Written answers

Tuesday, 20 February 2018

Department of Rural and Community Development

Departmental Funding

Photo of Noel GrealishNoel Grealish (Galway West, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

525. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if there is grant aid made available through his Department or organisations funded by his Department for the purchase of defibrillators by community groups; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8612/18]

Photo of Michael RingMichael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The provision of defibrillators may be considered eligible for funding under my Department's LEADER Programme, the Communities Facilities Scheme and the RAPID Programme.

LEADER funding is delivered through Local Action Groups (LAGs) in 28 sub-regional areas across Ireland, in line with the Local Development Strategies developed by each LAG.

Funding under LEADER is available for a range of defined themes, which include enterprise development and job creation, the development of rural towns, social inclusion, and the environment.

The Social Inclusion theme of the LEADER Programme focuses on the provision of services for people living in rural and remote areas and, in that context, the provision of defibrillators could be considered eligible for LEADER funding.

However, individual project approvals are a matter for the Local Action Group in the relevant area and I have no function in relation to such approvals. In order for a project to qualify for funding, it must be compatible with the actions outlined in the approved Local Development Strategy for the sub-regional area concerned, and it must comply with the Operating Rules and EU Regulations in place for the LEADER programme.

Applications for project funding should be made directly to the relevant LAG.  Contact details for all LAGs are available on my Department's website at.

The Communities Facilities Scheme (CFS) was launched on 10 March 2017. It was targeted at disadvantaged urban and rural areas, but not exclusively so. The funding related to capital projects only. The CFS is administered by the Local Community Development Committees on behalf of the Department. I am delighted to confirm that I have also secured a €2 million allocation for the CFS in Budget 2018. The modalities of the CFS for 2018 are currently under consideration.

The RAPID (Revitalising Areas by Planning, Investment and Development) Programme was launched on 2 November 2017. The Programme funding was for capital grants only and was aimed at funding projects in disadvantaged urban areas. The funding related to capital projects only. The RAPID Programme is also administered by the Local Community Development Committees on behalf of the Department. I have also secured a €2 million allocation for RAPID in Budget 2018. The modalities of the RAPID Programme for 2018 are currently under consideration.

The purchase of defibrillators was eligible for funding under Measure 4 (First Response Support Measure) of the CLÁR (Ceantair Laga Árd-Riachtanais) Programme 2017. CLÁR is a targeted investment programme for rural areas that aims to provide funding for small infrastructural projects in areas that experience disadvantage. The closing date for applications under Measure 4 was 5 May 2017. Decisions regarding the CLÁR Programme and the initiatives that might be funded are currently under consideration by my Department. Further information on Measure 4 can be found at the link .

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.