Written answers

Monday, 9 September 2024

Department of Rural and Community Development

Departmental Schemes

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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2036.To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of community grants issued under the different schemes operated by her Department in each year since 2016; and the aggregate value for the respective year.[35020/24]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department was established in 2017, and operates a large number of schemes aimed at supporting both rural development and community development.

The main rural development programmes which underpin national policy outlined in Our Rural Future 2021-2025 and other policy documents such as the Town Centre First policy are the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF), LEADER, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS), the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS), the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS), the CLÁR programme and support for Islands transport services and capital works. There are also a range of other smaller supports including the Walks Scheme, Tidy Towns, Connected Hubs and Broadband Connection Points. The majority of funding under the rural development programme is channelled through local authorities and other public bodies.

The main community development programme supports are the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), the Community Services Programme (CSP), the Community Centre Investment Fund (CCIF), the Community Recognition Fund (CRF), Libraries Development, and the Local Enhancement Programme (LEP)/Community Enhancement Programme (CEP). A number of other smaller measures are in place within this programme area which empower communities through supporting structures and participatory decision making, including the Scheme to Support National Organisations, Local Community Development Committee supports, and Public Participation Network supports.

The table below sets out the aggregate values requested. The link provides further breakdown of allocations across various schemes which support communities throughout the country.

Year Number of grants approved Total value of these approved allocations €
2017 1827 €101,457,160
2018 5207 €181,169,096
2019 4265 €296,951,748
2020 9255 €223,219,422
2021 8820 €302,553,074
2022 8061 €418,945,930
2023 6276 €235,397,653
2024 1358 €354,267,496
Totals 45,069 €2,113,961,579

">Community Grants issued

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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2037.To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of heritage grants issued under the different schemes operated by her Department in each year since 2016; and the aggregate value for the respective year.[35021/24]

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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2038.To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development her views on whether there needs to be a fresh look at how we plan at national level to ensure that the many local heritage assets in each county are harnessed to promote rural development and quality of life more effectively.[35022/24]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 2037 and 2038 together.

'Our Rural Future’ is the whole-of-Government’s policy for balanced, sustainable, regional development. It recognises that our heritage lies at the heart of rural Ireland, and is one of the keys to sustaining rural areas and regenerating them. For example, the policy acknowledges that Ireland’s heritage affords a huge comparative advantage in terms of the tourism offering in rural areas.

Commitments relating to local heritage assets are predominantly delivered via the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and implemented through the publication of the national heritage plan 'Heritage Ireland 2030',which was launched in 2022. The plan recognises the role our heritage plays in our communities, economy and society, and sets out strategic priorities for the heritage sector.

The plan’s vision is for heritage – in all its forms – to be at the centre of local and national discourse, valued by all and cared for and protected for future generations. The plan recognises that Ireland’s built, cultural and natural heritage plays a critical role in rural economies and helps define the character and sense of place that is so important in our rural communities. This is guiding our approach at a national level.

In addition to the above, the importance of heritage is also integrated into a number of other policies developed and implemented by my Department. The Government's Town Centre First (TCF) Policy sets out a framework to facilitate and resource the regeneration of Irish towns to ensure that they are vibrant, viable and attractive places to live, work, invest in, and visit. The policy contains 33 actions to achieve national objectives, and expressly recognises that heritage-led regeneration can support and make best use of existing resources in order to drive future growth and development.

Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors, the National Outdoor Recreation Strategy 2023-2027 provides a strategic, collaborative framework to facilitate the consolidation and sustainable growth of the outdoor recreation sector. It includes an ambition to protect our landscapes, habitats and built heritage by better planning where and how we develop our outdoor recreation infrastructure. The County Outdoor Recreation Plans being developed across the country as a result of this strategy will also create a more strategic approach to outdoor recreation locally in each county and include a consideration of heritage sites.

Finally, Our Living Islands, the National Islands Policy 2023-2033, also clearly recognises the important contribution of our offshore inhabited islands in terms of our national economy, our culture and our heritage.

My Department does not capture details of the amount of funding approved specifically for heritage projects. However, my Department funds hundreds of projects every year through a range of schemes, many of which would have a heritage aspect.

For example, the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) provides funding for the development and enhancement of outdoor recreational infrastructure such as walking trails, cycleways, mountain trails and water-based recreation projects. In the past number of years, ORIS has supported a number of walking trails which hold a significant heritage element or provide a link to a heritage site. Examples of these include Aughnacliffe Heritage Trail, Kilmovee Heritage Trail and Bawnboy Heritage Trail. Approvals under the ORIS scheme can be viewed on the Department’s website,www.gov.ie/drcd.

In addition, since the establishment of my Department in 2017, the Walks Scheme has provided over €16 million to participants (farmers/landholders) who maintain sections of approved walking trails which traverse their land. Many of the trails on the scheme are traditional walking routes and pilgrim walks that provide access to local heritage sites of importance, which would not otherwise be accessible. Some of the historic trails that are supported on the scheme include the Miner's Way & Historical Trail, St Declan Ways and Croagh Patrick Heritage Trail.

Under the Community Centre Investment Fund (CCIF) which I introduced in 2022, over €75 million has already been was committed for improvement and refurbishment works on over 860 existing community centres across Ireland and the construction of 12 new community centres. To date the Community Centre Investment Fund has supported many heritage project across the country such as funding for essential maintenance to the roof of the centre for St. Killian’s Heritage Trust in Cavan. The details in relation to all of the CCIF projects is available on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/service/fec91-community-centres-investment-fund/

The Community Recognition Fund (CRF) was first introduced in 2023 to recognise the huge efforts made by communities in welcoming and supporting people coming to Ireland. Through the 2023 allocation, funding of €50 million was approved for some 900 projects in providing support to cities, towns and villages nationwide who have welcomed people from Ukraine and other countries. To further support communities, a further €50 million in funding under the Community Recognition Fund was announced last March.

The Community Recognition Fund has supported a number of heritage related projects across the country such as the purchase of equipment by Kilfenora Heritage Association, Co Clare. The details in relation to projects awarded funding under Community Recognition Fund is available on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/3a749-community-recognition-fund-2023-list-of-successful-applicants/

The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund is a key capital investment scheme which directly supports the objectives of Our Rural Future and the Town Centre First policy. It supports projects that have the potential to revitalise rural towns and villages through planned and sustainable regeneration that will drive greater economic activity and footfall, address vacancy and dereliction, ensure the reuse of heritage and other existing buildings, and provide the necessary facilities and infrastructure in settlements. Well over €500m in RRDF funding has been approved to date, including support for projects that include a heritage focus such as the recently approved projects to regenerate Castleblayney’s Market Square in Monaghan and the regeneration of ‘Dan Breen’s House’ and the Courthouse in Tipperary. Details of all RRDF projects approved since the scheme’s launch, together with funding levels, can be found on the DRCD website at: www.gov.ie/en/publication/7be140-test/

Since the launch of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme in 2016, over €177 million of funding has been approved for almost 1,800 projects across Ireland. The Town and Village Renewal Scheme is one of a series of national and local support measures designed to rejuvenate small rural towns and villages throughout Ireland. It also funds heritage-linked projects such as the regeneration of the Garda station, a heritage building, in Piltown, County Kilkenny. Details of the projects supported can be found at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/policy-information/01125e-town-and-village-renewal-scheme/

The LEADER Programme aims to deliver a range of actions to rural communities over the lifetime of the policy. It supports a broad range of activities which aim to respond to the diversity of the local needs of our rural areas. Funding is focused on a thematic approach to rural development under the headings of Economic Development and Job Creation, Rural Infrastructure and Social Inclusion, Sustainable Development of the Rural Environment and Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation. Many LEADER projects would include a heritage element such as funding provided to the Lisdoonvarna Historical Society for a photographic and historical display.

The list of projects approved under the LEADER programme is available on the Department’s website at: www.gov.ie/en/publication/b849be-local-action-groups-approved-projects-2014-2020/

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