Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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498. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the allocation to each local authority for community development functions in 2018 and 2019. [38341/19]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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I have provided the information in the table below which sets out funding to Local Authorities under functions of my Department’s Community Development Division in 2019 to date and in 2018.

In addition to the amounts outlined in the tables below my Department also provides other funding to Local Authorities, which includes:

- €35,000 annually to each of the 31 Local Authorities to part-fund the employment of local broadband officers. The broadband officers act as a single point of contact and ensure consistency in engagement with operators and assist in the rollout of telecommunications infrastructure.

- In 2018, funding of €30,000 was announced for each of the 10 Local Authorities that comprise the Atlantic Economic Corridor (AEC), to support the co-funding of an AEC Officer.

- The Libraries Capital Investment Programme will invest some €29 million in approximately 19 projects over the period 2016 to 2022. Funding of approximately €6 million is available under the programme this year, however, a set allocation per Local Authority is not available as funding is paid based on claims submitted for works completed by Local Authorities.

- My Department also provides some funding to help Local Authorities meet certain costs associated with libraries, including the cost of a small number of leased premises, technological capacity and resources, book-stock and other areas of activity that enhance local library services.

- In 2018 I also announced a major investment package of over €5.2 million from my Department for digital services and facilities in public libraries. This investment will enable ICT infrastructure upgrades and new software, meeting space technologies and digital learning suites in public libraries across the country. This year, funding of €650,000 has been approved for reaching out and engaging with marginalised, socially excluded and disadvantaged communities.

The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme 2018-2022 (SICAP) aims to reduce disadvantage and poverty in Ireland. It provides national funding for actions at local level to promote social inclusion and to strengthen communities.

The Community Enhancement Programme (CEP) provides grant funding towards enhancing the facilities available to communities. The CEP was launched in 2018, replacing and building on two existing schemes (Communities Facilities Scheme and RAPID). Combining the schemes makes a more flexible, streamlined and targeted approach to providing funding to those communities most in need.

Since 2015, funding of up to €50,000 is provided annually by the Department in respect of each Public Participation Network (PPN).