Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Chair and the members of the committee for the invitation to attend today to discuss and seek approval for the 2024 Revised Estimates for the Department of Rural and Community Development. I was here very recently for a Supplementary Estimate and I am glad to be back again to bring forward this Estimate, which will ensure the progress we have made in recent years continues into 2024.

For 2024, gross expenditure of €431 million is budgeted, which consists of €221 million in current expenditure and €210 million in capital expenditure. My Department also has a capital carryover of €20 million from 2023 into 2024. On the split across programme areas, €205.4 million is allocated for the rural development and the islands programme area, €220.5 million is allocated for the community development programme, with €20 million of capital carryover from 2023 also being used to support the community recognition fund in 2024. Finally, €5.4 million is allocated for the work of the Charities Regulator. The €205.4 million provided for the rural development programme, including the islands, is made up of €166.8 million in capital funding and €38.5 million in current funding.

Capital funding is of particular importance for the rural development programme, delivering schemes, including LEADER, the rural regeneration and development fund, town and village renewal, the local improvement scheme, LIS, and CLÁR. These schemes are now really well established and are having a positive impact for towns, villages and parishes throughout Ireland. The €205 million will allow additional funding for both LIS and CLÁR and will bring their funding levels to €13 million and €8.7 million. It also provides funding increases for the continued provision of lifeline transport services to our offshore islands and for capital investment on our islands. Last year saw the highest level of capital investment ever by my Department. Over €213 million in capital funding was paid out with €158 million of that under the Department's rural development programme. This funding is helping to make rural Ireland an even better place to live, supporting rural communities, and helping the rural economy to develop and grow.

I must also note the importance of the €38.5 million in current funding for the rural development programme. The current funding helps to support implementation of policies such as our rural future, Town Centre First and the national outdoor recreation strategy. It also funds vital schemes and services, including the walks scheme, rural recreation officers, the Western Development Commission, and transport services to the islands.

The Minister of State, Deputy Joe O'Brien, is here to discuss the community development programme area. The Revised Estimate will see a funding allocation of €220.5 million for 2024, with €177 million for current funding and €43.1 million in capital funding. In addition, there is €5.4 million in current funding allocated for the Charities Regulator. There are important core current funding increases for community development. These include an additional €4.6 million for the social inclusion and community activation programme, SICAP, and related measures, bringing core funding for social inclusion measures up to €58 million. There is an additional €1 million for local community development committees, bringing the allocation to €3.4 million. There is an additional €1.5 million under the European social fund for social innovation supports to help mentor and develop social enterprises. There is €0.5 million to promote responsible dog ownership. There is an increase of €0.4 million for Water Safety Ireland to €1.8 million. There is an additional €100,000 for public participation networks, PPNs, bringing that funding to €2.95 million. There has also been an increase in funding for the Charities Regulatory Authority, from €5 million to €5.4 million. The overall figure of €220 million for community development includes a non-core allocation of €11 million to assist with the community response to the Ukrainian crisis, under SICAP and through volunteering supports. This funds important work to assist and help integrate new arrivals into local communities throughout the country.

With regard to capital funding for community development, I launched the community centre investment fund in 2022. The first funding round focused on upgrades and improvements, with approvals of €45 million made and €32 million paid out to date for these improvement works. A second funding round, focusing on new builds, was introduced in 2023, and approvals for that will be announced shortly. A budget provision of €21 million is being made for this area in 2024, which covers the community centre investment fund and the local enhancement programme, which is a small grants scheme for communities and community groups. This scheme has really brought communities together and will ensure every community can be proud of their local community centre. I look forward to seeing the impact of this new scheme continue in 2024 and beyond.

In 2023, following a Government decision, I established a community recognition fund to support community infrastructure in areas welcoming new arrivals. This capital fund recognises the contribution of communities to the national response. Under this round of the fund, €50 million has been allocated to 880 projects, with €10 million spent in 2023 and I hope to see the remainder completed as soon as possible.

Finally, as the committee is aware, Government continues to consider the needs of communities that are welcoming new arrivals and the impact of the community recognition fund and the social inclusion and community activation programme, SICAP, are part of those discussions. Significant supports are already in place, but additional ones may emerge following these discussions

In closing, this Revised Estimate for 2024 shows the Government's continued strong commitment to rural and community development and provides the funding to make sure that our schemes and programmes continue to support rural areas and communities across the country. When we talk about the social protection Estimate we usually talk in billions of euro, but when we talk of rural and community development, we are dealing in millions. When we consider programmes like Ceantair Laga Árd-Riachtanais, CLÁR, the community centres funds and the outdoor recreation fund, these are small grants, but they make a huge difference in our local communities. I often say that while the Department of Rural and Community Development is one of the smallest Departments in government it has the greatest impact in communities across the country.

As Deputies may be aware, when this Government was formed, I was determined that the Department of Rural and Community Development would be retained as a stand-alone Department. Having two Departments means more work for me as Minister and for the Minister of State, Deputy Joe O' Brien, but I am conscious that it also means more work for the committee members and for the officials. There are two sets of Estimates and two sets of parliamentary questions to consider and so on. I want to acknowledge this and thank the committee for its time. With the Minister of State, Deputy O'Brien, I am happy to answer any questions the committee may have.