Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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826. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which she and her Department can assist the rural communities dealing with transport in areas not served by public transport; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10808/24]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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827. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the degree to which she and her Department expect to be in a position to address the socioeconomic needs of rural Ireland throughout the country during the rest of 2024, including such issues as isolation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10809/24]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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829. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which she and her Department have and continue to address issues of rural isolation and need for services to counter this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10811/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 826, 827 and 829 together.

Addressing the issue of isolation, in both rural and urban communities, cuts across the work of a number of Departments. Many of my Department's policies and funding programmes aim to address social isolation issues in communities, and also deliver benefits by responding to the challenges facing vulnerable individuals.

My Department provides funding to 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 (CSO), and Seniors Alert Scheme, amongst others.

SICAP is Ireland’s primary social inclusion funding intervention, delivered locally by Local Development Companies (LDCs) to help those in the greatest need access supports to enable participation in communities.

My Department’s Community Services Programme (CSP) currently supports over 420 community organisations to provide employment opportunities and local services through a social enterprise model. The CSP focuses on communities where public and private sector services are lacking, either through geographical isolation or social isolation or because demand levels are not sufficient.

My Department is responsible for the Seniors Alert Scheme which encourages community support for vulnerable older people in our communities through the provision of personal monitored alarms to enable them to live securely in their homes with confidence, independence and peace of mind. Funding is available under the Scheme towards the purchase, by a registered community-based organisation, of a personal alarm or pendant.

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.

With regard to transport provision for rural areas, this is a matter for the Minister for Transport. Under the CLÁR Programme my Department provides funding to support the purchase of vehicles for the transport of patients to cancer care treatment and for community first responders.

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.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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828. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which she and her Department have received applications under the various rural development schemes on a county by county basis throughout the country in the past two years and to date in 2024; the extent of the approvals in the past; her expectations of the current year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10810/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I have provided details in the attached tables in respect of the number of applications received under the following schemes which form part of my Department's Rural Development Investment Programme:

• Rural Regeneration and Development Fund
• Town & Village Renewal Scheme
• Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme
• CLÁR

The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund supports capital projects in towns, villages and rural areas across Ireland.

Calls for applications to the Fund are sought under two categories – Category 1 and Category 2. Category 1 relates to large scale ambitious capital projects with all necessary planning and other consents in place, and which are ready to proceed to construction. Category 2 provides smaller grant funding to enable the development of project proposals suitable for future calls for Category 1 applications.

The third call for Category 2 applications was completed in January 2022. The fourth call for Category 1 applications was completed in November 2022. There were no applications received under this Fund in 2023

The fifth call for Category 1 RRDF applications closed on 8 February. My Department received 60 applications to this call. I expect to be in a position to announce the successful projects before the end of quarter 2 of 2024.

The Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS) supports the revitalisation of our towns and villages.

The figures in respect of the 2023 applications include the 2023 TVRS Main Scheme and 2023 Building Acquisition Measure, however the approvals are for the 2023 Building Acquisition Measure only. It is expected that the announcement of successful projects (approvals) for the 2023 TVRS Main Scheme will take place by the end of quarter 1 2024.

It is expected that the next iteration of the TVRS will be announced in the second half of 2024 therefore no applications have been received to date in 2024.

The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) provides funding for the development and enhancement of outdoor recreational infrastructure such as walking trails, cycleways and other amenities at our rivers, beaches, lakes and forests.

The figures in the table for approvals in 2023 relate only to funding under the Project Development Measure of the 2023 scheme. Applications submitted under Measures 1, 2 and 3 of the 2023 scheme are currently being assessed. I hope to announce successful projects under these three Measures in the coming weeks. The next iteration of the scheme will be launched in the second half of 2024

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.

In 2022 I announced 292 successful projects from 325 applications with over €12 million in funding. In 2023 I announced 303 successful projects out of 330 applications with funding of over €13 million under all of the CLÁR measures. I expect to launch the 2024 CLÁR scheme in the coming weeks

The LEADER Programme also forms part of the Rural Development Investment Programme, however the projects are not approved directly by the Department. Similarly, applications under the Local Improvement Scheme are managed directly by the Local Authorities and sent to my Department for approval.

The Deputy will also be aware that my Department funds a range of other capital projects through schemes such as the Community Recognition Fund and the Community Centre Investment Fund.

As approvals are announced across the different schemes, they are listed on my Departments website www.gov.ie/drcd