Written Answers Nos. 661-669
661. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the amount provided to each education and training board, ETB, for Youthreach programmes in 2021, 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024. [22615/24]
View answerThe funding allocated by SOLAS to the ETBs in respect of the Youthreach Programme (including learner allowances) for the years 2021 - 2023 is as set out in the table.
SOLAS is not in a position to report on the funding provided to the Programme to date in 2024. This detail will be available in August when SOLAS has completed its mid year review of the ETB funding position.
|
Funding Provided to ETBs |
2021* |
2022* |
2023# |
|
€000 |
€000 |
€000 |
|
|
Cavan & Monaghan |
3,336 |
3,474 |
4,011 |
|
City of Dublin |
9,250 |
9,618 |
9,796 |
|
Cork |
6,834 |
6,198 |
7,010 |
|
Donegal |
3,124 |
2,778 |
2,706 |
|
Dublin & Dún Laoghaire |
7,169 |
7,793 |
6,842 |
|
Galway & Roscommon |
4,844 |
5,564 |
5,466 |
|
Kerry |
1,938 |
2,276 |
2,555 |
|
Kildare & Wicklow |
4,336 |
4,209 |
4,138 |
|
Kilkenny & Carlow |
1,131 |
1,070 |
1,103 |
|
Laois & Offaly |
2,189 |
2,376 |
1,966 |
|
Limerick & Clare |
5,892 |
5,509 |
5,821 |
|
Longford & Westmeath |
1,947 |
1,873 |
2,065 |
|
Louth & Meath |
4,823 |
4,660 |
4,994 |
|
Mayo, Sligo & Leitrim |
3,554 |
3,376 |
3,435 |
|
Tipperary |
1,638 |
1,900 |
1,964 |
|
Waterford & Wexford |
5,414 |
5,684 |
6,072 |
|
67,419 |
68,358 |
69,944 |
* As per SOLAS Annual Reports 2021 and 2022
# Draft Financial Results SOLAS 2023
662. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science what systems have been put in place to recognise the medical and other professional qualifications of Ukrainian nationals living here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22619/24]
View answer663. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science what systems have been put in place to recognise the medical and other professional qualifications of IP applicants who have been successful in their applications or those who have been granted leave to remain here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22620/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 662 and 663 together.
Responsibility for the recognition of professional qualifications rests with the relevant competent authority/regulatory body of the profession in question. Neither the Minister nor the Department has a role in performance of this function.
Where a profession is regulated, such as the professions of doctor, nurse or teacher, an individual wishing to practice their profession in Ireland must engage with the relevant Irish Competent Authority to seek the recognition of their qualifications. Ireland has over 45 Competent Authorities covering a wide range of professions. A list of regulated professions in Ireland, their corresponding competent authority and their relevant contact information has been made available on the Gov.ie website both on the Department’s page and via the resources page for Ukrainians at:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/d7527-professional-qualifications-recognition/#contacts
Following the outbreak of the conflict in Ukraine, many of these Authorities started to reach out to engage with the Ukrainian community and have published dedicated material on their websites to assist Ukrainians who are now seeking to practice their professions in Ireland.
The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science has been providing ongoing support to the work of these Competent Authorities by sharing best practice material supplied by the European Commission on the recognition of Ukrainian professional qualifications. This includes working with and supporting these Authorities as they implement the Commission Recommendation 2022/554 on the recognition of qualifications for people fleeing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Many elements of this material is more widely applicable. In addition to the above, the Competent Authorities have also been advised of information resources from NARIC (National Academic Recognition Information Centre) Ireland that will assist in their recognition work, alongside toolkits and resources developed by the EU and UNESCO to assist in dealing with cases where refugees do not have complete evidence or documentation of their qualifications.
Where individuals are seeking to access a regulated profession in Ireland, especially in cases where they may have limited documentation in relation to their qualifications, it is recommended they engage directly with the relevant competent authority in question at the earliest opportunity.
664. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development what funding streams may be available to a horticulturist looking to provide a community garden service, location already acquired, to local older people; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22549/24]
View answerFunding for the development of community gardens is available under a number of my Department's funding programmes. The extent to which the proposal referred to by the Deputy is eligible under each programme will depend on the nature of the activity to be funded.
The Community Recognition Fund was first introduced in 2023 to recognise the huge efforts made by communities in welcoming and supporting people coming to Ireland. Through the 2023 allocation, funding of €50 million was approved for some 900 projects providing support to cities, towns and villages nationwide that have welcomed people from Ukraine and other countries. The supported projects included sensory and community gardens.
To further support communities, I announced an additional €50 million in funding under the Community Recognition Fund on March 15th last. The details of this round of funding are available on my Department's website, and there are a number of funding tranches in place over the coming months via the local authorities.
The CLÁR programme provides funding for small-scale infrastructural projects in rural areas that have suffered the greatest levels of population decline. CLÁR 2024 was launched on April 12th and is now open for applications. Community gardens are eligible for consideration under CLÁR measure 1. The proposed project must be located in a CLÁR area in order to be eligible for funding. Interested groups should make contact directly with their local authority who identify projects for submission to my Department for consideration.
Funding may be available through the LEADER Programme which supports a broad range of activities that respond to the diversity of the local needs of our rural areas. It is delivered through Local Action Groups (LAGs) across rural Ireland.
Primary Horticulture is ineligible for LEADER funding. However, community gardens where there is no commercial activity involved are eligible to be considered for funding. In order for a project to be eligible for LEADER funding, it must be compatible with the actions outlined in the approved Local Development Strategy in the sub-regional area concerned, and it must comply with the operating rules and EU regulations in place for the programme.
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. Contact details for all LAGs are available on my Department’s website.
Climate Justice will be a core programme theme in the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) 2024-2028. There will be a focus on facilitating a just and equitable transition to a greener economy and society, including through education/awareness programmes and sustainable community initiatives.
Through the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme, a number of Local Development Companies are providing and maintaining access to community green spaces such as community gardens and allotments. Activities are focused on raising awareness and taking practical steps to mitigate climate change and loss of biodiversity. They are focusing on climate justice actions such as raising awareness of, and seeking to mitigate, the impact of climate change on vulnerable groups. The individual in question should make contact with their relevant Local Development Company to ascertain what supports may be available.
Finally I would like to note that funding may be available under the Local Enhancement Programme (LEP). The LEP provides capital support to groups to complete small capital works and/or the purchase of equipment for community use. The LEP is administered on behalf of my Department locally by Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) across the country, with support from their local authority. The LEP has now closed for applications and details of successful projects will be available on my Department's website in the coming weeks.
665. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the funding allocated to each county in each of the years 2020 to 2023 and to date in 2024 under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22605/24]
View answerThe Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) is a key capital investment scheme which directly supports the objectives of Our Rural Future and the Town Centre First policy. The RRDF provides funding for the development and construction of large scale capital projects in towns, villages and rural areas across Ireland. Since 2020, RRDF funding of €414 million has been approved for 135 projects.
The table below sets out the funding allocated to each county from 2020 to date in 2024. Funding to date has been allocated over a series of calls for applications, with no RRDF funding allocated in the 2023 calendar year.
|
County |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2024 |
Overall County Total |
|
Carlow |
€222,394 |
€2,189,908 |
€2,412,302 |
||
|
Cavan |
€787,500 |
€3,032,532 |
€7,862,155 |
€17,027,254 |
€28,709,441 |
|
Clare |
€8,351,684 |
€8,765,000 |
€17,116,684 |
||
|
Cork |
€551,250 |
€4,861,211 |
€21,763,573 |
€5,131,963 |
€32,307,997 |
|
Donegal |
€372,494 |
€19,066,015 |
€7,725,409 |
€12,168,842 |
€39,332,760 |
|
Galway |
€1,984,885 |
€2,552,309 |
€956,084 |
€13,757,843 |
€19,251,121 |
|
Kerry |
€2,056,380 |
€2,467,152 |
€1,691,104 |
€7,100,781 |
€13,315,416 |
|
Kildare |
€2,063,865 |
€5,107,442 |
€7,171,307 |
||
|
Kilkenny |
€4,013,115 |
€2,606,613 |
€1,885,138 |
€8,504,866 |
|
|
Laois |
€1,385,999 |
€1,999,442 |
€3,337,714 |
€6,723,156 |
|
|
Leitrim |
€476,033 |
€5,635,873 |
€10,606,381 |
€7,884,834 |
€24,603,121 |
|
Limerick |
€2,500,000 |
€1,750,000 |
€600,000 |
€13,585,722 |
€18,435,722 |
|
Longford |
€468,750 |
€6,664,799 |
€1,115,400 |
€8,248,949 |
|
|
Louth |
€710,980 |
€2,864,642 |
€3,575,622 |
||
|
Mayo |
€461,615 |
€8,278,682 |
€10,526,187 |
€11,127,748 |
€30,394,232 |
|
Meath |
€608,250 |
€727,215 |
€1,807,102 |
€3,142,567 |
|
|
Monaghan |
€295,000 |
€11,490,272 |
€3,743,428 |
€15,700,237 |
€31,228,937 |
|
Multi-County |
€300,000 |
€3,940,827 |
€4,240,827 |
||
|
Offaly |
€454,535 |
€2,739,553 |
€12,256,727 |
€15,450,815 |
|
|
Roscommon |
€434,010 |
€2,174,400 |
€7,348,697 |
€5,867,496 |
€15,824,603 |
|
Sligo |
€424,500 |
€580,000 |
€8,474,869 |
€9,479,369 |
|
|
Tipperary |
€1,701,521 |
€3,495,793 |
€32,027,421 |
€7,980,000 |
€45,204,736 |
|
Waterford |
€1,207,500 |
€7,406,160 |
€3,273,638 |
€11,887,298 |
|
|
Westmeath |
€311,250 |
€8,174,780 |
€4,646,566 |
€13,132,596 |
|
|
Wexford |
€814,393 |
€2,331,826 |
€3,146,219 |
||
|
Wicklow |
€357,750 |
€1,034,704 |
€1,392,454 |
||
|
Overall Total by Year |
€18,528,068 |
€88,634,788 |
€143,281,894 |
€163,788,367 |
€414,233,117 |
666. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the steps being taken to address concerns regarding an apparent increase in the number of livestock being attacked and killed by dogs; if her Department is funding any awareness campaigns on this matter; and, if so, the costs involved to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22612/24]
View answerI believe it is important for dog owners to be aware of their responsibilities - not just to the general public but also to their dogs. For this reason, I launched a major national awareness campaign to alert dog owners to their responsibilities and to raise awareness of the dangers that can be posed to people and to livestock by uncontrolled dogs.
The campaign is still running with some invoices outstanding at the time of reply. I can tell the Deputy that an overall budget of €414,661 has been allocated to ensure the campaign has as wide a reach as possible.
In addition, I announced the establishment of a high level stakeholder group to consider and make recommendations to strengthen policy in relation to these issues. I have appointed John Twomey as Chair of the stakeholder group, which comprises 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.
I am committed to improving outcomes in relation to Dog Control in Ireland and in this context, I increased ‘on-the-spot’ fines for offences under the Control of Dogs Act, including trebling the fines for most serious offences from €100 to €300. Multiple fines can be issued where more than one offence occurs.
Finally, in addition to these measures, I also announced the establishment of a €2 million fund under a new Dog Control Support Initiative. This funding comes 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.
667. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the funding that has been allocated to men’s and women's sheds, respectively, in each of the past three years, in tabular form. [22731/24]
View answerMy Department provides a range of supports which are available to Men's and Women’s Sheds. The table below outlines the specific funding allocated to both Men's and Women's sheds over the last three years. However, both groups of sheds access funding from a variety of other schemes, the details of which can be found below.
Since 2018, under the Community Enhancement Programme (CEP), over 1,300 Men’s Shed projects have received funding of over €2.2 million, and almost 120 Women’s Shed projects received almost €145,000 in funding.
I was delighted to launch the Local Enhancement Programme (LEP) in December 2023. This replaced my Department’s Community Enhancement Programme, with capital funding of €6 million to assist thousands of community groups across the country. Both Men's and Women’s Sheds were also eligible to apply for funding under the LEP. The overall €6 million LEP also includes a special ring-fenced capital fund of €1 million to provide support for Women’s Groups (i.e., Sheds, Groups, Clubs, Networks, etc.), and builds on the €100,000 ring-fenced for Women’s Sheds under the 2022 Community Support Fund.
The Local Enhancement Programme is administered on behalf of my Department locally by Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) across the country, with support from their Local Authority.
The Local Enhancement Programme is now closed to applicants and Department officials are currently assessing details of the successful applicants. Details of successful projects will be published on the Department’s website www.gov.ie/drcd shortly.
Separately, the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) also provides supports to Men's and Women’s Sheds, for example in facilitating training courses and holding focus groups. To date, 283 Men’s sheds received €223,027 and 67 Women’s sheds received €14,846 in Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) supports. This support is still is available through SICAP.
The Scheme to Support National Organisations (SSNO) provides multi-annual funding towards core costs of national, community and voluntary organisations. The current iteration commenced on 1 July 2022 and will cease on 30 June 2025. The Irish Men’s Sheds Association (IMSA) has been allocated total funding of €243,158 over the three-year period of the scheme.
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 IMSA. Sheds should contact the IMSA for further details.
I would encourage all Men's and Women's Sheds to regularly engage with their Local Community Development Committee (LCDC), Local Development Company (LDC) and Public Participation Network (PPN) in order to ensure they are informed of a range of funding opportunities as they arise.
Men's and Women's Sheds Allocated Funding 2021-2024
|
Year |
Group |
Funding Allocated |
|
2022 |
Women's Sheds |
€100,000 |
|
2022 |
Men's Sheds |
€800,000 |
|
2023 |
Men's Sheds |
€1,000,000 |
|
2024 |
Women's Sheds |
€1,000,000 |
|
€2,900,000 |
668. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will consider allowing an extension to a LEADER project under the Leitrim Development Company (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22925/24]
View answerThe 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 is delivered through Local Action Groups (LAGs) across rural Ireland. The programme is based on a community-led approach to rural development and plays an important role in supporting communities and enterprises in progressing job creation, social inclusion and environmental projects at local level.
The 2014-2022 LEADER programme is nearing completion with the majority of approved projects fully completed. My Department has outlined the key dates for the closure of this programme to the LAGs. The final date for completion of works on all approved projects under the 2014-2022 LEADER programme was 31 March 2024, and all claims for payment are required to be submitted to the Department for payment no later than 30 June 2024. These dates were set to ensure the smooth wind up of that programme and ensure that the LAGs could commence the roll out of the 2023-2027 LEADER programme at the earliest possible date.
As the timeframe mentioned by the Deputy for the extension of this project falls considerably beyond the period provided to finalise the 2014-2022 programme, I regret it is not possible to grant the extension requested.
669. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 325 of 18 April and the commitment given therein to furnish the information, the total length or area of road completed, per county per annum, under the local improvement scheme, LIS, since 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22992/24]
View answerThe information requested has been sent to the Deputy.
