Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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1603. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of times funding was moved across budget lines within her Department in a process known as virement; the name and purpose of the fund the money was taken from; the name and purpose of the fund the money was transferred to; the dates upon which she approved of such transfers, since she took office; if the Department of Public Expenditure was consulted prior to the transfer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12275/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Revised Estimate for each year sets out the planned expenditure in each sub-head for that year. The Department of Rural and Community Development operates over 20 sub-head areas each year, reflecting the range of schemes and supports in place for both rural development and community development.

Where, during the course of the year, actual expenditure demands within a sub-head differ to what was planned for in the Revised Estimate, virement has been used to move funding and allow expenditure to take place in the sub-heads where there is most demand. In recent years this has allowed, for example, substantial demand under the Local Improvement Scheme and the LEADER programme to be met from savings elsewhere. This process is an essential part of ensuring that resources can be put to best use across the Department's schemes, with the overall amounts being small relative to the Department's voted allocation, and all such instances being in line with public financial guidelines.

A full list of virements undertaken since the establishment of the Department is provided in the tables attached. In all instances, prior to the expenditure taking place, provisional sanction was sought and received from the Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery, and Reform. The provisional sanctions agreed maximum amounts which could be vired from one area to another, to ensure demand in certain areas could be met from savings elsewhere.

In line with public financial procedures definitive sanction for the final amounts actually utilised (up to the agreed maximum) was then received in the first quarter of the following year. The tables attached reflect the definitive sanction each year, with the 2022 sanction figures remaining provisional until completion of the Department’s audited appropriation account in September of this year.

Summary of Virements: 2018 €4.67m (current) and €19.479m (capital).

Summary of Virements: 2019 €4.773m (current) and €23.094m (capital).

Summary of Virements: 2020 €1.711m (current) and €8.856m (capital).

Summary of Virements: 2021 €0 (current) and €25.116m (capital).

Summary of virements 2022 –

Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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1604. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if an organisation (details supplied) will be considered for additional funding; the funding streams available to this organisation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [12294/23]

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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My department's Community Services Programme (CSP) supports over 420 community-based organisations, to provide employment opportunities and local services through a social enterprise model.

My department and Pobal have undertaken significant work on the restructuring of the CSP with the redesigned programme introduced and all existing organisations transitioned to the new programme from January 2023. All organisations have received new contracts based on their existing staffing levels.

It is open to organisations to seek additional staffing resources under the programme, by contacting their Pobal Development Co-ordinator, in the first instance.

In addition, it is suggested that organisations contact their Local Development Company and their local Intreo office to explore the possibility of staff resources from activation programmes such as Community Employment, RSS or Tús.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Our Rural Future, the national rural development policy, recognises the importance of community safety in rural areas, and contains a number of measures to this end including the introduction of the Policing and Community Safety Bill to redefine the functions of An Garda Síochána to include community safety. However, in terms of funding schemes neither the Town and Village Renewal Scheme nor the CLÁR Scheme support the installation of CCTV systems. This matter comes within the scope of the Department of Justice.

The Town and Village Renewal Scheme aims to assist with the rejuvenation of rural towns and villages throughout Ireland, making them more attractive places to live, work, and visit. In line with the commitment in Our Rural Future, the 2022 scheme prioritised the renovation of derelict and vacant buildings in our town centres, with a view to bringing these buildings back into use.

Since it was first introduced in 2016 over €149 million has been allocated to more than 1,600 projects across Ireland.  It has supported a range of activities from improving public realm areas to initiatives such as the development of enterprise hubs and remote working facilities. The priorities for the 2023 scheme are currently under review and will be announced in due course. 

The CLÁR Programme provides funding for small-scale projects in designated rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population over a defined period. Since the programme was relaunched in 2016, it has supported a wide range of measures. The CLÁR 2022 programme awarded a record €12.2 million with 292 projects supported.

The CLÁR programme this year will focus on supporting investment in a wide range of community facilities and community infrastructure. The measures to be funded in 2023 are currently under review and will be announced when the CLÁR 2023 program is launched  shortly.

I understand that the Department of Justice administers a grant aid scheme for groups wishing to establish a community- based CCTV system in their area.  Other measures being progressed by the Department of Justice in relation to community safety in rural areas include the establishment of Local Community Safety Partnership Pilots in Waterford and Longford in 2021, a review of community-based alert schemes, and the development of a revised legislative framework to provide clarity to local authorities on how local CCTV schemes can be established while enhancing community safety and data protection safeguards.