Written Answers Nos. 701-715
701. Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when successful projects under the Community Centre Investment Fund in County Cork will be announced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40978/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the 2022 Community Centre Investment Fund, over €45.8 million was committed for improvement and refurbishment works on over 860 existing community centres across Ireland. In April, I approved funding of €30 million for the construction of 12 new community centres across nine counties.
In June this year, I was delighted to announce a further round of funding to support community groups to upgrade and refurbish the community facilities in their areas. The Community Centre Investment Fund 2024 will provide funding of between €10,000 and €100,000 towards capital costs for the refurbishment of existing community centres.
The scheme closed for applications on Thursday 5th September. I understand that approximately 130 applications were received for county Cork under CCIF 2024. All applications are now currently under assessment. I expect to begin announcing the successful applicants in the coming months.
702. Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when funding for Men’s Sheds in County Cork will be announced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40979/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides a range of supports which are available to Men's Sheds.
Last November, I 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 funding builds on the €800,000 I announced in November 2022, to support Men’s Sheds. The individual grants were distributed to the Men’s Sheds via its representative body, the Irish Men’s Sheds Association (IMSA).
My officials are currently awaiting a funding proposal from the IMSA and I can assure the Deputy that the funding proposal will be reviewed once received.
Separately, the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) also provides supports to Men's Sheds, for example in facilitating training courses and holding focus groups. SICAP provided supports to 283 Men’s Sheds under SICAP 2018-2023, with small grants totalling over €223,000 awarded to 125 Men’s Sheds. To date in 2024, SICAP provided supports to 126 Men’s Sheds under SICAP 2024-2028. 20 Men’s Sheds have received grants totalling over €16,000. This support is still available through SICAP.
The Scheme to Support National Organisations (SSNO) provides multi-annual funding towards core costs of national, community and voluntary organisations. The current iteration commenced on 1 July 2022 and will cease on 30 June 2025. The Irish Men’s Sheds Association (IMSA) has been allocated total funding of €243,158 over the three-year period of the scheme.
I was delighted to launch the Local Enhancement Programme (LEP) in December 2023. This replaced my Department’s Community Enhancement Programme, with capital funding of €6 million to assist thousands of community groups across the country. Men's Sheds were eligible to apply for funding under the LEP which is now closed to applicants, and details of successful projects, including Men’s Sheds are available on my Department’s website www.gov.ie/drcd .
Since 2018, under the Community Enhancement Programme (CEP), over 1,300 Men’s Shed projects have been allocated funding of over €2.3 million.
Details of any future iterations of the Local Enhancement Programme, including the allocations available have not yet been confirmed. I would encourage all Men’s Sheds 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.
703. Deputy Simon Coveney asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when tidy towns grants for County Cork will be announced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40980/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Supervalu TidyTowns competition is a unique volunteer-led programme that makes a hugely positive contribution in communities across Ireland. It is abundantly clear that our support for the Tidy Towns competition has delivered very tangible and visible benefits in towns and villages all over the country.
I am very conscious of the work undertaken by our Tidy Towns Groups and of the costs which can arise in the course of this work. With this in mind, in recent years I have put in place direct financial supports to groups to support the huge efforts that these communities make.
At the 2023 national awards ceremony I announced a funding package of €1.5 million to support TidyTowns groups in their initiatives for the 2024 competition. This funding brings the total allocation by my Department since 2017 to €9.6 million in direct funding to over 1,000 TidyTowns groups.
The funding of between €1,000 and €4,000 was provided to groups to assist them in preparing for the 2024 Competition, with the added benefits of helping to make our towns and villages better places to live, work and visit. I am happy to confirm that a total of €158,000 was made available to 108 eligible groups in Co Cork in 2024.
My officials are currently in the process of designing a Tidy Town grant scheme to enable groups prepare for next year’s competition. I would also encourage TidyTowns groups to engage closely with their local authority or local development company to explore what other funding sources may be available to support the valuable voluntary work they are providing for their local communities.
The 2024 National Awards ceremony will take place in Croke Park on 1st November 2024 and I look forward to announcing the various winners together with any plans for 2025 Tidy Towns at that event.
ENDS
704. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of staff that worked in her Department’s communications and press office in each of the years 2019 to 2024; and the grade of each staff member. [41168/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe table below shows the number of staff that worked in my Department’s communications and press office in each of the years 2019 to 2024; and the grade of each staff member.
|
Year |
Number of staff |
Pay grades |
|
2019 |
4 |
Principal Officer x1Assistant Principal x 1Executive Officer x 1Clerical Officer x ~ |
|
2020 |
4 |
Principal Officer x 1Assistant Principal x 1 Executive Officer x 1Clerical Officer x 1 |
|
2021 |
6 |
Principal Officer x 1Assistant Principal x 1Higher Exec Officer x 1Executive Officer x 2Clerical Officer x 1 |
|
2022 |
6 |
Principal Officer x 1Assistant Principal x 1Higher Exec Officer x 1Executive Officer x 2Clerical Officer x 1 |
|
2023 |
6 |
Principal Officer x 1Assistant Principal x 1Higher Exec Officer x 2Executive Officer x 1Clerical Officer x 1 |
|
2024 |
6 |
Principal Officer x 1Assistant Principal x 1Higher Exec Officer x 2Executive Officer x 1Clerical Officer x 1 |
705. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the frequency and duration of the publicity, marketing or advertising campaigns conducted by her Department to date in 2024; the purpose of these campaigns; the cost of these campaigns; and the agencies that conducted these campaigns, in tabular form. [41186/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department uses centrally negotiated contracts for large advertising campaigns. It works with media agencies to achieve efficiencies, particularly in the area of media buying.
My Department has conducted two advertising campaigns so far in 2024. The table below provides the details requested by the Deputy.
|
Campaign |
Purpose |
Cost |
Agencies |
Duration |
|
Responsible Dog Ownership |
Increase awareness of the harm that out of control dogs can do to people and to livestock.Change behaviour and encourage people to be aware that they must always have their dog under their control. |
€414,000 |
Javelin (creative)PHD (media buying) |
20th April – 26th May 2024(5 weeks) |
|
XL Bully dogs |
Public information campaign on new ownership rules in relation to XL Bully type dogs. |
€164,263 |
Javelin (creative)PHD (media buying) |
23rd September – 27th October 2024(5 weeks) |
706. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if the school (details supplied) is located in the blue CLÁR mapping area in order to submit an application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41208/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department's CLÁR programme provides targeted investment funding for small scale infrastructural projects in designated rural areas that suffered population loss over a defined period.
I understand that the school referred to by the deputy is in the Monaghan district electoral division of 'Castleblaney Rural' which is not in a designated CLÁR area.
It should be noted that there are other funding opportunities available through my Department. I have developed a suite of supports for communities in rural areas so that there is a range of different funding options available, be they in CLÁR areas or otherwise. This includes the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, LEADER, the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme, the Community Recognition Fund, and the Community Centres Investment Fund. These schemes have seen unprecedented levels of investment in rural communities in recent years.
707. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development to provide, since the formation of this Government, the total funding (EU and Exchequer) allocated to the LEADER programme over the 2021-2027 period inclusive of transitional finding in 2021-2022, in tabular form; and to outline Exchequer funding allocated to the programme in 2024 and 2025. [41246/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe LEADER Programme is a key intervention of Our Rural Future, the Government’s Policy for rural development which aims to deliver a range of actions to rural communities over the lifetime of the policy. It supports a broad range of activities which aim to respond to the diversity of the local needs of our rural areas.
It is delivered through Local Action Groups (LAGs) across rural Ireland. A feature of the LEADER programme is that it is based on a community-led, bottom-up approach to rural development.
The total amount of funding allocated to the LEADER programme for the period of 2021-2027 is €250 million. This funding is made up of €70 million for the Transitional LEADER programme for the years 2021 and 2022, with the remaining €180 million allocated for the period 2023-2027 maintaining the level of funding for the programme in line with the corresponding 7 year programming period of the 2014-2020 LEADER programme. The funding is allocated to the LAGs at the outset of the programme to provide them with greater flexibility managing their budgets over the programming period. Funding is paid by my Department as costs are incurred and claims for payment submitted. I am confident that the level of funding allocated for the 2021-2027 programming period will be sufficient to meet the demand for grant funding from rural communities and businesses.
Table 1 below provides details of all LEADER expenditure under the 2014-2020 programme, the transitional programme and to date on the 2023-2027 LEADER programme. This relates to project funding, administration costs of the LAGs, including engagement with communities and their general running costs and the overhead supports to administer the programme at national level.
A provision of €44 million has been made in my Department’s Vote for 2024 for the delivery of the LEADER programme. In Budget 2025, €42 million has been allocated to the delivery of the programme.
I am satisfied that this level of funding will adequately cover all aspects of implementing the programme next year as the 2014-2022 programmes close and projects approved under the 2023-2027 programme complete and drawdown funding.
Table 1 – LEADER expenditure 2021 – October 2024
|
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 (to date) |
|
€55,891,108 |
€ 51,957,390 |
€ 51,018,578 |
€ 37,735,728 |
708. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the Exchequer amount allocated between current and capital allocations in 2024 and 2025 to schemes and programmes (details supplied) in her Department, in tabular form. [41247/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Exchequer funding allocations provided to my Department are detailed each year in the Revised Estimate Volume. The 2024 Revised Estimate, which presents the figures in tabular form, is available here: www.gov.ie/en/collection/e20037-revised-estimates/ . It should be noted that the announcement of funding under each scheme takes place in the context of our multiannual funding envelopes, with funding announced in one year often being paid out in subsequent years as projects are delivered on the ground. The allocations made in the Revised Estimate for each year reflect expected demands under each area during the year, with funding potentially being moved between schemes depending on demand as the year progresses. Furthermore, as actual expenditure levels materialise, funding may be re-allocated across sub-heads through either virement or technical supplementary to deal with emerging priorities.
Budget 2025 saw my Department’s overall budget increase from €431 million in 2024 to €472 million in 2025. This represents a 9% increase on the previous year and demonstrates the Government’s continued commitment to both Our Rural Future, and to supporting vital programmes which address social exclusion and community development needs. This €472 million in funding for 2025 will provide €212 million for rural development and €260 million for community development activities, continuing to breathe new life into towns and villages and support the social and economic development of rural and urban communities. The Revised Estimate 2025, which will be published in December 2025, will provide the voted allocations for each funding areas. However, indicative plans for 2025 funds are available here: www.gov.ie/en/press-release/ab0cf-budget-2025-ministers-humphreys-and-joe-obrien-deliver-472-million-for-rural-and-community-development/ . These funding plans remain subject to change until the Revised Estimate 2025 is published and voted upon.
With regard to 2024 funding allocations for the specific schemes referenced:
• The A.4 Rural and Regional Supports sub-head has total funding of €17 million in current funding and €22.82 million in capital funding. This includes indicative capital funding of €13 million for LIS in 2024 and €8.7 million for CLAR in 2024. Within the current funding available, €8 million is provided for the walks scheme and related supports. Funding of €1 million was announced to support Agricultural shows.
• The A.5 LEADER sub-head has a capital allocation of €44 million for 2024.
• The A.6 Rural Regeneration and Development sub-head has total capital funding of €95 million for 2024, with indicative allocations of €60 million for the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, €19 million for Town and Village Renewal, and €16 million for the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme. Exact expenditure on each scheme will reflect progress on the projects approved over recent years.
• The B.11 sub-head has an allocation of €21 million with an indicative €16 million for the Community Centre Investment Fund and €5 million for small capital grants under the Community Enhancement/Local Enhancement Programme. Again final expenditure may differ from these estimates.
• The B.10 Library Development sub-head has an allocation of €1.1 million in current funding and €6.6 million in capital funding for 2024.
• The B.8 PEACE programme subhead has an allocation of €4.3m in current funding and €1.5m in capital funding.
• The B.14 Community Recognition Fund sub-head has an allocation of €10 million in capital funding for 2024, which is in addition to €20 million carried forward from 2023 for use in 2024.
• The B.12 Community Services Programme sub-head has a current allocation of €52.4 million for 2024.
• The B.4 Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme and other supports sub-head mainly funds the SICAP programme, but with funding for other social inclusion initiatives and dog control is also within that area. For 2024 the SICAP programme has €51 million in core funding allocated, with an additional €10 million in non-core funding in the context of supporting new arrivals and the communities welcoming those arrivals. The dog control area has €0.6 million in current funding allocated from this sub-head.
• The B.3 subhead is for Supports for the Community and Voluntary Sectors, with €21 million available in 2024.
The overall allocations for 2024 and 2025, across the three high level programmes for my Department, are provided in the table below.
|
REV 2024 Allocations by Programme Area for DRCD (€m) |
Current |
Capital |
Total |
|
A - RURAL DEVELOPMENT, REGIONAL AFFAIRS & ISLANDS |
38.533 |
166.887 |
205.420 |
|
B - COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT |
177.407 |
43.114 |
220.521 |
|
C - CHARITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITY |
5.418 |
0.000 |
5.418 |
|
GROSS TOTAL FOR V42 - DRCD |
221.358 |
210.001 |
431.359 |
|
Budget 2025 Indicative Allocations by Programme Area for DRCD (€m) |
Current |
Capital |
Total |
|
A - RURAL DEVELOPMENT, REGIONAL AFFAIRS & ISLANDS |
42.330 |
170.384 |
212.714 |
|
B - COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT |
189.051 |
64.476 |
253.527 |
|
C - CHARITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITY |
5.936 |
0.140 |
6.076 |
|
GROSS TOTAL FOR V42 - DRCD |
237.317 |
235.000 |
472.317 |
709. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the current and capital allocation in 2024 and 2025 to the implementation of strategies (details supplied), in tabular form. [41249/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraOur Rural Future is the Governments policy for rural development, with actions right across Government to support the rural economy and rural communities. Within my Department the policy is underpinned by funding for both the rural development programme and the community development programme, the latter of which supports projects and schemes in both rural and urban communities.
The Revised Estimate 2024 provides my Department with total gross funding of €431 million, with €205 million allocated for the rural development programme and €226 million for the community development programme. I am delighted to have secured a 9% increase in funding through Budget 2025, and the Department will have a gross allocation of €472 million for 2025. The funding will provide €212 million for rural development and €260 million for community development activities. This will continue to breathe new life into towns and villages and support the social and economic development of the rural and urban communities including the islands. It should be noted schemes such as the Community Centre Investment Fund, Libraries Development, the Community Services Programme and the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme, which are funded under the Community Development Programme, impact both rural and urban communities.
With regard to Our Living Islands, this is also a whole of Government policy, with my Department leading on the area. Specific funding of €15 million is available for the islands area in 2024, with €10 million in current funding and €5 million in capital funding. This aims to support connectivity through subsidised transport services and infrastructure development, along with allowing overall policy co-ordination to support and sustain communities on our islands. While the 2025 allocations are yet to be finalised, I envisage an additional €1 million in current funding to support transport services to the islands. Recently, I have also introduced island-specific measures under other funding schemes within my Department, such as CLÁR and Town and Village Renewal.
The exact funding allocations for 2025 will be published in the Revised Estimate Volume 2025, in December. Indicative details of how it is planned to utilise that funding are available here: www.gov.ie/en/press-release/ab0cf-budget-2025-ministers-humphreys-and-joe-obrien-deliver-472-million-for-rural-and-community-development/ . The funding allocations for my Department for 2024 and 2025, at programme level, are detailed in the tables below:
|
REV 2024 Allocations by Programme Area for DRCD (€m) |
Current |
Capital |
Total |
|
A - RURAL DEVELOPMENT, REGIONAL AFFAIRS & ISLANDS |
38.533 |
166.887 |
205.420 |
|
B - COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT |
177.407 |
43.114 |
220.521 |
|
C - CHARITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITY |
5.418 |
0.000 |
5.418 |
|
GROSS TOTAL FOR V42 - DRCD |
221.358 |
210.001 |
431.359 |
|
Budget 2025 Indicative Allocations by Programme Area for DRCD (€m) |
Current |
Capital |
Total |
|
A - RURAL DEVELOPMENT, REGIONAL AFFAIRS & ISLANDS |
42.330 |
170.384 |
212.714 |
|
B - COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT |
189.051 |
64.476 |
253.527 |
|
C - CHARITIES REGULATORY AUTHORITY |
5.936 |
0.140 |
6.076 |
|
GROSS TOTAL FOR V42 - DRCD |
237.317 |
235.000 |
472.317 |
711. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development to provide a breakdown of all current and capital funding to Dublin’s northeast inner-city initiative in 2024 and 2025, in tabular form. [41251/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government committed €7.5 million to the North East Inner City (NEIC) Initiative for 2024.
The NEIC Programme Implementation Board meet monthly to oversee implementation of the Mulvey Report and the Strategic Plan 2024-2027, including funding proposals and allocations. Final funding allocations for 2024 will be completed before the end of the year.
The Programme Implementation Board publish an annual progress report which includes a breakdown of the Initiative’s spending throughout the year. These progress reports, from 2017 – 2023, are available on the Initiative’s website, www.neic.ie . The 2024 Annual Report will be published towards the end of this year.
The Revised Estimate 2025, which will be published in December 2025, will provide the voted allocations for each funding area of my Department. While, in general, the Department’s funding plans remain subject to change prior to finalising REV 2025, funding for the Dublin northeast inner-city initiative will remain at €7.5 million for 2025, with an indicative split of €2.267 million capital and €5.233 million current.
712. Deputy Denise Mitchell asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the dog control statistics for 2023 will be published by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41308/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has overall policy responsibility for the Control of Dogs Acts 1986 to 2014. Local Authorities have responsibility for all operational matters under the Control of Dogs Acts.
Each year my Department collects and collates statistics from Local Authorities in relation to a range of the dog control responsibilities of Local Authorities. These statistics include, but are not limited to, the number of dogs entering and exiting pounds; the number that are re-homed and reclaimed and the number that are euthanised.
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the Local Authority Control of Dogs Statistics Report for 2023 was published on 11th October 2024. Statistics relating to dog control since 2010, including the Report for 2023, are available on www.gov.ie/en/collection/879d4c-dog-control-statistics/
I very much appreciate all the work of Local Authorities in collating and making statistics available. 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.
713. Deputy Jennifer Whitmore asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when dog control statistics will be available; the reason for the delay in releasing the figures; if measures are in place to digitise the dog control system; to provide up-to-date statistics on a quarterly basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41396/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has overall policy responsibility for the Control of Dogs Acts 1986 to 2014. Local Authorities have responsibility for all operational matters under the Control of Dogs Acts.
Each year my Department collects and collates statistics from Local Authorities in relation to a range of the dog control responsibilities of Local Authorities. These statistics include, but are not limited to, the number of dogs entering and exiting pounds; the number that are re-homed and reclaimed and the number that are euthanised.
I am pleased to inform the Deputy that the Local Authority Control of Dogs Statistics Report for 2023 was published on 11th October 2024. Statistics relating to dog control since 2010, including the Report for 2023, are available on www.gov.ie/en/collection/879d4c-dog-control-statistics/
I very much appreciate all the work of Local Authorities in collating and making statistics available. 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.
A number of factors have contributed to the slightly later publication of the Dog Control Statistics this year, including the concentration of my Department's resources on the development of proposals to ban the XL Bully type dogs, in the interest of public safety following a number of horrific attacks. The Control of Dogs (XL Bully) Regulations came into operation on 1st October 2024.
There are no immediate plans to digitise the dog control statistics or to change the reporting period. However, the Dog Control Stakeholder Group, which I established earlier this year, 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, and their work will include matters relating to data collection.
714. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the estimated required increase in funding to the community services programme, in line with an increase by €0.80 to €13.50 per hour for people aged 20 years or over. [41563/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department's Community Services Programme (CSP) currently supports over 430 community-based organisations, with a budget of €52.4m in 2024, to provide local services through a social enterprise model. CSP 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.
The CSP contribution per FTE position is not aligned with the minimum wage and is not intended to meet the full salary cost of supported posts. It is an annual contribution that must be co-funded by the organisations concerned from other sources to address any funding gaps to meet, at a minimum, the national minimum wage rates that are applicable to their employees.
Notwithstanding the above, the new funding rate allocation model, which came into effect on 1st of January 2023, was designed to support those organisations assessed as being most in need, providing a higher rate of funding to supported organisations identified as operating in areas of high disadvantage, employing individuals from the prescribed programme target groups and with evidence of limited earning potential.
I have considered the potential impacts on CSP-supported organisations of the increase in the minimum wage levels from 1st January 2025 and I intend to provide additional support in 2025.
In 2025, the number of Full Time Equivalent (FTE) posts to be supported is projected at 1,726. The related estimated increase in costs to CSP-supported organisations, in line with an increase of €0.80 to €13.50 per hour, would be €2,692,560, not including Employer's PRSI.
The Revised Estimates Volume 2025, which will be published in December 2025, will provide the voted allocations for each funding area of my Department.
715. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the international events and engagements she has attended at which members of the media were also in attendance as part of the Government delegation, since the formation of the Government; the media organisation they represented; the cost involved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41608/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that, as Minister for Rural and Community Development, I have not attended any international events or engagements, at which members of the media were also in attendance as part of the Government delegation, since the formation of the Government.
