Seán Sherlock
Question:650. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will ringfence funding for a project of a new long promised library (details supplied). [39817/24]
View answerLibrary Projects
Questions (650)
Written answers
The provision of library services, including the provision of library buildings, is primarily a matter for local authorities in their capacity as library authorities under the Local Government Act 2001. Accordingly, the delivery of library services in Blackrock/Mahon is primarily a matter for Cork City Council.
In my reply to Parliamentary Question 16926/24 which was submitted by the Deputy, I advised that my Department had invited proposals for funding under a new Libraries Capital Programme in April 2023. Cork City Council did not submit a proposal for Blackrock/Mahon as discussions with other stakeholders in the project had not been concluded before the submission date.
In April of this year I announced the new Libraries Capital Programme for the period 2023-2027, which will invest €22.6m in 11 state-of-the-art infrastructure projects and a further €2.6m in 12 next generation mobile library vehicles. As a result, the Libraries Capital Programme is now fully committed and it is not possible to allocate funding to any additional projects at this time.
Control of Dogs
Questions (651)
Robert Troy
Question:651. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if additional resources will be extended to local authorities to enforce the new regulations and exemption certs for restricted breeds such as XL bullies. [39918/24]
View answerWritten answers
My Department has policy responsibility for the Control of Dogs Acts, and local authorities have responsibility for all operational matters, including enforcement. The Control of Dogs Acts set out a number of legal obligations that all dog owners must comply with.
Under the Control of Dogs Acts, local authorities have the power to issue dog licenses, appoint dog wardens, provide dog shelters, seize dogs, impose on-the-spot fines and take court proceedings against dog owners, where appropriate.
In July, together with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD, and Minister of State with Responsibility for Local Government and Planning, Alan Dillon TD, I announced funding of €2 million for local authorities to support the resourcing of dog warden services from 2025. This funding recognises the increased demands in the area of dog control and the need to ensure resources on the ground to enforce the ban on XL Bully type dogs.
I also recently announced €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 I announced for dog warden facilities in November last year (2023). 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.
Finally, in addition to these measures, my Department is also supporting a national training programme for dog wardens to ensure consistency and a standardised approach to enforcement. This training commenced in April.
I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues across Government to improve outcomes in relation to Dog Control in Ireland.
Rural Schemes
Questions (652)
Mairéad Farrell
Question:652. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the funding streams available for community groups to apply for that would support social activities in rural communities, for example, a weekly dance that rents space from a local hotel. [39982/24]
View answerWritten answers
My Department delivers a wide range of strategic interventions, funding programmes and policies to support both urban and rural communities, empowering them to realise their potential as thriving place to live, work and visit.
Improving community infrastructure is a key part of my Department’s work, and investment through the Community Centre Investment Fund, the LEADER Programme, the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund and the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, have all helped improve community spaces for groups to operate from and hold events in.
I know that every community needs accessible spaces for social and recreational activities at affordable costs, which is why since 2022, I have allocated over €95 million under the Community Centre Investment Fund.
This is the largest ever capital investment in community centres in Ireland. The funding provides grants for new builds along with improvement and refurbishment works to existing community centres and improved access for people with disabilities. These community and recreation centres provide places for communities to use and enjoy with meeting rooms, sports halls and other amenities and services that can include weekly dance events.
With regard to smaller scale supports for local groups, the Local Enhancement Programme, which is administered by the local authorities, on behalf of my Department, would be a potential avenue for support.
In that context I would encourage all such groups 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.
Furthermore, the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) provides funding to promote social inclusion and support disadvantaged communities. SICAP is managed at a local level by the Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs), allowing flexibility to adapt actions to local need to improve people’s lives and strengthen communities.
I encourage community groups make contact with their relevant SICAP implementer, who will be well placed to advise on local funding and other supports they may avail of. A full list of SICAP Programme Implementers is available at the following link: www.pobal.ie/app/uploads/2018/06/SICAP-Programme-Implementer-Contact-List-2024-2.pdf.
I would also encourage all groups to visit my department’s website www.gov.ie/drcd to ensure they are aware of funding opportunities as they become available.
Control of Dogs
Questions (653)
Eoin Ó Broin
Question:653. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide the control of dogs statistics for 2023 and for January to October 2024, in tabular form. [40075/24]
View answerWritten answers
My Department has overall policy responsibility for the Control of Dogs Acts. Local authorities have responsibility for all operational matters under the Control of Dogs Acts.
Each year my Department publishes annual statistics in respect of a range of the dog control responsibilities of local authorities. Information up to and including 2022, including numbers of dog licenses issued, by county and in tabular form, is available on the dog control statistics page on gov.ie. The Local Authority Control of Dogs Statistics Report for 2023 is at an advanced stage and I hope to be in a position to publish it shortly. Statistics for 2024 will be collected and collated from local authorities in 2025, and published on gov.ie.
I very much appreciate all the work of local authorities in collating and making these statistics available to my Department. These statistics form the evidence base needed for better policy making and I look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with them in improving national policy in this area.
Departmental Funding
Questions (654)
Marian Harkin
Question:654. Deputy Marian Harkin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the next community support fund will open for applications; the costs this funding will support; if other funds due to open or are currently open for applications by community groups that will support running costs such as energy costs, rent, lease and insurance costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40092/24]
View answerWritten answers
In November 2022, I announced the Community Support Fund (CSF), with funding of €10 million. The once-off fund was allocated under my Department’s Community Enhancement Programme (CEP), designed to assist community groups across the country, in light of rising energy costs at the time.
In December 2023, I was delighted to launch the Local Enhancement Programme (LEP) which replaced my Department’s Community Enhancement Programme, with capital funding of €6 million to assist thousands of community groups across the country. The overall €6 million LEP included a special ring-fenced capital fund of €1 million to provide support for Women’s Groups.
There was a particular focus on small capital works/improvements, and the purchase of equipment for community use. The funding could be used, but was not limited to improving energy efficiency of community facilities to reduce ongoing costs.
The LEP was administered on behalf of my Department locally by Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) across the country, with support from their Local Authority. The LEP 2024 is now closed to applicants and details of successful groups are available at www.gov.ie/DRCD.
Details of any future iterations of the Local Enhancement Programme, including the allocations available have not yet been confirmed. 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.
I look forward to continuing to deliver meaningful supports like the LEP to local communities as we support them to respond to the challenges they face.
Island Communities
Questions (655)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:655. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if it is intended to make arrangements with the ferry and air services servicing the islands that all island children under eight-years-of-age will be able to travel for free as is provided for mainland service providers in the budget; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40106/24]
View answerWritten answers
The recent announcements made in Budget 2025, regarding free travel for children 5–8 years of age, relate only to PSO public transport services that are managed by the National Transport Authority (NTA) on behalf of the Department of Transport. Services provided by Iarnród Éireann, Bus Éireann, Dublin Bus, Luas, Go-Ahead Ireland and TFI Local Link are covered by the announcement. Other services funded by the Department of Transport, such as the PSO air service to Donegal, are not included. Similarly, subsidised services to the islands are not covered by the announcement.
Unlike the services managed by the NTA, offshore islands have a mix of subsidised and non-subsidised transport services. Contracts for services to our offshore islands are secured on the open market through a procurement process, thus ensuring that all potential suppliers are treated equally and that the selection process is fair and transparent for all.
Altering fares could have the potential to undermine the procurement procedure and may lead to reduced services to the islands, particularly with regard to non-subsided services and other private operators who may be placed at a disadvantage. Therefore it is not intended to make any such alterations to the fares on any of the subsidised services to our off shore islands.
Departmental Expenditure
Questions (656)
Catherine Murphy
Question:656. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development to provide a breakdown of the amount expended by her Department on consultancies in 2023 and to date in 2024; the company engaged; and the nature of the work conducted by the consultancy on her Department’s behalf, in tabular form. [40220/24]
View answerWritten answers
Consultancy is defined by the Department of Finance as the provision of intellectual or knowledge based services (e.g. expert analysis and advice) through delivering reports, studies, assessments, recommendations, proposals, etc. that contribute to decision making or policy development. As requested, a breakdown of the annual expenditure on consultancy for 2023 and 2024 is provided with this answer. These figures are inclusive of VAT, where applicable.
|
Consultancy engaged in by DRCD in 2023 |
Nature of the work conducted |
Amount Expended in year |
|
Economic and Social Research Institute |
Joint research programme with the ESRI focussed on approaches to monitoring rural development progress and indicators of same. |
€65,239.85 |
|
Quadra Consulting |
Risk Assessment (Health & Safety) |
€1,107.00 |
|
Crowe Advisory Ireland |
Balance of payment for technical support, event management, and post-event report for National Civic Forum 2022. |
€14,311.05 |
|
Think-tank for Action on Social Change (TASC) |
Research project to map the current national practice of commissioning (and contracting) for services from the community and voluntary sector in Ireland. |
€25,449.60 |
|
Amárach Research |
Amárach Research were contracted, in consortium with Social Enterprise Republic of Ireland (SERI), and the Irish Local Development Network (ILDN) to carry out the first Data Gathering Exercise of Social Enterprise in Ireland. Balance of contract total cost of €125,398.50 (including VAT) paid in 2023. |
€25,079.70 |
|
Grant Thornton |
Development and delivery of tailored Leadership Development Programme to align with People Strategy and Values. Training provided to all staff in DRCD. |
€78,060.00 |
|
Values Lab |
Evaluation of the Community Development Pilot Programme over the three-year period of the Programme to 2025. |
€6,560.00 |
|
Crowe Ireland |
Facilitation between DRCD & Volunteer Centres |
€5,482.50 |
|
Alice PR |
Awareness raising & capacity building of Public Participation Networks (PPNs) |
€85,000.07 |
|
S3 Solutions |
Research on Barriers to Involvement in PPNs |
€17,730.45 |
|
The Wheel |
Public Participation Network Advisory Supports |
€40,843.14 |
|
McAdam Consulting |
PPN Hosting Webinar |
€1,353.00 |
|
Greenville Procurement |
Procurement strategy, advice and support for SICAP 2024-2028 programme |
€5,684.45 |
|
KPMG |
External review and broad national stakeholder consultation regarding SICAP 2018-2023 programme. |
€23,554.50 |
|
Mason Hayes Curran |
Provision of legal advice regarding SICAP 2024-2028 |
€14,999.85 |
|
Consultancy engaged in by DRCD in 2024 to date |
Nature of the work conducted |
Amount Expended in year to date |
|
Grant Thornton |
Undertake a feasibility study on the extension of Connected Hubs platform to remote working hubs in Northern Ireland |
€20,787.00 |
|
EnvEcon |
Research supports on developing place-based indicators for well-being. Procured by DRCD but with funding from IGEES research fund. |
€12,300.00 |
|
Forvis Mazars |
An external quality assessment of the Department's Internal Audit function as required under IIA Standards. |
€18,450.00 |
|
Economic and Social Research Institute |
Joint research programme with the ESRI focussed on approaches to monitoring rural development progress and indicators of same. |
€15,743.08 |
|
Quadra Consulting |
Risk assessment (Health & Safety) |
€2,258.28 |
|
The Wheel |
PPN Advisory Supports |
€23,225.00 |
|
Crowe Consulting |
PPN Implementation Roadmap Consultation |
€14,741.56 |
|
McAdam Consulting |
Independent advice on PPN hosting |
€738.00 |