Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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97. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department has conducted any examination or reviews into the benefits of the community wealth-building model as a template for rural and community development. [53840/22]

Brian Stanley (Laois-Offaly, Sinn Fein)
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125. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department is working with any county councils to develop the economic model of community wealth-building which has been successful in Ayrshire, Scotland and Preston, England. [53839/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 97 and 125 together.

My Department has not deliberated on introducing the community wealth-building systems approach to economic development, and has not engaged with any county councils in relation to developing a model of community-wealth building.

My Department is progressing a number of national policies that provide, for both urban and rural areas nationwide, an integrated and strategic way of delivering supports, programmes and schemes, and coordinating measures to address imbalances or lack of opportunity so as to make a real difference to people’s lives. These include the National Policy on Social Enterprise, and the Strategy to Support the Community & Voluntary Sector in Ireland.

The national rural development policy "Our Rural Future" sets out a blueprint for the development of rural Ireland over the period 2021-2025. The policy is supported by over 150 commitments across Government, which will address the challenges facing communities and deliver new opportunities for people living in rural areas.

The policy recognises the importance of place-based development and will be underpinned by investment across Government in areas such as the roll out of high-speed broadband, remote working facilities, job creation, town centre regeneration, community development, improvements in regional and local roads, new cycling and walking infrastructure, expanded rural transport services, funding for tourism, culture and heritage projects, and a just transition to a climate-neutral society.

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 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.