Written answers

Thursday, 10 May 2018

Department of Health

Departmental Funding

Photo of Louise O'ReillyLouise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

185. To ask the Minister for Health the breakdown of the spending and funding allocated to and by the Healthy Ireland Fund since its inception; the way in which the fund was spent; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20563/18]

Photo of Catherine ByrneCatherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In July 2016 Government approved the creation of a Healthy Ireland Fund and subsequently provided an initial allocation of €5 million in Budget 2017 to kick-start its establishment. A further €5 million has been approved in Budget 2018 for the Fund. 

The Healthy Ireland Fund is intended as an innovative mechanism to stimulate and support inter-sectoral action and partnership working to implement Healthy Ireland, the national framework to improve health and wellbeing.  It is aimed at supporting evidence-based initiatives to support implementation of key policies and strategies under Healthy Ireland, including the Obesity Policy and Action Plan, the National Physical Activity Plan, Tobacco Free Ireland, the Sexual Health Strategy and others, and will have a focus in supporting measures aimed at children and young families and disadvantaged groups or communities.

The Department has contracted Pobal, the not-for-profit company that manages programmes on behalf of the Irish Government and the EU, to administer the Fund on their behalf. Both the Department of Children and Youth Affairs and the Department of Rural and Community Development made contributions to the Fund in 2017.

The First strand of funding of €4.1 million was offered to Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) and Children and Young People Services Committees (CYPSCs) and every local authority area made an application and received funding.  This funding is being used to support local implementation of health and wellbeing actions from Local Economic and Community Plans and Children and Young People's Plans that align with Healthy Ireland and Better Outcomes and Brighter Futures.

The second strand of funding of around €1.35 million included a range of projects to support the National Physical Activity Plan, with a particular focus on supporting children and other groups to avail of opportunities to access and participate in various initiatives. This includes cycling and swimming initiatives, a Young Athletes Programme with Special Olympics, and a significant expansion of the Active School Flag physical activity programme in schools around the country. The Healthy Ireland at Your Library initiative to develop the country’s library network as health and wellbeing hubs in communities was also funded.

The 2017 Fund was apportioned in the following manner:

Strand I – Local

Children and Young Persons Services Committees (CYPSC):

CountyAmount
Carlow CYPSC €37,183
Cavan CYPSC€38,000
Cork City CYPSC€37,260
Dublin City North CPYSC€38,000
Dublin City South CYPSC€38,000
Galway CYPSC €38,000
Kerry CYPSC€38,360
Kilkenny CYPSC€38,000
Limerick CYPSC€34,540
Louth CYPSC€38,400
Meath CYPSC€38,400
Roscommon CYPSC€36,154
Sligo Leitrim CYPSC€38,400
South Dublin CYPSC €37,145
Waterford CYPSC €25,480
Wexford CYPSC €37,978
Wicklow CYPSC€38,400

Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs):

CountyAmount
Carlow LCDC €100,000
Cavan LCDC€100,000
Cork City LCDC€99,000
Dublin City LCDC€100,000
Galway City LCDC €100,000
Galway County LCDC€100,000
Kerry LCDC€100,000
Kilkenny LCDC€89,000
Laois LCDC€93,000
Leitrim LCDC€100,000
Limerick LCDC€100,000
Longford LCDC€100,000
Louth LCDC€88,600
Meath LCDC€100,000
Offaly LCDC€99,000
Roscommon LCDC€100,000
Sligo LCDC€96,500
South Dublin LCDC€96,500
Waterford LCDC€100,000
Wexford LCDC€100,000
Wicklow LCDC€96,500

Joint LCDC and CYPSC

NameAmount
Clare LCDC and CYPSC €138,400
Cork County (North, South and West) LCDC€200,000
Donegal LCDC and CYPSC€138,000
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown LCDC and Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown CYPSC€137,860
Fingal LCDC and CYPSC €138,400
Kildare LCDC/CYPSC€138,400
Laois/Offaly CYPSC€76,000
Mayo LCDC and CYPSC €130,600
Monaghan LCDC and CYPSC €138,400
Monaghan LCDC and CYPSC €130,900

Total: Strand I – Local:€4,147,413

Strand II – National

NameAmount
Sport Ireland €738,505
Special Olympics Young Athletes Programme €54,221
Great Dublin Bike Ride €105,915
Operation Transformation €38,369
National Fitness Day €40,000
Get Ireland Swimming €150,000
Get Ireland Walking €100,000
Get Ireland Cycling€30,000
Cycle Right €150,000
Children Sport Participation and Physical Activity follow up study 2017-2018€70,000
Local Government Management Agency (Libraries Development) €400,000
Mayo Education Centre (Active School Flag)€213,290

Total: Strand II – National€1,351,795

TOTAL Apportioned Overall€5,499,208

Funding decisions for 2017 were made by a committee comprised of senior officials representing several government departments.  The next round of funding is currently out for a call for proposals.  My officials are currently awaiting a more detailed expenditure report from Pobal on the 2017 Fund.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.