Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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280. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if additional funding is being provided to his Department this year due to additional expenditure arising following storm Éowyn; if additional funding is provided, the programmes and schemes that will benefit from this additional expenditure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14588/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The budget allocation for my Department is agreed on an annual basis with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform as part of the Revised Estimates for Public Services process. The 2025 gross allocation for my Department, of €473.5 million, represents a 7% increase on the previous year’s allocation. This increased funding for 2025 will allow for additional investment across our schemes, which are supporting communities throughout the country.

Many of the schemes operated by my Department, including LEADER, Town and Village Renewal, and the Community Centre Investment Fund have helped improve the resilience of rural communities. While my Department has not received additional funding in relation to the storm, the funding provided for 2025 will allow for additional investment across our schemes.