Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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242. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount of monies allocated by her Department to various community groups in the past 12 months; her plans to continue this policy in the coming year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50286/21]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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243. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which she continues to support urban and rural based groups involved in reviving community activity and support; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50287/21]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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251. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the steps she continues to take to encourage economic investment in social supports to encourage investment in jobs and services in all areas throughout the country leading to increased economic activity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50295/21]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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253. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which her Department has continued to monitor areas throughout the country deemed to be deficient in adequate infrastructure with a view to supporting development to meet modern day challenges; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50297/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 242, 243, 251 and 253 together.

My Department’s policies and funding programmes aim to deliver sustainable outcomes that positively impact the quality of life of those living and working in our communities. Funding is available to eligible community groups and organisations throughout the country.

The amount allocated by my Department for urban and rural development and renewal purposes in the past three years to-date is, €133 million in 2017, €251 million in 2018, €315 million in 2019, €313 million in 2020, and €267 million to date in 2021.

Details of funding allocations under specific schemes provided by my Department are available online at

The Deputy will also be aware of the recent publication of the renewed National Development Plan (NDP) 2021 – 2030 which commits to delivery of significant investment - €165 billion – over the coming decade. While the Plan is a whole of Government approach, Chapter 8: Strengthened Rural Economies and Communities sets out details that will be delivered and administered by my Department.

Earlier in the year, I was delighted to launch Our Rural Futurea whole-of-Government Rural Development Policy for 2021-2025, supported by 150 policy commitments aimed at addressing challenges facing communities and delivering new opportunities for people living in rural areas. The NDP will support the achievement of the ambitious objectives set out in that document.

Over the life of the NDP my Department will continue to invest in and support Rural Ireland and communities across the country through various schemes such as the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, LEADER Programme, Town and Village Renewal Scheme, Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme, Local Improvement Scheme, CLÁR Programme, Islands Capital Programme, Community Enhancement Programme, Libraries Investment Capital funding and the PEACE PLUS Programme. However, I can assure the Deputy that investment will continue apace over the lifetime of the NDP.

Ongoing dialogue is maintained by my Department with rural and urban stakeholders in order to identify and respond to issues impacting on individuals and communities. I will continue to work collaboratively with my Government colleagues to monitor the issues which impact our urban and rural communities and to support the creation of vibrant and sustainable communities across this country.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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245. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which her Department has supported rural and community renewal throughout County Kildare in the past year; her plans in this regard in the future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50289/21]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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247. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which her Department has assisted, directly or indirectly, voluntary and or community groups throughout County Kildare in the past year; her plans in this regard for 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50291/21]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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252. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the total monies allocated by her Department for urban and rural development and renewal purposes in the past two years to date in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50296/21]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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258. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which her Department has identified specific local initiatives in County Kildare worthy of support by her Department since its inception; her ongoing proposals in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50302/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 245, 247, 252 and 258 together.

My Department delivers a wide range of policies and measures to support urban and rural communities. Funding strands include the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, LEADER, Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), Community Services Programme, Community Enhancement Programme, CLÁR Programme, Local Improvement Scheme, and funding for public libraries across the country. Funding is available to eligible community groups and organisations throughout the country.

The amount allocated by my Department for urban and rural development and renewal purposes in the past three years to-date is, €133 million in 2017, €251 million in 2018, €315 million in 2019, €313 million in 2020, and €267 million to date in 2021.

Kildare was allocated €2.9 million in 2017, €4.2 million in 2018, €10.9 million in 2019, €7.6 million in 2020 and €3.3 million to date in 2021. Details of funding allocations under specific schemes provided by my Department are available online at www.gov.ie/en/organisation/department-of-rural-and-community-development/.

My Department is also responsible for a number of national policies containing measures to improve the lives of people throughout the country. These include the National Policy on Social Enterprise, and Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities: 5 Year Strategy to Support the Community and Voluntary Sector 2019-2024.

The new national rural development policy Our Rural Future,which I launched in March, sets out a blueprint for the development of rural Ireland over the next five years. The policy is supported by 150 commitments across Government, which will address the challenges facing communities and deliver new opportunities for people living in rural areas.

Delivery of the measures contained in the policy will help rural Ireland to recover from the impacts of COVID-19, enable long-term development of rural areas, and create more resilient rural economies and communities for the future. Ongoing dialogue over the course of the five year policy timeframe will ensure that rural communities are at the heart of designing and delivering responses that meet local needs.

My Department will continue to deliver these important funding schemes and policies to support both urban and rural communities, improve quality of life, and enable local and community development sectors to continue to provide valuable much needed services and supports to all communities throughout the country.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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246. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which her Department through the CLÁR programme her Department has assisted communities throughout the country including County Kildare in the past year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50290/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The CLÁR Programme provides funding under a number of different Measures for small-scaleinfrastructural projects in designated rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population over a defined period using Central Statistics Office data. There are designated CLÁR areas in all counties with the exception of Dublin, Kildare and Wexford.

The Measures to be included in the CLÁR programme are reviewed and revised, if appropriate, each year. The Measures being funded under the 2021 programme are:

Measure1:Support for Schools/Community Safety Measures

Measure 2:Outdoor Community Recreation Facilities

Measure 3:Community Wellbeing Support

(a) Community Gardens and Allotments

(b) Mobility and Cancer Care Transport

CLÁR Innovation Measure: Funding for innovative or pilot projects that address specific challenges faced by communities in CLÁR areas.

To date, I have announced funding of over €5.7million for over 140 projects across Measures 1, 2, 3(a) & 3(b) of CLÁR 2021. Applications under the Innovation Measure are currently being assessed and I expect to announce the successful projects in the coming weeks.

County Kildare does not have any identified CLÁR areas and has therefore not received funding under the programme.