Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

231. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the degree to which he expects to address the issues of concern in both urban and rural areas which fall under the remit of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48525/18]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As Minister with responsibility for Rural and Community Development I note the substantial progress made to improve the quality of life for persons and communities throughout Ireland, both rural and urban.

My primary focus is to support the creation of vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities across this country. It is my intention that the supports available through my Department will continue to improve conditions in these communities into the future.

This can be achieved through the implementation of programmes and initiatives that facilitate and encourage economic development through the creation of jobs and the infrastructure required to support those jobs, and to provide other facilities that support our communities to become and remain desirable places to live, work and raise families.

To help bring this about, my Department will work across Government to:

- Create the conditions to support increased economic opportunities and local employment in all areas of the country

- Enable communities disadvantaged by location or social issues to reach their full potential now and in the future

- Deliver schemes and programmes that support the revitalisation of towns and villages

- Improve  access to services and social networks that ensure a high quality of life

- Support all communities to be able to have a voice in shaping their own futures and addressing their common goals

My Department's budget will increase by €62 million to €293 million in 2019 - a 27 per cent increase on our 2018 allocation of €231 million - which adds to our capacity to provide direct and indirect supports to local communities through the range of schemes and programmes delivered by my Department.

These include the Dublin North East Inner City Initiative, the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme, LEADER programme, Community Enhancement Programme, CLÁR Programme, Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme and the Town and Village Renewal Scheme. My Department also provides supports for social enterprises.

The increased budget allocation for Dormant Accounts will also allow continued support for excellent existing measures such as the Social Innovation Fund Ireland and funding for new measures such as supporting enterprise hubs along the Atlantic Economic Corridor. The increased funding will provide for a number of Volunteer Centres around the country and support measures under the Dormant Accounts Action Plan which address economic, social or educational disadvantage.

A key priority is to ensure better alignment, consolidation and integration of programmes across the Department, while we will also focus on cross-Departmental and whole-of Government approaches with a view to achieving greater impact and effectiveness in the delivery of our supports to communities.  

The Action Plan for Rural Development, the Framework Policy for Local and Community Development in Ireland, and Project Ireland 2040 are strategic policy initiatives that set out the ways in which Government aims to address disadvantage and how we can support both rural and urban communities across Ireland.

The Action Plan is coordinated and monitored by my Department and is the most comprehensive Government plan ever produced to support economic and social development in rural areas. The measures within it are being delivered across a range of Government Departments, State agencies and other organisations over the period to 2020.  The Third Progress Report on the Action Plan is due to be published shortly and I can confirm significant progress continues to be made across the range of measures.  

Project Ireland 2040 laid out the Government’s plans for the country’s long-term development, and a key commitment within it regarding rural Ireland is the provision of €1 billion for the new Rural Regeneration and Development Fund which will enable towns, villages and outlying rural areas to grow sustainably and support delivery of the strategic objectives of the National Planning Framework.

The Fund will be a key driver in supporting the revitalisation of rural Ireland, delivering a significant and sustainable impact for rural communities and helping to address issues such as de-population in small rural towns, villages and rural areas.

My Department will continue to work with key stakeholders including local authorities, community and voluntary groups, and dedicated agencies to support job creation, attract tourism investment and to contribute to sustainable economic development in all communities throughout Ireland.