Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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693. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which she and her Department have interacted with various community based groups in County Kildare with a view to easy access to LEADER or other support funds in 2020 having particular regard to the challenges of Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43506/20]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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694. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the steps she has taken or plans to take to reach out to locally based community and voluntary organisations throughout the country with a view to ensuring access to available support from her Department in 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43507/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 693 and 694 together.

My Department's mission is “To promote rural and community development and to support vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities throughout Ireland".

A key part of achieving this mission is regularly reaching out to organisations in the community and voluntary sector through consultation, engagement and outreach regarding the Department's policies and all of our programmes. This allows us to ensure that those most in need are able to access services and supports and that we deliver outcomes that positively impact the quality of life of those living and working in our communities. This has been of particular importance during the COVID-19 pandemic this year, where such communication has assisted us in identifying supports or funding needs and the most appropriate remedial or proactive measures that can be taken in response.

These engagements include groups involved in rural development, the community and voluntary sector and smaller local community groups and organisations, while we also collaborate and seek the views of other Government Departments and the statutory bodies under the aegis of the Department in regard to these issues.

One example of proactive interaction with communities was the delivery in 2019, in conjunction with Pobal, of a series of 'Helping Hands' events nationwide, to engage with communities and create awareness and understanding of funding programmes. Feedback from these interactions was very positive, and it is hoped that similar events could be scheduled in the future when permitted by public safety advice.

Several consultation processes sought submissions from community groups in 2020. These include my Department's new Statement of Strategy and the new Rural Development Policy, both of which I expect to publish in the near future, and the new National Volunteering Strategy, which was launched by my colleague, Minister of State Joe O'Brien, earlier this month.

My Department has continued to engage proactively with its stakeholders during the COVID-19 crisis through various on line means. This engagement has helped deliver solutions including additional funding to address challenges being faced by those in communities and their representative groups at this time, and I look forward to continuing these interactions moving forward.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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695. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which she and her Department have provided funds for rural and community groups throughout County Kildare to date in 2020 whether through Covid-19 support payment or otherwise; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43508/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department’s mission is to promote rural and community development and support the creation of vibrant and sustainable communities across this country, including in Co Kildare, and I am committed to the successful delivery of a number of programmes which have provided financial and other supports to community groups and organisations.

These supports enable economic growth and development and also support communities to address gaps in meeting social needs, and these supports are more important than ever as we deal with the impacts of COVID-19 and Brexit.

The 2020 Revised Estimate allocated almost €375 million (gross) this year to my Department and I am delighted to report that spending is in on track as we approach year-end, allowing for increased supports to be provided this year to meet emerging needs.

In 2020 my Department has allocated over €6 million to programmes and schemes in County Kildare, including the allocation of €1.75 million under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund to the Kildare Town Renewal Plan. Other programmes are providing supports that assist communities in responding to economic and social challenges presented by COVID-19 and continue to support our communities to become and remain sustainable and desirable places to live, work and raise families.

Details of all these programmes, including eligibility criteria, how to apply, and other information, can be found on the Government's website, gov.ie.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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696. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the cost value of supports made available by her Department to date in 2020 to rural community-based groups throughout the country in 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43509/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The 2020 Revised Estimate provides almost €375 million in funding to my Department this year, with an allocation of €199.7 million for rural development and of €170.6 million for community development.

Many of my Department's funding programmes are open to rural community-based groups. The Community Services Programme is of particular importance, with funding of over €45 million supporting around 450 community-based organisations to provide local social, economic and environmental services through a social enterprise model and create employment opportunities for disadvantaged people. The Community Enhancement Programme channelled small grant supports of over €11 million to community groups throughout the country this year, with a particular focus on the community response to Covid-19. I would also note that the Covid-19 Stability Fund has provided €45 million in grant supports to C&V organisations, charities and social enterprises in 2020 - with around 600 organisations benefitting from these substantial supports. Finally, the LEADER programme is providing significant funding to rural areas and communities, with €45 million being spent on the programme this year supporting both rural enterprises and rural community groups.

The supports provided to community groups, in both rural and urban areas, are a vital part of the work of my Department and I am pleased with the level of funding, and the responsiveness of that funding, in 2020. Full information on programmes and lists of successful grantees are made available on the drcd.gov.ie website.