Mr. Donal McCormack:

According to the climate change report that was published by the Local Government Management Agency in January 2020, there are over 2,400 local authority allotments and 97 community gardens throughout Ireland. Within this there are eight local authorities that have stated they do not provide any allotments or community gardens. The current legislation covering allotments and community gardens is weak and confusing for citizens. Some legislation relating to allotments is out of date and refers as far back as 1882. This needs to be replaced and updated to make it easier for residents and people to request a plot to be able to grow their own produce.

There are no Irish-wide requirements for waiting lists in each local authority. This makes it difficult for local authorities to forecast or plan ahead for future use of land. Although highlighted as an aid for food poverty, the current laws on allotments and community gardens do not make provision for those who cannot afford a plot. Compared to other countries, Ireland lags behind in the management, support and protection of allotments and community gardens. In Germany for example, there are approximately 1 million plots - a ratio of approximately one plot for every 89 people. In the UK, there are approximately 300,000 plots with a ratio of one plot for every 200 people. Denmark has 60,000 plots with a ratio of one plot for every 97 people. In Ireland, the ratio is closer to one for every 2,000 people. Other countries have also recently improved their legislation surrounding the provision of allotments and community gardens. Scotland, for example, now requires the formal approval of a Scottish Minister if an allotment group or community gardens are to be removed by a local authority. Those responsible have also put duties in place for local authorities to keep a waiting list and take action to ensure local residents do not stay on the waiting list for long periods.

In recent years there has been a well-documented resurgence of interest in gardening and growing our own produce. It is brilliant to know that some Deputies are availing of local authority allotments. Community Gardens Ireland has been helping with the set-up of gardens and plots throughout Ireland. However, this is largely down to individuals and community groups and is not driven by any policy, goal or overall strategy by Departments.

It is worth highlighting that the Greater London Authority set a goal in 2008 that by 2012 it would create an additional 2012 new community growing spaces. Those responsible succeeded. Ireland could learn from this experience and goal.

Our proposal to the joint committee today is in two parts. First, we propose that a capital fund be made available to local authorities for the purchase of land specifically for community growing spaces. Research completed by Community Gardens Ireland in 2021 has shown that only 20% of allotments and community gardens are actually permanent. In recent years community groups have been removed from their community gardens or allotments. Given the sometimes-transient nature of community growing spaces we can see this being more of an issue over the coming years. We see this as an opportunity for the joint committee to be proactive on this front. If a capital fund was made available, it would allow local authorities to provide additional land for communities to grow their own produce, along with allowing those sites to become permanent. We are not aware of any funding that allows capital funding for the purchase of land. Oftentimes for funding it is assumed that communities would somehow have access to it.

Our second proposal is for a CLÁR-based funding scheme to be put in place for urban areas. We welcomed the most recent announcement of CLÁR funding based on specific rural areas throughout Ireland with an emphasis on a funding scheme for allotments and community gardens. Allotments and community gardens are part of what is called "urban agriculture" given they often occur in built-up areas. We are calling on the joint committee to allocate a specific urban funding scheme similar to the rural scheme to allow community groups to apply for this funding directly. Most of these initiatives would provide long-term outdoor support to communities in areas hit hard by the current pandemic. It is consistent with the 2020 programme for Government and with COVID-19 Resilience and Recovery 2021: The Path Ahead.

We hope we have demonstrated the immense benefits that come from the provision of allotments and community gardens and how we as a society have to do more. Providing more of these spaces will offer excellent outdoor facilities for local residents to socialise safely and come together once again as a community provided social distancing is built in. We cannot think of another low-cost community initiative like this that has so many benefits. We strongly urge the joint committee to do more to encourage more allotments and community gardens throughout Ireland and we encourage colleagues of committee members to do so as well. I would welcome any questions committee members have on this proposal.