Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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426. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the full extent of awards made by her Department under the town and village renewal scheme throughout the country; her expectations in respect of this or similar schemes in the next year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62993/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Town and Village Renewal Scheme aims to assist with the rejuvenation of rural towns and villages throughout Ireland, making them more attractive places to live, work, and visit. In line with the commitment in Our Rural Future, the 2022 scheme prioritised the renovation of derelict and vacant buildings in our town centres, with a view to bringing these buildings back into use.

Since it was first introduced in 2016 over €149 million has been allocated to more than 1,600 projects across Ireland. It has supported a range of activities from improving public realm areas to initiatives such as the development of enterprise hubs and remote working facilities. These projects have been identified and developed by local community groups and businesses, in conjunction with their local authorities.

Each year the priorities for the scheme are reviewed and revised as appropriate by my Department. This year priority was given to projects that brought vacant and derelict buildings and sites back into use as multi-purpose spaces making our town and village centres more vibrant and attractive places to live and work.

I was delighted to announce details of allocations worth €27m under the Scheme yesterday. This incorporates a wide range of locally driven projects that will breathe new life into towns and villages across rural Ireland. Full details of all the approved projects are available on my Department's website.

Each year the priorities and focus of the scheme are reviewed and revised as appropriate and following this a decision will be made as to the structure and timing of the next call under the scheme.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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428. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which, the CLÁR programme has assisted communities throughout the country, including County Kildare, in the past year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62995/22]

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

Since the programme was relaunched in 2016, it has supported a wide range of measures. Funding of over €57 million has been approved for almost 2,100 projects since its re-launch.

This year's CLÁR programme was launched in February and the measures funded under CLÁR 2022 were:

- Measure 1: Developing Community Facilities and Amenities

- Measure 2: Mobility, Cancer Care and Community First Responders Transport

- Measure 3: ‘Our Islands’

Funding of over €12 million was approved for almost 300 projects under CLÁR 2022. Details of the successful projects can be found on my Department’s website.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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429. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which her Department has supported various communities throughout the country through the LEADER programme in the past year; her current engagements and future proposals in this regard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [62996/22]

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.

The programme includes specific funding themes to support rural economic development, enterprise development and job creation, social inclusion, and rural environment. Community groups and rural-based businesses can apply for funding under these themes.

Approximately 90% of project funding under the current programme has been committed by LEADER groups and I am aware that they continue to develop projects ‘in the pipeline’ in order to fully utilise the available budget.

Nationally, over 5,500 projects have been approved for funding in excess of €236 million since 2016 when the current LEADER programme became operational, of which over €34.2 million relates to 726 projects approved in 2022. Payments of almost €157 million have been made in respect of these projects with almost €40 million being paid out in 2022.

€250m has been made available for LEADER for the period 2021 to 2027. This is comprised of €70 million for the transitional period 2021 to 2022 and an additional €180 million from 2023 to 2027. This level of funding is evidence of the Government’s continued support for the LEADER programme and matches the €250m provided for LEADER in the corresponding 7 year period from 2014-2020.

The process of selecting the LEADER groups will be open, transparent and competitive. Central to the formation of the Groups will be a clear partnership approach, with public and private interest groups coming together to deliver the programme in rural communities all across Ireland.

I am happy to confirm that the Expression of Interest stage to select the Groups to deliver the next LEADER programme is now open with a closing date of 16 December 2022. The allocations for each LEADER area have also been announced as part of this process.

It is now important that the key public and private stakeholders in communities across Ireland come together in partnership to deliver a LEADER programme that will build on the fantastic success of the programme over the last 30 years and to ensure that LEADER continues to play a central role in supporting rural communities into the future.