Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 40: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his plans to re-open the CLÁR single to three-phase electricity conversion scheme; the outcome of the review of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8870/09]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the CLÁR three-phase electricity conversion scheme has proven to be a popular and worthwhile measure. Since 2002, almost €5.42 million has been invested in 438 businesses, sports clubs and community centres to enhance electricity supply.

In a context where funding approved under CLÁR and the level of outstanding commitments increased significantly in 2008, a number of measures, including the three-phase electricity conversion measure, were closed and new applications are not currently being accepted. Against the background of the current economic climate, I am reviewing the CLÁR programme as a whole, having regard to demand, the funding available and the level of outstanding commitments. In this context, I will consider the reintroduction of a modified single to three-phase electricity measure when circumstances allow.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I am glad to learn that the Minister will reconsider the measure, which benefited community groups, businesses and sporting organisations. City people in particular do not understand rural Ireland's problems, the greatest of which is existent, but poor quality electricity supply. Businesses are trying to operate and create employment, but it costs them a fortune to install three-phase electricity.

Whatever review the Minister is undertaking in respect of the CLÁR programme, many causes are worthy of support while others are not so worthy. It is important for rural life and business to reintroduce this scheme. The Minister should try to find some funding, even if the scheme was to be confined to the business element for the present, to try to create employment. I ask the Minister to provide some funding in his budget for this year to try to maintain the three-phase electricity conversion scheme for the business element, in an effort to retain employment in rural and Gaeltacht areas.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I fully accept the Deputy's observations and this scheme is of particular importance. I have personal experience regarding the effective lack of three-phase electricity and of trying to operate machines off the backs of tractors in single phase and so on. This is a priority scheme and I will go further by referring to the three issues I have stated I wish to address, once the money to accept new applications becomes available. A major overhang of work that was sanctioned last year exists, particularly regarding water and sewerage schemes and so on, that must be paid for this year. However, the first of three priority areas I have identified is the three-phase electricity scheme. At its height it cost approximately €1.5 million per year and grew hugely when we expanded the CLÁR areas. The second priority is the group water scheme top-ups because it involves putting piped water into areas that were totally dependent on wells. No one knew the capacity of each well, many of which used to dry up in the summer and there were other problems. The third priority I wish to consider is the issue of sewerage schemes in very small villages. For example, in Deputy Ring's native County Mayo, villages such as Cross and The Neale made great use of the scheme to install treatment plants on a small network. Once one has done that much, one can add to the network again in the future, if the basic core has been put in place. This allows such small villages to grow. Once the existing applications and approvals have worked their way through the system and we can accept more applications, these will be the priorities I will consider in respect of the scheme.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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It would be a retrograde step to do away with this scheme. Given the present economic downturn, the Minister still should find a way to provide the funding that would ensure the continuation of this programme. Not only should it be continued in the CLÁR areas but it should be extended to all districts because its benefits are enormous. As an electrician, I understand the workings of single phase and three-phase electricity. In respect of agritourism and everything associated with it in rural Ireland, this scheme would be received with open arms in every community nationwide. I press upon the Minister the importance of ensuring it is not lost in the cuts his Department will undertake. His promise in the House today that he will investigate its continuation in both the CLÁR areas and everywhere else certainly would be welcomed.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Deputy Wall undoubtedly lights up this Chamber when he speaks. I had not realised he was an electrician. While this lies partially outside the Minister's brief, the ESB recently announced that it intended to take on apprenticeships nationwide in a highly worthwhile initiative. Although the ESB will reduce its prices soon, as is appropriate, it has made a substantial profit in recent years because the regulator lacked the power to allow it to reduce prices heretofore. Consequently, the Minister or his officials should talk to the ESB to ascertain whether it now could do something for rural Ireland, where in some cases it failed to provide the requisite services. It should be asked to put together some kind of fund, in conjunction with the Department, to try to help to keep this scheme alive. As Deputy Wall noted, it is important for rural Ireland. People in the cities will not understand that one cannot operate unless one has a proper power supply. While the ESB has been given this job, in some cases it does not do it. The Minister might talk to its chief executive to ascertain whether it would provide some funding to the Department to try to introduce a scheme, which now is needed more than ever as jobs are needed in rural areas in particular.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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That certainly is a good idea and I will consider it because I am willing to explore any possibility of getting funding into rural areas. As for Deputy Wall's remarks, there is another scheme that runs in parallel to this that my Department inherited from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. I refer to the farm electrification grant scheme, or FEG scheme, as it is often known, which was dying slowly. Although there had been major interest in that scheme, when the waste management grants became available, many people then applied under the agricultural disadvantaged areas scheme for connections to sheds and to all the equipment they had for a slurry tanks and so on. The question of electricity supply for large commercial farming operations and for small businesses is vital. While we hear much about gaining access to broadband, in many parts of rural Ireland the ESB is the first requisite and broadband is the second and both are equal in the world in which we live. I am open to considering simple ideas to deal with the bread and butter issues. While one never will get on the front pages of the newspapers for such a debate, it changes people's lives and I thank Members for their support for this process and I certainly will keep their remarks in mind.

Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 41: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the level of funding which has been provided from 2008 to date, on a county basis, towards community development programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8889/09]

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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The community development programme was established in 1990 in recognition of the role of community development in tackling the causes and effects of poverty and disadvantage. It aims to offer new opportunities to enable people to use and develop their skills, knowledge, experiences and common purpose to improve the quality of their own lives and the good of their community.

A total of 184 projects are currently funded under the programme. These are located in recognised disadvantaged areas nationwide, in both urban and rural areas. All projects are managed by local voluntary management committees. They operate as a resource for the communities in which they are located, with their main purpose being to work with the community in identifying and tackling those issues which have resulted in a lack of positive community development.

Details of funding allocated under the programme from 2008 to date, on a county basis, are listed in a table that will be included in the Official Report.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Although I had not realised that yesterday's announcements in respect of the economy, the finances and everything else would be made, I tabled this question because I was concerned regarding cutbacks in respect of this budget. It already has been cut back by several million euro this year. Can the Minister of State guarantee Members and those who are involved in the aforementioned organisations that he can protect the funding that is available to them at present? Can he guarantee that this funding will not be cut further on foot of what is happening in the country? I am sure that each Department will be obliged to reconsider its running costs for the year. As such organisations and the people involved identify the problems that exist in both rural areas and cities, this funding is necessary. Can the Minister of State give a guarantee to the House today that he will protect the necessary funding in his Department to ensure there are no further cuts in the budget?

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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No, I cannot. It would not be possible for me to make such a promise in advance of whatever will happen later in the month. Neither my Department nor any other will be immune to what is happening in the economy. I am aware of the work undertaken by these community development groups and other groups that work in communities. I will endeavour to work with all groups to ensure the services they provide continue to be provided in the communities and areas of disadvantage. However, if the Deputy is asking whether I can guarantee the actual cash figure that has been allocated will continue, I cannot. Nevertheless, in respect of front line services that are being provided in areas of disadvantage and which are experiencing great difficulties at present, I will work to ensure that they will continue to be provided.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I accept the Minister of State has been honest. However, his reply worries me and I am concerned that these services are under threat at present, particularly those pertaining to the most vulnerable in society. Given the good work done over the years, it is highly important that the Minister of State and his senior colleague should fight to ensure that such funding is put in place. It is the most vulnerable who are affected and who are protected and identified in these schemes.

I was going to refer to the mini-budget but I mean the fifth budget in recent times. As I noted last night in the House, we used to have a budget once a year but last year we had two. We now are into the third month of the year and it looks as though we are going to have one each month. If this continues, we will have a budget every week. However the Minister of State should protect the most vulnerable in society in respect of this issue.

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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As I said, I will work to ensure these services are provided. We constantly evaluate and monitor what is going on. These organisations do not work in isolation to other community groups, partnerships and so on. It is important that we achieve the maximum value for money. In the current economic climate, in which we face the prospect of cutbacks in all Departments, I cannot say in advance that the budget for my Department or for a particular subhead will not be affected. It is not possible to provide a categoric assurance in this regard.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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I fully support Deputy Ring on this issue. Likewise, the Minister has my party's full support in terms of any mechanisms he may employ to ensure funding is provided for the schemes to which he referred. I am familiar with these types of schemes in my own constituency. These facilities often open on a Sunday and are used by people at all times of the day and night. They are of benefit to the entire community.

I will do everything I can to assist the Minister in making a case for the retention of these schemes. Cutbacks should not impact on entire communities in this manner. We will only survive current difficulties if communities pull together. This funding must be retained. My colleagues and I will fully support the Minister in every step he takes to meet that objective.

John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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I acknowledge the work that has been done under the community development programme. There are 184 of these projects throughout the State. I will work tirelessly to ensure the services, particularly front line services, they provide are maintained.

Funding is a separate matter. It is important to ensure that we constantly evaluate and monitor what these groups are doing rather than just viewing them in isolation. In any community, there may be multiple community development programme projects but they do not work in isolation from partnerships and other groups. In order to ensure that the needs of the community are being met, it is important we take a more holistic approach. We must strive to achieve efficiencies while also ensuring there are no gaps in services and that a comprehensive package is available in communities. We will work tirelessly to maintain front line services for communities. I acknowledge that the challenge is greater this year than in previous years. I appreciate Deputies' support on this matter. The budgetary issue is for another day but I assure Members that we will fight our corner.