Written Answers Nos. 388-393
388. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development to list all the agencies and other bodies under his aegis for which he has responsibility for appointing board members or directors; and to provide the current board vacancies for each, in tabular form. [6956/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 142 and 145 together.
Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, my department may make Additional Needs Payments to help meet essential expenses that a person cannot pay from their weekly income or from other personal and household resources.
The statistical reporting for Additional Needs Payments was revised in 2022 and 2023, to extract more complete information, including identification of such payments to international protection applicants.
Statistics for Additional Needs Payments are prepared and published on a quarterly basis. Table 1 shows the annual expenditure under the clothing category to international protection applicants for 2022 to 2024. Figures for 2021 specifically relating to payments to international protection applicants are not available.
It should be noted that in addition, applicants for international protection can access the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance to assist with the cost of uniforms and footwear for children going to school. However, the department does not hold separate expenditure figures for international protection applicants in receipt of the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance.
My department also administers the Daily Expenses Allowance which is paid to international protection applicants who reside in, or are waiting for, accommodation provided by the International Protection Accommodation Services.
The current weekly rates of payment are €38.80 per adult and €29.80 per child. In December 2023 an increased rate of €113.80 per week for an adult was introduced where a person is unaccommodated and is on a waiting list for accommodation with the International Protection Accommodation Services. Table 2 shows the number of international protection applicants in receipt of the increased rate at the end of 2023 and 2024.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
Table 1 - Annual expenditure under the clothing category for international protection applicants from 2022 to 2024.
|
Year |
Applicants |
Expenditure |
|
2022 |
8,935 |
€990,000 |
|
2023 |
13,829 |
€1,600,000 |
|
2024 |
19,211 |
€2,525,000 |
Table 2 – Number of international protection applicants in receipt of the increased rate at the end of 2023 and 2024.
|
Year |
Applicants |
|
2023 |
207 |
|
2024 |
2,414 |
389. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he will detail his Department's various capital funding schemes, including the total of each fund in 2025, in tabular form; the timeline for applications (calls and deadlines); the general focus of each scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6957/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides funding through a range of highly impactful schemes and programmes aimed at supporting sustainable, inclusive and thriving communities.
Budget 2025 provided my Department with a gross allocation of €472 million. This allocation provides for €212 million in funding for rural development and €260 million in funding for community development. My Department was allocated €235 million for capital investment, with the remaining funding for current expenditure supports.
The budget allocation provides for significant capital investment through, for example, the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (€60 million), the LEADER programme (€42 million), the Town and Village Renewal Scheme (€20 million), CLÁR (€11 million), the Local Improvement Scheme (€15 million), and the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (€16 million).
With regard to specific timelines for scheme launches, these details will be released in due course throughout the year, with my Departments website providing information on all of our schemes once available. I would encourage anyone interested in my Department’s funding schemes to visit our website at www.gov.ie/drcd where details of future calls and deadlines will be posted.
390. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he will reverse the cuts in funding for the social inclusion and community activation programme, which took effect during the years of economic austerity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6958/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), is our country’s primary social inclusion programme, which aims to reduce poverty and promote social inclusion and equality by supporting disadvantaged communities and individuals. This is a national programme that is delivered in both rural and urban areas by Local Development Companies (LDCs) to help those in the greatest need.
The current iteration of SICAP began on 1 January 2024 and will run until the end of 2028. My Department committed over €47.4m in core funding in 2024 for SICAP & has committed over €48.9m for 2025.
The funding for SICAP is subject to the annual budgetary Estimates process. I acknowledge that funding for social inclusion measures were reduced after 2008. However, since then, a wide variety of additional social inclusion measures have been initiated and funded, with some examples being the Empowering Communities Programme, the Community Development Programme and most recently the Community Connection Project announced last year.
The work of SICAP is of huge importance to communities across Ireland in tackling the issues they face, linking in directly with the agreed objectives of the Local Economic and Community Plans. SICAP funding has increased year on year since 2022, a total increase of €9.8 million in the programme increasing the annual funding to over €48.9m in 2025. Separate to this increase in funding, I also secured additional funding of €36m from 2022 - 2025 through SICAP to support Ukrainian Nationals displaced by war and International Protection Applicants.
In line with commitments in the Programme for Government, I can assure the Deputy that I will review the level of funding for all programmes each year as part of the budgetary process and I intend to continue to prioritise additional funding for SICAP.
391. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development his plan to develop a successor to the Strategy for the Community and Voluntary Sector 2019-2024, and to resourcing that strategy to deliver on commitments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6960/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn August 2019, my Department launched Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities, a five-year whole of government strategy to support the community and voluntary sector in Ireland. The Strategy set a general direction of travel for government policy in relation to the community development, local development and the community and voluntary sectors. The high-level objectives and actions support consultation, inclusion and participation of communities, particularly disadvantaged communities, in public policy and decision-making at all levels.
The strategy was co-produced by Government and representatives from the community development, local development and community and voluntary sectors. This was facilitated through a cross sectoral group (CSG) that oversaw the strategy design process and continues to oversee and monitor its implementation. The CSG also sets priorities in agreeing the annual work plans under the Strategy. It was agreed by the CSG in 2024 to continue with the implementation of the existing Strategy into 2025. The agreed work plan for 2025 is being overseen by the Department.
Together with my colleague, the Minister of State for Community Development and Charities, Jerry Buttimer, T.D., I intend to review the implementation of the Strategy over the last five years and to consider options for the development of a successor strategy, including the resources required for its implementation.
392. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the date the successful applicants to the community centres investment fund will be announced. [7010/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn June last year, a new round of funding was announced to support community groups to upgrade and refurbish the community facilities in their areas. The Community Centre Investment Fund 2024 will provide funding of between €10,000 and €100,000 towards capital costs for the refurbishment of existing community centres.
In November, just over €7.6 million was approved for almost 400 community centres under category 1 of the fund. Category 1 refers to projects seeking funding of up tp €25,000.
The selection process in respect of all applications under category 2, which are projects seeking funding of up to €100,000, is currently being finalised. I expect to announce the successful projects in the coming weeks.
393. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of an application to the community centres investment fund (details supplied). [7011/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn June last year, a new round of funding was announced to support community groups to upgrade and refurbish the community facilities in their areas. The Community Centre Investment Fund 2024 will provide funding of between €10,000 and €100,000 towards capital costs for the refurbishment of existing community centres.
In November, just over €7.6 million was approved for almost 400 community centres under category 1 of the fund. Category 1 refers to projects seeking funding of up to €25,000.
The selection process in respect of all applications under category 2, which are projects seeking funding of up to €100,000, is currently being finalised. I can confirm that the organisation referred to by the Deputy has submitted an application under category 2 of the Community Centre Investment Fund 2024. I expect to announce the successful projects in the coming weeks.
