Written Answers Nos. 2659-2672
2663. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if his Department is using artificial intelligence tools for any graphic design or similar work in place of artists, designers or videographers; and if so, to outline which projects or units of the Department are affected. [2253/26]
View answerMy Department has not utilised, and does not currently utilise, artificial intelligence (AI) tools for graphic design or similar work, in place of artists. I would note that my Department follows the guidance issued by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) and the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) on the responsible use of AI.
2665. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht to investigate and give a full explanation as to the reason the Charity Regulator has not produced the documentation (details supplied) within the legal timeframe of ten months of the organisations financial year end; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2283/26]
View answer2666. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if any public monies and or land is being given to a charity (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2284/26]
View answer2667. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if the charitable objectives and-or purpose of a charity (details supplied) changed in recent years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2285/26]
View answer2668. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the person or body in charge of the day-to-day running of a charity (details supplied); the number of employees working in the charity; the number of people on the board of the charity; who appointed them; when were they appointed; the rationale for their appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2286/26]
View answer2669. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht when the last audit or review into the running of a charity (details supplied) was completed; what the review highlighted; if there are plans to conduct a follow-up review to ensure protocols are followed through on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2287/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 2665, 2666, 2667, 2668 and 2669 together.
The Charities Regulator, under the aegis of my Department, is the statutory body responsible for registering and regulating all of Ireland’s charities, with a mandate to promote good governance practice. While the Regulator is under the aegis of my Department, it is fully independent in the performance of its statutory functions. Charities are required to complete and submit an online annual report form to the Charities Regulator within 10 months of their financial year end, providing information on their finances and activities. Information from these reports is available on the charity’s record on the public Register of Charities once it has been received by the Regulator. It is not the responsibility of the Regulator to produce the documentation referred to. With regard to the matter of whether public monies or land have been donated to the charity in question, I can confirm that my department does not fund the charity nor has it transferred property to the charity.The Register of Charities includes a record of every charity in Ireland, providing information on their charitable purpose(s), finances, activities, and trustees (their names, date of appointment and years of service). It is the responsibility of the charity’s trustees to keep the information about their charity on the Register up to date. Any changes to the charitable objectives or purpose of the charity referred to would be approved by the Regulator and reflected on the Register. The matter of board trustees and employees, and the day-to-day running of a charity are the responsibility of the board of the charity, as an independent organisation. The names of trustees are published on the Register of Charities. The appointment of board members and the rationale for these appointments are a matter for the charity itself.Similarly, audits and reviews are the responsibility of those with governance roles within the charity itself. Addressing recommendations or findings of any kind in an audit or review are also the responsibility of the board and trustees of the charity. Lastly, concerns in relation to charities should be raised directly with the Regulator. I am assured that all such concerns are carefully considered. Where breaches of charity legislation are identified, the entity is contacted with a view to addressing such breaches. In the event that serious breaches of charity legislation are identified, the Regulator may commence a statutory investigation.
2670. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht to provide a list of the top ten capital or programme projects delivered by his Department or its agencies over the past three years which were completed on time and within the originally approved budget; the project name, location, delivery timeframe, original approved budget, final outturn cost, and delivery body, for each project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2435/26]
View answerMy Department approves a significant number of capital projects each year, ranging from small scale supports under schemes such as the Community Enhancement Fund to larger supports under schemes such as LEADER, Town and Village Renewal, the Community Centre Investment Fund and the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund. Details on all capital projects approved for funding under the variety of schemes operated by the Department are published on gov.ie/drcdg The allocations made by my Department support a range of schemes that focus on the delivery of community-based projects, with capital projects mainly delivered by local authorities. Each local authority, or other funded body, is responsible for management and oversight of delivery, including with regard to managing contractors and dealing with cost issues as they may arise. The Department engages with local authorities on delivery on an ongoing basis across schemes. It must also be noted that the Department makes different levels of contribution to the total costs for different projects. With regard to the larger projects funded under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) and Libraries Development, and in line with the Public Spending Code, full funding approval is generally granted following an open tender process after which a greater degree of certainty on the final costs of each project can be provided. For these large-scale projects, it is typically expected that approved projects would have a lifecycle of up to 5 years from funding application, through the design and planning process and to construction completion. The table below details the top ten projects, completed by my Department on time and within the originally approved allocation, over the past three years. There are eight agencies under the remit of my Department and, in general, they do not deliver they types of capital projects that would be of relevance to this question. Nonetheless, I have asked my officials to compile any relevant projects from the agencies, and my officials will provide any further relevant information from the agencies directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
|
Prog |
Project Title |
Delivery Body |
County |
Location Description |
DRCDG Approved Allocation at Full Funding Approval Stage (€) |
Final Amount paid by DRCDG (€) |
elivery Timeframe (Months) |
|
RRDF |
Ulster Canal Restoration Phase 2 |
Waterways Ireland |
Monaghan |
Clones |
€5,577,800 |
€5,577,800 |
2 Years 11 Months |
|
RRDF |
Barrow Blueway Project 1 |
Kildare County Council |
Multi County |
Lowtown to Athy |
€5,068,000 |
€5,068,000 |
4 years 8 months |
|
RRDF |
Fethard Town Park |
Tipperary County Council |
Tipperary |
Fethard |
€3,003,400 |
€3,003,400 |
3 Years 0 Months |
|
RRDF |
The Seaworld Project |
Clare County Council |
Clare |
Lahinch |
€2,908,800 |
€2,907,600 |
4 years 3 months |
|
RRDF |
Dromahair Regeneration Project |
Leitrim County Council |
Leitrim |
Dromahair |
€2,227,400 |
€2,227,400 |
3 Years 5 Months |
|
RRDF |
Energising Boyle Town Centre and King House |
Roscommon County Council |
Roscommon |
Boyle |
€2,174,400 |
€2,174,400 |
3 Years 11 Months |
|
RRDF |
Bailieborough Courthouse Economic and Tourism Hub |
Cavan County Council |
Cavan |
Bailieborough |
€ 1,831,800 |
€ 1,831,800 |
4 years 2 months |
|
CRF |
Carrick on Shannon - Shannonside Regional Multi-Sports Recreational Campus Phase 1 |
Leitrim County Council |
Leitrim |
Carrick-on-Shannon |
€1,000,000 |
€1,000,000 |
2 Years 4 Months |
|
RRDF |
Ballydesmond Village Public Realm and Placemaking Enhancement Plan |
Cork County Council |
Cork |
Ballydesmond |
€812,500 |
€812,500 |
2 Years 5 Months |
|
RRDF |
Kingscourt Town Centre Regeneration |
Cavan County Council |
Cavan |
Kingscourt |
€787,500 |
€787,500 |
4 Years 0 Months |
2671. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht to detail the annual spend on external consultants by his Department and its agencies in each of the past three years; the number of consultancy contracts, the largest individual consultancy engagements by value, and whether internal capacity-building or cost-benefit assessments were undertaken prior to engaging external consultants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2453/26]
View answerMy Department publishes details of consultancy payments made in a given year following the close of the financial year. The published information comprises details of the nature of the consultancy work undertaken and the costs incurred. Detailed information on external consultancy services engaged by my Department from its establishment in July 2017 to end 2024 is available on our website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/department-of-rural-and-community-development-and-the-gaeltacht/organisation-information/financial-information/#consultanciesThe table below provides information on annual spend on external consultants by my Department, as requested by the Deputy, for 2023, 2024, and 2025.
|
|
Expenditure on Consultancy 2023 (including VAT) |
Expenditure on Consultancy 2024 (including VAT) |
Expenditure on Consultancy 2025 (including VAT) |
|
Total cost |
€603,454 |
€458,456 |
€423,174 |
|
Number of consultancy contracts |
18 |
19 |
14 |
|
Largest individual consultancy engagement |
€175,000 |
€82,287 |
€175,828 |
The expenditure figures for 2025 in the table are provisional. Details of consultancy payments made by my Department in 2025 will be published at the above link in the coming weeks, when year end financial information for 2025 is finalised.My Department is committed to achieving value for money for the acquisition of goods and services which are essential to support its work. Consideration is given internally prior to engaging external consultants, as to the need and scope of the services required, and such procurement is quite limited. The Department makes use of consultants and other external support services where the expertise or knowledge is not available within the Department, or where the service is required for the Department to effectively carry out its functions. With regard to agencies, there are currently eight agencies under the remit of my Department: Pobal, Western Development Commission, Charities Regulatory Authority, Water Safety Ireland, Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga, Údarás na Gaeltachta, Foras na Gaeilge, and the Ulster-Scots Agency. These agencies are independent legal entities responsible for managing their own corporate affairs, including managing their own procurement arrangements. In this regard, I would particularly note that the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies states that it is the responsibility of the Board to satisfy itself that the requirements for public procurement are adhered to.Notwithstanding the above, my officials have written out to the agencies to obtain the information you have requested. The information will be provided to your office directly within 10 days.
2672. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht to provide a list, for each of the past three years of the top ten projects per annum delivered by his Department or its agencies which were completed late and over the originally approved budget; the project name, location, original approved completion date, actual completion date, original approved budget, final outturn cost, cost overrun expressed in euro and percentage terms, and the delivery body for each project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2471/26]
View answerThe allocations made by my Department support a range of schemes that focus on the delivery of community-based projects, with capital projects mainly delivered by local authorities. Each local authority, or other funded body, is responsible for management and oversight of delivery, including with regard to managing contractors and dealing with cost issues as they may arise. The Department engages with local authorities and other delivery partners on delivery on an ongoing basis across schemes. Most schemes have grant levels below €500,000 and for these the terms and conditions usually set out indicative completion dates of around 18-24 months. The Department works with local authorities to monitor delivery and shows flexibility where it is needed to ensure projects are delivered for communities. It is a matter for the local authorities to manage the contracts and specific delivery timeframes. For these schemes, funding approvals are generally granted in the form of maximum agreed grant amounts, with any cost overruns beyond the final agreed amount either met by the applicant or through agreed changes to the project that reduce costs without significantly impacting the project. In certain circumstances, for example the Community Recognition Fund, where an overall funding envelope is available to a local authority for a number of projects, a given authority may balance that allocation across its projects to ensure optimum delivery, without exceeding its overall allocation.Larger scale funding of greater than €500,000 is available through the Department’s Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF), Libraries Development Programme and the Community Centre Investment Fund - New Builds. For the RRDF, it is typically expected that approved projects would have a lifecycle of up to 5 years from funding application, through the design and planning process and to construction completion. For these schemes that support larger projects, in line with the Public Spending Code, full funding approval is generally granted following an open tender process after which a greater degree of certainty on the final costs of each project can be provided. On a limited number of occasions, the Department has subsequently granted funding in addition to that agreed at full funding approval stage. This has related to, for example, inflationary costs in line with the OGP's 2022 amendments to the Capital Works Management Framework, supply chain issues arising from Covid 19, or for unforeseen costs including, for example, those arising from an increased need for provision of utilities infrastructure. The Department must maintain this flexibility where unforeseen events mean that a project justifiably requires additional funding to ensure delivery for communities. Such projects are considered on a case-by-case basis. It must also be noted that the Department makes different levels of contribution to the total costs for different projects. In some cases cost overruns may occur on a project but the Department does not provide additional funding.The table below details the projects of relevance, that is, those completed in 2023, 2024 or 2025, which were delayed in their delivery, and which required and were granted additional funding above that agreed at full funding approval stage. In line with the funding contributions of the Department the information provided represents the changes in contribution of the Department and relative increases to this amount, as opposed to total project costs which would be managed by the local authority or other delivery body. There are eight agencies under the remit of my Department and, in general, they do not deliver they types of capital projects that would be of relevance to this question. Nonetheless, I have asked my officials to compile any relevant projects from the agencies, and my officials will provide any further relevant information from the agencies directly to the Deputy as soon as possible.
|
Project Name |
Location |
Original Approved completion Date |
Actual completion date |
DRCDG Approved Allocation at Full Funding Approval Stage (€) |
Final amount paid by DRCDG (€) |
Additional funding provided (€) |
Cost overrun in % |
Delivery Body |
|
Kilkenny City Mayfair Library (partially funded under Library Capital Programme) |
Kilkenny |
Jan 2023 |
Jan 2024 |
€4,695,000 |
€4,932,000 |
€238,000 (OGP Inflation Guidance) |
5.1% |
Kilkenny County Council |
|
Ennis Library (partial funding under Library Capital Programme) |
Ennis |
Dec 2022 |
Nov 2024 |
€4,000,000 |
€4,048,000 (of which €101,000 to be paid on receipt of final report) |
€48,000 (Ex-gratia Covid cost sharing) |
1.2% |
Clare County Council |
|
Portlaoise Library (partial funding under Library Capital Programme) |
Portlaoise |
May 2021 |
July 2023 |
€3,000,000 |
€3,138,000 (of which €75,000 to be paid on receipt of final report) |
€138,000 (OPG Inflation and ex-gratia COVID cost sharing) |
4.4% |
Laois County Council |
|
An Chistin Project |
Castlerea |
March 2024 |
May 2024 |
€2,441,900 |
€2,782,000 |
€340,100 (OGP Inflation Guidance, ex-gratia COVID cost sharing and minor scope changes) |
14% |
Roscommon County Council |
