Written Answers Nos. 871-881
871. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the plans his Department has to address the problem of dog attacks on sheep farms in south Wicklow, including expansion and resourcing of the dog warden system; if consideration has been given to the request from farm organisations that his Department take control of the entire dog control system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5524/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI believe it is important for dog owners to be aware of their responsibilities - not just to the general public but also to their dogs. In 2024, a major national awareness campaign was launched by the Department of Rural and Community Development to alert dog owners of their responsibilities and to raise awareness of the dangers that can be posed to people and to livestock by uncontrolled dogs. My Department intends to launch a similar campaign in the coming weeks to reinforce responsible dog ownership from the perspective of harm to both humans and other animals. In addition, a high level stakeholder group was established in 2024 to consider and make recommendations to strengthen policy in relation to these issues. Retired Deputy Garda Commissioner Mr. John Twomey is Chair of the stakeholder group, which comprises of members with a broad range of expertise. The group have been tasked with considering the policy and legislative matters under the remit of my Department, specifically the Dog Control Acts and the Dog Breeding Establishments Act. I look forward to receiving the recommendations of the group in due course.
In November 2023, ‘on-the-spot’ fines for a range of offences under the Control of Dogs Act were increased, including trebling the fines for most serious offences from €100 to €300. Multiple fines can be issued where more than one offence occurs. Local authorities, through the Dog Warden service, have responsibility for all operational matters under the Control of Dogs Acts including enforcement.In 2024, my Department provided €2 million in capital funding to local authorities to expand and improve their dog pounds and dog warden facilities. This funding is in addition to the €2 million that was provided for dog warden facilities in November of the previous year (2023). This funding came as a direct response to increased pressures on dog control services and will make immediate and tangible improvements to the dog control service across the country. Total funding of €121,754 has been provided to Wicklow County Council under the Dog Control Support Initiative. €60,877 was provided in 2023 and a further €60,877 was provided in 2024. Also in 2024, funding of €2 million for local authorities to support the resourcing of dog warden services from 2025 was announced. This funding recognises the increased demands in the area of dog control and the need to ensure resources on the ground to enforce the legislation. The operational details of this funding are currently being finalised. As part of the Programme for Government 2025 “Securing Ireland’s Future”, this Government will address the disjointed approach to dog control issues by ensuring all legislation and policy in relation to the Control of Dogs, Dog Welfare and Dog Breeding Establishments rests with the Department of Agriculture. Discussions are currently ongoing between my Department and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to implement the Transfer of Functions in a timely manner.
872. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if his Department or bodies under the aegis of his Department received funding support for projects of any kind from the United States of America International Development for the period 2016 to date in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5655/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince its establishment in 2017, my Department has not received funding support for projects of any kind from the United States of America International Development programme.
There are four agencies under my Department’s remit: the Western Development Commission, Pobal, Irish Water Safety, and the Charities Regulator. They are all independent legal entities responsible for managing their own corporate affairs in compliance with their statutory obligations and the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies. Information relating to any funding support for projects are a matter for the bodies concerned.
The details of the Oireachtas contact point for each of the agencies, who would be in a position to provide the Deputy with the requested information in respect of their organisation, are set out in the table below
|
Public Body |
Contact details |
|
Pobal |
oireachtasqueries@pobal.ie |
|
Charities Regulator |
oireachtas@charitiesregulator.ie |
|
Water Safety Ireland |
oireachtas@wsi.ie |
|
Western Development Commission |
oireachtas@wdc.ie |
873. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if a contractor has been appointed for the building of Inis Oírr pier; the current timeline for its development; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5845/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraGalway County Council is the responsible authority for the maintenance and development of pier infrastructure on the Aran Islands, including on Inis Oírr. There are regular meetings between officials from my department and Galway County Council to discuss and monitor the pier development on the islands. The last meeting was held on Tuesday 11 February, and the next meeting is scheduled for 11 March.
With regard to the development of Inis Oírr pier, Galway County Council is the contracting authority and is therefore responsible for all aspects of the procurement process.
I understand that Galway County Council has carried out the assessment and evaluation of all valid tender responses and will shortly submit the Final Business Case, including an estimated timeline for the project, to my Department for review, seeking Ministerial approval to proceed to award the contract in accordance with the Government's Infrastructure Guidelines.
The Department will continue to engage with Galway County Council to ensure this project is progressed as quickly as possible.
874. Deputy Ivana Bacik asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the gender breakdown of his Department in respect of principal officers, assistant secretaries and secretaries general, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5859/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am committed to supporting progress on gender equality in the Department of Rural and Community Development and to fair and equal treatment of all our staff and stakeholders.
My Department completed a Gender Pay Gap report in 2024 which outlines how we will continue to review the gender balance in the Department. In particular, we will monitor the gender balance at middle management and senior grades to identify any gaps in gender balance which will enable us to ensure that a strong pipeline of female talent is developed and retained in the coming years.
I have listed the gender breakdown requested for the Department of Rural and Community Development in the table below:
|
Grade |
Male |
Female |
|
Secretary General |
0 |
1 |
|
Assistant Secretaries |
2 |
1 |
|
Principal Officers |
9 |
6 |
|
Total |
11 |
8 |
875. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the reason voluntary labour is not taken into account as part of the outdoor recreation infrastructure scheme 2024; if his Department will reconsider its inclusion in this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6031/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) provides funding for the development and enhancement of outdoor recreational infrastructure such as walking trails, cycleways, water-based recreation sites and mountain trails. Since the launch of the scheme, funding of over €129 million has been approved for more than 1,770 projects nationwide.
Under the ORIS 2024/2025 scheme, contribution in kind which includes voluntary labour is not an eligible source of match funding. This approach is aligned with other investment schemes implemented by my Department. It is also of note that the rate of funding under the scheme has been amended in recent years, whereby the match funding requirement has reduced from 20% to 10%. This 10% match funding can be by way of a contribution by the successful applicant and/or the community group and/or philanthropic contributions. Thus, there is considerable flexibility in place in relation to match funding. As each iteration of the Scheme is launched, the terms and conditions of the scheme are reviewed by my Department.
876. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if communities can apply for sports capital funding and follow on with application for Leader funding to complete the project as part of the Leader Programme 2023-2027 given there appears to be conflicting guidance currently in the public domain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6178/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 2023-2027 LEADER Programme supports a broad range of private enterprises and community groups who improve the quality of life and economic activity in rural areas. The Programme is delivered by a network of Local Action Groups (LAGs) selected to implement Local Development Strategies for their respective geographical areas.
In line with the LEADER Operating Rules, when evaluating project applications the LAGs should primarily focus on supporting projects where LEADER is the main funding source. For LEADER funding to be considered eligible by the LAGs to work in tandem with other public funding streams such as the sports capital funding, separate projects, or parts of projects, should be identified at the outset to be supported through each of these public funds. The project or the part of the project being considered for LEADER funding must be stand-alone and operable in its own right in order to be deemed eligible. LEADER funding cannot be used with the sports capital to fund the same part of a project.
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 LAGs, their Implementing Partners and contact details, is available on the Department's website www.gov.ie/LEADER
877. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development to provide details of the empty buildings, by county, in his Department’s portfolio; the value of the property; the length of time they have lain empty; and the physical status of each building, in tabular form. [6237/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra881. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development to provide details of undeveloped sites, by county, in his Department’s portfolio; the value of the property; the length of time they have lain undeveloped; and the reason for the lack of development, in tabular form. [6533/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 877 and 881 together.
I can confirm that there are no empty buildings or undeveloped sites within my Department's portfolio. My Department currently occupies office space at Trinity Point, Dublin 2, and Government Buildings, Ballina, Co. Mayo. Both are in the ownership of the Office of Public Works (OPW).
878. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the budget allocation in 2025 for the senior alert scheme. [6286/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is responsible for 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 for the purchase by a registered community based-organisation of a personal alarm or pendant.
The current version of the scheme came into effect in September 2021. I am pleased to say that in recent years, demand for the Seniors Alert Scheme has continued, with over 18,200 participants approved for the Scheme in 2024.
The allocation to the scheme is €2.9m in 2025. As this is a demand led scheme, it will be kept under continuous review by myself and officials in my Department to ensure adequate funding can be made available to meet the requirements of all qualifying applicants. There is also provision under the Dormant Accounts Fund Action Plan 2025 for funding to meet the additional and exceptional demands of the Scheme.
879. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if his Department has taken advice in respect of the use of artificial intelligence (AI) within his Department in 2024 and to date in 2025; if any section of his Department currently makes use of artificial intelligence; if he will outline the purposes it is utilised for and costs associated with same; if he has consulted with any consultancy firms in respect of the use of AI; if he will provide a schedule of consultants engaged and costs of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6344/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is guided in respect of the use of Artificial Intelligence by advices from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) as set out in “Cyber Security Guidance on Generative AI for Public Sector Bodies” published on 1 June 2023.
I can confirm that Artificial Intelligence tools such as ChatGPT and Microsoft’s Co-Pilot are not currently in use in my Department nor has my Department contracted or otherwise engaged third parties in relation to such tools.
880. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 733 of 11 February 2025, the exact date his Ministerial brief will be published; and the uniform resource locator (URL) for same. [6384/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs I advised the Deputy in my response to Parliamentary Question 733 of 11 February, it is my intention to publish my Department's Ministerial Briefing document in due course. It will be published on www.gov.ie/drcd.
