Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate the opportunity to present this request for a substantive and technical Supplementary Estimate for the Department of Rural and Community Development. There are quite a number of movements reflecting a number of schemes operated by my Department. The proposed Supplementary Estimate covers various areas which I will now set out. There is a substantive Supplementary Estimate for €11 million in current funding for Ukraine supports, with €10 million for the social inclusion and community activation programme and €1 million for volunteer centres. There will be movement of €16 million capital into subhead A4, rural supports, to meet demand under the local improvement scheme. The €16 million is made up of €14.3 million in capital funding originally allocated for subhead A7, rural regeneration and development; €500,000 in capital funding from subhead A8, islands; and €1.2 million in capital funding from subhead B10, libraries development.

There is movement of €6.175 million capital from the A7 rural regeneration and development subhead to B11 community enhancement programme to meet demand under the community centre investment fund; movement of €2 million capital from the A7 rural regeneration and development subhead to meet demand under the LEADER subhead; movement of €2 million capital from the A7 rural regeneration and development subhead to B4 for once-off funding of dog control infrastructure; movement of €1.258 million from current to capital within the B6 support for disadvantaged communities subhead, which funds the Dublin north-east inner-city initiative; and movement of €1.723 million from current to capital within the B8 PEACE subhead.

The substantive Supplementary Estimate of €11 million includes €10 million in additional funding for SICAP, which helps ensure appropriate supports for Ukrainian refugees, while protecting services to existing groups under the programme. This funding was agreed as part of budget 2023 but was not provided for in the Revised Estimate and is, therefore, now being dealt with through a Supplementary Estimate. To date in 2023, the €10 million under SICAP has helped local development companies support in excess of 6,300 Ukrainians and more than 70 community groups working with Ukrainians. The local development companies have also used this funding for more than 320 events and in excess of 180 children and family activities, all to help Ukrainians integrate into their local communities. The substantive Supplementary Estimate of €11 million also includes an additional €1 million for volunteering supports. This is being provided to help the network of 29 volunteer centres throughout the country to provide a range of community integration initiatives to support people arriving from Ukraine and volunteers working in the area.

Separately, there are also a number of technical supplementary adjustments which involve the reallocation of resources from one area to another. These all involve capital resources and are required to ensure the Department can put its resources to best use, as expenditure during the year differs from the original Estimate for an area. First, the original budget for the local improvement scheme was €12 million. This technical Supplementary Estimate will allow additional funding of €16 million for the scheme. This total funding of €28 million will allow improvements to more than 600 roads in 2023. As noted at the outset, the €16 million in savings mainly relates to funding previously allocated to the A7 rural regeneration and development subhead.

The next technical supplementary relates to the community centre investment fund. Under this scheme, funding of €45.8 million has been approved for 861 projects. Expenditure to date this year has been €20 million. It is proposed to transfer €6.175 million from the A7 rural regeneration and development subhead to the B11 community enhancement programme subhead to meet demand under the programme. This will bring total expenditure on the community centre investment fund in 2023 to €26.175 million.

Separately, the original Estimate for the LEADER programme in 2023 was for expenditure of €46 million. This now needs to increase to €48 million to meet the additional demand in 2023. This €2 million will be moved from the A7 rural regeneration and development subhead to the A5 LEADER programme to meet demand in the area.

Next, I intend to move savings of €2 million from the A7 rural regeneration and development subhead to the B4 SICAP subhead to provide once-off funding for dog control infrastructure. The funding is consistent with recommendations from a report published in March by a cross-government working group on the control of dogs, with eligible costs, including infrastructure, vehicles and equipment for dog control purposes.

There are two movements of funding within subheads, from current to capital, for the PEACE programme and Dublin north-east inner-city initiative. These movements reflect the fact that funding decisions are made external to the Department and so initial Estimates are amended as projects are approved.

With regard to the savings which are being utilised here, as I have made clear, the majority of the capital savings relate to the A7 subhead, which funds the rural regeneration and development fund, town and village renewal, and the outdoor recreation infrastructure scheme. Total expenditure across these three areas in the A7 subhead is expected to be €81 million, meaning a saving of €24.5 million on the funding available for 2023.

While I recognise the pandemic delayed a number of projected start dates and local authorities are under pressure on a number of fronts, the level of savings on the RRDF this year is disappointing. However, I acted quickly to make sure funding is put to good use and I have focused on ensuring delivery is accelerated. I have engaged with local authorities throughout the year to emphasise the need for much quicker delivery of RRDF projects and the importance of local authorities delivering on the commitments they make when they apply for funding. My officials met representatives of the CCMA just three weeks ago and again emphasised the importance of accelerated delivery if we are to maintain and grow our capital funding. There are currently 38 major RRDF projects on site with approved funding of €119 million, and this will ensure a strong flow of funding claims in the future. I am seeing projects completed regularly now, and my focus is on ensuring this flow of completions continues and that we all get the message out about the value of this investment in rural Ireland.

I thank the committee for taking the time to consider the Supplementary Estimate for my Department. I and the Minister of State, Deputy Joe O'Brien, are happy to answer any questions that might arise.