in ongoing contact with local authorities regarding their capacity to utilise any additional funding and over the course of the year additional funding was sourced from savings within my Department and I allocated a further €11 million. This effectively doubled investment in LIS to bring the total investment this year to €22 million.

I was pleased, as part of Budget 2023, to announce an increase in the base funding for LIS to €12 million. I will continue to closely monitor expenditure patterns next year in my Department and should savings emerge, I will give consideration to again allocating additional funding to the scheme.

Finally, I am continuing to engage with my colleague, the Minister for Transport regarding his Department contributing to a jointly funded LIS so that we can further address the high demand under the Scheme.

Harbours and Piers

Ceisteanna (25)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

25. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the progress that has been made with the development of improved pier facilities on Inis Oírr and Inis Meáin in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62719/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Rural and Community Development

As 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 on both developments.

With regards to progress on the Inis Oírr development, I understand that Galway County Council intends to publish a CPO notice and schedule in the coming days. Furthermore, Galway County Council has recently adopted new bye-laws, which have come into effect for the duration of the pier’s development, and hopes to recruit a harbour master in the coming months.

As for Inis Meáin, Galway County Council is responsible for the development of stage 3 of Caladh Mór Pier. As part of the preparatory works, the National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI) was requested by Galway County Council to develop a model simulation for the harbour. This has been completed, and a full demonstration took place in mid-September, with the skippers of the key relevant vessels in attendance.

That data has now been compiled, along with the feedback received from the vessel operators who participated. It is my understanding that Galway County Council will soon start preparing a draft business case, based on the findings and data from the model simulation, to be presented to officials from my Department. Following on from this, my Department will be in a position to evaluate the next steps in the process.

Departmental Schemes

Ceisteanna (26, 54)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

26. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which she proposes to assist urban and rural community groups throughout the country through the various schemes available to her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62733/22]

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

54. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which she hopes to continue to assist rural and community groups directly and indirectly with particular reference to addressing particular areas with social or economic deficiency; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62732/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Rural and Community Development

I propose to take Questions Nos. 26 and 54 together.

A vital part of my Department's mission is to support the creation of vibrant and sustainable communities across this country. Budget 2023 provides a 4% increase in my Department’s allocation, which will deliver significant support for rural and community development next year. The increased budget provision for 2023 of over €390 million will provide over €200 million in funding for rural development and €190 million in funding for community development.

The Programme for Government places a strong emphasis on balanced regional development. My Department supports this commitment through targeted investment that supports rural regeneration, facilitates new working opportunities and fosters regional enterprise growth. We will continue to invest in, and support, communities across the country through our wide range of schemes such as the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, LEADER Programme, Town and Village Renewal Scheme, Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme, Community Centres Investment Fund, Local Improvement Scheme, CLÁR Programme, Islands Capital Programme, Community Enhancement Programme, Connected Hubs initiative, Libraries Investment Capital funding, PEACE IV Programme and the PEACE PLUS Programme.

My Department also provides strategic interventions, funding programmes and supports which target and address issues of social and or economic deprivation in rural and urban communities throughout the country.

The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), managed by my Department, 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. Under Budget 2023, funding for the Community Services Programme will increase by €3.5 million to over €52 million in 2023. This will help ensure that organisations providing community services are funded on a more sustainable basis and that these important services continue to be provided throughout the country.

Funding of €2 million was secured to design and implement a new Empowering Communities Programme (ECP) in 2022 aimed at specifically targeting area-based deprivation through a community development approach. The ECP programme is currently being embedded and will be supported again during 2023 in fourteen areas around the country that were identified using the Pobal HP deprivation index which are experiencing significant disadvantage.

€100,000 in Dormant Accounts funding will be available in 2023 to build capacity, as well as providing resources and toolkits to support the engagement of marginalised communities in consultation and decision-making processes. This will build on the 2021 and 2022 funding measure that supported research to identify methodologies and develop strategies and resources to support the inclusion of those most marginalised in decision making processes at all levels. This should ensure better outcomes for all members of our communities.

My Department is also responsible for a number of important policies, including the National Policy on Social Enterprise, and Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities which is a 5 Year Strategy to Support the Community and Voluntary Sector 2019-2024.

Our Rural Future, which I launched in 2021, is a whole-of-Government rural development policy which contains more than 150 commitments for the social and economic development of rural Ireland. It provides the framework to achieve the vision of transforming the quality of life and opportunity for people living in rural areas. Since publication implementation of measures continues to be strong.

My Department continues to engage with rural and urban stakeholders to identify issues impacting on communities and respond to emerging needs. I am confident that the funding supports and policies provided by my Department will continue to deliver tangible benefits for both urban and rural communities.

Information on all of the funding and supports available through my Department is available online on the Gov.ie website.

Departmental Funding

Ceisteanna (27)

Seán Sherlock

Ceist:

27. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will examine a funding line for the upgrading of school buildings and adjacent lands where there is a shared access for the local community. [62546/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Rural and Community Development

The Department of Education has primary responsibility for the provision of funding for school facilities.

While the range of schemes operated by my Department are not targeted at upgrading school buildings per se, there may be limited instances where projects located on school grounds may be supported. Such projects need to be fully open and accessible to local communities in order to be eligible for funding.

My Department's CLÁR Programme, for example, funds small-scale infrastructural projects in designated rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population over a defined period. The Programme provides funding for community amenities and facilities such as playgrounds, Multi Use Games Areas (MUGAs) and sensory gardens, including those located on school grounds, once they are fully open and accessible to the public.

Funding may also be available under the LEADER programme. The LEADER programme is a key intervention which will help underpin the Government's rural development goals as outlined in Our Rural Future. It is delivered through 29 Local Action Groups (LAGs) across rural Ireland. A feature of the LEADER programme is that it is based on a community-led, bottom-up approach to rural development. Support under the LEADER programme is provided under a broad range of themes and funding may be available through the LEADER Programme for the type of project referred to by the Deputy.

In order for a project to be eligible for LEADER funding, it must be compatible with the actions outlined in the approved Local Development Strategy for the relevant LEADER area and it must comply with the Operating Rules and EU Regulations in place for the programme.

Prospective applicants should, in the first instance, contact their relevant LAG, through its Implementing Partner, to discuss the eligibility of the project and the funding that may be available. The list of all Local Action Groups, their Implementing Partners and their contact details, is available on my Department’s website.

Rural Schemes

Ceisteanna (28)

Michael Moynihan

Ceist:

28. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the next round of applications for rural regeneration projects will be announced. [62469/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Rural and Community Development

The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund provides funding for the development and construction of capital projects in towns and villages 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.

On 10th November 2022, I announced the successful applications from the fourth call for Category 1 applications. Funding of €115 million was approved for 23 projects worth €162 million. This is the largest ever approval from the fund.

Since the RRDF was established in 2018, funding of €395 million has been approved for 215 projects costing €542 million.

The timing of future calls for applications to the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund is under consideration and will be announced in due course.

Rural Schemes

Ceisteanna (29)

Aindrias Moynihan

Ceist:

29. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the funding that has been drawn down under the Rural Regeneration Fund for County Cork and specifically by a school (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62534/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Rural and Community Development

The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) provides funding for the development and construction of capital projects in towns and villages and rural areas across Ireland. To date, 215 projects have been approved for funding of €395 million for projects costing €542 million.

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.

RRDF funding of €34,317,252 has been approved for 19 projects worth €59,359,478 located in County Cork. €6,164,273 has been drawn down from the RRDF for the projects to date. The table below lists the approved projects located in Cork and the amount of funding drawn down by each project.

Project Name	Year FundingAwarded	Call	Category	Lead Body	Location	Project Cost	RRDF Funding	RRDF Funding Drawdown to date	Project Status
Kinsale Library Project	2018	1	1	Cork County Council	Kinsale	€2,876,500	€2,157,375	€945,045	Implementation
Banteer Amenity Project	2019	1	1	IRD Duhallow CLG	Banteer	€1,728,000	€1,301,000	€1,301,000	Implementation
Rathcormac Strategy for Development	2019	1	2	Avondhu Blackwater Partnership CLG	Rathcormac	€162,700	€122,025	€117,493	Project Completed
Ballydesmond	2019	1	2	Cork County Council	Ballydesmond	€75,000	€56,250	€10,957	Implementation
Digital Innovation Hub Strategy	2019	1	2	Cork County Council	Cork County	€274,890	€206,168	€206,168	Project Completed
Annes Grove	2019	1	2	Office of Public Works	Anne's Grove	€500,000	€375,000	€323,322	Implementation
Coláiste Íosagáin Campus	2019	1	2	Údarás na Gaeltachta	BaileBhuirne, ColáisteÍosagáin	€268,000	€180,000	€44,053	Implementation
Kanturk Regeneration - Phase 1	2019	2	1	Cork County Council	Kanturk	€1,564,350	€743,400	€743,400	Project Completed
Briery Gap Theatre and Library	2019	2	1	Cork County Council	Macroom	€7,943,976	€2,000,000	€2,000,000	Implementation
Regeneration of Youghal Town Centre and the Development of a future vision for the disused former Courthouse	2020	2	2	Cork County Council	Youghal	€375,000	€281,250	€185,267	Implementation
Development of a Georgian Cultural/Heritage Quarter for Mitchelstown	2020	2	2	Cork County Council	Mitchelstown	€360,000	€270,000	€98,459	Implementation
Ballydesmond Village Public Realm and Placemaking Enhancement Plan	2021	3	1	Cork County Council	Ballydesmond	€903,000	€812,700	€0	Planning/Procurement
Youghal Public Library	2021	3	1	Cork County Council	Youghal	€4,498,346	€4,048,511	€189,109	Detailed Design
Fermoy Town Centre Renewal Project	2022	3	2	Cork County Council	Fermoy	€1,925,000	€1,540,000	€0	Planning/Procurement
Development for Macroom	2022	3	2	Cork County Council	Macroom	€494,000	€395,000	€0	Planning/Procurement
Neart Enterprise, Creative and Digital Hub	2022	4	1	Comhar na nOileán	Sherkin Island	€2,396,621	€1,917,297	€0	Due Diligence
Development for Macroom	2022	4	1	Cork County Council	Macroom	€9,015,129	€7,212,103	€0	Due Diligence
Bandon Town Centre Renewal and Regeneration Project	2022	4	1	Cork County Council	Bandon	€17,500,000	€5,500,000	€0	Due Diligence
Charleville Town Centre Renewal Project	2022	4	1	Cork County Council	Charleville	€6,498,966	€5,199,173	€0	Due Diligence
					TOTAL	€59,359,478	€34,317,252	€6,164,273

Island Communities

Ceisteanna (30)

Claire Kerrane

Ceist:

30. 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. [62463/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Rural and Community Development

As 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 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.

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 most recent meeting of the interdepartmental committee for the Islands, which is chaired by my Department, was held on 10 October 2022. The initial draft document was shared with committee members for the feedback and observations, both in terms of their Department’s draft input and the overall document.

Officials from my Department have had further engagement with individual Departments and agencies over the past few weeks, including meetings with the relevant Local Authorities, in order to finalise the actions for inclusion in the plan. That process has now been completed and the draft updated accordingly.

I expect a copy of the draft document to submitted to me before the end of the year, with a view to its publication in 2023.

Departmental Funding

Ceisteanna (31)

Kieran O'Donnell

Ceist:

31. Deputy Kieran O'Donnell asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide an update in relation to allocations under the community centre investment fund; when the scheme for new builds will open for applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [63120/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Rural and Community Development

The Government is aware of the challenges facing community and voluntary organisations and I was delighted to secure €20 million in funding under Budget 2023 to continue the Community Centres Investment Fund.

This builds on the €15 million which was announced under the fund in 2022. The huge interest in this fund shows how important community centres are for communities throughout Ireland. This Government is committed to providing funding to improve and upgrade these centres which will allow them to continue to provide services for communities to come together.

On October 12th, I announced over €12.5 million in funding for 580 successful Category 1 applicants. On December 8th, I was delighted to announce a further €33 million in funding for 278 successful Category 2 and 3 applicants. Details of the successful applicants are available on my Department’s website.

It is intended that the 2023 fund will be targeted for new build community centres as well as upgrades and improvements to existing centres. The details of this scheme are currently being developed by officials within my Department and I hope to announce further details in quarter 1 of 2023.

Departmental Schemes

Ceisteanna (32)

David Stanton

Ceist:

32. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the way in which her Department is working to establish and support community groups, especially in rural areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62788/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development

My Department's mission is to support vibrant and sustainable communities across this country, and in doing so to deliver on a wide range of strategic interventions, funding programmes and policies to support urban and rural communities. In 2019, my Department published Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities - A five year strategy to support the community and voluntary sector in Ireland 2019-2024. The strategy reaffirms the Government’s commitment to supporting the sector.

I launched the Community Support Fund (CSF) with funding of €10 million on 18th November this year. This fund is designed to assist community groups across the country, in light of the current rising energy costs. Groups should contact their local LCDC for further details on the fund and the application process.

Separately, the Community and Voluntary Energy Support Scheme (CVESS), administered by Pobal on behalf of my Department, will provide once-off energy supports to organisations within the community and voluntary sector which fall outside the parameters of other energy support schemes being delivered by Government.

CVESS will support incorporated C&V sector organisations (i.e. those incorporated as CLGs or Co-Operatives) and/or registered charities only. While applications for Phase 1 closed on 2nd December, I can confirm that my department has streamlined the process for multi-site applicants in a further round of the scheme, which is now open. In addition, eligible organisations who missed the deadline for Phase One may also apply under Phase Two, with applications remaining open until 20th January 2023.

The Department’s Community Services Programme (CSP) supported over 430 community organisations during 2022, to provide employment opportunities and the delivery of a diverse range of local services, through a social enterprise model. CSP supported organisations focus on whole communities, both urban and rural, as well as specific cohorts within them such as the elderly or people with disabilities.

The LEADER programme operates a community led local development approach to meeting the needs of local communities and businesses. The programme supports private enterprises and community groups in 28 sub-regional areas across the country within a range of themes. LEADER is administered by a Local Action Group (LAG) in each area. Interested parties should contact their LAG in the first instance. Contact details are available on the gov.ie website.

In April of this year, a new €15 million CCIF was announced to support community groups for the upgrade and refurbishment of Community Centres. This is an investment in both rural and urban communities across the country. Funding was available under 3 Categories with grants up to €300,000 available.

€20 million in funding under Budget 2023 has been secured for a 2023 Community Centres Investment Fund. It is intended that the 2023 fund will be targeted for new build community centres as well as upgrades and improvements to existing centres. The details of this scheme are currently being developed by officials within my Department and I hope to announce further details in quarter 1 of 2023.

Finally, my Department's 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. In 2021, 2,646 community groups and 26,483 individuals were assisted through the SICAP programme.

Rural Schemes

Ceisteanna (33)

Cathal Crowe

Ceist:

33. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the way that her Department will support the development of the Inis Cealtra (Holy Island) site in Mountshannon, County Clare as a public amenity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62333/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Rural and Community Development

The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund provides funding for the development and construction of capital projects in towns and villages and rural areas across Ireland. To date, 215 projects have been approved for funding of €395 million for projects costing €542 million.

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.

The Inis Cealtra Category 2 project was approved for funding of €920,500 from the first call for applications in 2019. This Category 2 funding enabled the lead party, Clare County Council, to develop detailed designs for the project and to prepare it for future submission under Category 1.

The Old Rectory – Inis Cealtra Visitor Experience project was submitted under the fourth call for Category 1 applications, which closed in April 2022. On 10th November 2022 I announced that the project had emerged as successful under this call and allocated funding of €3,906,252 to the project. This ambitious tourism, conservation and regeneration project will develop Mountshannon as a tourism destination by taking advantage of its proximity to Inis Cealtra and will include the repurposing of the Old Rectory House in the village as a Community and Visitor Hub.

The project will be delivered based on a timeframe to be agreed between my Department and Clare County Council. This timeframe will be dependent on the level of progress achieved in relation to the Kilrush Maritime Training Centre project, also allocated funding in November, and on other existing Rural Regeneration and Development Fund projects currently being progressed by Clare County Council.

Departmental Schemes

Ceisteanna (34)

Jennifer Carroll MacNeill

Ceist:

34. Deputy Jennifer Carroll MacNeill asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the specific supports that are available for an organisation (details supplied) across Ireland, in particular in relation to a number of schemes announced recently; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62742/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Rural and Community Development

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 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 and Women's Sheds.

In 2020, the Community Enhancement Programme received total funding of €7.2m, including €5m under the Government's July stimulus package for repairs and upgrades to community centres and community buildings. Under this programme, 124 men’s sheds projects benefited and received funding to the value of €207,836.

In 2021, the Community Enhancement Programme provided funding of €4.5m for small capital grants to community groups to enhance their facilities and towards the re-opening of facilities. Men's sheds along with other community groups could apply to this funding programme. 68 men’s sheds received funding to the value of €126,804 from this programme.

In November 2021, the €9m Community Activities Fund, under the Community Enhancement Programme 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 were eligible to apply for this funding via their LCDCs.

The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) has provided supports to over 200 Men’s Sheds since 2018, with small grants totaling 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 Scheme to Support National Organisations (SSNO) provides multi-annual funding towards core costs of national, community and voluntary organisations. The current iteration commenced on 1 July 2022 and will cease on 30 June 2025. The Irish Men’s Sheds Association has been allocated total funding of €243,158 over the three year period of the scheme.

I recently awarded €800,000 in funding to Men's Sheds, meaning each Shed registered with the Irish's Men's Sheds Association could get a grant of up to €2,000 by applying to their parent organisation.

And finally, Men's Sheds can apply to the recently launched Community Support Fund which provides supports to small groups who are struggling with energy/running costs and for small capital works. Sheds should contact their local LCDC for details of this fund.

Cross-Border Co-operation

Ceisteanna (35)

Brendan Smith

Ceist:

35. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the proposals, if any, there are to implement programmes on a cross-Border basis that are of a particular importance to rural communities; if her Department, its agencies and their counterparts in Northern Ireland will avail of funding under the PEACE PLUS programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62768/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Rural and Community Development

Our Rural Future is the national policy for the development of rural Ireland and guides the government’s approach to building vibrant and sustainable rural communities across the country, including in border regions. In this regard, my department meets with rural development counterparts in the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs via the North-South Rural Policy Forum. The Forum was established following a commitment in Our Rural Future and meets twice yearly to share information and experiences and discuss areas of potential cooperation across the many areas of commonality between the two jurisdictions.

The recently launched National Outdoor Recreation Strategy (NORS) provides a vision and an overarching framework for the growth and development of outdoor recreation in Ireland. The strategy includes a number of key Actions which require an All-Island approach, including the exploration of cross-border cooperation on key initiatives (eg. Ulster Canal Greenway) through programmes such as the PEACE PLUS Programme and the Shared Island Initiative.

The EU PEACE PLUS programme 2021 - 2027 was approved by the government, the NI Executive and the North South Ministerial Council in October 2021, following which it was submitted to the EU Commission for consideration. The Commission agreed and adopted the PEACE PLUS programme in July 2022. The finance agreement with the UK Government for the new programme is under discussion and the programme is expected to be launched early in 2023 with an indicative budget of over €1.14 billion.

The PEACE PLUS programme area includes Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland (Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, Cavan, Monaghan and Louth). However, in a change from previous PEACE programmes, activities can involve partners and activity outside the programme area, subject to certain conditions.

My department is a designated Accountable Department for certain measures under the PEACE PLUS programme. It is anticipated that investment totaling €375m will be made in the programme area, under these measures, over the lifetime of the programme.

My department hosted a number of information sessions during 2021 and 2022 on the new programme with the border local authorities and is currently working with the SEUPB and relevant NI Departments on the preparation of guidance documents and calls for applications for relevant measures under the programme, which will open shortly after the launch of the programme.

Earlier this year, I announced indicative allocations totaling €28m to the six border local authorities to enable them to commence the preparation of their respective local authority action plans under the PEACE Plus Programme.

The SEUPB have hosted a number of pre-application support workshops on PEACE PLUS and my department has presented on Investment Areas for which it is responsible at these workshops.

Full details on the development of the PEACE PLUS Programme and pre-application support workshop recordings are available on the SEUPB website.

Departmental Funding

Ceisteanna (36)

Niamh Smyth

Ceist:

36. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the funding that was provided to counties Cavan and Monaghan from her Department in 2021 and to date in 2022, broken down by project in tabular form. [62504/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Rural and Community Development

Details of funding provided by my Department for Cavan and Monaghan in 2021 and 2022 to date, as requested by the Deputy, are set out below. Details of successful individual projects can be found on my Department’s website www.drcd.gov.ie.

Scheme/Programme	2021	2022
Connected Hubs	Cavan €236,016Monaghan €354,925	Cavan €138,000Monaghan €353,009
CLÁR	Cavan €391,241 Monaghan €341,184	Cavan €616,057Monaghan €784,362
Rural Regeneration and Development Fund	Cavan €2,211,570Monaghan €10,765,495	Cavan €7,334,830Monaghan €3,564,464
Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme	Cavan €883,856Monaghan €661,934	Cavan €307,012Monaghan €1,071,292
Community Services Programme	Cavan €245,044Monaghan €1,327,903	Cavan €262,761Monaghan €1,225,941
Local Improvement Scheme	Cavan €1,119,389 Monaghan €1,326,223	Cavan €1,273,457 Monaghan €932,889
TidyTowns Grant Scheme	Cavan €37,000 Monaghan €32,000	Cavan €30,000 Monaghan €28,000
Libraries Dormant Accounts Fund	Cavan €17,382.82Monaghan €24,293.49	Cavan €27,888.06Monaghan €25,601.67
Misc Funding 2021 (Library delivery van)	Nil	Monaghan €20,000 (Approved 2021, Paid 2022)
Libraries Capital Programme (My Open Library)	Nil	Monaghan €108,720
Libraries Capital Programme (Monaghan PEACE Campus)	Monaghan €2,033,331.36	Nil to-date
Connected Hubs Voucher Scheme	Nil (scheme was not operating)	Cavan €920.00Monaghan €1,173.30
Broadband Connection Points - Thematic Programmes @BCP	Cavan €9,750	Nil
Digital Innovation Programme	Monaghan €12,696	Nil
WIFI4EU	Nil	Monaghan €60,000
Broadband Officer Payment	Cavan €42,000Monaghan €42,000	Cavan €42,000Monaghan €42,000
Public Participation Networks	Cavan €50,219Monaghan €60,274.14	Cavan €69,259.20Monaghan €75,700
Walks Scheme	Nil	Cavan & Monaghan €59,221.41
Senior Alerts Scheme	(Total participants as at 31 Dec 2021)Cavan - 1210Monaghan - 1244	(Total participants as at 30 Nov 2022)Cavan - 1522Monaghan - 1492
Town and Village Renewal Scheme	Cavan €1,066,187Monaghan €763,394	Cavan €1,447,490Monaghan €1,216,395
LEADER	Cavan €1,308,559Monaghan €1,099,392	Cavan €1,608,895Monaghan €1,177,840
Community Enhancement Programme 2021	Cavan €134,150Monaghan €132,584	Nil
Community Activities Fund 2021	Cavan €274,960Monaghan €265,141.56	Nil
Community Support Fund 2022	Nil	Cavan €285,126Monaghan €277,255
Community Centres Investment 2022	Nil	Cavan €1,372,290.89Monaghan €1,473,471.62
Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme	Cavan €779,319Monaghan €650,606	Cavan €876,491Monaghan €683,136
Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme Ukrainian Funding	Nil – (scheme not operating)	Cavan €104,564Monaghan €53,080
Dormant Accounts Fund - LGBTI	Cavan €7,025	Cavan €2,975
COVID19 Stability Fund for Community & Voluntary Organisations, Charities and Social Enterprises	Cavan €199.593Monaghan €144,339	Nil – This scheme closed in 2021 with no plans to reopen.
Community Policy - Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) Support– Additional Staff Resources payments.	Cavan €79,330Monaghan €48,426	Cavan €79,330Monaghan €48,426
Dormant Accounts Fund Awareness raising initiatives for Social Enterprise (ARISE)	Cavan €10,000Monaghan €12,944	Cavan €0Monaghan €0Funding in 2022 was provided primarily to organisations with a national reach.
Dormant Accounts Fund Social Enterprise Capital Grants Scheme 2021	Cavan €22.062Monaghan €19,919.32	The scheme was not run in 2022
Supports for Volunteering - National	Cavan - €81,765 Monaghan - €121,000	Cavan €0 Monaghan €121,000
Cost of living supports	Nil (scheme not operating)	Cavan €2,000 Monaghan €2,000
Ukraine additional supports	Nil (scheme not operating)	Cavan €2,000 Monaghan €5,511
Monaghan County Council - Covid Commemoration Event	Nil	€7,000
Dormant Accounts Fund Scaling-up Scheme for Social Enterprise 2022	Nil (scheme not operating)	Cavan €83,920Monaghan €0

International Protection

Ceisteanna (37)

Paul Donnelly

Ceist:

37. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department has been informed by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when centres for persons in the International Protection system are being opened in communities. [62714/22]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development

As the deputy is aware, responsibility for the provision of accommodation and related services to people in the International Protection process rests with International Protection Accommodation Services (IPAS), who operate within the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.

My officials are in regular contact with IPAS and my Department provides a range of supports to people in the International Protection system once they are accommodated in a community. These supports are provided via SICAP, the Social Inclusion Community Activation Programme, which provides funding to tackle poverty and social exclusion through local engagement and partnerships between disadvantaged individuals, community organisations and public sector agencies.

SICAP provides spaces for new communities to meet local people and develop social connections through for example dance and music, providing opportunities for the groups to celebrate their cultures and interact with locals. Tailored support is delivered to asylum seekers and refugees in particular, to help progression to employment and self-employment.

My officials continue to work closely with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to ensure the appropriate supports are provided to those who need them most.