Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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861. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which she and her Department have targeted areas of social isolation with a view to improving the prospects for those currently living in such areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28222/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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In delivering on its mission, my Department provides a wide range of strategic interventions, funding programmes and policies to support communities. This includes measures to address the issue of isolation as referenced by the Deputy. Addressing the issue of individual isolation in communities became even more important during the COVID-19 pandemic.

My Department continues to provide funding to tackle isolation and support those in our communities in most need of assistance through schemes such as the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), the Community Services Programme, the CLÁR Programme and the Community Enhancement Programme.

The Community Services Programme (CSP), for example, currently supports over 420 community organisations to provide employment opportunities and local services through a social enterprise model.  The CSP focuses on communities where public and private sector services are lacking, either through geographical isolation or because demand levels are not sufficient. 

My Department is also responsible for the Seniors Alert Scheme which encourages community support for vulnerable older people in our communities through the provision of personal monitored alarms to enable them to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind. Funding is available under the Scheme towards the purchase by a registered community-based organisation of a personal alarm or pendant.

Amongst the measures which will further support people living in rural areas is the rollout of Broadband Connection Points and the national hubs network.  These will enable onsite access to digital services including digital skills training, remote work and study, community development activities and a range of arts, culture and social events.

My Department is also responsible for a number of key policies responding to the needs of individuals and communities throughout the country. These include:

Ireland's first National Volunteering Strategy 2021 - 2025, setting out a long-term vision for volunteering and volunteers in Ireland.

Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities: A Five-Year Strategy to Support the Community and Voluntary Sector in Ireland 2019-2024. This Strategy seeks to strengthen the community development, local development and community and voluntary sectors generally.

The National Policy on Social Enterprise, which sets out measures to build awareness of and strengthen and grow social enterprises.

Our Rural Future, the national rural development policy, which places an emphasis on building resilience and enhancing participation and inclusion in rural communities.  

My Department is also developing a National Islands Policy and has undertaken a wide consultation process including public consultation on the islands to hear first-hand the challenges they face and how the Department can address these.

My Department continues to monitor issues impacting on communities in order to respond to emerging needs.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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863. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which she continues to support the Leader Programme in all applicable areas throughout the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28224/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The LEADER Programme is one of the key interventions of Our Rural Future, the Government’s Policy for rural development launched last year.

The 2014-2020 LEADER programme had a total allocation of €250 million. €225 million of this budget was allocated directly to the Local Action Groups (LAGs) who deliver the programme and approve projects at local level. This funding was allocated to the LAGs for the programming period rather than on an annual basis to give them greater flexibility to manage their budgets. The balance of €25 million was provided for thematic projects which are approved at national level.

In December 2020, I launched the Transitional LEADER Programme, which came into effect from 1 April 2021 and will run to the end of 2022. A total of €70 million has been made available over this programming period. €65 million of this budget is available to LAGs who deliver the programme and approve projects at local level.  This funding is distributed between the LAGs on a pro-rata basis, commensurate with the allocations made at the start of the 2014-2020 LEADER programme.

A further €3 million of the funding has been allocated to support co-operation projects and innovation between LAGs, while the remaining €2 million is being provided to support strategy development for the next LEADER programme.

Currently over 5,200 projects have been approved for funding of €220 million. Approximately €139 million has been paid to beneficiaries in respect of completed works with 3,250 projects receiving their final payment claim representing 62% of projects approved.

An indicative budget of €180 million has been announced for the LEADER programme for the period 2023-2027. When taken together with the €70 million already provided for 2021 and 2022 under the Transitional LEADER Programme, a total of €250 million will be made available for the 2021 - 2027 period, thus maintaining the level of funding provided for the 2014-2020 programming period. The maintenance of the €250m funding allocation will underpin the continued contribution of the LEADER approach in delivering on the Government’s vision for Rural Ireland.

Preparations for the design and delivery of the next LEADER programme from 2023-2027 are well underway and there is ongoing engagement between my officials, colleagues from the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine and the EU Commission with a view to obtaining approval for the CAP Strategic Plan, as a matter of priority. 

The ongoing engagement and consultation with stakeholders, combined with the funding allocation of €250 million indicated, will ensure that the LEADER programme from 2023 will continue to support and further develop our rural communities and businesses.