Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

591. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which she has engaged with the various communities nationwide to address deficiencies in infrastructure or services with a view to enhancing the potential of all parts of the country to make a contribution in terms of economic activity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28279/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

My Department's mission is “To promote rural and community development and to support vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities throughout Ireland". A key component of delivering on this mission is regular, ongoing and meaningful engagement with rural and community stakeholders and other organisations working to enhance the quality of life for all of our people.

This continuous engagement allows us to ensure that everyone has an opportunity to have their voices heard, that those most in need are able to access services and supports and that funding available under our programmes delivers most effectively for communities.

Consultation and engagement play a key role in policy development in my Department. The recently published ‘Our Rural Future’, the new Rural Development Policy, is a clear example of this approach. It is the most ambitious and transformational policy for rural development in Ireland for decades, focusing on sustainability and optimising opportunities for individuals, communities and businesses and it's priorities were directly shaped by the people of rural Ireland.

Its development was informed by an extensive consultation process, to identify the issues that matter most to people living and working in rural areas. As a result, the policy recognises the needs of rural communities with regards to infrastructure, such as digital connectivity and built environment, and access to services in rural areas.

These consultations included a range of formats and were held with key stakeholders, including Government Departments, State agencies, rural stakeholder groups, young people, and the wider public.

The Department undertook initial stakeholder engagement through three rural development seminars, and eight workshop events around the country (including on the offshore islands) which were well attended by a wide range of stakeholders including Local Authorities, community Gardaí, community and voluntary groups, education and training bodies, sectoral and representative groups and business interests. In addition, two events were held specifically to obtain the views of young people living in rural Ireland.

The Department held two further open public consultation events, and I hosted an online public engagement event comprising a panel discussion and a Q&A session. In addition, an online public survey invited participants to submit their opinions on the challenges and opportunities facing people living and working in rural Ireland. This survey received 1,733 responses, in which access to public services was identified as one of the major challenges facing rural communities.

All of this engagement was extremely important to inform the priorities contained in Our Rural Future.

The policy was published on 29 March 2021, with a key commitment in its implementation to produce Annual Work Programmes. These work programmes will detail the actions being undertaken across Government each year and associated timelines for delivery.

In order to maximise the impact of Our Rural Future and to maintain communication with rural communities, my Department will be rolling out a range of stakeholder engagement events in 2021, and on an ongoing basis thereafter, including Rural Ideas Fora, a new Rural Youth Assembly, and the establishment of the Higher Education and Research Network. These and other engagements will feed back into the consideration of future Work Programmes throughout the five-year lifespan of the Our Rural Future policy.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

593. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent of moneys allocated under the town and village renewal scheme to County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28281/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Town and Village Renewal Scheme was first introduced in 2016 and is one of a series of support measures designed to rejuvenate small rural towns and villages throughout Ireland under the Department of Rural & Community Development’s “Rural Development Investment Programme”. The funding is delivered through the local authorities.

On the 3rd May I launched the 2021 Scheme with an indicative budget of €15 million. In line with the commitments in "Our Rural Future", this year’s scheme will place particular emphasis on bringing vacant and derelict buildings and sites back into use as multi-purpose spaces, remote working hubs and/or for residential occupancy.

Since the launch of the Scheme in 2016, over €93 million of funding has been approved for more than 1,340 projects across Ireland. Funding is allocated based on a competitive assessment of project applications.

I have set out in the following table funding provided through the scheme to County Kildare since 2016: