Ken O'Flynn (Cork North-Central, Independent Ireland Party)
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112. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the exact breakdown of the amount of finance that was allocated to each local development company for 2022 and 2023 regarding the community car initiative for Ukrainians; if information will be provided in relation to an FOI (details supplied); his views on the LDC’s response that they are not subject to FOI’s given that they are in receipt of public money; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24823/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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The Community Car Initiative (CCI) was put in place as a temporary measure to support the Offer a Home scheme, which sought the use of unoccupied homes to accommodate Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection from Ukraine (BoTPs). An underlying principle of CCI was to minimise the number of properties that would be unsuitable due to their location and possible lack of transport links. The CCI was not intended to replace existing transport links or to be used as a dedicated transport source comparable, for example, with a private car. Its purpose was to connect with essential services and existing transport links.

Operated through Local Development Companies (LDC’s), the scheme operated for approximately 1 year (2023), across 23 LDC’s from 16 local authority areas. A total of €1.6m was recouped by my Department to participating LDCs. An overall allocation of €118,500.00 per LDC was available to support the operation of the scheme, summarised below:

I have no function in the determination of which organisations are subject to Freedom of Information (FOI) legislation. Overall responsibility for policy and legislation governing FOI is a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform. Notwithstanding that, my Department will respond to any FOI request it receives as appropriate, and within the statutory parameters set out in law.