Written Answers Nos. 709-712
709. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department supports the use of gender-neutral pronouns in the drafting of legislation or policies initiated by or originating in her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11277/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Rural and Community Development complies with its statutory duty, under the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission Act 2014, in the performance of its functions, having regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, promote equality of opportunity and protect the human rights of staff when carrying out their daily work and those to whom services are provided.
Drafting of primary legislation is the responsibility of the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel. However, regarding gender, all legislation is drafted in line with Section 18 of the Interpretation Act 2005.
710. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the measures being undertaken by her Department to address depopulation in rural communities across County Mayo and the rest of the country: how policy interventions can reduce the growth of urban centres at the expense of rural villages; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11287/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe core spatial principle of “Ireland 2040: Our Plan, National Planning Framework” is to achieve balanced regional development, city and regional centre-focused growth, and more compact urban development in order to achieve an internationally competitive and sustainable economy and a better quality of life for our citizens.
In line with this principle, my Department's ‘Our Rural Future’, Ireland's Rural Development Policy 2021 – 2025, creates an overarching vision for a thriving rural Ireland which is integral to our national economic, social, cultural and environmental wellbeing and development. Indeed Our Rural Future explicitly recognises the importance of rural town regeneration and achieving an increase in the number of people living in rural areas.
Additionally, the 'Town Centre First' Policy is a major cross-government policy that aims to tackle vacancy, combat dereliction and breathe new life into our town centres. It supports the Our Rural Future vision for a thriving rural Ireland.
The overall focus of such policies is to make our rural communities, towns and villages more attractive places in which to live, work, and visit. This is reflective of the strong focus within the Programme for Government on balanced regional development.
In support of these policy goals, my own Department implements a suite of targeted investment measures that empowers communities, supports sustainable rural regeneration, and fosters regional growth. In 2022 my Department had a budget allocation of €379 million which supported rural and community development, including through investment in infrastructure and initiatives assisting the retention and attraction of people and jobs throughout the regions. This will continue in 2023 with significant levels of investment under schemes such as the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme, CLÁR, the Community Centre Investment Fund and the LEADER programme.
Scheme priorities are reviewed at the end of each scheme year and this process is at an advanced stage in respect of planning for our 2023 schemes. As part of this process, I am anxious to ensure that the range of schemes offered by my Department continue to be structured in a way that ensures clear coherence, shows alignment with key policies such as Our Rural Future and the Town Centre First policy, and that delivers real and tangible benefits for communities. Scheduling of scheme announcements for 2023 is currently under review by my officials and I expect to be in a position to announce details of my Department's rural regeneration schemes shortly.
711. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the grants available to senior-citizen community groups; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11487/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department’s mission is to support vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities throughout Ireland. In delivering on its mission, my Department provides a wide range of strategic interventions, funding programmes and policies to support all cohorts living in our communities, including young people, older people, and people with disabilities.
The Scheme to Support National Organisations (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, including our senior citizens. A number of the organisations in the SSNO have a specific focus on senior citizens, including Age Action, Irish Senior Citizens Parliament and Active Retirement Network. In addition, there are other organisations funded under the current SSNO programme, while not having a specific focus on senior citizens, provide related supports and advocacy.
Funding provided by my Department supports 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.
The Community Support Fund, with funding of €10 million was 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.
The 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.
I am pleased to confirm that senior citizen groups, subject to satisfying meeting scheme criteria, may apply for support under CVESS. To date, three tranches of successful applicants have been announced, awarding over €705k to 552 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. Applications remain open until 24th March and further announcements of successful applicants will follow.
This Scheme is 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.
My Department's Community Services Programme (CSP) supports over 420 community-based organisations, to provide local services through a social enterprise model. My Department and Pobal have been working on the restructuring of the CSP with the redesigned programme introduced from January 2023. An open call for applications has been announced yesterday (Monday 6th). Pre-application support workshops will be rolled out to ensure organisations are fully equipped with the information that they need to apply for this funding. Organisations that wish to be notified about the workshops should contact: csp@pobal.ie
All my Department’s policies are underpinned by extensive consultation with a wide range of stakeholders including rural and urban stakeholder groups, community groups, older people, Government Departments and State Agencies.
712. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development whether her Department has been asked by Galway County Council to take part in a committee with the council and her Department to examine the development of a pier (details supplied) that is part-owned by the council and her Department and which is also used as a port for the ferry and cargo services to two islands; when a decision will be made on this request; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [11550/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe pier in question is not in the ownership of my Department but is owned by Galway County Council and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
I understand that officials from Galway County Council have been in correspondence with officials in my Department requesting participation on a committee to examine the development of the pier. My officials have informed the local authority that they will participate on this committee.
