Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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137. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which she continues to have dialogue with urban and rural communities in the context of strengthening and supporting their existence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17923/22]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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139. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development her programme for rural and community development throughout the country in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17922/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 137 and 139 together.

My Department delivers a range of programmes and schemes to assist in rural and community development, which are available to eligible community groups and organisations throughout the country. In the 2022 Revised Estimates, my Department was allocated €378 million.

My Department's programme supports include:

CLÁR 2022: providing funding for small-scale infrastructural projects in rural areas that have suffered the greatest levels of population decline.

Community Centres Investment Fund: acapital grants programme for the maintenance, improvement and upkeep of community centres.

Community Services Programme (CSP):supports over 420 community organisations to provide employment opportunities and local services through a social enterprise model.

Dormant Accounts funded Social Enterprise Measure: provides capital grants for the scaling up of social enterprises.

Community & Voluntary Supports programme: provides a cohesive framework of support for the community and voluntary sector.

LEADER:a multi-annual funding programme delivered through 29 Local Action Groups (LAGs) around the country.

Town and Village Scheme (T&V):designed to rejuvenate small rural towns and villages.

Town and Village Renewal Scheme – Streetscapes: supports the enhancement of streetscapes and shopfronts.

Local Improvement Scheme:provides funding to help local authorities carry out improvement works on private and non-publicly maintained roads.

Connected Hubs Call:supports the development of remote working facilities joining the National Connected Hubs Network.

Rural Regeneration and Development Fund:supports large-scale, ambitious projects which can achieve sustainable economic and social development in rural areas.

Community Activities Fund: provides small scale grants to assist community groups. (Closed 25 February 2022).

Community Enhancement Programme: provides capital funding to community groups in disadvantaged areas across Ireland.

Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme:provides funding for the development of new outdoor recreational infrastructure. (Adventure Tourism type projects, Blueways, Walking Trails, Boardwalks, etc).

Empowering Communities Fund:a new targeted scheme to address area based disadvantage.

The Scheme to Support National Organisations: provides multi-annual funding towards core costs of national community and voluntary.

Further information on opening and closing dates for the investment programmes for 2022 available at www.gov.ie/en/news/bd3c5-government-supports-for-thriving-rural-areas-and-vibrant-communities/.

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 am confident that the funding supports and policies provided by my Department will continue to deliver, tangible benefits for both urban and rural communities, supporting economic development, and enabling the local and community development sectors to continue to provide valuable much needed services and supports to all communities throughout the country.