Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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1067. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the degree to which she and her Department can interface with various community groups to address issues of IT deficiency and connectivity; her future plans in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8608/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department works closely with Local Authorities and community groups across the State on a range of issues, including connectivity and digital development.

Under the Broadband Connection Points (BCP) initiative, which my Department has been leading on, some 300 locations will be provided with high-speed broadband connections for onsite public use. BCPs are typically community centres and sports clubs, in the majority of cases managed by local community groups. These sites will primarily be located in areas expected to wait longest for the arrival of fibre services under the National Broadband Plan.

The objective is that the BCPs will become long-term community assets, providing for a multitude of local needs as they develop over the coming years. In this regard, my officials are designing a suite of programmes, underpinned by the connectivity at BCPs, to develop remote working, eHealth, education and training, and arts and culture projects.

I have secured an additional €5 million under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme this year for the further development of remote working facilities in digital hubs and BCPs, which I hope to be in a position to announce shortly.

My Department also funds the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) which supports over 2,500 local community groups across Ireland annually. In 2020 my Department relaxed SICAP programme rules in order to respond to issues that arose as a result of COVID-19, such as IT deficiencies and connectivity for both individuals and community groups. The threshold for grants to community groups has risen from €1,500 to €2,500, to respond to ICT and other needs during the pandemic.

Funding for the type of projects referred to by the Deputy may also be available through the LEADER Transitional Programme. This programme will come into effect on 1 April 2021 for new project applications. The programme will be delivered through Local Action Groups (LAGs) in each of the 28 LEADER sub-regional areas around the country. In order for a project to be eligible for LEADER funding, it must be compatible with the actions outlined in the approved Local Development Strategy for the relevant LEADER area, and it must comply with the Operating Rules and EU Regulations in place for the programme.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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1068. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which her Department has engaged with local authorities in the context of the delivery of community-based services or requirements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8609/21]

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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Local Authorities play an essential role in supporting vibrant and sustainable communities and community based services.

My Department regularly engages with Local Authorities through their representation on the Cross-Sectoral Group on Local and Community Development, who oversee implementation of Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities: a five-year strategy to support the community and voluntary sector in Ireland . This engagement will continue as we endeavour to support the full implementation of the strategy.

My Department has statutory responsibility to coordinate the design and implementation of the Local Economic and Community Plans (LECPs) at a local level. LECPs work with a 6-year life cycle and current LECPs are completing in 2021 and into 2022. An LECP Advisory Group has been established to support the process to develop Guidelines for the forthcoming LECPs, with representation from Local Authorities. This process will be key for building an effective LECP framework on which community based services will thrive.

My Department also has statutory responsibility for the local and community development governance structures introduced on foot of the local government reform process, namely the Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs), the Public Participation Networks (PPNs) and Local Economic and Community Plans (LECPs). As a result, the Department has ongoing interaction with all of these structures to support their ongoing work and the work of Local Authorities in the context of community development and social inclusion, including my Department's Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP). Other examples of my Department's engagement with Local Authorities in the context of delivery of community-based services or requirements include the following:

- The Department funded programmes in 2020 including two rounds of the Community Enhancement Programme (€7m) and two rounds of the COVID-19 Emergency Fund (€4.2m). These were either administered by the Local Authority (LA) or by the LCDC (with support from the LA) in each area, and provide small grants to community groups.

- The Department worked to support the Community Call initiative which was an unprecedented mobilisation of both state and voluntary resources to combat the effects of COVID-19. The initiative was led by LAs in each area.

- My Department has responsibility for supporting the delivery of a public library service by LAs and provides funding to assist the authorities with the provision of this service.

- My Department provides ongoing financial support to support the community function in local authorities including the work of the LCDCs. This funding is in the region of €2m on an annual basis.