Inside Look- Minister Anne Rabbitte - June 2024
Welcome NoteA chara In the June edition of our newsletter, we'll cut through the noise and deliver the news you need to know, helping you to make sense of it all and stay informed and engaged. So, grab your coffee, settle in, and let's go. I would like to take this opportunity to wish Kamala Harris every success in her bid to become the next President of the United States. The United States has had 235 years of unbroken male rule. Kamala Harris is the first female vice president, and the first female vice president of colour, in a country where both houses of congress remain largely white and largely male. A Harris win would usher the first woman, and the first woman of colour, into the presidency—a history-making possibility, and a deeply exciting one. Voters who care about women’s rights know the stakes. It was an honour for me to be invited by Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organisation to speak and participate in The Walk the Talk: Health for All Challenge in Geneva, Switzerland to provide a healthy kickstart to the 77th World Health Assembly. On a lighter note, the West is having their moment. Congratulations to our near neighbour Clare, who battled hard and pulled off a thrilling victory in the All-Ireland. It really was a spectacle to behold. The stage is set for a historic All-Ireland Senior Football Final 2024. I could not be prouder of my home county, Galway, the proud representatives of Connacht, as they take on Armagh for a chance to be crowned champions. The Tribesmen are hungry for their tenth All-Ireland title, and this passionate team deserves all our support. Its just wonderful to see a cascade of maroon and white bunting and flags, letting the wind carry our enthusiasm in our towns and villages. Just to see our streets a sea of colour, a vibrant display of your unwavering loyalty. Every flutter of the bunting, every snap of the flag in the breeze, is a declaration of our belief – and a message to our team that their home county is firmly behind them. Let's hope they bring their indomitable spirit and free-flowing football to Croke Park. bringing the Sam Maguire home to the West of Ireland. If you are a new subscriber to my monthly emails, welcome and thank you for signing up. If there is any issue you need assistance with this month, please do not hesitate to contact me at anne.rabbitte@oireachtas.ie. Anne Walk the Talk: Health for All Challenge 2024The Walk the Talk: Health for All Challenge returned on Sunday, 26 May 2024 to Geneva, Switzerland to provide a healthy kickstart to the Seventy-seventh World Health Assembly. WHO joined with the UN family, Member States, athletes, local sports clubs health partners and the Geneva community to celebrate the importance of healthy lifestyles and demonstrate measures to safely conduct public events. This in-person event invited participants to run, walk, use your wheelchair, or move in any other way over two routes: 3 km and 4.2 km. People of all ages and abilities gathered at Place des Nations from approximately 09:00, when fun warm-ups start, before the 09.30 official opening. Aims of the event:
Irelands Olympic HopefulsThe Paris Olympic Games is just around the corner and will commence on Friday, 26th July 2024. Team Ireland have qualified 122 athletes in 13 different sports so far, and seem to be on course to have it's largest Olympic team ever. We are honourably represented in Athletics, Boxing, Cycling, Rugby 7's, Swimming, Canoeing, Sailing, Rowing, Golf and Equestrian. I am looking forward to supporting our athletes across all disciplines and will be showcasing our magnificent athletes in our July 2024 Newsletter. Increased investment in residential services as part of National Ability Supports System report launchThe National Ability Supports System (NASS) report for 2023 tracks current use, and future need, for specialist disability services, shows the scale of specialist provision, with almost 32,000 adults availing of a range of services that include personal assistance, home help, day services, multi-disciplinary supports, respite, and residential care. The great majority of disabled people rely on mainstream health and social care services, but for those with more complex disabilities – around 80,000 of the 1.1m people with a disability recorded in the last Census – my Department, through the HSE, funds a range of specialist disability services. This year, we will spend a record €2.9bn on these supports. I have fought for, and secured, additional funding every year since being appointed Minister for Disability in 2020. The Action Plan for Disability Services 2024-26 is this Government’s blueprint for further investment in building the capacity of our services to support individuals and their families. The more comprehensive and accurate the data, the better we can plan for future services. Our overall population is getting older, and so are people with disabilities, and their family carers. That means more people will require a disability residential care place when their families can no longer provide support at home. The practice is that all new housing is located in the community in ordinary homes, in line with our philosophy to support people with disabilities to live ordinary lives in ordinary places. I would like to thank all the service users and their families, all the disability service providers who submitted data, and the Health Research Board staff who have compiled and analysed it for this report to give the evidence based to inform future planning of much needed disability services Extension to deferral process for school leavers entering a disability day serviceI was delighted to announce this option for young people leaving school to defer a specialist disability day service has been extended by the HSE from 3 years to 5 years. The transition from school to adult life can be an exciting and daunting time for anyone. The deferral process affords school leavers and their families the reassurance that they can take their time to explore the full breadth of avenues available to them, while maintaining the security that a specialist day service placement will be available should they choose to avail of it in future. Since the scheme was first trialled in 2020: • 448 young people have chosen to defer their acceptance of a day service in pursuit of other pathways; • 31 people have returned to commence a disability day service; • 368 people continue to defer their placement. Government opens applications for the 2024 Back to School Clothing and Footwear AllowanceGovernment has opened the portal for applications for the 2024 Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance, If you automatically qualify for the 2024 Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance payment you will receive an award notification to your MyWelfare account or by post before the end of June 2024. If you do not automatically qualify and have not received an award notification by the end of June, you will need to apply for the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance online at www.MyWelfare.ie The closing date to apply for the 2024 Back to School Clothing and Footwear is 30 September 2024. Government calls for a robust CAP budget for the Future of Agriculture in the EUThe government has called for a fully funded CAP budget to support farmers and ensure a competitive, sustainable, and resilient European agriculture sector. I welcome the recognition of the need for appropriate resources to respond effectively to the multiple objectives of the Common Agriculture Policy. We must be ready to provide a robust CAP budget that will allow us achieve our ambitions. Farmers are being asked to do more. Their role in food production and our environmental ambition must be adequately supported to achieve a competitive, sustainable and resilient sector. Government announces funding to Local Authorities for the refurbishment and development of playgrounds and play areas
The Capital Grant Scheme for Play and Recreation supports the work of Local Authorities in improving access to quality play and recreation facilities within their communities. This can be through the refurbishment and upgrade of existing facilities or through the development of new ones. The scheme offers funding of up to €18,000 per project, an investment that will see positive impacts delivered to children and families across the country. Many of the projects funded under this year’s scheme give particular focus to inclusion and access, and will help to ensure that children with a diverse range of needs can avail of the benefits of high quality play facilities alongside their peers. Some of these funded projects include the installation of:
Government launches Community Education Framework and announces €5 million for 700 community projects across IrelandThe Community Education Framework, the development of which was led by SOLAS, outlines principles and an approach to making consistent and positive changes in how we learn, provide, coordinate and fund community education in Ireland. Government also announced funding of €5million under the REACH Fund to community education groups across Ireland. The funding will support almost 50,000 educationally disadvantaged learners to access and participate in community education. Community education includes both formal and informal learning, addressing learners’ personal development, building skills while offering educational options through simplified pathways, and further opportunities to progress to other areas of FET and beyond. Community education plays a vital role in the FET system, and in local communities across Ireland as it offers local, accessible, and welcoming learning opportunities for individuals. Local Authority Purchase and Renovation Loan to support first time buyers turn vacant or derelict buildings into new homesThe Local Authority Purchase and Renovation Loan (LAPR) is an expansion of the Local Authority Home Loan, will support both the purchase and renovation of homes which are eligible under the existing Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant. The Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant has been incredibly popular to date with over 8,100 applications received under the scheme so far. Now, with the LAPR, a first time buyer who wishes to turn a vacant or derelict property into a new home can receive a loan to fund both purchase and renovation works. Eligibility for the new support is subject to the applicant meeting the existing local authority mortgage lending eligibility criteria and the project meeting scheme lending criteria. The introduction of the LAPR significantly expands the types and numbers of homes eligible under current local authority mortgage lending rules. Previously, only homes which were habitable were eligible for the Local Authority Home Loan and the loan was only available for the purchase of the property, not renovation.
Government launches WorldSkills Ireland 2024Worldskills Ireland celebrates the best of Irish skills opportunities, with competitors from up to 30 disciplines showcasing the best of their skills and professions. It is a brilliant opportunity for young people from all over the country to explore the variety of skills based career paths available to them, from traditional fields, like construction and mechanics, to newer areas, such as financial services, green skills and retrofitting. I hear consistent messages from employers in areas of skills demand, so it’s great to see events like Worldskills returning, benefitting both students and employers from across Ireland. WorldSkills is also aimed at changing negative perceptions around Apprenticeships and a skills-based career. It educates students, teachers, guidance counsellors and especially parents and guardians about the variety of opportunities available to young people in Ireland. Government calls on the public to have their say in reviewing Ireland’s Wildlife LegislationPublic Consultation on Wildlife Legislation open from 27 June to 13 September 2024 The laws underpinning the protection of nature in Ireland are a key instrument in the conservation and enhancement of our beautiful and unique natural heritage. By strengthening our laws in this area, we can give nature the best possible chance to recover and flourish. It is vital that wildlife legislation is reviewed and updated to ensure that nature is given the best protection possible while also respecting our own place within it. So often in Ireland, we rely on European Union legislation to tell us how we should protect nature under the law. This is a chance for us to decide for ourselves what our priorities should be and where we should go beyond the minimum protections set down under EU law. We are all stakeholders when it comes to wildlife legislation. I urge interested members of the public to have their say on how legal protections can be improved and on how we can have legislation that works for everyone and strikes an appropriate balance between the interests of humans and the interest of wildlife.
2024 ‘Love This Place’ campaign asks the public to enjoy and respect Ireland’s great outdoor spacesLove This Place campaign, in partnership with Leave No Trace, asks the public to respect and enjoy Ireland’s outdoors this summer. ‘Love This Place’ Campaign highlights three specific ‘Calls to Action’: Stick to the Path – asking the public to stay on pathways to avoid damaging habitats or disturbing farm animals
Keep Ireland Litter-Free – asking everyone to bring their litter and other waste home and dispose of it responsibly. By embracing the ‘Love This Place Promise’ we can ensure that we are protecting and caring for our landscapes and beautiful outdoor spaces for the generations that will follow us. Record funding for Women in Sport ProgrammeThe record €4 million provided by Government for women in sport this year will go towards promoting more involvement by women and girls at all levels in sport. The government and Sport Ireland remain committed to eliminating the gender participation gap in sport. The recent Irish Sports Monitor Report for 2023 shows that the gap is now below 3% for the first time. The funding announced today will support sporting organisations in putting programmes in place to increase women’s participation in their sports and assist in achieving our aim of equal participation by 2027. In response to the ongoing success of Her Outdoors Week, Sport Ireland will continue to provide a grant scheme for LSPs and outdoor NGBs. The scheme, totalling €100,000, will support the roll out of events through Her Outdoors Week, which takes place from 12-18 August. A sum of €150,000 will also be allocated to Local Sports Partnerships to assist their ongoing work with women and girls. Expertise Grants available to advise owners bringing vacant traditional houses back into use
The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage has today launched a scheme to provide grant support for the provision of expert conservation advice to private owners of vacant traditional houses. The Conservation Advice Grant Scheme follows a successful pilot scheme rolled out last year and is intended to support owners of traditional houses who are availing of or considering the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant to bring vacant or derelict buildings back into residential use. The scheme, which forms part of the Historic Structures Fund, will provide grants to cover 67% of the costs (up to a maximum grant of €5,000) of having a conservation expert with proven and appropriate expertise visit a vacant or derelict traditional building, conduct a survey, and compile tailored conservation advice for the property owner. This expert advice will include a report which outlines the condition of the building and identifies conservation repairs and improvements which would restore it to use while enhancing its character, energy efficiency, integrity, and amenity. Stream 1 : Stream 1 of the scheme is open to owners of vacant traditional houses in villages, towns and cities where the building is a Protected Structure and/or an historic structure within an Architectural Conservation Area. Residential houses and commercial buildings qualify for the scheme where the intended use is as a single dwelling or a single dwelling over a shop. This grant scheme has been devised to support the Town Centre First and Housing for All policy programmes. Stream 2 : Stream 2 of the scheme is open to owners of Vacant Traditional Farmhouses where the building is a Protected Structure and/or an historic farmhouse located within an Architectural Conservation Area and/or a vernacular farmhouse which has no statutory protection. Properties must be vacant for two years or more at the time of application. Applications must be made by the deadline of 5pm on the 31st of July 2024. The application form and guidance documents are available to view and download at the following link:
European Heritage Awarded to the Traditional Farm Buildings SchemeThis recognition celebrates the outstanding contribution of the scheme to the preservation and enhancement of Ireland’s agricultural vernacular heritage. I am delighted that the Traditional Farm Buildings Scheme has been honoured with the European Heritage Award / Europa Nostra Award 2024. This recognition celebrates the outstanding contribution of the scheme to the preservation and enhancement of Ireland’s agricultural vernacular heritage. The scheme protects farm buildings which are heritage assets that may sometimes be under-appreciated, and we are proud to work with the owners who feel a sense of guardianship for these buildings. The scheme also acknowledges farm buildings’ important role in shaping the cultural landscape, and actively contributes to the continuation of traditional crafts in modern society. This award is a tribute to the ongoing stellar work of the Heritage Council and the teamwork between it and my own Department. The European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards were launched in 2002 by the European Commission, and have been run by Europa Nostra ever since. Quote of the Month“The strongest of all warriors are these two — Time and Patience.” ― Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace Countdown to Olympics 2024 |