Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party)
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93. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the position regarding the identification of potential State-owned properties in rural towns and villages in County Wicklow which can be used for community purposes as outlined in Our Rural Future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60228/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Our Rural Future’ is the most ambitious and transformational policy for rural development in Ireland for decades.

The policy contains 152 measures for delivery across the whole-of-Government, with the underlying theme of economic, environmental and societal sustainability. The policy has a vision of ensuring vibrant and thriving rural towns and villages, with a key objective of maximising opportunities for individuals, communities and businesses in rural areas.

Amongst the range of commitments foreseen to revitalise our towns and villages is a commitment to identify potential State-owned properties in rural towns and villages which can be used for community purposes.

In cases where local needs, opportunities and resources align, this has the potential to be mutually beneficial for both communities and the State.

I understand that, in the course of 2021, the Office of Public Works (OPW) has engaged with Local Authorities with a view to gauging interest in elements of the OPW’s limited portfolio of properties being acquired by Local Authorities for possible conversion to community use. The relevant action within the 2021 Our Rural Future Work Programme has an associated delivery date of Quarter 4 of this year. At present my officials are engaging bilaterally with a range of Government Departments in relation to delivery of the actions to the end of 2021 across all the actions in the Work Programme. The first Our Rural Future Progress Report is due to be published in early 2022 and will contain updates on all the actions in the 2021 Work Programme.

As the Deputy will appreciate, this matter is potentially relevant to all property-holding Departments. In that regard, my Department will continue to engage across Government Departments and agencies to advance this measure over the lifetime of the Policy.

Steven Matthews (Wicklow, Green Party)
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94. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development her plans to develop a pilot scheme to support the use of rural pubs and other local spaces as community hubs for local services as outlined in Our Rural Future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60244/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Government’s ambitious new five year policy for rural Ireland, Our Rural Future, commits to the development of a pilot scheme to support the use of rural pubs as community spaces and hubs for local services.

The Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI) have submitted an application for funding to develop a pilot project. Through the pilot, it is envisaged that a small number of pubs would explore how they might be used as community spaces and hubs for local services.

The pubs to be included in the pilot will be identified by the VFI in consultation with its members and they will work with community stakeholders locally to identify the interventions that might be supported at the identified locations.

My officials are considering this application and further details will be announced shortly.