Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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47. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the town and village renewal scheme will open for applications; the types of projects that will be eligible for funding in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27622/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS) is part of a range of measures to support the revitalisation of rural Ireland. The scheme is funded under Project Ireland 2040 as part of “Our Rural Future”.

Since the introduction of the Scheme in 2016, almost €113 million has been approved for more than 1,400 projects across the country. In February, I announced almost €18.5 million under the 2021 Scheme for projects which will  benefit rural towns and villages the length and breadth of the country. 

I launched the 2022 Town & Village Renewal Scheme on 27 May and a strong emphasis has been placed on projects which tackle vacancy and dereliction by bringing landmark town centre buildings back to life. The types of projects supported under the 2022 Scheme include:  

- Projects that bring vacant and derelict buildings and sites back into use as multi-purpose spaces; 

- the repurposing of existing community or publicly owned buildings in town or village centres to facilitate remote working; 

- the development of parks, green spaces, public outdoor dining spaces and recreational amenities in town centres to make them vibrant hubs; and

- marketing campaigns targeted at attracting remote workers to their county/region.

- This year I have also introduced a Building Acquisition Measure that will allow local authorities to purchase vacant or derelict buildings in 2022 for future development as community facilities. 

Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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48. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the steps she is taking to support the development of walking routes in the Dublin mountains; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27624/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Walks Scheme, which is funded by my Department, contracts landholders to undertake maintenance work on National Waymarked Ways and other priority trails that traverse their lands. The landholders receive modest payments for maintenance work undertaken in line with agreed work plans. 

Last September, I announced the approval in principle of 31 new trails to join the Walks Scheme. This fulfills the commitment in the Programme for Government and Our Rural Future to double the number of trails on the Scheme to 80 trails. These trails are being formally brought onto the scheme by Local Development Companies who deliver the Walks Scheme locally and who are developing work plans for each of the individual landholders involved.

The new trails added to the scheme were selected following a call for expressions of interest to join the scheme. I understand that no expression of interest (EOI) was received in respect of trails in the Dublin Mountains.

Trails that are eligible for inclusion in the Walks Scheme are those that are registered with Sport Ireland and covered by the Sport Ireland trail insurance policy. For example, I understand that the Dublin Mountains Way is registered with Sport Ireland and may be eligible to apply to the scheme in the future.  There may be other routes that are not included on the Sport Ireland register and would not be eligible for the scheme.

Once the 31 new trails are fully operational under the Scheme, I will examine the potential for the further expansion of the Scheme. An expression of interest process will be opened for new trails in advance of any further expansion of the scheme. 

In addition, my Department’s Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) provides funding for the development and enhancement of amenities such as walking trails. I understand that over €260,000 has been allocation to South Dublin County Council for projects associated with the Dublin Mountains Way.

My Department is currently finalising the new National Outdoor Recreation Strategy which will be published later this year. The Strategy will outline Ireland’s vision to grow the outdoor recreation sector in the coming years, including trail development and enhancement.

Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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50. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if grant schemes run by her Department have a quota on the number of successful applications that must incorporate measures to increase accessibility for disabled people; if not, if she will consider such quotas for future applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27823/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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In delivering on its mission, my Department provides a wide range of strategic interventions, funding programmes and policies to support communities and individuals, including people with disabilities. A large proportion of my Department’s schemes already provide support to people with disabilities and it is not intended to add a specific requirement for a quota at this time.

The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) supports disadvantaged communities and individuals, including people with disabilities. The Community Services Programme (CSP) works on a social enterprise model and supports community businesses to provide local services and create employment opportunities for disadvantaged people including those with disabilities.

Other funding programmes delivered by my Department, such as the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and the Community Enhancement Programme, can provide capital support for new or upgraded works in the public realm which can increase accessibility for people with disabilities. The Clár Programme this year also had a measure targeted specifically at people with mobility challenges.

One of the objectives of the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS),  which is administered by my Department, is to facilitate the development of outdoor recreational facilities that are accessible to people with disabilities and older people. In developing the scheme my Department has worked with Cara which is a national pan-disability sport organisation providing a collaborative and partnership platform to increase sport and physical activity opportunities for people with disabilities across Ireland.

Project applicants under ORIS are required to indicate how the proposed project is inclusive of people with disabilities and older adults, and this forms part of the assessment criteria used to evaluate applications under the scheme.

Lastly, the Deputy will be aware that all public bodies in Ireland have responsibility, under the Public Sector Equality and Human Rights Duty or Public Sector Duty, to promote equality, prevent discrimination and protect the human rights of their employees, customers, service users, and everyone affected by their policies and plans. This is a legal obligation and is contained in Section 42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Act 2014.

Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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51. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of applications that have been made by an organisation (details supplied) across all schemes that were received by her Department in 2021 and to date in 2022. [27817/22]

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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My Department provides a range of supports which Men's Sheds availed of in 2021 and 2022, depending on the works being completed.

For example, in 2021, the Community Enhancement Programme (CEP) provided funding of €4.5m for small capital grants to community groups to enhance their facilities. To date, 68 men’s sheds have received funding to the value of €126,804 from the 2021 CEP.

In November 2021, the €9m Community Activities Fund, under the Community Enhancement Programme, was launched to support community groups impacted by COVID-19.  To date, 79 men’s sheds have received funding to the value of €111,406 from this fund. The Community Activities Fund is now closed to applicants. Details of successful projects will be available on my Department’s website at www.gov.ie/drcd.

In 2021, the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) provided small grants totalling over €41,000 to 44 Men’s Sheds.  In 2022, to date SICAP has provided grants totalling over €5,800 to 5 Men’s Sheds.

Since 2021, 10 projects either for, or by Men’s Shed organisations have been approved for LEADER funding for a total of €264,087.

The Scheme to Support National Organisations (SSNO) runs from 1st July 2019 to 30th June 2022. The Irish Men’s Sheds Association was allocated €270,000 over the three year period of the scheme.

My Department also funded the Irish Men’s Sheds Association under the COVID-19 Stability Funding in 2020.  The association did not apply for funding in 2021.