Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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88. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the efforts her Department is making in dealing with rural isolation and loneliness; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40593/24]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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334. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which she and her Department can further enhance the extent to which people living in isolation in either urban or rural communities can be support by various means such as electronic devices to assist them in the event of attack with particular reference to the possible extension of the existing alarm system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40892/24]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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335. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which she and her Department have assisted with addressing the issue of isolation throughout the country in the past four years, both rural and urban dwellers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40893/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 88, 334 and 335 together.

Groups and projects supported by my Department deliver on a range of objectives. Some groups and projects work to address societal issues such as isolation and deprivation, while others aim to enhance local communities and livelihoods through investment in spaces and community development activities.

Organisations like Men’s Sheds and women’s groups are vital in addressing isolation for many people. Late last year I was pleased to announce €1 million in funding to Men’s Sheds. Under the initiative, grants of up to €3,000 have been provided to 435 Men’s Sheds across the country.

In June, I announced funding for almost 500 women’s groups nationwide. The funding is being delivered as part of the Local Enhancement Programme (LEP) 2024. The LEP allocated €6 million in capital supports for community groups and organisations across every county in Ireland, with funding of €1 million being ring-fenced for women’s groups.

I believe that community centres are the cornerstone of communities all over Ireland and provide people, young and old, with a place to meet, learn, play and participate with the community as a whole. Earlier this year I announced a further €20 million in funding to support our community groups to upgrade and refurbish the community facilities in their areas. This allocation brings the total amount of funding announced to support the development of community centres, under the Community Centre Investment Fund, to over €95 million since 2022.

In relation to isolation and marginalisation, the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme addresses high and persistent levels of deprivation through targeted and innovative, locally-led approaches in communities. Also my Department's Community Services Programme aims to address community needs, isolation and social exclusion by providing services through a social enterprise model. I am pleased to have secured combined funding of over €110 million for the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) and the Community Services Programme in 2025.

While my Department does not provide funding for house alarm systems, the Seniors Alert Scheme provides significant peace of mind for many vulnerable older people in our communities, reducing feelings of isolation. It provides funding for a personal monitored alarm, connected to a contact centre to enable older persons of 65 or older and of limited means, to continue to live securely in their homes with confidence and independence. I have ensured that this scheme is funded to allow applications on an ongoing basis, from both rural and urban dwellers, and details on how to apply are available at www.pobal.ie/programmes/seniors-alert-scheme-sas/.

I will continue to engage with rural communities to identify issues impacting on them and respond to emerging needs, including with regard to helping address rural isolation and loneliness. I am confident that the funding supports and policies provided by my Department will continue to deliver tangible benefits for our communities.

Details of all of the supports available from my Department can be found at www.gov.ie/drcd.

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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89. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the measures being taken to address the high demand, and applications received by Cork County Council under the local improvement scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40594/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) supports the improvement of rural roads and laneways that are not usually maintained by local authorities. As part of Our Rural Future, the government is committed to ensuring that the LIS is funded in the future.

In April of this year, I announced over €40 million in funding for the 2024 and 2025 Schemes, having secured an additional once-off funding in respect of 2024. In order to help local authorities better plan their work programmes, thus supporting ongoing efforts to meet high demand at local level.

Since its establishment in 2017, the total amount of funding provided for LIS by my Department is just under €170 million (includes the 2024/2025 funding allocation). This funding has so far resulted in improvement works on over 4,000 roads, benefitting almost 20,000 landowners and residents in these rural areas.

Since the scheme launched in 2017, Cork has been allocated a total of €12.7 million in LIS funding. This figure includes the 2024/2025 allocation of €2.8 million for Cork and a figure of €0.42 million to fund LIS repair works on Cork’s island roads. Furthermore, Cork County Council has completed repair works on a total of 233 rural roads and laneways and have indicated that 31 roads will be completed in 2024, with a further 14 roads to be completed in 2025.

While my Department provides funding for the Scheme, it is administered by each local authority, who are responsible for the selection and prioritisation of roads. Should savings within the Department be identified, I will consider allocating an additional tranche of funding in 2025 to address the backlog of roads awaiting repair under the Scheme.

It should be noted that the ability of local authorities to meet demand under the scheme is not purely a function of available funding, as other factors such as weather conditions and the availability of contractors and labour are also relevant. My officials continue to liaise closely with local authorities to ensure the efficient and effective delivery of the scheme.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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90. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she expects to be in a position to assist urban or rural organisations seeking to address social or economic equality in their respective areas, now and throughout 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40585/24]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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101. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development how she proposes to liaise with youth groups in urban or rural settings with a view to addressing their issues of concern, now and throughout 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40586/24]

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 90 and 101 together.

I am delighted to confirm that I have secured a 9% increase in my Department’s funding under Budget 2025. This brings my Department’s allocation to €472 million, giving it additional resources to assist organisations in urban and rural areas, and community groups seeking to address social and economic inequality, including supporting young people.

This record allocation of €472 million will provide €212 million for rural development. This funding will continue to breathe new life into towns and villages and support the social and economic development of rural and urban communities. My Department supports rural regeneration, facilitates new working opportunities and fosters regional enterprise growth through a wide range of schemes including the the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, the LEADER Programme, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme, and the Islands Capital Programme.

I understand young people may have unique perspectives on rural development and their lives in rural Ireland, and for that reason one of the key commitments of the Government’s five-year strategy for rural Ireland - ‘Our Rural Future’, is the establishment of a Rural Youth Assembly. This measure builds on the direct engagement with young people, that commenced during the development of the policy, and has continued since the policy was launched in March 2021. The Assembly is co-hosted by my Department and the National Participation Office in the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. It comprises of young people between the ages of 12-24 who discuss the challenges and opportunities associated with living in rural Ireland. More information about the Rural Youth Assembly and its work can be found on my Department’s website www.gov.ie/drcd.

My Department also provides strategic interventions through supports and funding programmes which target and address issues of social and economic deprivation in communities throughout the country. Budget 2025 has made €260 million available for these community development activities.

The two main schemes in this area, the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), and the Community Services Programme (CSP), will have combined core funding of over €100 million for 2025. SICAP is Ireland’s primary social inclusion funding intervention to help those in the greatest need access supports to enable participation in communities. The CSP provides employment opportunities for people in disadvantaged areas, and those most distant from the labour market, whilst also ensuring the provision of vital community services throughout the country.

My Department will continue to engage with rural and urban stakeholders, young and old, to identify issues impacting on communities and to respond to emerging needs.