Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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151. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills to outline all capital investments, if any made by his Department in the constituency of Louth East Meath since 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45401/24]

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
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152. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development to outline all capital investments, if any made by her Department in the constituency of Louth East Meath since 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45406/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department operates a large number of schemes which fund hundreds of projects and groups throughout the country each year.

Funding announcements, and the list of approved projects for each announcement, are regularly published on www.gov.ie/en/organisation/department-of-rural-and-community-development/ .

My Department collates funding allocations on a county, rather than constituency, basis. Direct links to information and approvals for my Department’s main capital schemes are provided below.

• The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) is a key capital investment scheme which directly supports the objectives of Our Rural Future and the Town Centre First policy. To date, funding of €577 million has been allocated to 245 projects worth €768 million. The detail in relation to the projects awarded funding in each county is available on my Department’s website at the following link www.gov.ie/en/publication/7be140-test/. ).
• 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 more than 1,800 projects across Ireland. The detail in relation to the projects awarded funding in each county is available on my Department’s website at the following link www.gov.ie/en/collection/0012f5-town-and-village-renewal-scheme/ .).
• The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) provides funding for the development and enhancement of outdoor recreational infrastructure such as walking trails, cycleways and blue ways throughout rural Ireland. Since the launch of the scheme in 2016, funding of almost €129 million has supported 1,776 projects across the country. The detail in relation to the projects awarded funding in each county is available on my Department’s website at the following link www.gov.ie/en/collection/90a66b-approved-funding-for-outdoor-recreation-projects/ .).
• The CLÁR Programme provides funding for small-scale infrastructural projects in designated rural areas that have experienced significant levels of depopulation over a defined period. Since the CLÁR programme was reintroduced in 2016, funding of over €72 million has been approved for almost 2,450 projects. The detail in relation to the projects awarded funding in each county is available on my Department’s website at the following link www.gov.ie/en/policy-information/91ba52-clar/#introduction. ).
• The Community Centres Investment Fund is the largest ever capital investment in Community Centres. It provides funding for investments in Community Centres to ensure these vital services remain useable, accessible, and safe and continue to meet the needs of the community into the future. Earlier this week I was pleased to announced over €7.6 million in funding to support the upgrade of 399 community centres across the country. The detail in relation to the projects awarded funding in each county is available on my Department’s website at the following link www.gov.ie/en/collection/3a8bd-community-centre-investment-fund-successful-projects/. ).
• 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. Details in relation to projects funded under LEADER is available at the following link www.gov.ie/en/publication/b849be-local-action-groups-approved-projects-2014-2020/ .).
• The Connected Hubs fund invested €14 million in almost 200 projects between 2021 and 2022, enabling successful applicants to add additional capacity to existing remote working infrastructure in digital hubs and Broadband Connection Points throughout the country. Details in relation to the projects awarded funding in each county are set out at the following link www.gov.ie/en/collection/49822-2021-connected-hubs-fund-successful-applicants/. ).
• The Community Recognition Fund 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 to support cities, towns and villages nationwide. Based on the continued impacts on communities throughout the country and the need to support these communities in welcoming new arrivals, a further €50 million is being provided under the Community Recognition Fund 2024. Details in relation to the projects awarded funding in each county are set out at the following link www.gov.ie/en/collection/3a749-community-recognition-fund-2023-list-of-successful-applicants/. ).
• The Local Enhancement Programme (LEP) which replaces my Department’s Community Enhancement Programme was launched last December with capital funding of €6 million to assist thousands of community groups across the country. Since 2018, my Department has allocated €58.9 million in funding under the Community Enhancement Programme and its iterations for local community groups. Past projects supported by the programme include Women’s Sheds, Men’s Sheds, operating costs and minor capital works. Details of the 2024 LEP allocations are available at the following link www.gov.ie/en/collection/3bbb1-local-enhancement-programme/ .).
• The Public Library Strategy, ‘The Library is the Place’, was launched in July 2023 and was developed by my Department in partnership with the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA), the County and City Management Association (CCMA) and local authorities. It is a five-year plan for the period 2023-27 which sets out the strategic context for further investment in library infrastructure, technology, programmes and services. Details on the Library Supports 2024 funding are available at the following link (www.gov.ie/pdf/?file= .).
• The Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) provides essential funding to improve road access to homes and farms in rural areas. Since its reintroduction in 2017, over €170 million has been allocated for works on over 4,000 roads. This investment demonstrates my continued commitment to vital road infrastructure in rural Ireland, providing access to people’s homes and farms. Details on the funding allocated to each county is available at the following link www.gov.ie/en/collection/ce37b-local-improvement-scheme-funding-allocations/. ).