Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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93. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development to provide an update on the LEADER programme; the measures that have been funded for climate change mitigation and adaptation; the amount of funding that was allocated to LEADER in Budget 2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40519/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The LEADER Programme is a key intervention of Our Rural Future, the Government’s Policy for rural development which 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.

Since the 2014-2022 LEADER programme became operational in 2016, over 5,800 project were approved for funding of in excess of €240 million. This programme has now closed and 99% of approved projects have been completed. Final claims for payment are currently being processed by my Department.

The 2023-2027 LEADER Programme has now commenced and LAGs are in the early stages of implementation, which involves engaging with their respective communities to develop project applications.

The LEADER programme is implemented across thematic areas. Under the 2014-2022 LEADER Programme, the Rural Environmental theme included measures aimed at addressing climate change through initiatives in relation to renewable energy. Over €8 million was approved for projects in this category.

The 2023-2027 LEADER programme has a greater focus on climate change and includes a specific sub-theme in relation to climate change mitigation and adaptation. The type of activities covered under this subtheme will include actions that reduce the carbon footprint of the community and local industry, actions that protect the environment through greater awareness of environmental issues, and promote the efficient use of natural resources and heritage preservation. LAGs have identified in their Local Development Strategies the measures they will undertake to include these activities in their action plans. I look forward to seeing these project come to fruition as the programme progresses.

With regard to the Budget 2025, funding of €42 million has been allocated to ensure the delivery of the LEADER programme and I am satisfied that this level of funding will sufficient to cover all aspects of implementing the programme next year.

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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94. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department has assessed the scale of the impact on rural communities of the many community support schemes which her Department has run over the past five years, both in creating or improving community facilities and building community engagement and well-being; whether she has an estimate of the multiplier effect of these supports; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40313/24]

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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With regard to the impacts and outcomes of investment by my Department, both the Revised Estimates Volume and the Public Service Performance Report provide high-level metrics with regard to the targets and outcomes for our most significant funding schemes. My Department’s Annual Report also provides an overview of the work of the Department each year, including funding commitments and project approvals under each scheme. The last 5 years has seen huge funding growth for both rural and community development, with a commensurate increase in the volume of projects funded.

While the specific issue of multiplier effects of supports has not been considered to date, the Department has undertaken focused policy assessment work on a range of programme areas including the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and the Local Improvement Scheme. The reports are available on my Departments website, at www.gov.ie/en/publication/bf723-rural-development-research-and-analysis/.

The two largest community development schemes, the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) and the Community Services Programme (CSP) have reporting systems in place to collate activity and outcomes under the schemes, with this information utilised to produce both the annual statistics in documents such as the Revised Estimate, and regular detailed reports that inform the design of the programmes as they move from one programme period to the next. Again, all such reports are available on the Departments website. The annual reports for both SICAP and CSP, which are available on the Pobal website, provide clear evidence of the positive impact of these schemes for both individuals and communities.

Pobal, who administer the SICAP Programme on behalf of my Department, have conducted and published a number of assessments and learning briefs on the impact of SICAP services on particular cohorts, some in conjunction with ESRI. These publications include analysis of The Role of SICAP in Supporting New Communities, A Comparison of Women and Men Supported by SICAP and an Evaluation of SICAP Pre-Employment Supports.

In partnership with the ERSI, my Department recently published three reports focussed on scoping potential high level indicators for rural development in the long term. My Department is also working with the Department of Taoiseach on an approach to assess place-based and local well-being, in line with the National Well-being Framework and Programme for Government commitments. My Department also regularly engages with the Central Statistics Office (CSO), in terms of how their statistics can inform our work.

In terms of creating and improving community facilities, the recent establishment of the Community Centre Investment Fund is one example of the clear impact of our schemes. The first funding round approved over €45.8 million for improvement and refurbishment works on 861 existing community centres across Ireland. In April this year funding of €30 million was approved for the construction of 12 new community centres across nine counties. Applications for a further round of funding for improvement and refurbishment works recently closed, with huge interest once again.

The sustained level of investment in rural and urban communities over the last 5 years is having clear and positive impacts for our communities and local economies right across the country.

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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95. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development for an update on the community centres for Ballyvolane and Fairhill. [40576/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Under the 2022 Community Centre Investment Fund, over €45.8 million was committed for improvement and refurbishment works on 861 existing community centres across Ireland. I am happy to confirm that 96 projects totaling almost €4.8 million were allocated funding in Co. Cork under CCIF 2022.

In April, I approved funding of €30 million for the construction of 12 new community centres across nine counties. I can confirm that County Cork was successful under this fund with Rylane Community Centre being approved over €1.5 million.

In June this year, I was delighted to announce a further round of funding to support community groups to upgrade and refurbish the community facilities in their areas. The Community Centre Investment Fund 2024 will provide funding of between €10,000 and €100,000 towards capital costs for the refurbishment of existing community centres.

The 2024 scheme closed for applications on Thursday 5th September. County Cork has submitted over 100 applications totaling over €6.5 million for consideration under CCIF 2024. I expect to begin announcing the successful applicants under Community Centre Investment Fund 2024 in the coming months.

I understand that there has not been an application under any iteration of the Community Centre Investment Fund for Ballyvolane or Fairhill. I would encourage the community groups in these locations to explore the potential for funding under other schemes operated by my Department such as the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme or the CLÁR programme. Details of each scheme are available on my Department's website.

I would also encourage the local groups to explore the potential for funding with their respective local authority and local development company.

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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96. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development to provide an update on the progress of works under the local enhancement scheme 2024 in Carlow. [40522/24]

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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Last December, I launched the Local Enhancement Programme (LEP), with capital funding of €6 million to assist community groups across the country. The LEP is targeted to the specific challenges facing local community groups and delivers immediate, tangible supports where they are needed most.

There was a particular focus on small capital works/improvements, and the purchase of equipment for community use. The funding may be used, but is not limited to; improved access for persons with a disability; enhancing community participation for disadvantaged and marginalised groups, and improving energy efficiency of community facilities to reduce ongoing costs.

The LEP was administered on behalf of my Department locally by Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) across the country, with support from their Local Authority. The LEP 2024 is now closed to applicants. I can confirm Carlow received an allocation of €142,867.38 under the LEP and details of successful groups are available at www.gov.ie/DRCD.

Details of any future iterations of the Local Enhancement Programme, including the allocations available have not yet been confirmed. I would encourage all groups to check my department’s website www.gov.ie/drcd, and to engage with their Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs), Local Development Companies and Public Participation Networks (PPN) to ensure they are aware of funding opportunities as they become available.

I look forward to continuing to deliver meaningful supports like the LEP to local communities as we support them to respond to the challenges they face.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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97. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she has considered ways to support communities in towns and villages to provide facilities such as community centres or community hubs where none exist, and where no land is available to the local authority on which to build such facilities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40486/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department has a number of capital programmes designed to help community groups who are carrying out large infrastructural development projects. This includes the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF), the Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS), the Community Centre Investment Fund (CCIF), the Community recognition Fund (CRF) and the LEADER programme.

The LEADER programme is based on a community-led approach to rural development and plays an important role in supporting communities and enterprises in progressing job creation, social inclusion and environmental projects at local level.

The new LEADER programme for the period 2023-2027 has now commenced across the country. A strong focus of this new programme, which builds on the many successful previous programmes, will be the capacity of marginalised and new communities, particularly in areas that have not benefited from LEADER support in the past. I am confident that those delivering the new LEADER programme will provide support to projects at a local level that aim to address the needs of their communities as they arise.

The RRDF provides funding for the development and construction of capital projects in towns and villages and rural areas across Ireland. Since the Fund was established in 2018, a total of 243 projects have been approved for funding of over €584 million for projects.

The projects supported by the RRDF revitalise rural towns and villages, address vacancy and dereliction and provide the necessary facilities required by communities.

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

In May 2023 I announced funding of €164 million for 30 large scale projects. Many of these projects include elements which restore and build community facilities. I expect to announce a call for Category 2 applications shortly.

The CCIF has provided capital funding for improvement and refurbishment works on over 860 existing community centres across Ireland and the construction of 12 new community centres.

Last June, a further €20 million in capital funding was announced to support community groups to upgrade and refurbish the community facilities in their areas. The CCIF 2024 will provide funding from €10,000 up to a maximum of €100,000 towards capital costs for the refurbishment of existing community centres.

This allocation brings the total amount of funding announced under CCIF to over €95 million since 2022. This is an unprecedented level of investment in our community centres.

The TVRS launched in 2016 and since then over €177 million has been allocated to almost 1,800 projects. The 2023 Scheme placed particular emphasis on projects that bring economic and social vibrancy to town centres in line with Government’s policies, and which will encourage more people into town and village centres to work, shop and socialise.

The Building Acquisition Measure was launched under TVRS in 2022 to allow local authorities to purchase vacant and derelict buildings for future development as community assets. Past iterations of TVRS have also funded acquisition of land in town centres for the development of town regeneration and community focused projects as well as the refurbishment or development of multi-purpose community spaces in Ireland’s rural towns and villages. Scheme priorities are reviewed at the end of each scheme year to ensure that funding is targeted effectively to support vibrant and attractive communities and to respond to changing needs and opportunities.

The TVRS is administered through local authorities, who work closely with local communities and businesses to develop proposals that can make a lasting impact on rural towns and villages. I expect to announce the 2024 scheme shortly.

The CRF was established in 2023 to recognise the efforts made by cities, towns and villages in welcoming new arrivals to Ireland. Funding of €100 million has been allocated to support projects across a range of areas including the purchase of land and buildings for community use. The final phase for the 2024 fund closes on January 31st, 2025 and is being administered by the local authorities.