Written Answers Nos. 869-874
869. Deputy Donna McGettigan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the steps he will take to ensure that an organisation (details supplied) is provided with home base facilities in Shannon and in every area required, to enhance its work supporting the emergency services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15444/25]
View answerI want to acknowledge the great work and service provided by the organisation referenced by the Deputy. My Department has provided support to the organisation through the dedicated CLÁR measure which supports Mobility, Cancer Care, Community First Responders and Meals on Wheels Transport services.
Under the CLÁR programme, my Department approved funding of €195,000 in 2023 for 3 ambulances and again last year €200,000 was made available for 3 ambulances.
My Department does not, however, provide supports for ongoing operational costs or provision of base facilities for such organisations.
I hope to launch the 2025 iteration of the CLÁR programme in the coming weeks.
870. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if and when an appeals process for unsuccessful CCIF applications under measure 2 will commence; the guidelines for the appeals of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15464/25]
View answerThe Community Centre Investment Fund has provided in excess of €109 million since 2022 for the enhancement and refurbishment of existing community centres and the construction of new centres.
Over €33 million has now been approved for in excess of 770 projects nationwide under the 2024 fund. However, given the very significant level of demand, not all applications were successful.
Correspondence has issued to all ineligible applicants outlining the rational for the decision to deem them ineligible and providing details in respect of the appeals process.
Correspondence has also issued to all eligible applicants who reached the minimum scoring threshold required to be eligible for consideration but did not score high enough to be successful on this occasion. This correspondence outlines the opportunity for applicants to avail of a feedback call to discuss the appraisal of their application and areas where the application can be strengthened. The appeals process will also be explained to them as part of the feedback calls.
I am committed to delivering further iterations of the scheme in the coming years in line with the commitment in the Programme for Government for this to become a permanent rolling fund. In addition, all unsuccessful groups may wish to explore other potential funding options supported by my Department, including the LEADER programme, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and the CLÁR programme. Details of these and other schemes are available on the Department’s website.
871. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the percentage of social media videos posted on his Department's social media accounts that included closed captioning or subtitling and Irish sign language translations between 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2024, inclusive. [15741/25]
View answerI refer the Deputy to PQ 906 of 25th March 2025 which also provided this information.
For the period in question, 1 January 2024 to 31 December 2024, 100% of videos posted on my Department’s social media accounts included closed captioning/subtitling with a view to making these more accessible. None of the videos included Irish sign language (ISL) translations.
There are four agencies under my Department’s remit: the Western Development Commission, POBAL, Water Safety Ireland, and the Charities Regulator. They are all independent legal entities responsible for managing their own corporate affairs in compliance with their statutory obligations.
The details of the Oireachtas contact point for each of the agencies, who would be in a position to provide the Deputy with the requested information in respect of their organisation, are set out in the table below:
|
Pobal |
oireachtasqueries@pobal.ie |
|
Charities Regulator |
oireachtas@charitiesregulator.ie |
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Water Safety Ireland |
oireachtas@wsi.ie |
|
Western Development Commission |
oireachtas@wdc.ie |
872. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the supports his Department has provided towards the establishment of community hotels in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15810/25]
View answerMy Department operates a variety of funding schemes aimed at the economic and social development of rural areas, and wider community development of both rural and urban areas. These schemes do not, however, contain a specific focus on support for the establishment of community hotels. Details of these schemes, together with the activities they support and any relevant eligibility criteria etc. are available on the Department’s website.
I would note that my Department has provided funding of €150,000 excluding VAT to Tipperary County Council to fund a feasibility study on the potential sustainable future use of a former hotel in Roscrea, and this work is ongoing.
My Department also provides funding via the Community Services Programme (CSP) to Knockatallon Development Company Ltd., which manages the Sliabh Beagh Community, Tourism & Accommodation Centre in County Monaghan. The CSP currently supports over 430 community-based organisations to provide local services through a social enterprise model. The Programme provides an annual co-funding contribution towards each full-time equivalent (FTE) position being supported and, where warranted, towards the cost of employing a manager.
873. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the reason a community centre and astro pitch (details supplied) was unsuccessful in the recent Community Centre Investment Fund allocations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15846/25]
View answerThe Community Centre Investment Fund has provided in excess of €109 million since 2022 for the enhancement and refurbishment of existing community centres and the construction of new centres.
Over €33 million has now been approved for in excess of 770 projects nationwide under the 2024 fund. However, given the very significant level of demand, not all applications were successful.
The facility referenced by the Deputy submitted an application under category 2 of the 2024 fund seeking support of €98,650 for enhancement works on the facility. The application reached the minimum scoring threshold required to be eligible for consideration but did not score high enough to be successful on this occasion.
Correspondence has issued to all unsuccessful applicants. The community centre referred to by the Deputy is being offered an opportunity to avail of a feedback call which will clearly explain the basis for the decision and areas where the application can be strengthened.
There is also an opportunity to appeal the outcome of this application process and this will also be outlined during any feedback call.
I am committed to delivering further iterations of the scheme in the coming years in line with the commitment in the Programme for Government for this to become a permanent rolling fund.
In addition all unsuccessful groups may wish to explore other potential funding options supported by my Department, including the LEADER programme, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and the CLÁR programme. Details of these and other schemes are available on the Department’s website.
874. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he is further aware that a service run by an organisation (details supplied) does not cover all of County Dublin [15869/25]
View answerMy Department provides funding to the organisation referred to by the Deputy, under the Community Services Programme (CSP), which currently supports over 430 community-based organisations to provide local services through a social enterprise model.
The CSP Programme provides an annual co-funding contribution towards each full-time equivalent (FTE) position being supported and, where warranted, towards the cost of employing a manager. An amount of €1,041,600 has been provided for 2025 to support the employment of 29.75 FTEs in this organisation.
The services of this independent, not-for-profit organisation are not commissioned by my Department. It is a matter for the organisation itself to define its services and the geographical area where those services are delivered.
