Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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111. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development how her Department will work with local authorities to encourage them to apply to new funding for the town and village renewal scheme; if there will be a minimum submission requirement for each local authority; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28384/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS) was introduced in 2016 and is one of a number of measures designed to rejuvenate rural towns and villages throughout Ireland. Since the launch of the scheme over €154 million has been allocated to more than 1,700 projects across Ireland. The Scheme has supported towns and villages the length and breadth of the country.

In line with the commitment in Our Rural Future, Ireland's rural development policy, TVRS priorities are reviewed at the end of each scheme year to ensure that funding is targeted effectively to support vibrant and attractive communities. The review process for the main Town and Village Renewal Scheme for 2023 is currently at an advanced stage and I intend to launch the 2023 scheme shortly.

My Department works with local authorities on an ongoing basis. For example, my officials facilitated a workshop on rural development investment programmes in April of this year for local authority staff which included a focus on the Town and Village Renewal Scheme. This was another important opportunity to encourage engagement with the scheme, to clarify any queries in relation to developing applications, and to consult with our key delivery partners in relation to the most effective operation of the scheme.

Further information and assistance will be available following the launch the 2023 scheme. As the details of the scheme have not yet been finalised, I am unable to confirm the submission requirements at present.

The TVRS Team in my Department engages systematically with local authorities and is on hand to assist with any queries that may arise from local authorities during the process of advertising, preparing and submitting applications to the scheme to ensure the Scheme has the maximum impact.

Joe Flaherty (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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112. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if additional funding could be allocated to the local improvement scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28216/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Local Improvement Scheme supports the improvement of rural roads and laneways that are not normally maintained by local authorities. As part of Our Rural Future, Ireland's rural development policy, the Government is committed to ensuring that the LIS is funded into the future.

The Scheme was reintroduced by my Department in 2017 following a number of years with no dedicated funding. I am committed to improving connectivity for rural residents, whether it be access to homes, farms or outdoor amenities. Since 2017, my Department has allocated almost €114 million to the scheme. This has upgraded some 3,700 non-public roads and lanes benefiting over 16,000 landowners and residents in these rural areas.

My Department reviews the scheme criteria each year prior to launch including the mechanism for funding allocation. The prioritisation of roads for submission to my Department is a matter for each local authority in line with the Scheme Outline.

I launched the 2023 scheme earlier this year with an increase in the base funding to €12 million. I also announced an addition €0.55 million for improvement works of roads on our offshore islands.

I continue to closely monitor expenditure patterns this year in my Department and should savings emerge, I will give consideration to again allocating additional funding to the scheme as was seen in 2021 and 2022 where an additional €20.5 million was allocated over the two years.

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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Last November, I was delighted to launch the 2022 Community Support Fund (CSF) under the Community Enhancement Programme, with funding of €10 million to assist thousands of community groups across the country.

Support is available to, for example, Parish Halls, Community Centres, Local Development Associations, Social Clubs, Senior Citizen Groups, Men’s and Women’s Sheds. The fund is delivering small grants to help groups with running costs and rising energy bills. Groups can also use the funding to carry out small upgrade works and to purchase equipment to support their activities such as laptops and printers, lawnmowers, training equipment, etc.

The 2022 CSF funding is administered on behalf of my Department locally by Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) across the country, with support from their Local Authority. The relevant LCDC received and appraised applications.

The 2022 CSF is now closed to applicants and details of successful projects will be published on my Department’s website www.gov.ie/drcd in the coming weeks.

I have seen first-hand how these small grants make a big difference for local communities. The feedback from community groups and from the LCDCs is very positive, and as these grants deliver immediate, targeted funding support that can be used against a range of costs, both capital and current, they are making a real impact on the ground. I look forward to continuing to deliver meaningful supports like the CSF to local communities to support them in responding to the challenges they face.

Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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114. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the local improvement scheme in Cork; the number of applications received and approved in Cork in 2022 and to date in 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28333/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Local Improvement Scheme, or LIS, supports the improvement of rural roads and laneways that are not normally maintained by local authorities. As part of Our Rural Future, the Government is committed to ensuring that the LIS is funded into the future. The scheme makes an important contribution to connectivity, which I view as an important issue for rural Ireland, whether it be access to homes, farms or outdoor amenities.

The Scheme was reintroduced by my Department in 2017 following a number of years with no dedicated funding. Since 2017, my Department has allocated almost €114 million to the scheme. This has upgraded some 3,700 non-public roads and lanes benefiting over 16,000 landowners and residents in these rural areas.

Between 2017 and 2022, almost €7.4 million was provided to County Cork which has resulted in improvement works taking place on 186 roads benefitting landowners and residents in these rural areas.

Cork was allocated a total of €1,298,240 in 2022. As part of this allocation a total of 22 roads were submitted and approved for funding. This year €1,065,151 has been allocated to Cork for improvement works, including a specific allocation of €140,000 for works on off shore islands. A total of 19 roads were submitted and have been approved for funding.