Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Budget 2024 provides my Department with the resources to continue our policy and programme priorities into 2024. The gross allocation of €431 million will provide €210 million for capital investment, with the remaining €221 million for current expenditure. These allocations represent a core funding increase of €4 million for capital and €12 million for current, compared to 2023.

Our most recent Statement of Strategy was published in August 2023, and this sets out the Department's mission as “to promote and support vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities throughout Ireland” to 2025. The Department has two overarching policies which support delivery of this mission, firstly, Our Rural Future the Governments Rural Development Policy for 2021-2025, and secondly Sustainable Inclusive and Empowered Communities, the 5 year strategy (for the period 2019-2024) to support the community and voluntary sector in Ireland.

The rural development investment programme will continue to support investment throughout rural Ireland in 2024 by delivering schemes including the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, the LEADER Programme, Town and Village Renewal, the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme and the CLÁR Programme. Furthermore, policies and strategies which form part of Our Rural Future, including the Towns Centre First Strategy and the National Outdoor Recreation Strategy will continue to be successfully implemented in 2024. Continued implementation of Our Living Islands and the related Action Plan for the period 2023-2026 will also be a priority in 2024.

With regard to the Community Development area, key funding programmes including the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), the Community Services Programme (CSP) and the Community Centre Investment Fund (CCIF) will continue in 2024, with an announcement of funding for new build community centres part of my plans for the year. 2024 will also see initial implementation of the National Philanthropy Policy, which will be published in coming weeks, and preparation and publication of a successor to the existing Social Enterprise Policy is also planned for 2024.

On the legislative front, the Charities Amendment Bill plans to update existing charity law and expand the role of the Charities Regulatory Authority, with the intention of increasing transparency in the way charities report and implement new provisions that will clarify certain thresholds and the general duties of trustees. I hope to progress the Bill through the Houses shortly.

My Department also has policy responsibility for the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010 and the Control of Dogs Acts 1986 to 2014. My officials are reviewing the existing legislative provisions under the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010 and the Control of Dogs Acts 1986 to 2014, taking account of recommendations from, inter alia, the Report of the Working Group on Control of Dogs, the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Food, Agriculture and the Marine, consultation with stakeholders and experts in the field, and the outcomes of the public consultation undertaken by my Department in 2019. Updates to the existing legislation are required and it is proposed that amendments will be made through a Control of Dogs and Dog Breeding Establishment Miscellaneous Bill. Items under consideration include the possibility for dog control notices, the inclusion of additional breeds in the restricted dogs list and updates to definitions contained in the Dog Breeding Establishments Act. However, the issues raised are wide ranging and complex and require in depth analysis and consultation to ensure amendments are not just robust, fit for purpose and implementable but that they also deliver the best outcomes for communities and for dogs themselves. This work will also progress throughout 2024.