Matt Shanahan (Waterford, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I am deputising for a colleague at short notice so I apologise in advance if I am not fully au faitwith the Minister's brief. Regarding the town and village renewal scheme, I think everybody would agree that it is a great opportunity to develop towns and cities, but I wonder about the idea of drawing up the strategic plans around it, particularly for community groups. Has the Minister's office considered providing funding through LEADER or local area partnership groups to bring in strategic mentors to write these plans and applications? I have some experience in this area and I think it can be difficult to navigate. A large amount of the time, it can be difficult to get the key points across, so that is something the Minister might have a look at.

To reflect what one of my other colleagues said earlier about community organisations, one of our colleagues in the regional group received an email from the Drum Heritage Group in Roscommon. This is a very small heritage visitor centre. It flagged that its operating costs were rising by €6,000, taken up with insurance, electricity and additional maintenance. No grant aid is on offer to a grouping like that. It had contacted the Department, but as a tourist cultural centre it does not qualify. As the Minister knows, these are very important initiatives in small rural towns and it is a pity they are left out of some opportunity to get support.

Everybody welcomes the stability fund but I notice that the fund has been closed since 20 May. One thousand applications were received, yet there are 10,000 registered charities in the country. I know the fund is focusing on health and well-being and, obviously, is being administered through Pobal, the Department of Health and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, but it was based on an income loss of 25%, so people are effectively saying that they are not in a position to raise money with the Covid situation. Was there any opportunity to accommodate organisations that have seen a rise in expenditure? I am thinking of people who are basically facilitating travel in particular where they now have minibuses where they have to take one patient at a time. I think some organisations felt closed out. In respect of 10% of all charities applying to that fund, is the application process too onerous and rigorous? Has the Minister had a chance to look at that again?

In respect of schools and community safety, given the recent tragedies around the country and indeed the near misses of the last week, could we look again at some specific initiative for community and schools safety, particularly water safety, around children's inflatables and signage around inland waterways? It is very important and has, unfortunately, come into sharp relief in recent weeks.

On the Minister's comments regarding the grant scheme for refurbishment of urban properties and the derelict site tax, I know from the just over 13 months I was a member of Waterford City and County Council that in Waterford there are problems in both areas. I support the Minister's comments but perhaps he would outline how the grant scheme for the refurbishment of urban properties will be administered? There is need for simplification of the application process.

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