Anne Rabbitte (Fianna Fail)

Sorry for coming in to ask more questions but I love the Ministers' Department, I must admit. I will focus on CLÁR. I commend the Ministers' putting another tranche of funding there. The €100,000 for particular programmes in two municipal areas is welcome. I would love to see a focus on the likes of Changing Places. Would you believe we have only six Changing Places in the entire country that are suitable for people with additional needs? That is where there is a ceiling hoist, the toilet is located so a person can bring a wheelchair beside it, whether to left or right, and the space is big enough for full assistance with two PAs.

Believe it or not, the funding of €100,000 the Department allocated goes all the way. It is absolutely fantastic, but it would be lovely if there were criteria or rules and regulations that would encourage local authorities not to be afraid of projects such as Changing Places. The fact that we have only six in the country would mean that people could plan and get into the rural areas and use the local community facilities.

I did the CLÁR application for my own area. I am not mentioning the area because that would be looking for favouritism. I met with the local authority officials and I tried to step them through using the National Disability Authority’s UDA guidelines and working with what the former Minister of State, Deputy Colm Burke had done previously with regards to how we could use our public toilets, using modern methods of construction or using our library spaces as well. There are great opportunities in areas where there are good recreation amenities where er are trying to attract the whole family in. However, when there are only six in the country, the Department's mechanism will unlock that piece with the CLÁR. Moving the funding allocation from €50,000 to €65,000 up to €100,000 means that we can now be ambitious and include Changing Places. I want to recognise that.

With regards to the outdoor recreation infrastructure scheme, it was great that the Minister pointed out that the Department partners with Cóillte. It does phenomenal work, but the Department enables it to do that work. It gives them that little push that brings more people into the areas to use the trails and everything else. When the Minister and his Department are working on their rural future policy is there a way where we can look to Coillte staff to develop other recreation projects beyond the hikes and trikes? They could be encouraged to open coffee shops or to develop additional facilities that would accommodate everyone and when they are developing trails, they would ensure they are wide enough for people who use a powered wheelchair so they are able to access the whole facility. That would be welcome.

Where does social farming fit in under the umbrella of the Department? Is there funding for that or is the Department partnering with other Departments to do that?

The philanthropy strategy is interesting. There are a lot of good people and a lot of interested organisations. How can they get involved and receive the support they will need? This could be a game-changer. If people want to get involved; how can we assure them that their funding can be taken and that they can partner with the various organisations while at the same time protecting them in the delivery?

The one thing that is critical in the Minister’s Department is if an organisation does not spend the money by a certain date, the local authorities will take it back. That is who we ensure delivery. The deadlines are welcome. Flexibility is tight but that is okay because we want to get the job done before we move on to the next one.