Written Answers Nos. 393-399
393. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht to provide an updated list of all email and phone lines for use of Oireachtas members within his Department, including all subsidiary bodies, in tabular form. [30926/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy in respect of the agencies under the aegis of my Department is included in the table below.
Circular 25/2016 sets out the Protocol for the Provision of Information to Members of the Oireachtas by State Bodies and requires the agencies to provide a dedicated email address for Oireachtas members. The main contact number for each of the agencies is also included in the table.
|
Organisation |
Email address |
Phone Number |
|
Pobal |
oireachtasqueries@pobal.ie |
01 5117000 |
|
Western Development Commission (WDC) |
oireachtas@wdc.ie |
094 9861441 |
|
Charities Regulatory Authority (CRA) |
oireachtas@charitiesregulator.ie |
01 6331500 |
|
Water Safety Ireland (WSI) |
oireachtas@watersafety.ie |
091 564400 |
|
Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga |
Oireachtas@coimisineir.ie |
091 504006 |
|
Údarás na Gaeltachta |
oireachtas@udaras.ie |
091 503170 |
|
Foras na Gaeilge |
oireachtasceisteanna@forasnagaeilge.ie |
01 6398400 |
|
Ulster-Scots Agency |
oireachtasqueries@ulsterscotsagency.org.uk |
07 4917 3876 |
394. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if he will provide the list of capital projects for IT services, by his Department or bodies under its aegis, which had contracts valued in excess of €1million that failed to reach completion; the value that was written off, for the years 2022, 2023 and 2024, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30933/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that, for the years in question, neither my Department or any bodies under its aegis have had capital projects for IT services with contracts valued in excess of €1 million that failed to reach completion.
395. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if he will provide, the list of capital projects, by his Department or bodies under its aegis, which had contracts valued in excess of €5million, which ran over cost in 2023, along with a description of the contract, the initial price and final price provided, in tabular form. [30939/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht had no capital projects with contracts valued in excess of €5 million, which ran over cost in 2023.
During the time period referenced by the Deputy there were four bodies under the aegis of my Department - the Charities Regulator, Western Development Commission, Water Safety Ireland, and Pobal. These bodies have each confirmed that they did not have any capital projects with contracts in excess of €5 million for the period concerned.
396. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht when successful applicants for grants administered through the local community development committee as part of the local enhancement programme will be notified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31058/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Local Enhancement Programme (LEP) 2025 was launched last November with €7 million available to assist thousands of community groups across the country by providing capital and current supports. The LEP is targeted to the specific challenges facing local community groups and delivers immediate, tangible supports where they are needed most.
The LEP is administered locally on behalf of my Department by Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) across the country, with support from their local authority. The relevant LCDC is allocated funding each year, they then receive and appraise applications, making determinations on how the funding can best support their communities.
The Local Enhancement Programme closed to applicants in March and Department officials have recently completed assessing details of the LCDC approved lists. Successful projects will be announced later this week and published on the Department’s website www.gov.ie/drcdg.[]
397. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the proof that is required by successful applicants under the Community Recognition Fund that they have fulfilled the criteria of greater integration of new communities; if this is assessed by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31142/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn June 5th, I announced the latest round of funding of over €17 million for the delivery of 212 projects under the Community Recognition Fund covering all 31 local authority areas. That announcement brought the total number of projects that have been awarded funding under the fund to over 1,450 in just over two years. A significant number of projects approved under the Community Recognition Fund are now complete and communities are enjoying the benefits that this funding has delivered.
It was a requirement of the fund that proposals submitted by each local authority were developed based on direct engagement with impacted communities and in consultation with elected representatives, the Local Community Development Committee (LCDC), the local Community Response Fora and Local Development Companies.
The proposals also had to demonstrate that the funding was being targeted at, and specifically invested in, those communities, villages and towns where the highest level of new arrivals were located and where there was a clear need for investment identified.
These conditions were incorporated into the assessment process of all applications submitted to my Department.
398. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the reason that yet again no project from the Courtown-Riverchapel area of County Wexford was awarded funding under the latest round of the Community Integration Fund, even though an IPAS centre has operated in Courtown, County Wexford for many years and there is strong integration with the local community; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31143/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraTo date, there have been two iterations of the Community Recognition Fund implemented by my Department with €50m being allocated to the Fund in each of 2023 and 2024.
While there were some differences between the two iterations of the scheme, a key element of the process has been that all applications are made locally to the local authority who select projects for submission to my Department for approval. As part of this process, local authorities are required to engage and consult with local stakeholders to ensure that the allocation of funding is based on the appropriate targeting at local level. Across the 2023 and 2024 schemes, Wexford has been allocated some €2.9m which has now been allocated across 47 projects in the county. This included funding of €125,000 for two projects in the Courtown Riverchapel area under the 2023 scheme. No further applications for this area were submitted by the local authority to my Department under the 2024 scheme.
399. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the number of retired officials that were re-engaged by his Department on a consultancy basis in the past four years and to date in 2025; the reason for engaging them; the costs incurred in respect of their engagement; and if his Department requires consultants to declare conflicts of interest in advance of utilising their services. [31278/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has re-engaged one retired staff member on three separate occasions in the past four years. Details are set out below.
I can confirm my Department requires consultants to declare any conflicts of interest in advance of utilising their services. This requirement is in line with the Civil Service Code of Standards and Behaviour.
|
Consultant |
Purpose |
Year |
Total Cost |
|
Retired Assistant Secretary General, Rural Division |
Development and delivery of rural proofing report. |
2022 |
€2,500 |
|
Retired Assistant Secretary General, Rural Division |
A member of the Interview Board for the Recruitment of Adjudicators for the Tidy Towns competition. |
2024 |
pro bono |
|
Retired Assistant Secretary General, Rural Division |
Assisting in the development of Our Living Islands – National Islands Policy 2023-2033 |
2022 |
pro bono |
