Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

336. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which she and her Department continue to assist in the creation of digital hubs in order to recreate work place activity in a meaningful way throughout both urban and rural settings ensuring that activity in the workplace does not suffer and that a high level of social activity and interaction associated with the workplace can continue even relatively isolated areas in towns throughout the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40894/24]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

337. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which she and her Department can hope to replicate a workplace environment in all areas throughout the country subject to availability of modern technology such as broadband; her future plans for development in this area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40895/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 336 and 337 together.

A key focus of Our Rural Future (2021-2025) is to promote remote working for public and private sector workers and improve digital skills so that all people can avail of the social and economic benefits made possible by digital technologies and to optimise digital connectivity to support vibrant, sustainable rural communities.

In 2021, I launched connectedhubs.ie, a shared online booking and payments platform for remote working hubs, both urban and rural to offer a suite of booking and hub management applications to members of the network and their customers. There are currently 367 remote and co-working facilities across the country on-boarded to the connectedhubs.ie platform.

Substantial funding has been provided by my Department towards the development of remote working facilities. Successful projects are developed in collaboration with local authorities and communities with many vacant and derelict buildings converted into remote working hubs through programmes such as the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, LEADER and the Town and Village Renewal Scheme. In addition, the Connected Hubs Call provided funding of €14 million to almost 200 projects between 2021 and 2022, enabling successful applicants to add additional capacity to existing infrastructure in remote working hubs throughout the country.

My Department, together with the Department of Enterprise Trade and Employment, is leading on the formulation of a first National Hub Network Strategy, in consultation with hub managers, local authorities, communities and other hub sector stakeholders. The strategy will inform the future strategic direction of the national hub network and ensure the sustainability of Ireland’s hub infrastructure.

I am committed to closing the digital divide between rural and urban communities, and believe that a structured approach to the provision of remote working facilities can be transformational for Ireland.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

338. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which she has allocated funding over the past three years under the various headings available to her Department to assist rural communities or town centres; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40896/24]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

339. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the total monies awarded by her Department to various community-based initiatives throughout the regions since she took up Office; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40897/24]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

340. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development whether consideration will be given by her Department to various groups who have currently applied for further funding from her Department under the various schemes operated by her Office where a top up may be needed to complete specific works; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40898/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 338 to 340, inclusive, together.

My Department was established in 2017, and operates a large number of schemes aimed at supporting both rural development and community development. These interventions are improving not just rural areas, town centres and urban areas, but also strengthening the communities that live there.

The main rural development programmes, which underpin 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 administered through local authorities and other supporting structures such as Pobal. In situations where organisations require additional support in order to deliver their project within the approved allocation, I would encourage them to engage with the organisation administering the scheme on my Department's behalf as soon as possible to explore available options.

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.

With regard to cost adjustments, grant allocations made by my Department represent maximum agreed grant amounts. However, for larger capital projects where unavoidable cost increases occur for delivery of the agreed project (for example, due to inflation), some flexibility is provided. Such adjustments are closely controlled and kept to a minimum so as to ensure the greatest number of projects can be funded from the available allocations.

The table below sets out the levels of funding allocated under the Departments scheme each year since its establishment in 2017. The attached document provides a further breakdown of allocations across various schemes which support communities throughout the country.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

341. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which she proposes to extend support for various communities under the Leader Programme in the current year, directly or through other agencies; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40899/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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.

The programme includes specific funding themes to support Economic Development and Job Creation, Rural Infrastructure and Social Inclusion, and Sustainable Development of Rural Environment, Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation. Community groups and rural-based businesses can apply for funding under these themes.

Nationally, over 5,800 projects have been approved for funding in excess of €240 million since 2016 when the 2014-2020 LEADER programme became operational. To date, payments of approximately €220 million have been made in respect of these projects. My Department is currently working to conclude this programme.

The 2023-2027 LEADER Programme, which has a budget of €180 million, has commenced and LAGs are in the early stages of implementation of the 2023-2027 LEADER programme which involves engaging with their respective communities and developing project applications.

I look forward to the programme gathering pace and I am confident that LEADER will continue to play an important role in the future development of our rural areas.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

342. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development to outline her proposals for further enhancement or expenditure under the town and village centre renewal scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40900/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Our Rural Future, Ireland's Rural Development Policy 2021 – 2025, represents the Irish Government’s blueprint for the sustainable development of rural Ireland. It sets out a vision for a thriving rural Ireland, and to that end establishes a strategic framework for the delivery of capital investment under my Department's Rural Development Investment Programme. The delivery of these actions will enhance the wellbeing and quality of life for people living in our rural towns and villages.

The Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS) is one of a number of measures designed to rejuvenate rural towns and villages throughout Ireland. Since the launch of the scheme over €177 million has been allocated to almost 1,800 projects.

In line with the policy commitments within the Our Rural Future and Town Centre First policy (TCF), priorities are reviewed at the end of each scheme year to ensure that funding schemes are structured in a way that delivers on key government commitments and provide impactful projects in communities.

For example, in 2021 I introduced a new ‘Project Development Measure’ to assist local authorities to establish to a pipeline of significant, well-developed projects which might be subsequently progressed to construction stage, subject to the availability of further funding. In 2022, in recognition of the urgent need to transform and regenerate town centres I introduced a new ‘Building Acquisition Measure’ which enabled local authorities to immediately acquire derelict or vacant buildings, with the intention of using these projects for town regeneration purposes and this was continued again in 2023.

The 2023 TVRS Scheme placed particular emphasis on projects that bring economic and social vibrancy to town centres in line with Government’s policies, making them better places to live, work, socialise and raise a family. In April of this year I was delighted to announce €20.4 million in funding for 82 successful projects under the scheme.

Earlier this year, I launched an additional suite of supports under TCF, which will provide an additional €4 million to support the broader efforts to regenerate town centres through a bottom-up approach. As part of these supports, I was delighted to announce €2.6 million in funding to support 53 Project Development Measure projects under the umbrella of the TVRS.

The priorities for the 2024/25 TVRS are currently under review to inform the next iteration of the scheme which I would plan to launch before the end of this year.