Parliamentary questions

Tidy Towns

Cathal Crowe

218. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department will consider delaying adjudication of the Tidy Towns competition until after the removal of election posters, that is one week after the local and European elections, to be held on 7 June 2024. [23148/24]

Community Development Projects

Jackie Cahill

664. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development what funding streams may be available to a horticulturist looking to provide a community garden service, location already acquired, to local older people; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22549/24]

Regeneration Projects

Michael Moynihan

665. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the funding allocated to each county in each of the years 2020 to 2023 and to date in 2024 under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22605/24]

Control of Dogs

Carol Nolan

666. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the steps being taken to address concerns regarding an apparent increase in the number of livestock being attacked and killed by dogs; if her Department is funding any awareness campaigns on this matter; and, if so, the costs involved to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22612/24]

Departmental Funding

Pauline Tully

667. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the funding that has been allocated to men’s and women's sheds, respectively, in each of the past three years, in tabular form. [22731/24]

Rural Schemes

Frankie Feighan

668. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will consider allowing an extension to a LEADER project under the Leitrim Development Company (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22925/24]

Departmental Schemes

Brendan Griffin

669. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 325 of 18 April and the commitment given therein to furnish the information, the total length or area of road completed, per county per annum, under the local improvement scheme, LIS, since 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22992/24]

Departmental Funding

Carol Nolan

279. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will prioritise an application by a school (details supplied) under the local enhancement programme 2024; when the funding will be announced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22273/24]

Departmental Funding

Brendan Smith

280. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will introduce specific funding provision in her Department's Estimates for the local improvement scheme in view of the long delays in having such roads brought up to a proper standard for local residents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22080/24]

Vacant Sites

Niamh Smyth

686. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the measures her Department is taking to address vacant or derelict retail units in our small towns and villages; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21185/24]

Departmental Schemes

Damien English

687. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development to provide an update on the town and village renewal scheme in respect of projects in County Meath. [21212/24]

Departmental Funding

Damien English

688. Deputy Damien English asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will open up a new round of funding for upgrade and refurbishment works in community centres in County Meath. [21213/24]

Community Development Projects

Holly Cairns

689. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development to outline the work being undertaken by her Department to support the further development of communities on the Beara Peninsula. [21214/24]

Vacant Sites

Holly Cairns

690. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the supports available by her Department to address vacancy and dereliction in rural towns and villages. [21215/24]

Departmental Policies

Holly Cairns

691. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development to provide an update on the work of the town centre-first policy. [21216/24]

Departmental Schemes

Catherine Murphy

692. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide a schedule of grants she can award directly to community groups, by heading and amount available. [21651/24]

Departmental Schemes

Catherine Murphy

693. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide a schedule of grants she can award directly to local authorities for distribution to community groups, by heading and amount available. [21652/24]

Departmental Funding

Pearse Doherty

694. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the assistance her Department can provide if funding is available to help a centre (details supplied) which is now attempting to fundraise in order to keep the centre open; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21667/24]

Employment Rights

Ged Nash

695. Deputy Ged Nash asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if any State, semi-State or commercial semi-State agency under the aegis of their Department is aware of any cases of bogus self-employment in any bodies under their remit from 2020 to 1 May 2024; if they will outline if there are currently any cases from such agencies or bodies currently before the SCOPE section of the Department of Social Protection for investigation or determination; if there are any SCOPE findings and recommendations relating to any agencies or bodies under their remit where SCOPE has found in favour of the worker, and where they recommended the reclassification of the workers’ employment status to that of direct employee between 2020 and 1 May 2024; if they will provide information on the numbers involved and the names of the individual agencies and bodies in all cases; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21698/24]

Departmental Funding

Colm Burke

696. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of an application by an organisation (details supplied) to Pobal for funding for an additional full-time worker; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21729/24]

Departmental Advertising

Carol Nolan

697. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the total costs incurred by her Department from 2019 to date relating to the placing of advertisements in print media; the names of the print media publications involved, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21871/24]

Community Development Projects

Paul Donnelly

1. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development to report on the community centres investment fund; who has received funding; what stage each project is at; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20937/24]

Tidy Towns

Seán Sherlock

2. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will request that the national judging of the Tidy Towns competition take place after the local elections in order to allow for any posters erected for the elections to be taken down in a timely manner. [20953/24]

Community Development Projects

Thomas Gould

3. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department will provide assistance to develop a community centre in Fair Hill, Cork city. [20940/24]

Island Communities

Catherine Connolly

4. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development for an update on the implementation to date of the policy for the islands; if she has received any reports or updates to date from the monitoring committee for the implementation of the policy for the islands; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20765/24]

Rural Schemes

Robert Troy

5. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department is taking any action regarding obstacles that can arise in carrying out projects under the local improvements scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20905/24]

Control of Dogs

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

6. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development what efforts are being made by her Department to ensure that local authorities are enforcing the legislation in relation to collecting fines under dog control regulations. [20942/24]

Rural Schemes

Cathal Crowe

7. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will significantly increase the allocation from her Department to the local improvement scheme. [20838/24]

Departmental Schemes

Pádraig O'Sullivan

8. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if consideration would be given for larger local authorities such as Cork County Council to make additional submissions to the town and village renewal scheme to account for the larger population; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20404/24]

Rural Schemes

Aindrias Moynihan

9. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department has received any request for drawdown of funds in respect of local improvement scheme works not completed in 2023 from any local authority; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20731/24]

Departmental Programmes

Ruairí Ó Murchú

10. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide an update on the assessment of applications under the community services programme, administered by Pobal, to include the numbers of applications received, the numbers that were successful and whether there will be additional funding provided this year, given the volume of applications received; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20864/24]

Library Services

Alan Farrell

11. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development for an update on her Department's support for community libraries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20570/24]

Rural Recreation Policy

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

12. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the level of interest in the national walks scheme, currently open for expressions of interest; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20663/24]

Rural Schemes

Robert Troy

13. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development to detail the funding that remains to be allocated in 2024 under the various schemes managed by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20906/24]

International Protection

Richard O'Donoghue

14. Deputy Richard O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the future services and infrastructure her Department will provide for communities that are housing refugees fleeing war. [19528/24]

Harbours and Piers

Catherine Connolly

15. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 52 of 5 March 2024, for a status update on the development of Inis Oírr pier; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20761/24]

Rural Schemes

Pauline Tully

16. Deputy Pauline Tully asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department has finalised its report on rural proofing; when this report will be made public; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20899/24]

Library Services

Seán Sherlock

17. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of applications received to date in 2024 from local authorities for new or refurbished libraries; and the capital estimated cost of same, in tabular form. [20956/24]

Departmental Schemes

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire

18. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development for an update on her Department’s plans to address dereliction and vacancy in rural towns and villages; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20943/24]

Rural Schemes

Ciarán Cannon

19. Deputy Ciarán Cannon asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the successful RRDF grants in County Galway will be announced. [20896/24]

Rural Schemes

Éamon Ó Cuív

20. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when an announcement will be made in relation to the approval of the current round of applications under the RRDF; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20815/24]

Departmental Funding

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor

21. Deputy Jennifer Murnane O'Connor asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development for an update on the Communities Centre Investment Fund in County Carlow. [20608/24]

Control of Dogs

Peadar Tóibín

22. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will report on the work of her Department in combatting dog attacks on sheep and livestock; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20532/24]

Island Communities

Catherine Connolly

23. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 45 of 5 March 2024, the status of the monitoring committee for the implementation of the new policy for the islands; the dates of all meetings to date; the date of the next meeting; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20763/24]

Island Communities

Catherine Connolly

24. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 59 of 5 March 2024, the status of the development of Caladh Mor on Inis Meáin; the status of the preparation of the preliminary business case; if the consultant has been appointed to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20764/24]

Island Communities

Éamon Ó Cuív

25. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the progress made to date with the development of Céibh an Chalaidh Mhóir in Inis Meáin; the timeline for the processes that will have to be gone through to get this project to construction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20814/24]

Rural Schemes

Bernard Durkan

26. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent of the monies allocated and spent by her Department through the various schemes available to rural/urban community groups suffering from isolation/deprivation; the extent to which such expenditure continues to benefit directly from schemes under the aegis of her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20835/24]

Rural Schemes

Bernard Durkan

27. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which she intends to continue with her Department’s support for rural and/or urban community groups under the various schemes available in order to reassure people in these areas that it is her intention to continue with such programmes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20834/24]

Rural Schemes

Brendan Griffin

28. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she is concerned with the broad variance of outcomes in terms of numbers of roads completed per funding per local authority under the local improvement scheme; if she will consider measures to examine whether local authorities are achieving value for money with the funding provided by her Department; if she will specifically examine how Mayo County Council can have completed 549 road improvements since 2017 with just marginally more funding than Kerry County Council, where just 196 roads were completed in the same period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20867/24]

Rural Recreation Policy

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

29. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she is aware of the St. Declan's Way Strategic Plan 2024 - 2028 launched recently (details supplied); her views on same, in particular in relation to how best to grow the offering of the route; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20662/24]