Written Answers Nos. 748-755
748. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he will provide an update on the energy support scheme for community and voluntary organisations that do not qualify for the community voluntary sector energy support scheme (details supplied). [8455/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Community and Voluntary Energy Support Scheme (CVESS), administered by Pobal on behalf of my Department, is providing once-off support to incorporated organisations and registered charities within the community and voluntary sector which fall outside the parameters of other energy support schemes being delivered by Government.
While Phase One of the CVESS closed on 2nd December, I can confirm that my department has streamlined the application process further. Phase two is now open and will remain open until 24th February 2023. Further details are available on Pobal’s website.
I am pleased to have announced the first two tranches of successful applicants under Phase One, awarding over €516k to 418 organisations across the country. Payments have been issued directly into successful applicants' bank accounts, and a full list of recipients is available on Gov.ie.
I can confirm that my Department has worked with the Department of Health to ensure that C&V organisations that are partly funded by the HSE under Section 39 will receive the same levels of support towards energy costs as non-Section 39 organisations. Any relevant Section 39 organisation will be able to seek additional funding from the CVESS to meet any shortfall in the top-up funding they receive from the HSE or Department of Health, up to the level that is approved for other community and voluntary organisations, under the CVESS.
The Community Support Fund, with funding of €10 million was also launched on 18th November last. This is a new fund, under the Community Enhancement Programme, and is designed to assist community groups across the country, in light of the current rising energy costs.
The fund will deliver grants to help groups with rising energy and operational costs such as electricity bills and insurance costs. Groups can also use the funding to carry out small upgrade or refurbishment works and for the purchase of equipment which supports their activities such as laptops and printers, training equipment, tables, chairs etc.
The Community Support Fund is being administered locally by Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) on behalf of my Department, with support from their Local Authority. Groups should contact their local LCDC for further details on the application process.
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. These Schemes are part of a range of supports introduced through Budget ’23 and everyone is encouraged to visit gov.ie/reduceyouruse to find out how they can make energy savings, where safe and possible to do so.
749. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide a schedule of NGOs to which she and bodies under the aegis of her Department suspended funding and or grant aid due to their failure to file accounts and-or because concerns arose in respect of their governance in the years 2019 to 2022 and to date in 2023; and the amount of funding per NGO that was suspended. [8655/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm to the Deputy that there was no funding or grant aid suspended by my Department, or by the agencies under the Department's remit, to NGOs, as a result of failure to file accounts or concerns in respect of their governance over the period in question.
750. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount expended on advertising and promotion in her Department and all agencies under the remit of her Department in 2022 and in January 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8692/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table below.
|
- |
2022 |
Jan-23 |
TOTAL |
|
Department of Rural and Community Development |
€53,332.15 |
€0 |
€53,332.15 |
|
Western Development Commission |
€352,269 |
€5,643 |
€357,912.44 |
|
Pobal |
€47,493.71 |
€12,988.80 |
€60,482.51 |
|
Water Safety Ireland |
€401,687 |
€3,500 |
€405,187 |
|
Charities Regulator |
€55,997 |
€0 |
€55,997 |
751. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of communications staff currently employed in her Department; the cost of these staff for 2022; the expected cost for 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8710/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD) was established in July 2017 to provide a renewed and consolidated focus on rural and community development in Ireland.
There are currently six posts in the Communications unit of this Department. The composition of staff in the unit is outlined in the table below. It includes a breakdown of the staff numbers serving in this unit in 2022 and the expected numbers for 2023, as well as their pay scale grades.
Full details of civil service pay scales can be found at civilservicepayscales.per.gov.ie.
|
Position |
Pay Scale Grade |
Number in 2022* |
Number in 2023 |
|
Communications Manager |
Assistant Principal Officer |
1 |
1 |
|
Press Officer |
Higher Executive Officer |
0 |
1 |
|
Press Officer |
Executive Officer |
1 |
0 |
|
Communications and Media Officer |
Higher Executive Officer |
1 |
1 |
|
Communications and Media Officer |
Executive Officer |
2 (1.8) |
2 (1.8) |
|
Communications and Media Officer |
Clerical Officer |
0** |
1 |
|
TOTAL |
5 (FTE 4.8) |
6 (FTE 5.8) |
*figure is as of 31/12/2022
**vacancy
752. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide an update on the 2023 community centres investment fund; when details of this scheme will be made available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8727/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is aware of the challenges facing community and voluntary organisations and I was delighted to secure €21 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.
It is intended that the 2023 fund will be targeted primarily at new build community centres. The details of this scheme are currently being developed by officials within my Department and I hope to announce further details in the coming weeks.
753. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when consideration of the review of CLÁR areas nationally, undertaken in 2021 using the 2016 Census of Population data, will be concluded and additional areas added; and if additional areas across County Donegal are being considered. [8806/23]
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. Since the programme was relaunched in 2016, it has supported a wide range of measures.
The CLÁR 2022 programme awarded a record €12.2 million with 292 projects supported.
A review of CLÁR areas nationally was undertaken in 2021 using the 2016 Census of Population data. The review examined the most recent changes in population patterns throughout the country on the basis of this 2016 data. It also examined the approach to developing the existing CLÁR designations, which is based on 2002 data, and considered how changes in population since then impacted on designations.
From the review it is clear that many areas have seen population growth in the relevant period rather than decline, and indeed the most recent census data published by the Central Statistics Office point to population growth across all counties since 2016.
The details of the review are being considered by my Department before any decisions are made in relation to areas throughout Ireland which will be designated as eligible for CLÁR.
754. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the details of the supports her Department has provided for Ukraine and for Ukrainian people since February 2022, whether in Ukraine or within the State; the number of people supported, where relevant; the estimated cost and value of the support where available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8873/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince the start of this crisis, flexibility has been offered by my Department for the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) so that its some 600 community development workers across Ireland can contribute locally in responding to the needs of the people from Ukraine to help them settle in and engage with local communities.
In 2022, DRCD allocated €10.5 million for the community response to support people arriving from Ukraine. €5m of this funding was allocated to SICAP towards the on-the-ground response and services for arrivals. Another €5m was allocated for the "Ireland for Ukraine Fund" administered by Community Foundation Ireland. In addition, funding of €0.5m was provided for volunteer centres to deal with increased activity and demands on those centres and their volunteers. I was delighted to secure additional funding of €10m for SICAP in Budget 2023 to deal specifically with new arrivals from Ukraine and €1m for the volunteering element of the Ukraine response in 2023.
In addition, my Department is providing €50 million funding under the Community Recognition Fund which aims to support the development of community infrastructure and facilities in recognition of the contribution being made by communities across the country in welcoming and hosting significant numbers of arrivals from Ukraine and other countries.
The following table outlines Ukrainian Supports under SICAP up to 16 February 2023.
|
- |
Ukrainian Supports |
|
Individuals Supported |
5,645 |
|
Local Community Groups Supported |
46 |
|
No. of Events held relating to Ukrainian supports |
509 |
|
No. of Attendees |
17,986 |
|
No. of Activities delivered for groups (Children & Families) |
222 |
|
No. of Participants |
14,358 |
Data is subject to change as the 2022 End of Year data is being finalised.
755. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of discrimination cases taken and won against her Department over the past ten years, under each of the grounds as applicable, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8900/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Rural and Community Development was established on 19th July 2017 to provide a renewed and consolidated focus on rural and community development in Ireland.
I can confirm that there have been zero discrimination cases taken and won against my department since it's establishment in 2017.
