Written Answers Nos. 518-522
518. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development for an update on the work of the high-level stakeholder group to consider and make recommendations to strengthen policy concerning dog control issues; when the group will issue recommendations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27928/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has policy and legislative responsibility for the Control of Dogs Acts and the Dog Breeding Establishments Act.
In March 2024 I announced the establishment of a high level stakeholder group to consider and make recommendations to strengthen policy in relation these issues. The group is independently chaired by retired Deputy Garda Commissioner Mr John Twomey and is comprised of members with a broad range of expertise.
The group have been tasked with considering the policy and legislative matters under the remit of my Department, specifically the Dog Control Acts and the Dog Breeding Establishments Act.
The group has met twice to date: the most recent meeting took place on the 26th June. The work of the stakeholder group is complex in nature requiring full consideration of all aspects of both pieces of legislation under the remit of my Department and this will take some time. However, in view of recent events, I have asked the Chair to prioritise the issue of Restricted Dogs and this was the first issue to be considered by the stakeholder group at its recent meeting. I expect the group to revert to me with recommendations on the matter as soon as possible once they have considered all the issues arising.
519. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of dog wardens partaking in the national training programme; where this training is taking place; the overall cost of the programme; if this is a voluntary or mandatory training programme; the person or body that developed the training programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27929/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraTo support the work of dog wardens and to ensure consistency and a standardised approach to enforcement, my Department has provided €10,000 in funding towards the cost of the Dog Control Service National Training Programme 2024. The training takes place over 8 days and is covered under 4 modules. Each Local Authority funds their individual participant's fee of €175 per module. The programme is voluntary, however all dog control personnel are actively encouraged to attend.
The CCMA Dog Control Working Group developed the programme in association with my Department. This Working Group is chaired by a Local Authority Director of Services and includes Local Authority Veterinary Officers and Dog Wardens.
The training commenced in April. Three modules have been completed to date and 55 dog wardens have attended. The training took place in Roscrea, Thurles, and Dublin. The final module is scheduled to take place in Roscrea in October.
520. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the main policy achievements of her Department since 27 June 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27968/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has made significant progress with regard to both policies and programmes since the 27th June 2020, focusing on our rural and community development remit, and our commitments under the Programme for Government.
Each year my Department publishes an Annual Report which provides a comprehensive overview of the wide range of policies, programmes and initiatives developed and delivered by my Department in the previous year. Annual Reports from 2020 onwards are available at www.gov.ie/en/organisation-information/91ae40-annual-reports/ . My Department’s Annual Report for 2023 will be published shortly.
My Department’s most recent Statement of Strategy was published in August 2023, and sets out my Department's mission “to promote and support vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities throughout Ireland”.
My Department has two overarching policies which support the realisation of this mission - Our Rural Future the Government's Rural Development Policy for 2021-2025, and Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities, the five-year strategy to support the community and voluntary sector in Ireland.
The very successful ongoing implementation of Our Rural Future since its launch in 2021 has been a significant achievement of my Department. Progress updates are published every six months and a specific work programme is developed for each year of the policy.
The rural development investment programme continues to support the revitalisation of rural Ireland by delivering schemes including the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, the LEADER Programme, Town and Village Renewal, the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme and the CLÁR Programme.
Furthermore, policies and strategies which form part of Our Rural Future, including the Towns Centre First Strategy and the National Outdoor Recreation Strategy continue to be successfully implemented, bringing real benefits for towns, villages and communities all over Ireland.
Of particular note is the publication of the national islands policy, Our Living Islands in June 2023 - the first such policy to be published in 27 years. It is an ambitious ten-year strategy, underpinned by an Action Plan for the period 2023-2026. The Action Plan consists of 80 new time-bound actions agreed with, and to be implemented by, various stakeholders, led by a nominated Government Department or State Agency.
With regard to Community Development, key funding programmes including the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), the Community Services Programme (CSP) and the Community Centre Investment Fund (CCIF) continue to make positive and lasting impacts in our communities, strengthening our social fabric.
Once-off targeted funding measures help to support communities to respond to challenges they face, since 2020 this has included emergency COVID funding, energy supports to deal with the impact of inflation and significant funding to support the response to new arrivals.
My Department has also successfully implemented existing polices which support Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities, including the National Volunteering Strategy. The new National Public Library Strategy 2023-2026 was published in July 2023.
More recently, in November, the Dormant Accounts Action Plan 2024 was published, setting out the measures across Government that will be funded from the Dormant Accounts Fund in 2024.
Last November, at the fifth National Social Enterprise Conference, I launched a report commissioned by my Department on the implementation of our social enterprise policy, entitled “Boosting Social Entrepreneurship and Social Enterprise Development in Ireland”. Following on from Ireland's first Social Enterprise Policy in 2019, a successor social enterprise policy is currently being developed in partnership with the sector and it is expected to be launched in 2024.
It is also worth noting that the second National Civic Forum for dialogue between the state and the community and voluntary sector also took place in November, with the forum examining how to develop and strengthen deliberative and participative approaches to public policy making at a national and local level.
This builds on work developing policy and practices that support engagement at all levels such as my Department’s Guide to Inclusive Community Engagement in Local Planning and Decision-Making (2023), and Values and Principles for Collaboration and Partnership-Working with the Community and Voluntary Sector at a Local and National Level (2022).
Finally, last December, my Department published a new National Philanthropy Policy. The policy sets out specific actions to enable philanthropy to grow and thrive in Ireland for the public benefit and for the social good.
I am proud of the comprehensive range of policy achievements delivered and implemented by my Department in recent years. I am confident it provides a solid, foundation for meaningful progress and targeted interventions, empowering communities across the country to thrive.
521. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the funding available to a community (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28036/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department recognises the importance of playgrounds in communities throughout Ireland. Applications for the delivery and upgrade of playgrounds are welcome under a number of schemes operated by my Department such as the CLÁR Programme, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS), the LEADER programme, and the Community Enhancement Programme (CEP). In 2023 I launched the Community Recognition Fund (CRF) which also provides funding towards playgrounds.
The CLÁR programme provides funding for small-scale projects in rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population. Since the programme was relaunched in 2016, it has supported a wide range of measures, including investment in playgrounds. The deadline for applications under the 2024 CLÁR scheme has now passed. However, I expect to announce the next iteration of the CLÁR scheme in the coming months.
TVRS also provides funding avenues, with playground facilities often forming part of wider amenity projects put forward for funding. Successful projects under the 2023 TVRS were announced in April of this year with funding of €20.4 million allocated to 82 projects under the scheme. Funding for the refurbishment and development of existing playgrounds along with the creation of new playgrounds was announced as part of this funding. The 2024 TVRS is scheduled for launch in October of this year, and scheme priorities will be reviewed in advance to ensure that funding provided will improve and enhance the standard of living for persons in rural Ireland.
Support under the LEADER programme is provided under a broad range of themes, including Rural Infrastructure & Social Inclusion. Funding for playgrounds may be provided under this theme, and prospective applicants are advised to contact their Local Action Group in the first instance.
The CEP provides capital funding to community groups in disadvantaged areas across Ireland, and similarly playgrounds can form a part of the project. The CEP is administered on behalf of the Department locally by Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) across the country, with support from their local authority.
The CRF recognises the huge efforts made by communities in welcoming and supporting people coming to Ireland. Through this initiative, communities are being assisted to develop projects such as large-scale multi-purpose sports facilities, skateboard parks, walkways, cycle paths, playgrounds, equipment for sports clubs and community festivals.
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 CRF.
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 CRF to over €2.4million.
522. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the capital and current projects within her Department that received EU funding in 2022, 2023 and to-date in 2024; the amount of EU funding received per project per year, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28105/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department utilises EU funding across three broad areas, the LEADER Programme, the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+), and the PEACE Programmes.
The LEADER programme is co-funded by the EU. Under LEADER 2014-2022 capital programme a total of €250 million in grant aid was made available to rural communities and businesses. This included a split of 37.2% funding from my Department and 62.8% funding from the EU. An additional €70 million was allocated for the Transitional LEADER programme 2021-2022 under the European Union Recovery Instrument Fund. This fund was established by the European Union to support recovery in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and was 100% EU funded.
In 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024 LEADER has funded 2,308 projects to the value of €73,092,869, that includes €49,918,216 EU funding. A breakdown of EU funding received per project for the years referred to are included in the attached appendix. Further details regarding the individual projects funded in each area can be viewed online on the Gov.ie website.
The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) 2018-2023 was a current programme that was co-funded by my Department and the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) 2021-2027. The Department is currently preparing a financial claim to submit to the European Social Fund for SICAP for the years, 2021, 2022 and 2023, in line with the timelines set down at EU level. The ESF+ allocation for SICAP is €72 million over the lifetime of the Employment, Inclusion, Skills and Training programme (EIST) 2021-27. To date, there have been no receipts for this programme for the period requested.
In relation to the PEACE Programmes my Department provides pre-financing funding to the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), who manages the EU co-funded cross border PEACE IV Programme 2014 -2020 and PEACEPLUS Programme 2021-2027. These Programmes are managed and administered by the SEUPB. The core programme area includes Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland, namely Donegal, Leitrim, Sligo, Cavan, Monaghan and Louth. My Department does not draw down funds based on individual projects, rather it is based on the contribution to the SEUPB. In that context, there was €4.978 million recouped from the EU in 2022, and €4.338 million recouped in 2023. Details of all projects supported under the PEACE IV Programme are available on the SEUPB website: EU Funding per project per year
