Written Answers Nos. 2099-2107
2099. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when walks scheme payments will start issuing to landowners in County Kerry (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39015/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Walks Scheme, which is funded by my Department, contracts landholders to undertake maintenance work on National Waymarked Ways and other priority trails that traverse their lands. The landholder receives a modest participant payment for to maintain their portion of the trail in line with agreed work plans. There are currently 68 trails with 2,354 landholders being supported on the Walks Scheme.
In September 2021, I announced approval in principle of 31 new trails to join the Walks Scheme, 19 of which have been added to the Scheme and work is progressing to bring the remaining trails on.
Approved trails are being formally brought onto the scheme by Local Development Companies (LDCs) who deliver the Walks Scheme locally. As part of this process the LDC works directly with the each landowner involved to develop an individual work plans for the proportion of the trail that is crossing their land. A proportion of the proposed workplans must be audited before the trail can be brought onto the Scheme.
Since approval in principle of the Keel Uphill and Downhill walk was given in 2021, the Rural Recreation Officer in South Kerry Development Partnership has identified additional landholders on this trail. This has slowed down the process of bringing the trail on to the Walks Scheme as workplans have to be developed for the additional landowners identified. Work is progressing and it is my understanding that the trail will be fully approved to join the Walk Scheme by January 1st. Participants payments will issue to the relevant landholders once this trail is approved.
2100. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will give urgent consideration to the request of a national representative organisation (details supplied) for assistance towards its work; if she will examine the request for assistance, that comes within the remit of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39169/23]
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.
My Department provides a range of supports which are available to Men's Sheds, depending on the works being completed.
Last November, I was delighted to announce funding of €800,000 to support Men’s Sheds throughout the country with running costs such as electricity and insurance bills. The individual grants were distributed to the Men’s Sheds via its representative body, the Irish Men’s Sheds Association (IMSA).
Men's Sheds were eligible to apply for funding under the Community Support Fund (CSF) that was announced last November under the Community Enhancement Programme (CEP). The €10 million CSF was set up to help small community groups with their energy/running costs but also to provide funding for small capital works projects. The CSF is now closed and details of successful Men’s Sheds are available at www.gov.ie/DRCD. Since 2018, over €2 million in funding was allocated to Men’s Sheds under the CEP.
While there is likely to be a new iteration of the CEP in late 2023, the exact scope is yet to be determined. Groups are encouraged to engage with their Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs), Local Development Companies and Public Participation Networks (PPN) to ensure they are aware of funding opportunities as they become available.
The submission referred to by the Deputy will be considered in the context of my Department's discussions on the estimates for 2024.
2101. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of applications received for the 2023 community centres investment fund; the details of all successful projects; her plans for any future rounds of the fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39220/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraCommunity centres are the cornerstone of community life in many towns, villages and urban areas around the country. This Government recognises the important role they play in community life in Ireland, bringing people together and engaging with those who may be marginalised or disadvantaged.
With this in mind, I have put in place an integrated programme of supports for the establishment and development of community centres across schemes such as CLÁR, LEADER, the Community Support Fund, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, and of course the new Community Centres Investment Fund.
The 2022 Community Centres Investment Fund saw over €45.8 million being committed to the improvement and refurbishment of existing community centres across Ireland.
My aim under the 2023 round of funding is to support communities with shovel-ready plans to build new community centres.
I was delighted to announce a €20 million fund in March for ‘shovel-ready’ new build community centre projects on green or brownfield sites. The Measure was open to both urban and rural communities. The minimum grant funding available was €1 million with the maximum being €6 million. As the grant funding is substantial, and for the purposes of compliance with public financial procedures, the lead party to an application must be a State-funded body, for example a local authority, a local development company or a State agency.
Following the July 3rd deadline for applications, I can confirm that 22 applications have been submitted in relation to The Community Centre Investment Fund 2023 (New Build). These applications are currently being assessed by my Department and it is expected that successful projects will be announced in Quarter One of 2024.
Decisions in relation to any future rounds of the fund will be taken in the context of the upcoming annual budgetary process.
2102. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the details of any engagement she has had with the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform in the run-up to the coming budget with regard to increasing the funding allocation to the community centres investment fund in 2023, and in subsequent years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39221/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraCommunity centres are the cornerstone of community life in many towns, villages and urban areas around the country. This Government recognises the important role they play in community life in Ireland, bringing people together and engaging with those who may be marginalised or disadvantaged.
With this in mind, my Department has put in place an integrated programme of supports for the establishment and development of community centres across schemes such as CLÁR, LEADER, the Community Support Fund, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, and of course the Community Centres Investment Fund which provides a specific funding line to support centres.
The focus of the 2022 Community Centres Investment Fund was the improvement and refurbishment of existing community centres across Ireland. Over €45.8 million has been committed to this important refurbishment work.
This year the focus of the Fund moved to new builds. I want to assist community groups striving to build their own community centre to service local needs. In March, I was delighted to announce a €20 million Fund to support communities with ‘shovel-ready’ projects on green or brownfield sites to build new community centres. This Measure will target areas which do not have an appropriate facility to meet the needs of their area. The deadline for receipt of applications was 3rd July and the assessment process has now commenced.
I am committed to ensuring that there is clear support in place for community centres across the range of schemes referenced above, and decisions in relation to any further iterations of the Community Centre Investment Fund will be taken in the context of the upcoming annual budgetary process.
2103. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 100 of 13 June 2023, the status of the Building Acquisition Measure 2023; the details of the successful applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39222/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Building Acquisition Measure was launched under the 2022 Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS) in recognition of the urgent need to transform and regenerate town centres.
On 27 March 2023 I announced a new fund for the 2023 Building Acquisition Measure which is again designed to tackle vacancy and dereliction in rural Ireland.
A total of 35 applications, valued at just over €8m were received from 22 Local Authorities. In June of this year I approved the first tranche of successful applications under this measure, 23 applications were approved for funding of €5.4m. On 27 July 2023 I approved the second tranche of successful applications, a further 11 applications were approved funding of €2.2m, bringing the total allocation of funding under the 2023 Building Acquisition Measure to €7.6m
Properties purchased under the Building Acquisition Measure must form the basis of an application under a future TVRS call or be developed for town regeneration purposes via the local authorities' own resources or another funding stream by the end of 2025.
Due to the commercially sensitive nature of the purchases, details of the approved applications will be released when the details of the sales have been concluded by local authorities.
2104. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 1393 of 13 June 2023, the status of the development of the pier on Inis Oírr; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39223/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, Galway County Council is the responsible authority for the maintenance and development of Inis Oírr pier. A steering committee consisting of representatives from my Department, Galway County Council and the Consulting Engineers meets regularly to monitor progress on the work being undertaken.
Galway County Council published a request for tenders for phase one of the re-development of Inis Oírr Pier on 23 July. A request for an extension to the closing date was received and Galway County Council agreed to this. The revised closing date for receipt of tenders is 12 September, following which the evaluation process will commence.
2105. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 75 of 13 June 2023, for an update on the development of Caladh Mór on Inis Meáin; if her Department has received the updated draft business case and strategic assessment to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39224/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, Galway County Council is the responsible authority for the maintenance and development of pier infrastructure on the Aran Islands, including Inis Meáin.
A steering committee consisting of representatives from my Department and Galway County Council meets regularly to monitor progress on the development of the piers on the Aran Islands including phase three of An Caladh Mór on Inis Meáin. The most recent meeting was held on 5 September.
In line with the Public Spending Code, Galway County Council submitted an initial draft of the strategic assessment to my Department in the past week, and it is currently being reviewed.
This draft strategic assessment is based on the findings and data obtained from the model simulation carried out by the National Maritime College of Ireland, along with consideration of the various options.
I can assure the Deputy that my Department will continue to engage with the local authority to ensure the project is progressed as quickly as possible.
2106. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail cén uair a dhéanfar cinneadh ar iarratas atá curtha chuig an Roinn le tamall anuas ag Comhairle Contae na Gaillimhe maidir le cead agus maoiniú a fháil le tuilleadh staidéar a dhéanamh maidir le forbairt saoráidí calaíochta ag Céibh an Chaladh Mhóir, Inis Meáin. [39292/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraMar is eol don Teachta, is é Comhairle Contae na Gaillimhe atá freagrach as obair chothabhála agus forbartha ar chéanna Oileáin Árainn, an Caladh Mór ar Inis Meáin ina measc. Bíonn cruinnithe rialta idir ionadaithe ó mo Roinn agus an Comhairle Contae chun an dul chun cinn ar fhorbairt na gcéanna a phlé. Reachtáladh an cruinniú is deireanaí ar 5ú Meán Fómhar.
I gcomhréir leis an gCód Caiteachais Phoiblí, chuir Comhairle Contae na Gaillimhe dréacht measúnacht straitéiseach faoi bhráid mo Roinne le seachtain anuas, agus tá sé á bhreithniú faoi láthair.
Tá an dréacht measúnacht straitéiseach seo bunaithe ar thorthaí ón ionsamhlúchán digiteach a rinne Coláiste Náisiúnta Muirí na hÉireann (NMCI), mar aon leis na roghanna forbartha éagsúla.
Is féidir leis an Teachta a bheith cinnte go leanfaidh mo Roinn ag comhoibriú le Comhairle Contae na Gaillimhe chun an togra a thabhairt chun críche a luaithe agus is féidir.
2107. Deputy Gary Gannon asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development for a breakdown of spending, in tabular form from, for 2016 to 2023, listed under the Dublin's North East Inner City Initiative (which is operated out of her office). [39421/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to supporting and investing in the North East Inner City Initiative and ensuring that the Chairperson and the Board have the necessary resources to achieve their targets and fulfill the vision of the Mulvey Report to make the North East Inner City a safe, attractive and vibrant living and working environment for the community and its families with opportunities for all to lead full lives.
From 2016 to 2022, the Government has provided over €38.2 million in funding for the North East Inner City Initiative (NEIC) to help ensure that the recommendations of the Mulvey Report and the actions contained in the NEIC Strategic Plan 2020-2023 are implemented. The Government committed a further €7.5 million for 2023.
A breakdown of the funding is outlined in the table below.
Funding Source Summary
|
2022 |
Department of Rural and Community Development
Department of Rural and Community Development (Social Employment Fund) |
€6,264,000
€1,236,000 |
|
2021 |
Department of Rural and Community Development
Department of Rural and Community Development (Social Employment Fund) |
€5,500,000
€1,000,000 |
|
2020 |
Department of Rural and Community Development
Department of Rural and Community Development (Social Employment Fund) |
€5,500,000
€1,000,000 |
|
2019 |
Department of Rural and Community Development
Department of Rural and Community Development (Social Employment Fund) |
€5,500,000
€1,000,000 |
|
2018 |
Department of Rural and Community Development
Department of Rural and Community Development (Social Employment Fund)
Department of Justice and Equality |
€2,500,000
€1,000,000
€146,810 |
|
2017 |
Department of Rural and Community Development
Department of Transport Tourism & Sport (Dormant Accounts Fund) |
€2,500,000
€100,000 |
|
2016 |
Department of Transport Tourism & Sport (Dormant Accounts Fund)
Department of Housing, Planning Community, & Local Government
Department of Children and Youth Affairs
Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural & Gaeltacht Affairs & Dublin City Council
Department of Health (Drug specific projects) |
€1,040,000
€3,655,000
€165,000
€55,000
€100,000 |
|
|
OVERALL TOTAL: |
€38,261,810 |
The Programme Implementation Board have published annual progress reports from 2017 to date. Each report contains details of progress and landmark achievements throughout the year, and a breakdown of the Initiative’s spending.
On 5th December 2022, the Taoiseach joined the Chairperson and members of the Programme Implementation Board to launch the NEIC Initiative’s 2022 Progress Report. This Report, along with all of the Progress Reports since 2017, is available on the NEIC website, www.neic.ie.
