Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)

Ar son an Aire Stáit, an Teachta Buttimer, agus mé féin, gabhaim buíochas leis an gcoiste as ucht an deis a bheith anseo inniu. I thank the committee for the invitation to attend to discuss and seek approval for a Further Revised Estimate 2025 for the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht. As committee members will be aware, with the welcome transfer of the Gaeltacht function to my Department, a Further Revised Estimate is required to reflect the transfer of functions and associated funding. Mar is eol do bhaill an choiste freisin, tá coiste difriúil ar chúrsaí teanga agus an Ghaeltacht. Bhí mé os comhair an choiste sin aréir le haghaidh an REV sa choiste sin. I look forward to working with the committee over the next number of years and to ensuring that the excellent progress made in recent years by my Department will continue during the course of this term of the Government.

For 2025, gross expenditure of €575 million is budgeted, which consists of €317 million in current expenditure and €258 million in capital expenditure. My Department also has a capital carryover of €2.2 million for the Gaeltacht programme area from 2024 into 2025. In terms of the split across programme areas, €212.7 million is allocated for the rural development and the islands programme area; €249.5 million is allocated for the community development programme; a further €6 million is allocated for the work of the Charities Regulator; and €106.7 million is allocated for the Gaeltacht programme area.

The €212.7 million provided for the rural development programme, including the islands, is made up of €170.4 million in capital funding and €42.3 million in current funding.

Capital funding is of particular importance for the rural development programme. The funding allocated in 2025 will ensure continued delivery under schemes including LEADER, the rural regeneration and development fund, RRDF, town and village renewal, the local improvement scheme and CLÁR. These schemes are well established and are contributing to positive impacts for towns, villages and rural areas throughout the country.

With regard to the allocations for each area in 2025, funding for the RRDF is being maintained at €60 million; funding of €42 million is being provided for the LEADER programme; funding for the town and village renewal scheme, TVRS, is increasing by €1 million to €20 million; an additional €2 million is bring provided for CLÁR to bring it to €11 million; and funding for the LIS is being increased by €2 million, bringing it to €15 million for 2025.

With regard to LEADER funding, I want to note the importance of the current negotiations at EU level on the multi-annual financial framework. I will be working with the Minister, Deputy Heydon, and the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, to ensure that the LEADER programme is maintained as a core aspect of the next CAP funding period.

I must also note the importance of the €42.3 million in current funding for the rural development programme, which is an increase of €2.7 million on last year. This will fund areas such as the walks scheme, the Western Development Commission and Connected Hubs. The increased funding has also helped to secure support for Tidy Towns groups, agriculture shows and transport services to the islands.

In my short time as Minister I have already seen the impact of the supports delivered by my Department across the country. The schemes in place are assisting every town, village and rural area. The range of schemes ensures that all communities can benefit. I look forward to working with the committee to ensure that support for and, most importantly, the impact of these schemes are maintained and measured in the coming years.

As regards the community development programme, Deputy Jerry Buttimer, the Minister of State with responsibility for community development and charities, is with me today to discuss his areas of responsibility.

The Revised Estimate will see a funding allocation of €249.5 million for 2025, with €187 million of that in current funding and €62.4 million in capital funding. In addition, there is €6 million in current funding allocated for the Charities Regulatory Authority.

Important core funding allocations for community development in 2025 include €72.5 million for the SICAP and other related supports, which is an increase of €2.5 million; €55.4 million for the community services programme, which is an increase of €3 million; funding of €23.8 million for supports for the community and voluntary sector, which includes some increased funding for volunteer centres and philanthropy supports; and €7.3 million in funding for the PEACEPLUS programme. There has also been an increase in funding for the Charities Regulatory Authority, from €5.4 million in 2024 to €6 million in 2025.

With regard to capital funding for community development, there is €22 million to support the community enhancement area, including supports for the community centre investment fund. There is also non-core funding of €25 million under the community recognition fund to finance projects approved under this scheme. Capital funding for libraries development has also increased slightly to €7 million for 2025.

For many communities these community development schemes help to ensure the provision of key services. They provide training and employment opportunities, they provide social supports for vulnerable people and they help to ensure that communities have places to meet and socialise.

As I mentioned earlier, and as we discussed yesterday evening, the Gaeltacht programme has been voted on, and there will be €108.9 million in funding, including €2.2 million in capital carryover, available for this area in 2025. While I do not propose to cover the programme here today, I emphasise that the new Department has three core functions that align really well together and can support one another in achieving our objectives. I can already see how well the areas are working together. I thank the officials on both sides of the Department for their work on the transfer of functions. We have already co-ordinated some of our programmes to ensure that Gaeltacht areas are given specific representation. We will continue to work to ensure that we deliver on our mission in a cohesive manner in the coming years.

This Revised Estimate for 2025 shows the Government's continued strong commitment to rural and community development, to our islands agus do mhuintir na Gaeltachta. It provides the funding necessary to ensure that our schemes and programmes continue to support rural areas and communities right across the country, including in our Gaeltacht communities and on our islands.

I thank the committee for its time. I look forward, along with my colleague the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, to answering any questions members may have.