Tuesday, 28 May 2024

Written Answers Nos. 513-517

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Rural Schemes

Questions (513)

Michael Lowry

Question:

513. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will introduce an annual funding stream for the maintenance and development of walking trails, similar to the allocation of funds provided to walking groups in 2022; if she agrees that such funding is vital for these hard-working community groups to maintain and developed trails throughout the country, which are contributing to rural communities and outdoor pursuits across rural Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23745/24]

Written answers

Minister for Rural and Community Development

I launched Ireland’s National Outdoor Recreation Strategy, Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors, in November 2022. It provides a strategic, collaborative framework to facilitate the consolidation and sustainable growth of the outdoor recreation sector. The strategy addresses the challenges facing the sector as well as putting structures in place to allow us enjoy the many economic, social and health benefits of outdoor recreation  

Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors recognises the value of outdoor recreation amenities, not just for individual and community wellbeing, but also for the tourism impact that amenities such as walking trails can have on the local economy.

My Department invests heavily in trails throughout the entire country through the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) and the Walks Scheme. My Department also has a strategic partnership with Coillte for the enhancement and maintenance of the trails located on Coillte land.

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 in 2016, funding of over €113 million has supported more than 1,700 projects across the country.

At the end of March, I was delighted to announce the approval of 151 successful projects to the value of over €4.1 million under measure 1 of the 2023 scheme.  This was in addition to 50 projects with funding of €2.3 million approved last year through the Project Development Measure under ORIS 2023. Applications submitted under measures 2 and 3 of the 2023 scheme are currently being assessed.  I expect to be in a position to make a further announcement very shortly on the successful projects under these measures.

It is my intention to launch another round of ORIS later this year and I would encourage community groups such as those referred to by the deputy to apply for ORIS funding through their Local Development Company or their local authority.

My Department's Walks Scheme was launched in 2008 and is aimed at private landholders. It supports the development, enhancement and maintenance of walking trails which are approved by Sport Ireland and are listed on the National Trails Register.

As part of the Walks Scheme a ‘materials budget’ is supplied to participating LDC's to cover the costs of purchasing everyday materials for the participants to undertake the works needed on their portion of the trails.  Funding is also provided for once-off costs associated with small capital projects including developing re-routes of trails which are on the Walks Scheme under the Walks Scheme Development Funding. Last month I approved funding of over €400,000 for such works on 43 trails.

I acknowledge and appreciate the work of all the community trail management organisations developing and maintaining wonderful walking trails all over the country. That is why, in addition to all of the supports already referenced,  I announced almost €1m in grant funding in 2022 to further support the trail management organisations who manage trails listed on the Sport Ireland Trail Register. While this was intended to be a once-off grant, I have asked my officials to keep the position under review in respect of the need for further supports in the future, bearing in mind budgetary constraints.

Community Development Projects

Questions (514)

Michael Lowry

Question:

514. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she has received a valid application from a band (details supplied) under the community recognition fund 2024, for the development and repair of its band hall and community facilities; when applicants will receive their application reference number; when it is envisaged that decisions will be issued on same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23763/24]

Written answers

Minister for Rural and Community Development

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 who have welcomed people from Ukraine and other countries. To further support communities, on March 15th last I announced a further €50 million in funding under the Community Recognition Fund.      

The additional funding is specifically targeted at projects that are located in cities, towns and villages that are hosting the Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection and/or International Protection Applicants.     

Under this new round of funding, Tipperary County Council have been awarded funding of €1,465,434 which brings the total funding provided to county Tipperary under the Community Recognition Fund to over €2.4million.   

Local authorities are required to engage and collaborate with communities to identify the most appropriate projects for support. It is a matter for each local authority to identify the most appropriate locations for funding based on their analysis of the level of arrivals in each location, and in the context of previous funding supports and local needs.    

Once the local authority has identified potential projects, it can submit funding proposals to my Department across three phases. The phased closing dates for receipt of applications are May 31st, September 30th and January 31st, 2025. My Department has not yet received proposals for funding from Tipperary County Council.   Therefore I have not yet received any proposals in respect of the band hall referred to by the deputy. It will be a matter for Tipperary County Council to decide on the projects to submit for consideration. 

I look forward to receiving applications under the first phase by May 31st. These will then be considered by my Department and I will announce the successful projects shortly thereafter. 

Community Development Projects

Questions (515)

Marian Harkin

Question:

515. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if funding is being made available to both men’s sheds and women’s sheds through the community enhancement programme, which can then be used to pay for rent, insurance of premises and so on; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23814/24]

Written answers

Minister for Rural and Community Development

My Department provides a range of supports which are available to Men's and Women’s Sheds.

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 2022 Community Support Fund included a current allocation which could have been used for rent, insurance and so on.  Both Men's and Women's Shed's were eligible to apply under the CSF. 

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 details of successful projects under the main LEP fund are now available on my Departments website. Details of the successful projects under the ring-fenced Women's Groups funding will be announced 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.

Regeneration Projects

Questions (516)

Seán Canney

Question:

516. Deputy Seán Canney asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if the Rural Regeneration Development Fund can be used by local authorities to purchase vacant and derelict properties for refurbishment to help rejuvenate the towns and villages and provide much needed housing; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23815/24]

Written answers

Minister for Rural and Community Development

The Town Centre First Policy is a major cross-government policy that aims to tackle vacancy, combat dereliction and breathe new life into our town centres. It supports the Our Rural Future vision for a thriving rural Ireland which is integral to our national economic, social, cultural and environmental wellbeing and development.

A key aim of both of these policies is addressing vacancy and dereliction and ensuring that schemes are in place to directly address and tackle these issues in our rural towns and villages. This also complements other national policies such as Housing for All and the National Planning Framework which have similar aims to strengthen rural economies and communities, to revitalise our towns and ensure rural areas are vibrant and lived-in places.

My Department’s Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) is one of the key capital investment schemes supporting Town Centre First. While it does not include a specific focus on housing projects, the RRDF provides funding for the development and construction of capital projects, including the purchase of vacant and derelict properties in towns, villages and rural areas across Ireland.

On the 13th of May 2024, I announced funding of €164 million for 30 projects under the 5th Call for Category 1 projects located right across the country. These projects will be transformative as they focus on revitalising our rural towns and villages by supporting sustainable regeneration projects. The RRDF is having a demonstrably positive impact on addressing dereliction, in particular when it comes to heritage buildings in rural towns.

Departmental Schemes

Questions (517)

Michael Ring

Question:

517. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will reconsider the conditions applied to a measure under the CLÁR Programme (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24045/24]

Written answers

Minister for Rural and Community Development

The 2024 CLÁR programme was launched on the 12th April last with a total budget of €8.7 million.  This was an increase of €900,000 on the 2023 allocation.

The measures being funded under CLÁR 2024 are:

• Measure 1:  Developing Community Facilities & Amenities (funding up to €50,000)

• Measure 2: Mobility, Cancer Care,  First Responder and Meals on Wheels Transport (funding up to €100,000)

• Measure 3: Our Islands (funding up to €120,000)

Measure 2 of the CLÁR programme provides a 90% rate of aid for hybrid or electric. This is in line with efforts across  Government in relation to emissions targets, and with the recognition within Our Rural Future of the importance of climate challenges . It is also of note that the overall focus of the CLÁR programme remains firmly on supporting rural communities by virtue of the targeted design of the scheme.

Each year I review the measures to be included under the CLÁR programme, with a view to ensuring its  continued efficient and effective operation, and this will again be the case in advance of the next iteration of CLÁR.

• Written Answers Nos. 490-512