Written Answers Nos. 61-80
61. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he has had any discussions with the Northern Ireland secretary of state, and political parties in Northern Ireland, in relation to the ability of any single party to prevent the operation of the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Northern Ireland Executive; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40329/24]
View answerI had a constructive meeting with Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, Hilary Benn MP, on a range of issues when I attended the British Irish Association conference on 6-7 September in Oxford. This followed on earlier engagements with him, shortly after his appointment.
I have been consistent in my view that issues around reform are best addressed from a position of stability, when the institutions are up and running. I expressed that view to the Secretary of State, and also addressed these issues in my remarks at the British Irish Association.
I have previously highlighted some of the issues that we would like to see addressed. They include questions about the ability of any single party to prevent the operation of the Assembly, as well as the Executive; about the use of the Petition of Concern; about advancing a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland; about making North/South and East/West cooperation more straight-forward and effective. Any discussions must be founded on the principals of inclusion, parity of esteem, and rigorous impartiality. This is not just a matter for both Governments. The parties in Northern Ireland have to be at the centre of this conversation and civic voices also need to be heard.
Our collective aim should be to make the institutions more stable and effective, while retaining the Agreement’s foundational commitment to meaningful power-sharing, inclusiveness and the rights of all, in the diversity of their identities and traditions. With no elections foreseen before mid-2027, this is the right moment to engage on these issues.
62. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he is working with like-minded colleagues in the European Union to develop a strategy to combat the rise of far-right actors across Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36394/24]
View answerThe rise in far-right non-state actors is a matter of serious concern for this Government. Misinformation and disinformation is being used to sow division across the EU and beyond, and is driving the propagation of far-right narratives.
Democracies depend on reliable information and trust in democratic processes.
Disinformation campaigns, and foreign information manipulation and interference, can distort public discourse, undermine trust in sources of reliable information, and negatively impact people's ability to make informed decisions and exercise their rights. The fast pace of AI development may increase these risks, including by amplifying the spread of false and misleading information.
Effectively countering interference in Ireland’s democratic and electoral processes is a matter of the utmost priority for the Government of Ireland. This is a global challenge that cannot be tackled by any one country and Ireland is fully supportive of ongoing initiatives at EU level to mitigate these threats. At the Foreign Affairs Council I regularly engage with my EU counterparts on issues relating to countering disinformation.
My colleague, the Minister for Justice, also regularly meets with her counterparts across the EU to coordinate the EU’s response to countering violent extremism. The nature of the threat posed by violent extremism and terrorism, and measures to respond to that threat, including through prevention and detection, and by addressing the spread of content online, are discussed within the Justice and Home Affairs Council.
64. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on Ireland’s participation at the recent meeting of the United Nations General Assembly. [40491/24]
View answerI attended the 79th UN General Assembly in New York last month alongside the President, Taoiseach, Minister Eamon Ryan and Minister of State Sean Fleming.
The President addressed the plenary session of the Summit of the Future, focusing on poverty, hunger, and UN reform. He held bilateral meetings with leaders from Barbados, Malawi and South Africa, and also had engagements with other foreign leaders. In addition, he attended a number of bilateral community events at the New York Irish Arts Centre where he was awarded the Eugene O'Neill International Public Service Award by the Irish Artists and Writers Association.
The Taoiseach co-chaired the interactive dialogue on enhancing multilateralism for international peace and security at the Summit of the Future; attended the opening session of the UN General Assembly; and participated in several high-level meetings and events, including on education and youth in Palestine. He held meetings with leaders from Palestine, Mozambique and Jordan as well as with the UN Secretary General. On bilateral matters, he had a number of political and business-related meetings; addressed lunch events at Ireland House and with the Ireland Funds; and visited the New York Irish Center at Long Island City.
My own programme focused primarily on three key foreign policy priorities: the Middle East (particularly Gaza and Lebanon), Ukraine, and Sudan. In this context, I addressed the UN Security Council Open Debate on Leadership for Peace dealing with all three issues. I participated in several meetings and events specifically on the Middle East, including the International Peace Institute annual Ministerial Working Dinner on the issue. I also held meetings with key regional actors including the Foreign Ministers of Egypt and Jordan, as well as with the Palestinian Prime Minister, UN Under-Secretary General for Peace Operations, Mr Jean-Pierre Lacroix, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Mr Filippo Grandi and the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Karim Khan .
On Ukraine, I attended the G7+ meeting jointly hosted by US President Biden and President Zelenskyy on reconstruction and recovery in Ukraine. I also participated in the EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting which was addressed by the new Ukrainian Foreign Minister. On Sudan, I addressed a Ministerial meeting on the humanitarian response to the situation there. On the Summit of the Future, I addressed an interactive dialogue on bridging the digital divide. I also addressed UN side events on the denial of women's rights in Afghanistan as well as a Women, Peace and Leadership symposium. Finally, I officially opened the new Ireland House in New York and hosted a community reception there.
Minister Ryan, in addition to multiple climate-related events and bilateral meetings, participated in the High-level Dialogue on Financing the Global Transition away from Oil and Gas; the High-level Meeting to Address Existential Threats Posed by Sea Level Rise; and the High-level Event on the Middle East Peace Process. Minister Ryan also attended the Host Country Reception held by President Biden on 25 September.
Finally, Minister of State Fleming delivered Ireland's National Statement to the UN General Assembly on 30 September.
65. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the ongoing situation in Palestine; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40518/24]
View answerThe situation in Palestine is a central priority for the Government and a key focus of my international engagement. I welcome that I had the opportunity to meet with Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa during UN High Level Week in September, enabling a detailed exchange of views on the situation on the ground as well as on Ireland's ongoing support for the Palestinian Authority.
I remain deeply concerned by the humanitarian situation in Gaza, which is catastrophic. The Government has been consistently calling for a ceasefire and hostage release deal, which is the only thing that can put an end to the violence and enable a full-scale humanitarian response in Gaza.
I am also extremely concerned by the escalation of settler violence in the West Bank, and the recent large-scale military operations conducted by Israel there involving the use of air strikes and resulting in casualties and damage to civilian infrastructure. I fully support the call of the UN Secretary General for an immediate cessation of these operations.
I welcomed the Advisory Opinion delivered by the International Court of Justice on 19 July which found that Israel’s presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territories is unlawful and must be brought to an end as rapidly as possible. Ireland co-sponsored and voted in favour of the Resolution adopted by the General Assembly on 18 September in response to the Advisory Opinion. I am engaging with partners to see how we can now bring to bear this authoritative opinion by the Court to end to Israel’s illegal presence in the OPT, and bring about the full realisation of the right of the Palestinian people to self-determination.
Ireland's approach remains grounded in the belief that the only just and sustainable peaceful solution, for both Palestinians and Israelis, is a two-state solution. In this respect, the need for concrete steps towards the implementation of the two-State solution is also a key focus of my ongoing engagement.
69. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of applications that have been made from Cavan and Monaghan under the community centre fund; where these projects are located; the stage their application is at; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40375/24]
View answer81. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when she will announce successful projects for Leitrim and Sligo under the community centres investment fund; the list of applications received; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40524/24]
View answer83. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when she intends to announce successful projects for Kerry under the community centres investment fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40570/24]
View answer98. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of applications received to date from Cork and Cork county for the 2024 community centre investment fund; the amount of money that has been allocated; when an announcement is likely to be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40648/24]
View answer103. Deputy Ciarán Cannon asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when she will announce successful projects for Galway under the community centre investment fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40584/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 69, 81, 83, 98 and 103 together.
Community Centres are the cornerstone of community life in towns and villages around the country. This Government recognises the important role that these centres play in bringing people together and facilitating community services and events.
As the Deputies are no doubt aware, the development and enhancement of Community Centres across the country has been prioritised in recent years to ensure that they are fit for purpose and that they can continue to be the hubs of our communities.
With this in mind, an extensive range of funding streams has been developed that are available to support communities and community facilities. This integrated programme of supports for the development and refurbishment of community centres is spread across schemes such as CLÁR , LEADER, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and, of course, the Community Centres Investment Fund.
Under the 2022 Community Centre Investment Fund in particular, almost €46 million was committed for improvement and refurbishment of existing community centres across Ireland. There was a huge uptake of this funding and over 860 different projects are being delivered in centres the length and breadth of the country.
I am happy to confirm that the Deputies’ counties were well represented in the 2022 scheme:
• 24 of these projects totalling over €1.3 million are based in Cavan;
• 39 projects totalling over €1.4 million are in Monaghan;
• 25 projects totalling over €1.1 million are in Sligo;
• 22 projects totalling over €0.8 million are based in Leitrim;
• 61 projects totalling over €4.2 million are in Galway;
• 32 projects totalling over €1.9 million are in Kerry; and
• Last but not least, there are 96 projects in Cork totalling over €4.7 million.
I am sure the Deputies will have seen many examples in their counties of where this funding is making a difference, and are witnessing first-hand the contribution that our community centres are making in our communities.
Following on from this first ever round of investment under this new Fund, it was decided to next focus on assisting community groups who are striving to build their own community centre to service their local needs. That is why, in 2023, the focus of the Community Centres Investment Fund moved to new builds.
Last year, a new iteration of the Fund was announced to support communities with ‘shovel-ready’ projects on green or brownfield sites for the construction of new community centres. This Fund targeted areas without an appropriate facility to meet their community’s needs.
The scheme for new builds was open to applicants in both urban and rural communities. The minimum grant available was €1 million with the maximum was €6 million.
Earlier this year, funding of €30 million for the construction of 12 new community centres covering nine counties was approved.
Deputy Smyth will know that Rockcorry Community Centre in Co Monaghan was successful in their application to the new builds scheme, with over €4.6 million being approved under the fund.
I know Deputy Feighan has been supportive of the two successful projects under this fund in County Sligo. Ballymote Community Centre was approved over €2.6 million and Kilglass Community Centre had over €1.1 million approved under the fund.
County Galway had two successful projects under this fund. Áras Lae, Maigh Cuilinn have been approved €6 million in grant aid and Newcastle Community Centre in Galway City was approved for over €4.3 million in respect of their application.
County Cork was also successful under this fund with Rylane Community Centre being approve over €1.5 million under CCIF 2023 in respect of their application.
I am looking forward to seeing these fabulous buildings being completed.
In June this year, another round of supports for community groups to upgrade and refurbish the community facilities in their areas was launched. The Community Centre Investment Fund 2024 will provide funding towards capital costs for the refurbishment of existing community centres.
This new round of funding will bring the total amount of funding announced through the Community Centre Investment Fund to over €95 million since 2022. This is an unprecedented level of investment in our community centres.
Funding of up to €25,000 is available under Category 1 of the 2024 scheme and funding of up to 100,000 is available under Category 2. The funding can be used for a range of different investments from essential maintenance work to new kitchen facilities or energy upgrades. A series of information sessions and capacity building events were held over the summer months to help support applicants and to give every community group the opportunity to apply.
I believe this support has been well received and indeed the level of applications we have received reflects that also. The window for applying for the scheme closed in early September, and 1,060 applications were submitted.
In relation to the particular counties represented by the Deputies;
• 23 applications have been submitted in Cavan
• 36 applications have been submitted in Monaghan
• 32 applications have been submitted in Sligo
• 23 applications have been submitted in Leitrim
• 131 applications have been submitted in Cork
• 51 applications have been submitted in Kerry, and
• 64 applications have been submitted in Galway
All these applications were forwarded to the Department for consideration and are currently being assessed alongside all of the other applications from across the country.
It is expected that the announcement the successful projects will commence before the end of the year, with Category 1 applications being scheduled for announcement in advance of Category 2 applications.
I am confident that this new investment will build on the record levels of funding in recent years, and that we can continue to support the vital role that our community centres play across the country.
70. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development her plans to address the need to resource and future proof the Public Participation Network by ensuring adequate core funding and staff resourcing to meet their workload; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39803/24]
View answerA Public Participation Network (PPN) provides representation for the community sector in Local Authority policymaking structures, giving local volunteers a greater say in local government decisions which affect their own communities.
Since their inception, the 31 PPNs have grown exponentially. There are now almost 21,000 PPN member organisations across the country representing the Community and Voluntary, Environment, and Social Inclusion sectors.
The core funding provided by my Department for PPNs has also grown over the years. Between 2015 and 2018, PPNs could claim up to €50,000 each. In 2019, that increased by €25,700. In 2023, I secured a further funding increase of €10,000 (+13%) per PPN and maintained that increase in Budget 2024. This brought the full allocation of funding from DRCD for each PPN to €85,700. Local Authorities also contribute a minimum of €35,000 for their PPNs each year.
In addition to funding increases, and to better understand the impact of the growth of PPNs, my Department undertook a comprehensive review of the PPN structures. The report of this structural review was published in 2022. The report highlighted the PPNs’ many achievements to date and also identified opportunities to further support their long-term sustainability. The recommendations from the review, and additional actions identified by the sector, have been included in a new PPN Roadmap, implementation of which will commence this year.
Among the 38 Roadmap actions agreed by the Working Group, two relate specifically to core funding. The remaining 36 actions are concerned with governance, communications, co-ordination, and training and support needs of volunteers and staff.
I would like to reaffirm that I, and my Department remain committed to supporting PPNs so that our local communities can continue to participate in local decision making processes. Funding allocations for PPNs in 2025 are currently being finalised within my Department and I hope to make an announcement in that regard shortly.
73. Deputy Ciarán Cannon asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when she will announce successful projects under the CLAR programme for Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40583/24]
View answer85. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when she will announce successful projects under the CLÁR programme for Kerry; the total fund available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40569/24]
View answer104. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when she will announce successful projects under the CLÁR programme for Leitrim and Sligo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40523/24]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 73, 85 and 104 together.
The CLÁR programme provides targeted investment funding for small scale infrastructural projects in rural areas that have experienced disadvantage and significant levels of de-population. It is a vital source of investment for our more remote areas and particularly our rural villages, and it has proven to be a very popular scheme with community groups all across rural Ireland in recent years.
I am delighted to note that as part of Budget 2025 announced last week, funding of €11 million has been for the CLAR Programme next year, up from €8.7 million in 2024. This means that we will have doubled the level of funding for CLAR in just a few years.
The 2024 CLÁR programme was launched on the 12th April last. The measures to be included in the CLÁR programme are reviewed and revised, if appropriate, each year.
The measures that are being funded under CLÁR this year are as follows:
Measure 1 provides funding of up to €50,000 to develop community facilities and amenities.
Measure 2 funds vehicles for community organisations providing transport for people with mobility issues or for cancer care treatment. It also funds vehicles for first responder organisations and, for the first time, meals on wheels organisations are now also supported.
The third measures provides tailored supports for community groups located on our islands.
Just last month, the successful projects under measure 2 of the 2024 programme were announced. A total of 49 vehicles have been approved with funding of over €2.1 million. This measure was introduced in 2018 and since then over 200 vehicles have been approved with over €10 million in funding.
This year Galway received funding of almost €59,000 for two vehicles. Groups in Sligo were allocated funding of over €46,000 for 2 vehicles, while funding of over €364,000 was provided for 7 vehicles in Kerry.
Earlier this week, I was very happy to see the announcement of the successful projects under measure 1 of the CLÁR programme. In total, funding of over €11.4 million was approved for 264 projects which are developing community facilities and amenities.
This includes 15 projects in County Galway worth almost €725,000, including playground upgrades in Moylough and community centre enhancements in Killererin.
Deputy Feighan, you will be aware that 15 projects were approved in Sligo worth over €572,000. These include a spectator stand at Eastern Harps GAA and enhancement works at Banada Abbey.
In Leitrim, we are supporting 14 projects with over €615,000 in funding, including the hall refurbishment at Beepark in Manorhamilton and improvements to a walking track at Mohill GAA.
In Kerry, 15 projects were also approved funding of over €651,000. Deputy Griffin will be delighted to note the approval of a public playground in Castlemaine Village and the renovation of a community building to provide a community hub in Sneem.
Details of all of the approved projects can found on my department's website.
This investment through the CLÁR programme will support the development of sports and outdoor facilities such as playgrounds, astro-turf pitches, running tracks and spectator stands.
It will also enhance community centres and local halls that will be upgraded and given a new lease life as part of the initiative.
There is a big focus too on supporting schools by investing in play areas for our children that will be accessible to all of the community.
There is also significant funding to develop our green spaces, sensory gardens and biodiversity areas, with funding also going to a number of our TidyTowns groups. In that regard, I look forward to the results of the SuperValu TidyTowns competition which will be announced in the coming weeks.
Department officials are currently assessing the applications that were submitted under measure 3 of the CLÁR programme which focuses on our inhabited offshore islands, and the successful projects under this measure will be announced in the coming weeks.
I think all of the deputies will agree that the significant investment in our rural areas under the CLÁR programme since it was reintroduced in 2016 has had a very positive impact. In total, some €84 million has been allocated to almost 2700 projects to date.
Communities up and down the country are enjoying the benefits that this funding has brought and I am confident that these benefits will continue to be felt for some time.
77. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when she will announce the 2025 funding for Men’s Sheds in County Mayo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40597/24]
View answerThe emergence of the Men’s Sheds in recent years has been a very positive development for communities across Ireland. They provide a safe, comfortable and inclusive environment where people of all ages can share skills and work on meaningful projects and connect with their communities. Both Minister Humphreys and I regularly meet Men’s Sheds and we are very proud of the work they do and the contribution they make to their communities.
The Programme for Government includes a commitment to ensure that Men’s Sheds are properly resourced and my Department has provided a range of supports which Men’s Sheds have availed of.
Last November, Minister Humphreys met with members of Men’s Sheds at their first ever national conference in Virginia, County Cavan, called ‘Shedfest’, where she announced current funding of €1 million to support Men’s Sheds throughout the country. The initiative saw grants of up to €3,000 provided to 378 Men’s Sheds nationwide to assist them with running costs such as electricity or insurance bills. This includes 17 Men's Sheds in Mayo which were allocated funding of over €42,000.
This funding built on the €800,000 announced in November 2022 to support Men’s Sheds, which included funding of over €28,000 provided to 15 Men's Sheds in Mayo. The individual grants were distributed to the Men’s Sheds via its representative body, the Irish Men’s Sheds Association (IMSA).
Officials in the Department are currently awaiting a funding proposal from the IMSA and I can assure the Deputy that the proposal will be considered once received.
80. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the budget allocation within her Department for implementation of the National Social Enterprise Policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39645/24]
View answerIn July 2024, the second National Social Enterprise Policy for Ireland, ‘Trading for Impact 2024 - 2027’, was launched. Building upon the foundation laid by the first Social Enterprise policy, it puts forward a vision designed to help cultivate and sustain strong, impactful social enterprises in Ireland.
To support the delivery of this policy, there is a current budget in 2024 of €337,000 to implement the 57 policy actions of ‘Trading for Impact’, across the five objectives of the new policy.
This budget supports the delivery of actions, such as the hosting of a National Social Enterprise Conference, delivery of programmes to improve awareness of social enterprise with young people, commissioning research for the benefit of the social enterprise sector, as well as capacity building aimed at improving capabilities of social enterprises.
Additionally, my Department manages the ‘Social Enterprise Measure’ of the Dormant Accounts Fund. This year the €2million funding is being used for the ‘Growing Social Enterprise Scheme’, which will provide capital supports of up to €100,000 to social enterprises. My Department also provides a Dormant Accounts funded ‘Hybrid Social Lending Scheme’ of €890,000 that provides a blend of a re-payable loan, a grant and capacity building training to social enterprises.
Social enterprises also receive funding under the Community Services Programme, the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme and LEADER. My Department also currently provides €5.5million annually to Rethink Ireland in matched Government funding for social innovation projects, including social enterprises.
Finally, funding of €14.5million is now available under newly established Social Innovation measures, under the European Social Fund Plus, aimed at enhancing capacity within organisations involved in social innovation and social enterprise.
