Written Answers 31-50
31. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the timeline for opening up the new community services programme and if community groups including a group (details supplied) can engage with her Department now to help with the preparation of their application for the reopening of the scheme. [27791/22]
View answerMy Department's Community Services Programme (CSP) supports over 420 community organisations to provide employment opportunities and the delivery of local services through a social enterprise model. The CSP provides an annual co-funding contribution of €19,033 for each full-time equivalent (FTE) position being supported, and, where warranted, provides €32,000 towards the cost of employing a manager.
Qualifying organisations must be social enterprises capable of generating income from their activities in order to meet the full salary costs of the supported posts, for example, from income received from the public use of facilities and services.
In 2020, an independent review of the CSP was undertaken by Indecon International Economic Consultants, on behalf of the Department. The final report was published on 30 September 2020 and was accompanied by a high level action plan outlining the timeline for the phased implementation for the restructuring of the programme. The Department and Pobal, who administer the programme on behalf of the Department, are currently working on the restructuring of the Programme in conjunction with a Consultative Group, representative of stakeholders.
Pending the transition to the new restructured programme, the scheme is closed to new applications through the Expression of Interest process. It is anticipated that the Programme will open calls to address identified gaps in service delivery later in 2022, subject to budgetary provision.
If the organisation in question would like to be contacted should a targeted call open later in 2022, they should provide the relevant contact details to my Department at csp@drcd.gov.ie and we will keep them on file and notify them when the call opens. However, pending the notification of a call, it is not possible for either my Department or Pobal to engage with individual organisations in respect of their potential applications under this programme. However, full details of the programme, including an Operating Manual and an FAQ section, are available on Pobal's website www.pobal.ie .
32. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when she expects to announce successful projects in County Clare under the 2022 CLÁR programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27842/22]
View answerThe CLÁR programme provides funding under a number of different measures for small-scale infrastructural projects in designated rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population over a defined period. I launched this year's programme in February with a total budget of €7 million. This represents an increase of €1.5 million on the budget for the 2021 CLÁR programme.
The measures being funded under CLÁR 2022 are:
Measure 1: Developing Community Facilities & Amenities
Measure 2: Mobility, Cancer Care and Community First Responders Transport
Measure 3: ‘Our Islands’
The 2022 CLÁR programme is now closed for all measures and the assessment process has commenced for all applications.
I hope to make an announcement on the successful applicants under Measure 2 in the coming weeks and Measure 1 and 3 will be announced later this year.
33. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if it is intended to reduce islander specific fares on contracted ferry and air services to the islands by 20% to the end of 2022; the estimated cost of same; if the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform have been in contact with her Department regarding this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27660/22]
View answerThe sustainability of the communities on our off shore islands is a core objective of the Government, as set out in its ‘Rural Development Policy 2021-2025, Our Rural Future’. The policy acknowledges the importance for island communities of access to reliable, safe and affordable connectivity services to and from the mainland.
Contracts for these services are procured by the Department of Rural and Community Development on the open market through the procurement process. This ensures that all providers are treated equally and that the selection process is fair and transparent for all.
The Department of Transport recently introduced a fare reduction scheme that sees an average of 20% reduction on PSO public transport services that are managed by the National Transport Authority (NTA).
Therefore the scheme covers public transport services operated by Iarnród Éireann, Bus Éireann, Dublin Bus, Luas, Go-Ahead Ireland and TFI Local Link.
It is important to note that other subsidised transport services managed by the Department of Transport, such as the PSO air service to Donegal and Kerry, are not covered by the scheme.
Similarly, the subsidised transport services managed by the Department of Rural and Community Development to the off shore islands do not qualify for the scheme.
Unlike the services managed by the NTA, offshore islands have a mix of subsidised and non-subsidised transport services.
While my Department is, of course, open to examining ways of ensuring that island transport services are affordable, it is concerned that the introduction of a fare reduction scheme for subsidised services could bring the existing contracts and procurement processes into disrepute.
All of the contracted air, ferry and cargo services managed by my Department are procured in an open and fair procedure. Providing a fare reduction scheme for chosen suppliers could have the potential to undermine those procedures and may also lead to reduced services to the islands, particularly with regard to non-subsidised services and other private operators who may be placed at a disadvantage.
My Department has sought advice from the Attorney General in relation to this matter and officials are continuing to engage in this regard.
The estimated cost of such a measure has not yet been established and therefore my Department has not been in contact with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in this regard.
34. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when she will allocate funding for County Kerry and other counties under the 2022 CLÁR Programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27821/22]
View answerThe CLÁR programme provides funding under a number of different measures for small-scale infrastructural projects in designated rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population over a defined period.
I launched the 2022 CLÁR programme in February with a total budget of €7 million. This represents an increase of €1.5 million on the budget for the 2021 CLÁR programme
The measures being funded under CLÁR 2022 are:
Measure 1: Developing Community Facilities & Amenities
Measure 2: Mobility, Cancer Care and Community First Responders Transport
Measure 3: Our Islands
The 2022 CLÁR programme is now closed for all measures and the assessment process has commenced for all applications.
I hope to make an announcement on the successful applicants under Measure 2 in the coming weeks and Measure 1 and 3 will be announced later this year.
35. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide an update on the development of the plans for the Town Centre First initiative. [27673/22]
View answer40. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status update on the appointment of the Town Regeneration Officers; the status of the National Town Centre First Office; if it is up and running to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27787/22]
View answer55. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide an update on the recently launched Towns First Policy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27705/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 35, 40 and 55 together.
The Town Centre First (TCF) Policy is a major cross-government policy that aims to tackle vacancy, combat dereliction and breathe new life into our town centres.
Key to this is the establishment of the National Implementation Office to assist in the delivery and implementation of the policy, and to co-ordinate stakeholder engagement at a national level.
This office will be responsible for supporting Town Regeneration Officers (TRO) in driving implementation of the policy and will also produce an Annual Implementation Plan that monitors progress and delivery.
My Department has agreed the structure and funding for the National Office and the TROs with local authorities. The first step is the appointment of the head of the National Implementation Office. The recruitment process for this key post is currently ongoing.
Similarly, local authorities have now also been authorised to commence the recruitment of TROs who will drive the development of TCF Plans at local level across the country.
Key to the Town Centre First approach is the range of support funding in place. The policy is underpinned by significant levels of public investment spread across major Government schemes, such as the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund, the Croí Conaithe (Towns) Fund and the Town and Village Renewal Scheme.
For example, earlier this year I announced funding of €18.5m under the 2021 Town and Village Renewal Scheme and I have also recently launched the 2022 Scheme. This year I have included a new Building Acquisition Measure, which will provide up to €400,000 to each local authority to purchase vacant and derelict buildings in rural towns and villages for development as community assets. This new measure will be a key support for towns in implementing the Town Centre First approach locally.
I am committed to ensuring that the continued roll out of the Town Centre First policy will work to deliver on the goal of revitalising rural towns and villages as set out in Our Rural Future.
36. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she intends to use the Department of Rural and Community Development Values and Principles, drafted by her Department and recently approved at Cabinet to enhance understanding within other Government Departments of the need for collaboration and partnership between Departments and community and voluntary organisations and the sector as a whole; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27656/22]
View answerSustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities: a five-Year Strategy to Support the Community & Voluntary Sectors in Ireland, launched by Government in 2019, set a general direction of travel for government policy in relation to community development, local development and the community and voluntary sectors and copper-fastened the renewed relationship and partnership between government and these sectors which had developed during its preparation.
One of the key actions in the strategy was the agreement of a set of clearly defined, shared values and principles, building on those that guided the strategy development, to guide and inform consistency in a Government-wide approach to collaboration and partnership working with the community and voluntary sector.
My Department has worked with the sector and cross-Government colleagues through the Cross-Sectoral Group on Local and Community Development, to create a document setting out the Values and Principles for Collaboration and Partnership Working with the Community and Voluntary Sector at a Local and National Level. This document, and the Values and Principles therein, was approved by Government at its meeting on 24th May 2022 and I acknowledge the support of my Cabinet colleagues and their warm reception of this work.
My Department will promulgate the Values and Principles across departments and beyond and I hope they will be adopted and embedded as best practice by all Government bodies and agencies. I intend to formally launch and publish the document shortly.
The approval of the Values and Principles by Government is timely in its significance as we emerge from a period of crisis where collaboration was essential to face the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic; and we now work to contend with the Ukrainian crisis. Continued collaboration and partnership working with the sector is a fundamental enabler to achieving the best possible outcomes for all.
I am committed to continued open and transparent engagement with the sector in the pursuit of the most positive outcomes and intend to continue this work through the establishment of a National Civic Forum for dialogue with the sector later this year. The Forum will be developed in collaboration with community and voluntary stakeholders and its work will be underpinned by the Values and Principles.
37. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she intends providing funding to support agricultural shows around the country in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27664/22]
View answerSince 2017, the Department has provided funding of over €2 million to the Irish Shows Association for Agricultural Shows throughout Ireland.
I recently announced an increase in funding to €700,000 for 2022 to support the return of the agricultural shows after a two year hiatus due to the pandemic. Some 120 events are set to benefit and I hope that this funding will help put the shows on a firmer financial footing and provide vital support to the Committees responsible for organising the events throughout the country.
I am delighted to be able to acknowledge the hard work, commitment and dedication that goes into every show and I am pleased that the Irish Shows Association is once again working with my Department to administer the funding. I hope to have the opportunity to visit many agricultural shows throughout the country this year to see first-hand the impact these shows make to the vibrancy of our local rural communities.
38. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the engagement her Department has had with Galway County Council to date in 2022 with regard to addressing the issue of sandbanks at Céibh an Chóra on Inis Meáin, which hinder the freight service to the island; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27788/22]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, Galway County Council is the responsible authority for the maintenance and development of pier infrastructure on the Aran islands. My Department is aware of this issue regarding the sandbank, which can hinder freight services to the island.
Officials from my Department meet on a regular basis with Galway County Council to discuss issues relating to the pier infrastructure on the Aran Islands. The sandbank issue has been raised and was discussed at the most recent meeting held on Tuesday last, 24 May.
Galway County Council advised my Department that a Foreshore Licence pre-Application was submitted on 12 April 2022 and they are scheduled to meet with the Foreshore Unit on 30 June to discuss an application for a dredging licence at the site.
My Department will continue to monitor the service and is working closely with all stakeholders to minimise any disruptions to the scheduled timetable.
39. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he will provide an update on her Department’s efforts with regard to the LEADER programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27394/22]
View answerThe LEADER Programme is one of the key interventions of Our Rural Future, the Government’s Policy for rural development launched last year.
The 2014-2020 LEADER programme had a total allocation of €250 million. €225 million of this budget was allocated directly to the Local Action Groups (LAGs) who deliver the programme and approve projects at local level. This funding was allocated to the LAGs for the programming period rather than on an annual basis to give them greater flexibility to manage their budgets. The balance of €25 million was provided for thematic projects which are approved at national level.
In December 2020, I launched the Transitional LEADER Programme, which came into effect from 1 April 2021 and will run to the end of 2022. A total of €70 million has been made available over this programming period. €65 million of this budget is available to LAGs who deliver the programme and approve projects at local level. This funding is distributed between the LAGs on a pro-rata basis, commensurate with the allocations made at the start of the 2014-2020 LEADER programme.
A further €3 million of the funding has been allocated to support co-operation projects and innovation between LAGs, while the remaining €2 million is being provided to support strategy development for the next LEADER programme.
Currently over 5,200 projects have been approved for funding of €220 million. Approximately €139 million has been paid to beneficiaries in respect of completed works with 3,250 projects receiving their final payment claim representing 62% of projects approved.
An indicative budget of €180 million has been announced for the LEADER programme for the period 2023-2027. When taken together with the €70 million already provided for 2021 and 2022 under the Transitional LEADER Programme, a total of €250 million will be made available for the 2021 - 2027 period, thus maintaining the level of funding provided for the 2014-2020 programming period. The maintenance of the €250m funding allocation will underpin the continued contribution of the LEADER approach in delivering on the Government’s vision for Rural Ireland.
Preparations for the design and delivery of the next LEADER programme from 2023-2027 are well underway and there is ongoing engagement between my officials, colleagues from the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine and the EU Commission with a view to obtaining approval for the CAP Strategic Plan, as a matter of priority.
The ongoing engagement and consultation with stakeholders, combined with the funding allocation of €250 million indicated, will ensure that the LEADER programme from 2023 will continue to support and further develop our rural communities and businesses.
41. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she intends providing funding to support tidy towns groups to assist them with their projects and initiatives; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27665/22]
View answerI was pleased to be in a position at the 2021 SuperValu TidyTowns awards ceremony to announce a funding package of €1.5 million to support TidyTowns groups in preparing for the 2022 competition. This brings the total funding allocated to TidyTowns groups to €6.7 million since my Department was established in 2017.
I launched the 2022 SuperValu TidyTowns competition on 7th April 2022, and the closing date for entries was Friday 20th May. I look forward to announcing the winner of Ireland's Tidiest Town 2022 later in the year.
My Department, with support from the National Panel of TidyTowns Adjudicators, recently redrafted the TidyTowns Handbook to bring it in line with the competition categories and to further assist the TidyTowns groups. My Department also continues to support TidyTowns groups via ongoing engagement such as regular newsletters, sharing information on the TidyTowns website and on our social media pages, and through the provision of information webinars.
42. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the progress she has made in developing a Dark Skies Strategy for Ireland. [27681/22]
View answerOur Rural Future is the most ambitious and transformational policy for rural development in Ireland for decades. The policy contains more than 150 measures for delivery across the whole of Government, with the underlying theme of economic, environmental and societal sustainability.
The policy has a vision of ensuring vibrant and thriving rural towns and villages, with a key objective to maximise opportunities for individuals, communities and businesses in rural areas. It recognises that rural areas play an integral role in the economic, social and cultural recovery and wellbeing of the country.
The policy commits to developing a Dark Skies Strategy for Ireland, with a focus on the opportunities it can create for rural communities and employment creation.
My Department has undertaken desk research and engagement with key stakeholders, such as representatives of Dark Sky Ireland and Fáilte Ireland. Further consultations included in-depth discussions with Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media in the context of its responsibility for tourism policy.
The desk research and preliminary consultations indicated the necessity for the establishment of a structured consultation with key stakeholders in order to maximise complementarity and alignment with broader tourism policies and processes. Further substantive engagement with this group is now foreseen over the coming months with a view to defining priorities and next steps.
43. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he will provide an update on stage 3 of the development of An Caladh Mór on Inis Meáin; if he will provide a schedule of works for An Caladh Mór; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27323/22]
View answerThe Development of the Caladh Mór Pier on Inis Meáin is included in the National Development Plan. As the Deputy will be aware, Galway County Council is responsible for the development of stage 3 of this project.
As part of the preparatory works, the National Maritime College of Ireland (NMCI) was instructed by Galway County Council to develop a model simulation for the harbour. Galway County Council has collated the technical specifications of the key vessels that use the harbour and this data will be fed into the simulation. It is hoped that the simulation will be completed, and tested with feedback given, by the end of August.
To feed into this process, additional bathymetric studies are also to be carried out in the harbour to gather further data. This will be a multi-beam mapping survey, which will be highly detailed, but requires suitable conditions to be carried out. Galway County Council advised my Department at a meeting between officials last week that, due to unsettled weather and marine conditions, the bathymetric survey has not yet been completed. It is hoped that conditions will settle in the next week or so, allowing for completion of the survey.
Once this work has been completed, Galway County Council will incorporate the findings into a draft business case. Following on from this, my Department will be in a position to evaluate the next steps in the process.
44. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the way in which she will ensure that the projects that were committed to by her Department through the Rural Regeneration Development Fund get delivered, in light of rising construction costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27790/22]
View answerThe Rural Regeneration and Development Fund has to date approved funding of €278 million for 191 projects nationwide costing over €377 million.
Projects are initially approved for funding in principle and then progress through a comprehensive approval process before final confirmation of funding is provided by my Department. At each stage of this approval process, the project is reviewed by my Department to ensure it continues to meet its stated objectives, including financial sustainability. This review includes an assessment by an independent quantity surveyor to ensure all costs and contingencies have been included by the lead party for the project.
In line with best practice project management, all applicants to the Fund are asked to put in place a contingency budget at a level appropriate for the type of project being undertaken.
While I recognise the challenges currently faced by capital projects in terms of rising construction costs, a carefully calculated contingency budget will meet much of these challenges. Notwithstanding this, it is open to project lead parties to make a case to the Department for additional funding if the cost of an approved project significantly increases once the procurement process has been completed and the final cost of the project is confirmed. Any such case must be supported by a detailed justification from the lead party setting out the reasons for the increased cost, detailing exactly where the additional costs arose. As the project would have been approved based upon the original budget, a full value for money review with an updated business plan must be provided by the lead party before any additional funding could be considered.
Support is also available in relation to the significant ongoing effects of construction inflation, including the recent Inflation Co-Operation Framework announced by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, and my Department is in close contact with lead parties in order to manage issues arising in that regard.
45. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 84 of 5 April 2022, the status of the new policy for the Islands; if the in-person meetings on the islands have taken place to date; if she has received the draft of the policy document to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27784/22]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Government is committed to publishing a 10 year policy on island development with associated three year action plans.
My Department has completed the bilateral meetings with all relevant Government Departments. These bilateral meetings have provided an opportunity for detailed discussion of the issues raised by island communities and for Departments to assess how they might help address the various issues raised.
The public consultation meetings have also been completed. Due to Covid-19 it was not possible for officials to visit a number of islands and the public consultation meetings were moved to an on-line format. However some island communities did not wish to engage with on-line meetings, preferring to wait for public consultation meetings to be held on their islands.
The final consultation meetings were held on Toraigh Island, Co. Donegal and Clare Island, Co. Mayo earlier this month. Senior officials from my Department were in attendance at these meetings and engaged with the island communities on the issues of concern to them.
The most recent meeting of the Interdepartmental Committee for the Islands was held on 18 May, where participating Departments reviewed progress on the policy development and agreed the next steps to be taken.
Work has begun on an initial draft of the policy document and I understand that, based on the development work to date, an initial draft is expected to be ready for my consideration by the end of summer.
46. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the way that her Department is supporting community hubs for enterprise; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24960/22]
View answer56. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the way that her Department is supporting community hubs for enterprise; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18636/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 46 and 56 together.
Our Rural Future clearly sets out the transformative effects that remote working can have in communities across Ireland. Accordingly, over recent years my department has invested some €100 million in the sector, to build, improve and expand hubs.
In May 2021 I launched the National Hub Network - connectedhubs.ie. The National Hub Network currently comprises 236 remote and co-working facilities across the State. These facilities have been onboarded to connectedhubs.ie, the shared online booking and payments platform for member hubs and their users. The network includes a diverse range of hubs, services and facilities, thus facilitating companies of different sizes. It is expected that, in time, the National Hub Network and the connectedhubs.ie platform will include more than 400 facilities. Details for the onboarded hub facilities can be obtained via the Connected hubs platform - www.connectedhubs.ie .
Last year, through the Connected Hubs 2021 scheme I awarded almost €9 million in funding to over 100 applicants enabling them to add additional capacity to existing remote working hubs and BCPs across the country.
In February of this year, I launched the 2022 Connected Hubs Call, allocating a further €5 million in funding for the ongoing development in remote working facilities and BCPs - the 2022 evaluation process has now concluded and I will be announcing the successful applicants very shortly.
To date my focus has been on establishing the network and on achieving the initial critical mass. Following strong progress on the establishment phase of the project, my focus has now shifted to the next stage of development. To this end, my officials have been consulting with hub managers across the country, and with other stakeholders, to better inform the future strategic direction of the National Hub Network and of the connectedhubs.ie platform. .
In February I announced the commencement of a major promotional campaign to raise awareness of the Connected Hubs network to relevant stakeholders, including SMEs/business owners and new hub users.
Connected Hubs is gaining a significant profile, both at home and abroad. Earlier this year I announced a partnership with Zoom, a company synonymous with remote working. The Network also works closely with the technology and innovation leader Cisco. There are significant opportunities for employers of all sizes to leverage the National Hub Network directly. More workers than ever are expressing a preference for remote work and more employers, noting the strong professional performance of so many remote workers, see their own interests reflected in the those of their employees.
The connectedhubs.ie team have for some time been developing a corporate service to engage with and support corporate clients interested in using our nationwide network to accommodate their employees, but also to gain access to the vast pool of talent that Ireland has to offer, whether those talented people live in our cities, towns, villages or rural parishes. I believe the development of the corporate service represents another great step forward for the National hub Network .
This shift of focus will help to ensure that the network continues to provide the level of service that employers and employees need and expect.
I am committed to continuing my Department's support for the ongoing development of a comprehensive and integrated network of remote working hubs in recognition of the vital role that they can play in our post-Covid recovery.
47. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the town and village renewal scheme will open for applications; the types of projects that will be eligible for funding in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27622/22]
View answerThe Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS) is part of a range of measures to support the revitalisation of rural Ireland. The scheme is funded under Project Ireland 2040 as part of “Our Rural Future”.
Since the introduction of the Scheme in 2016, almost €113 million has been approved for more than 1,400 projects across the country. In February, I announced almost €18.5 million under the 2021 Scheme for projects which will benefit rural towns and villages the length and breadth of the country.
I launched the 2022 Town & Village Renewal Scheme on 27 May and a strong emphasis has been placed on projects which tackle vacancy and dereliction by bringing landmark town centre buildings back to life. The types of projects supported under the 2022 Scheme include:
- Projects that bring vacant and derelict buildings and sites back into use as multi-purpose spaces;
- the repurposing of existing community or publicly owned buildings in town or village centres to facilitate remote working;
- the development of parks, green spaces, public outdoor dining spaces and recreational amenities in town centres to make them vibrant hubs; and
- marketing campaigns targeted at attracting remote workers to their county/region.
- This year I have also introduced a Building Acquisition Measure that will allow local authorities to purchase vacant or derelict buildings in 2022 for future development as community facilities.
48. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the steps she is taking to support the development of walking routes in the Dublin mountains; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27624/22]
View answerThe Walks Scheme, which is funded by my Department, contracts landholders to undertake maintenance work on National Waymarked Ways and other priority trails that traverse their lands. The landholders receive modest payments for maintenance work undertaken in line with agreed work plans.
Last September, I announced the approval in principle of 31 new trails to join the Walks Scheme. This fulfills the commitment in the Programme for Government and Our Rural Future to double the number of trails on the Scheme to 80 trails. These trails are being formally brought onto the scheme by Local Development Companies who deliver the Walks Scheme locally and who are developing work plans for each of the individual landholders involved.
The new trails added to the scheme were selected following a call for expressions of interest to join the scheme. I understand that no expression of interest (EOI) was received in respect of trails in the Dublin Mountains.
Trails that are eligible for inclusion in the Walks Scheme are those that are registered with Sport Ireland and covered by the Sport Ireland trail insurance policy. For example, I understand that the Dublin Mountains Way is registered with Sport Ireland and may be eligible to apply to the scheme in the future. There may be other routes that are not included on the Sport Ireland register and would not be eligible for the scheme.
Once the 31 new trails are fully operational under the Scheme, I will examine the potential for the further expansion of the Scheme. An expression of interest process will be opened for new trails in advance of any further expansion of the scheme.
In addition, my Department’s Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) provides funding for the development and enhancement of amenities such as walking trails. I understand that over €260,000 has been allocation to South Dublin County Council for projects associated with the Dublin Mountains Way.
My Department is currently finalising the new National Outdoor Recreation Strategy which will be published later this year. The Strategy will outline Ireland’s vision to grow the outdoor recreation sector in the coming years, including trail development and enhancement.
50. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if grant schemes run by her Department have a quota on the number of successful applications that must incorporate measures to increase accessibility for disabled people; if not, if she will consider such quotas for future applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27823/22]
View answerIn delivering on its mission, my Department provides a wide range of strategic interventions, funding programmes and policies to support communities and individuals, including people with disabilities. A large proportion of my Department’s schemes already provide support to people with disabilities and it is not intended to add a specific requirement for a quota at this time.
The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) supports disadvantaged communities and individuals, including people with disabilities. The Community Services Programme (CSP) works on a social enterprise model and supports community businesses to provide local services and create employment opportunities for disadvantaged people including those with disabilities.
Other funding programmes delivered by my Department, such as the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and the Community Enhancement Programme, can provide capital support for new or upgraded works in the public realm which can increase accessibility for people with disabilities. The Clár Programme this year also had a measure targeted specifically at people with mobility challenges.
One of the objectives of the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS), which is administered by my Department, is to facilitate the development of outdoor recreational facilities that are accessible to people with disabilities and older people. In developing the scheme my Department has worked with Cara which is a national pan-disability sport organisation providing a collaborative and partnership platform to increase sport and physical activity opportunities for people with disabilities across Ireland.
Project applicants under ORIS are required to indicate how the proposed project is inclusive of people with disabilities and older adults, and this forms part of the assessment criteria used to evaluate applications under the scheme.
Lastly, the Deputy will be aware that all public bodies in Ireland have responsibility, under the Public Sector Equality and Human Rights Duty or Public Sector Duty, to promote equality, prevent discrimination and protect the human rights of their employees, customers, service users, and everyone affected by their policies and plans. This is a legal obligation and is contained in Section 42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Act 2014.
