Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)

Gabhaim buíochas le baill an choiste, leis an gcléireach agus leis na baill foirne as an seans an Meastachán breise le haghaidh na Roinne a phlé. I thank the Cathaoirleach for giving us the change to discuss our technical Supplementary Estimate for the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht.

The proposed technical Supplementary Estimate covers just one movement of funds, which is €15 million in capital funding moving from LEADER to the local improvement scheme, LIS. The Revised Estimate for 2025 provided €42 million in funding for LEADER. However, the project approval process, which is undertaken by local actions groups, LAGs, has been slower than anticipated and, accordingly, savings have arisen within the programme area this year. This is allowing me to allocate €15 million in additional funding to the local improvement scheme. It is important that the committee note the LEADER programme will still make use of the full €180 million over the 2023 to 2027 period. It is just that the timing of the expenditure is now towards later years of the programme. There are over 750 projects worth €37 million approved by the local action groups and I am confident expenditure will accelerate through 2026 and 2027.

The additional funding for LIS will increase the allocation from €15 million to €30 million. Committee members will not be surprised to know this was a priority for me. There is significant demand for this scheme and it allows us to deliver quickly when the funds are available. This investment is bringing the amount allocated to LIS since 2020 to €135 million. This has improved well over 3,000 roads and benefited some 16,000 people. The level of investment in this area demonstrates this Government’s commitment to investing in our rural communities.

For completeness, I note that a small reallocation of current funding will take place within the Gaeltacht programme, with €700,000 moving from Irish language support schemes to the Irish language planning processes. The saving arose due to delays in recruitment and associated actions under the gréasán náisiúnta do na healaíona teangabhunaithe agus Gaeilge365. The funding will now be deployed to provide supports for Gaeltacht families across a range of events and activities. It will meet increased demands connected to arts and culture services and within the early years sector in the Gaeltacht.

Overall, 2025 has seen another year of very strong delivery by the Department. This movement of funds represents a very small adjustment in the context of an overall allocation of €575 million. The movement will allow my Department to put its resources to best use in supporting rural areas, Gaeltachts and communities throughout the country. I thank every single member of staff in the Department. I have had the privilege of leading the Department since January and they work incredibly hard in every part of the country. Yesterday, we gathered many of them in Athlone in a town hall to plan for next year. We have also expanded our Department this year with the addition of the functions from Roinn na Gaeltachta. Gabhaim buíochas le gach duine i Roinn na Gaeltachta atá mar chuid thábhachtach dár Roinn anois.

In closing, I thank the committee for its time today and yesterday with the auto-enrolment Bill, the social welfare Estimate and this Estimate. I thank the clerk and his team for facilitating us. I am happy to answer any questions that might arise.