Written answers
Tuesday, 30 January 2024
Department of Rural and Community Development
Rural Schemes
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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600. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which she continues to liaise with various community groups in Kildare north and throughout the country with a view to assisting them with their requirements under the appropriate headings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4287/24]
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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601. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which she continues to engage with rural and community groups with a view to identifying the most pertinent needs of the respective communities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4288/24]
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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602. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development to indicate whether she intends to expand the mission statement of her Department to meet particular areas that did not previously qualify for assistance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4289/24]
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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609. 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. [4296/24]
Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 600, 601, 602 and 609 together.
My Department will continue to support vibrant, inclusive and sustainable communities across Ireland, and places consultation and engagement at the centre of how it does that.
The Budget 2024 provision of €431 million for my Department provides over €205 million for rural development and over €225 million for community development. This will support investment in regional, rural and local communities, investment in our islands, as well as a wide range of initiatives promoting social inclusion. Details of all schemes managed by my Department can be found on our website at www.gov.ie/drcd/.
The issue of isolation in rural and urban communities cuts across the work of a number of Departments. My Department provides 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), Community Services Programme, Seniors Alert Scheme, and CLÁR. My Department also provides supports for social enterprises, many of which are based in rural or isolated areas and provide services to communities that may not otherwise be available. The range of schemes on offer ensure that there is access to supports for a very wide range of groups and that such groups right across the country, including in Kildare, can benefit from our supports.
My Department continues to engage with stakeholders and monitor issues impacting on communities in order to respond to the emerging needs of people in communities right across the country.
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