Thursday, 21 Mar 2024

Written Answers Nos. 336-344

Men's Sheds

Ceisteanna (336)

Michael Lowry

Ceist:

336. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will introduce an annual men’s shed sustainability grant system to help with their running costs, for items such as electricity and insurance bills, similar to the one issued in 2023; if she will consider providing funding for small capital works projects; if she will make such grants available directly to individual men’s sheds instead of allocation through third party representative bodies; to provide an update on such funding measures that her Department will make available to men’s sheds in 2024; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13300/24]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development (Deputy Joe O'Brien)

In November 2023, I was delighted to announce funding of €1 million to support Men’s Sheds throughout the country. The initiative will see grants of up to €3,000 provided to over 400 Men’s Sheds nationwide to assist them with running costs such as electricity or insurance bills.

The individual grants will be distributed to the Men’s Sheds via its representative body, the Irish Men’s Sheds Association (IMSA). Officials in my Department have informed me the IMSA opened the application process on Thursday 1st February, 2024 until Tuesday 30th April, 2024. Sheds should contact the IMSA for further details.

Separately, Men's Sheds were also eligible to apply for funding under my Department’s Local Enhancement Programme (LEP) which I announced last December. This €6 million capital fund was set up to provide funding for small capital works projects for community groups and organisations.

The LEP is administered on behalf of my Department locally by Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs), with support from their Local Authority. The LEP is now closed to applicants and details of successful Men’s Sheds will be published on my Department’s website www.gov.ie/drcd in quarter 2 of 2024.

Further funding for the Men’s Sheds for 2024 will be considered within the context of the budgetary estimates process later in the year.

I would encourage all groups to check my department’s website www.gov.ie/drcd, and 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.

Rural Schemes

Ceisteanna (337)

Alan Kelly

Ceist:

337. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the capital projects that have been undertaken by her Department in Tipperary since January 2022; and the funding allocated each year, in tabular form. [13336/24]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Rural and Community Development (Deputy Heather Humphreys)

While my Department does not directly undertake capital projects, I have set out in the attached Appendix, details of capital projects in Tipperary that have received funding from my Department since January 2022.

Projects

Rural Schemes

Ceisteanna (338)

Pádraig O'Sullivan

Ceist:

338. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide an update on an application for funding (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13387/24]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Rural and Community Development

The Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS) was launched in 2016 and since then over €156 million has been allocated to more than 1,700 projects. The 2023 TVRS was launched on 21 July 2023 with an overall fund of €15 million, which is designed to support the revitalisation of rural Ireland through a renewed focus on town centre economic and social vibrancy and regeneration.

TVRS is administered by local authorities on behalf of my Department. Under the 2023 Scheme, local authorities were required to advertise for expressions of interest from towns and villages in their area and to select up to 5 proposals for development into detailed applications to be submitted to the Department up to the value of €1.5m per local authority. This increased to 6 applications where the local authority have an inhabited offshore island and a value of up to €1.75 million. One project could seek funding of up to €500,000 with the remaining projects seeking a maximum of €250,000.

The closing date for receipt of applications from local authorities to the Department was close of business on 10th November 2023. All applications received by the Department are currently being assessed as part of a competitive process.

I expect to be in a position to announce the successful projects in the coming weeks, at which point Cork County Council will be notified whether the specified project has been approved for funding.

Rural Schemes

Ceisteanna (339)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

339. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the reason for the delay with the commencement of the Leader Programme in County Galway; the number of companies that will deliver the Leader Programme there; the areas they will cover; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13470/24]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Rural and Community Development

The LEADER Programme is a key intervention of Our Rural Future, the Government’s Policy for rural development which aims to deliver a range of actions to rural communities over the lifetime of the policy. It supports a broad range of activities which aim to respond to the diversity of the local needs of our rural areas.

I am pleased to inform the deputy that the process to select the Local Action Groups (LAGs) to deliver the 2023-2027 LEADER Programme in Galway has been completed. Three LAGs have been selected to deliver the programme in the Galway sub-regional area. Galway Rural Development will deliver the programme in the east of the county, Forum Connemara will deliver in the west of the county and Comhar na nOiléan will be responsible for the delivery of the programme on the offshore islands. All LAGs were notified on 16 February 2024 of the outcome of the process. The approved LAGs can now commence the delivery of the programme in their respective area.

I look forward to the continued successful delivery of the LEADER Programme and I am confident that LEADER will continue to play a vital role in the coming years in delivering locally led projects which deliver very real impact for communities across the country.

Rural Schemes

Ceisteanna (340)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

340. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the arrangements that have been made to deliver SICAP on the offshore Islands off the coast of Galway; when delivery of the Programme will commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13469/24]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Rural and Community Development

My Department’s Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) aims to reduce poverty and promote social inclusion and equality by supporting rural and urban communities and individuals using community development approaches, engagement and collaboration.

Due to unforeseen delays in the procurement process, Galway County LCDC in consultation with my Department Officials issued a broadcast via the eTenders system to all tenderers in Galway County, advising that the current SICAP Contract would be extended for a period of three months to the end of March 2024, to allow time for the new SICAP contract to be put in place.

The procurement process for SICAP 2024-2028 is currently ongoing. I have been informed that Galway County Local Community Development Committee (LCDC), the Contracting Authority for the delivery of SICAP in County Galway, issued the successful and unsuccessful notification letters via eTenders on Thursday 14th March for the Galway Islands. However, the SICAP contract will not be signed with the successful tenderer until after the expiry of the 14 calendar-day standstill period which commenced at midnight on 14th March.

This ensures that a fair, transparent and robust process is implemented in the awarding of the new contracts whilst also ensuring the vital work the programme does in supporting those most disadvantaged and marginalised in society is continued in County Galway.

My main priority is to ensure the continuation of SICAP service delivery while the new SICAP 2024 - 2028 tender evaluation process is concluding and new contracts are put in place.

Harbours and Piers

Ceisteanna (341)

Thomas Pringle

Ceist:

341. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the money will be granted for phase 2 of the project to complete the works at the Pier at Ailt á Chorráin, County Donegal; the amount that will be granted for the works; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13480/24]

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, villages and rural areas across

To date, 215 projects have been approved for RRDF funding of €414 million for projects costing €571 million.

Projects which emerge as successful from calls for applications to the Fund are initially approved for funding in principle and then progress through a further comprehensive approval process before the final confirmation of funding is provided by my Department. At each stage of this approval process, the project is reviewed by my Department to ensure it continues to meet its stated objectives, including financial sustainability.

It is open to project lead parties to make a case to the Department for additional funding in exceptional circumstances if the cost of the project increases. Any request for additional funding is examined on a case by case basis by my Department.

The Burtonport Phase 2 project was approved for RRDF funding of €2,065,75.

I understand that the cost of the project has significantly increased since the project was approved for funding in principle and a request for additional funding for the project has been submitted to my Department by the lead party, Donegal County Council.

My Department is currently reviewing the case for additional funding for the project and will be engaging further with Donegal County Council as the request is being considered in the coming weeks.

Parking Provision

Ceisteanna (342)

David Stanton

Ceist:

342. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the way her Department or any agency under the aegis of her Department supports local authorities to develop overnight pull-in parking facilities for motor homes and campervans; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13500/24]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Rural and Community Development

The mission of the Department of Rural and Community Development is to promote rural and community development and to support vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities throughout Ireland.

The Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS) was introduced in 2016 and is one of a number of measures designed to rejuvenate rural towns and villages throughout Ireland. Since the launch of the scheme over €156 million has been allocated to more than 1,700 projects across Ireland. The Scheme has supported towns and villages the length and breadth of the country.

TVRS is a key driver of the national Rural Development Policies, Our Rural Future, Our Living Islands, and the Town Centre First Policy. In line with the commitment in Our Rural Future , TVRS priorities are reviewed at the end of each scheme year to ensure that funding is targeted effectively to support vibrant and attractive communities and to respond to changing needs and opportunities.

The 2023 Scheme had a renewed focus on town centre economic and social vibrancy and regeneration. This will be achieved through projects focusing bringing vacant and derelict buildings back into use as community multi-purpose spaces through refurbishment and renovation. The assessment of projects under the 2023 Scheme is currently underway and an announcement will be made shortly.

Previous iterations of the scheme have prioritised proposals which have a clear positive economic impact on a town or village, and some of these projects have included the development of a pitch site for touring caravans, motor homes and tents. It is possible that projects such as these may be supported again in the future.

More generally, investment in tourism-related facilities would fall within the competence of my colleague, the Minister Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.

Flexible Work Practices

Ceisteanna (343)

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

343. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of connected hubs in each county which are now established; if she would consider giving these hubs an explicit mandate to promote positive ageing, particularly as a location to access information, to develop digital skills, to access trusted advisers and services, and to promote community networks supportive of positive ageing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13549/24]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Rural and Community Development

Our Rural Future recognises the opportunity for rural rejuvenation that remote working presents and commits to establishing a comprehensive national network of 400 remote working hubs over the lifetime of the policy. In support of this, my Department has invested significantly in the establishment and development of hubs through the range of schemes which make up my Department's Rural Development Investment Programme.

While many hubs and Broadband Connection Points do offer a number of ancillary services in their local areas, the primary focus of the Connected Hub network is support more people to work remotely in rural towns and villages across Ireland. With this in mind, I launched the Connected Hubs online platform to simplify the process of booking and paying for remote working spaces at remote working hubs. The platform also provides users with details of the location of, and facilities available in each hub and offers a suite of booking, hub management and e-commerce applications to member hubs and their users. Table 1 provides a breakdown of the 351 remote working hubs by county on-boarded to the Connectedhubs.ie platform. These are comprised of various ownership models, including public, private, and community-owned hubs, with varying levels of skills and capacity.

Significant supports for positive aging are already in place across government. My colleague, Mary Butler T.D., is Minister of State at the Department of Health with responsibility for Mental Health and Older People. The Department of Health’s National Positive Ageing Strategy promotes active citizenship and the health, wellbeing and quality of life of people as they age. It provides a blueprint for whole-of-government policy making and service-delivery in partnership with the community and voluntary sector. Furthermore, the Department of Health provides funding to a number of non-governmental organisations which play a key role in providing advice and support to older people supporting healthy, active, and autonomous ageing, including ALONE, Age and Opportunity, Age Action, Active Retirement Ireland, and Age Friendly Ireland. The Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science has alos published the Adult Literacy for Life Strategy, a ten-year plan that aims to provide literacy supports and skills, including digital literacy, to all adults with unmet literacy needs, learners in further and higher education, and life-long learning.

Throughout my tenure as Minister for Rural and Community Development, I have 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. I am committed to ensuring that the Connected Hubs 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 18th of March 2024)	Live on the connectedhubs.ie platform
Carlow	5
Cavan	8
Clare	13
Cork	34
Donegal	19
Dublin	50
Galway	31
Kerry	21
Kildare	9
Kilkenny	5
Laois	5
Leitrim	11
Limerick	16
Longford	5
Louth	10
Mayo	22
Meath	6
Monaghan	9
Offaly	9
Roscommon	8
Sligo	6
Tipperary	15
Waterford	9
Westmeath	4
Wexford	12
Wicklow	9
Total	351

Departmental Policies

Ceisteanna (344)

Richard Bruton

Ceist:

344. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the role that her Department plays in promoting social innovation in communities to respond to environmental and demographic pressures, particularly in counties with higher old age profiles. [13550/24]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Rural and Community Development

My Department is responsible, in part, for the delivery of the Social Innovation Priority of the European Social Fund+ 2021-2027.

The European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) is the European Union (EU)’s main instrument for investing in people and supporting the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights.

My Department's Social Innovation Programme is divided into two key delivery strands.

Firstly, the ‘Social Innovation for Inclusion’ programme will aim to support innovative approaches to the challenges faced by disadvantaged groups while also developing the social innovation ecosystem in Ireland. The Programme will have a specific focus on:

• Increasing access to employment for disadvantaged groups who are distant from the labour market;

• Increasing access to education for disadvantaged groups;

• Personal and social development of young people most at risk of poverty and social exclusion;

• Harnessing the potential of sport for personal development and social inclusion of disadvantaged groups;

• Capacity building of organisations involved in social innovation; and

• Awareness raising of social innovation.

In December 2023, Pobal was appointed to support the Department in delivering this programme and a call for applications is currently being finalised.

Secondly, the ESF+ co-funded ‘Achieve Together Social Innovation Coaching and Mentoring Programme’ is being designed by my department in conjunction with Pobal. This programme will offer coaching and mentoring supports to over 420 social economy organisations currently funded under the CSP Programme, across the country. Many of these organisations provide social services, including to older citizens. The supported organisations will benefit from business development expertise, to test and scale up their innovative social service models to provide an enhanced service to their service users. The objective is to provide mentors and coaches for a 12 month period to facilitate, support, encourage and inspire organisations to attain their social innovation goals.

In addition, Rethink Ireland (formerly Social Innovation Fund Irealnd) has been funded from the Dormant Accounts Fund through contractual funding arrangements since its creation in 2013. The current five-year contract between Rethink Ireland and my Department runs from January 2021 to December 2025 and provides match funding to a maximum of €5.5m per annum. In 2023, my Department provided a total of €5.5m to Rethink from the Dormant Accounts Fund.

To date, with philanthropic and Government support, Rethink Ireland has created a €96 million Social Innovation Fund and created 54 individual funds across five key themes of Health, Education, Equality, Social Enterprise, and Climate, supporting 415 social innovations. These funds have reached over 829,000 people and supported 2,700 people into employment. During 2023, Rethink supported 143 awardees with a total Fund value of approximately €41 million.