Dáil debates

Thursday, 21 November 2019

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate

Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme

5:00 pm

Photo of Michael MoynihanMichael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Ceann Comhairle for giving me the opportunity to raise this matter. Before I go into it, I am also aware of somebody in the National Rehabilitation Hospital who is awaiting the provision of funding for a homecare package. It is very frustrating, to say the least. We will return to this issue at a later date.

An application has been made via Cork County Council on behalf of Kanturk and District Community Council under the outdoor recreation infrastructure scheme which is run by the Department of Rural and Community Development under the leadership of the Minister, Deputy Ring. I raise this issue because an application for CLÁR funding for the regeneration of the town park in Kanturk was made by Cork County Council earlier this year. The local authority was under the impression that if it prioritised its CLÁR applications, they would be guaranteed to be funded. Only three of its 16 applications were funded and they were all outside the north Cork region.

I am looking for funding under the outdoor recreation infrastructure scheme for the regeneration of Kanturk town park which has been developed by local people over many decades. It has been kept up to date and improved during the years, but there is now a need for massive redevelopment. It is a fantastic park in the middle of the town on the banks of the river. Great credit is due to those who spearheaded its development in decades gone by. We are at a juncture when there is a need for massive redevelopment. In recent weeks we have finally seen funding come through for the construction of the relief road in Kanturk. The local authority will move very quickly to try to make sure boots will be on the ground and the project developed.

The total cost of the town park project is €140,000 and under measure 2 of the outdoor recreation infrastructure scheme funding of €112,000 is sought. I hope the Minister of State will take back to the Minister and the Minister of State, Deputy Canney, the importance of the scheme and making sure Kanturk will be successful in its application. We need to make sure we will have a vibrant town park. It is picturesque, but the replacement of the old pathways and landscaping is needed. Many people speak about the benefits of sensory gardens. The park will include one. There will be biodiversity, in the context of climate change, into which all communities are buying.

It would be remiss of me not to mention the voluntary work that has been done by the Tidy Towns committee and the community council in recent months, particularly the voluntary efforts made on Saturdays and Tuesdays by the Tidy Towns committee which has done fantastic work in the community. Kanturk is a vibrant town and has a unique status in the country.

I ask the Minister of State to make sure the contents of this debate are carried back to the Department; I am not raising the issue just for the purposes of speaking about it. I ask the Department to look seriously at it. The park ticks many boxes with reference to environmental issues. Kanturk will be enhancedby having a sensory garden, a picnic area, seating and benches in the park. An awful lot of work at local authority level has been put into putting the application together. The local LEADER company, all vested interests and partnership groups have bought into the scheme. I ask the Minister of State to outline the Department's thinking on the application.

Photo of Finian McGrathFinian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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I thank the Deputy for raising this very important issue. I know of his personal commitment and dedication to serving the the people of Kanturk.

I understand the Department of Rural and Community Development has received an application for funding for Kanturk town park under measure 2 of the outdoor recreation infrastructure scheme. This application is under consideration and an announcement will be made by the Minister, Deputy Ring, in due course. I have also been informed by the Department of Rural and Community Development that an application was received under measure 2 of the CLÁR programme which was, unfortunately, unsuccessful. Almost 500 applications were received across all measures, of which more than 300 were made under measures 1 and 2. The level of funding sought far exceeded the available budget and it was not possible to fund all of the project applications received. The selection of the individual projects had regard, inter alia, to the range, mix, quality and impact of the project proposals submitted. Almost €6 million has been allocated for 179 projects across all measures under the CLÁR programme this year. It includes funding for eight projects in total in County Cork, to a value of almost €300,000.

Funding for regeneration is also available through the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund which seeks to support ambitious and strategic projects which have the potential to transform rural economies and communities. The Government has committed €1 billion over ten years to the fund. A total of €315 million has been allocated to the fund for the period from 2019 to 2022.

I am informed by the Department of Rural and Community Development that an application for funding for Kanturk town park was not submitted in the second call for the fund. However, the Department did receive an application for phase one of the Kanturk regeneration plan. The Minister awarded funding of €619,500 to Cork County Council for the project in a recent announcement. The project will unlock the potential for further regeneration opportunities in Kanturk and is one of a series of projects set out in the Kanturk town framework developed by Cork County Council in consultation with local community stakeholders. The development and enhancement of the town park in Kanturk is one of the six transformative projects set out in the Kanturk regeneration plan that may be submitted in future calls for funding under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund or future calls under other funding support schemes, if appropriate, for example, town and village scheme funding.

5:10 pm

Photo of Michael MoynihanMichael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister of State for the reply. I am glad to see that my colleague, the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Creed, is here. I noticed that the antennae went up straightaway when Kanturk was mentioned. The Minister of State might have a word with his ministerial colleague about this application. He said the selection of individual projects had regard to range, mix and quality. What has been put forward for the regeneration of the town park in Kanturk is fantastic. It contains everything possible, including landscaping, a sensory garden and biodiversity, which is so important and into which all communities are buying. There are to be picnic areas, seating and benches.

This is an important project for the town park in Kanturk and the people of the entire Duhallow region. I ask the Minister of State and his colleagues to lobby in every way possible to make sure the funding for it will come through. The project is vital for Kanturk. We do not want to be disappointed again, as we were in seeking CLÁR funding recently. There is great ambition for the town among its residents and those living in the greater Duhallow region. Thankfully, tere is a lot of very good work being done. The project must not be overlooked on this occasion. We were overlooked in the allocation of CLÁR funding, as the Minister of State outlined. A great amount of work has been done by the local authority and LEADER groups, into which all communities have bought. More importantly, the community of Kanturk has bought into it. We are looking forward to an announcement by the Minister for Rural and Community Development to ensure the Kanturk regeneration project will be included. As I said, there is an application and the total cost of the project is €140,000. Funding of €112,000 has been sought and I look forward to it being allocated. I hope the Minister of State will pass on my comments to the Minister and the Department and outline the urgent need for funding for the project.

Photo of Finian McGrathFinian McGrath (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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I share the Deputy's great ambitions for the people of Kanturk. The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Creed, is very committed and will work very closely with the Deputy to deliver, as he has done in the case of many projects for many years. The project set out in the Kanturk regeneration plan will guide and support the future growth and development of the town. Phase 1 of the plan is crucial in achieving that aim. Towns and villages are the heartbeat of rural areas, providing a focal point for economic, cultural and social activity. Their continued vitality is key to our goal of achieving balanced regional development. The funding of projects such as the Kanturk regeneration plan will ensure the rural regeneration funding programme will deliver significant and sustainable regeneration in rural towns and villages across Ireland. I will pursue the matter with the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Deputy Ring, because we all need to work together on excellent proposals like this for the people of Kanturk. The Minister, Deputy Creed, is committed, just like the Deputy whom I wishall the best.

Photo of Seán Ó FearghaílSeán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Ceann Comhairle)
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It is great to see such collegiality among the honourable Members from County Cork.