Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

While my Department does not directly undertake capital projects, I have set out in the attached Appendix, details of capital projects in Tipperary that have received funding from my Department since January 2022.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS) was launched in 2016 and since then over €156 million has been allocated to more than 1,700 projects. The 2023 TVRS was launched on 21 July 2023 with an overall fund of €15 million, which is designed to support the revitalisation of rural Ireland through a renewed focus on town centre economic and social vibrancy and regeneration.

TVRS is administered by local authorities on behalf of my Department. Under the 2023 Scheme, local authorities were required to advertise for expressions of interest from towns and villages in their area and to select up to 5 proposals for development into detailed applications to be submitted to the Department up to the value of €1.5m per local authority. This increased to 6 applications where the local authority have an inhabited offshore island and a value of up to €1.75 million. One project could seek funding of up to €500,000 with the remaining projects seeking a maximum of €250,000.

The closing date for receipt of applications from local authorities to the Department was close of business on 10th November 2023. All applications received by the Department are currently being assessed as part of a competitive process.

I expect to be in a position to announce the successful projects in the coming weeks, at which point Cork County Council will be notified whether the specified project has been approved for funding.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The LEADER Programme is a key intervention of Our Rural Future, the Government’s Policy for rural development which aims to deliver a range of actions to rural communities over the lifetime of the policy. It supports a broad range of activities which aim to respond to the diversity of the local needs of our rural areas.

I am pleased to inform the deputy that the process to select the Local Action Groups (LAGs) to deliver the 2023-2027 LEADER Programme in Galway has been completed. Three LAGs have been selected to deliver the programme in the Galway sub-regional area. Galway Rural Development will deliver the programme in the east of the county, Forum Connemara will deliver in the west of the county and Comhar na nOiléan will be responsible for the delivery of the programme on the offshore islands. All LAGs were notified on 16 February 2024 of the outcome of the process. The approved LAGs can now commence the delivery of the programme in their respective area.

I look forward to the continued successful delivery of the LEADER Programme and I am confident that LEADER will continue to play a vital role in the coming years in delivering locally led projects which deliver very real impact for communities across the country.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department’s Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) aims to reduce poverty and promote social inclusion and equality by supporting rural and urban communities and individuals using community development approaches, engagement and collaboration.

Due to unforeseen delays in the procurement process, Galway County LCDC in consultation with my Department Officials issued a broadcast via the eTenders system to all tenderers in Galway County, advising that the current SICAP Contract would be extended for a period of three months to the end of March 2024, to allow time for the new SICAP contract to be put in place.

The procurement process for SICAP 2024-2028 is currently ongoing. I have been informed that Galway County Local Community Development Committee (LCDC), the Contracting Authority for the delivery of SICAP in County Galway, issued the successful and unsuccessful notification letters via eTenders on Thursday 14th March for the Galway Islands. However, the SICAP contract will not be signed with the successful tenderer until after the expiry of the 14 calendar-day standstill period which commenced at midnight on 14th March.

This ensures that a fair, transparent and robust process is implemented in the awarding of the new contracts whilst also ensuring the vital work the programme does in supporting those most disadvantaged and marginalised in society is continued in County Galway.

My main priority is to ensure the continuation of SICAP service delivery while the new SICAP 2024 - 2028 tender evaluation process is concluding and new contracts are put in place.