William Aird (Laois, Fine Gael)
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194. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the details of all funds, grants or schemes, available to community groups and organisations, which are funded by his Department and agencies under his remit, their eligibility criteria and their monetary value range. [26240/25]

William Aird (Laois, Fine Gael)
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195. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the details of all services, grants, loans and payments available to individuals or households funded by his department and agencies under his remit, their eligibility criteria and their monetary value range. [26241/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 194 and 195 together.

My Department administers a large number of schemes and programmes that support communities, community groups and organisations around the country, however it does not provide supports to individuals or households directly. Detailed information on all schemes and programmes, including details on eligibility criteria, the values of funds available, and all allocations awarded to date, can be found on my Department's website www.gov.ie/en/department-of-rural-and-community-development/services/available-funding-and-supports/.

In general scheme applications are competitively assessed with reference to the scheme outline and published criteria. Monetary values awarded under each scheme are designed to reflect the scheme objectives. Programmes like the Local Enhancement Programme (LEP) offer small scale, targeted funding while the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) is a key capital investment scheme delivering transformative projects across the country.

There are four agencies under my Department’s remit: Pobal, the Charities Regulator, Water Safety Ireland, and the Western Development Commission. Each of the agencies have comprehensive websites which provide information on their work and the funding programmes they operate. I would note that Pobal carry out work on behalf of a number of Government Departments and comprehensive information on their schemes and programmes is available on their website at www.pobal.ie/programmes/. The Western Development Commission operates a number of investment funds, with specific information on those available at .

These agencies are independent legal entities, responsible for managing their own operations, including the administration of funding supports. The details of the Oireachtas contact point for each of the agencies are set out in the table below, should further specific information be required.

William Aird (Laois, Fine Gael)
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196. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of each individual project approved under measures 1, 2, and 3 of the outdoor recreation infrastructure schemes in County Laois in 2024; the grant approved for each project; the current status of each project; the completion date for each project, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26242/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) provides funding for the development and enhancement of outdoor recreational infrastructure such as walking trails, cycleways, blueways and mountain access routes in rural areas.

Last year, funding of over €20.3 million was announced for 221 projects under measures 1, 2 and 3 of the 2023 ORIS scheme. Almost €900,000 was approved for 8 projects in County Laois.

I have set out details of the projects approved in County Laois under measures 1, 2 and 3 in 2024 in the following table. The expected completion dates are those set out in the funding agreements.

William Aird (Laois, Fine Gael)
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197. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development for an update on the Town Centre First Policy; to provide a breakdown and the amount awarded and drawn down per town in County Laois; when he expects phase two; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26243/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Launched in 2022, the Town Centre First (TCF) Policy is a major cross-government policy that aims to tackle vacancy, combat dereliction and breathe new life into our town centres. TCF supports the Our Rural Future vision for a thriving rural Ireland by setting out a framework to facilitate and resource the regeneration of Irish towns to ensure they are vibrant, viable places to live, work, invest in, and visit.

In December 2021, funding of €2.6 million was announced to support the development of 26 TCF Town Plans, including Rathdowney, Co. Laois. These community-based plans are produced by individual Town Teams, drawn from local community and business representatives, and are helping communities develop a vision for their town and identify viable projects to realise that vision. This first phase of TCF plans is complete.

In February 2024, a new TCF suite of supports was launched with €4.5 million allocated through three funding measures, which will help regenerate town centres through a bottom-up approach. This includes an allocation of €30,000 for the development of a further 26 TCF plans, including in Mountmellick in Laois.

The funding also includes an allocation towards the establishment and development of Town Teams nationwide, with Ballylinan and Mountrath in Laois awarded €10,000 each.

Funding has also been provided to assist towns in preparing for major projects under the ‘Project Development Measure’, and two projects in Mountrath and Rathdowney were awarded funding under this measure. Further details of all the towns and projects awarded funding under Town Centre First, including these measures can be found on Gov.ie at this link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/473d3-town-centre-first-policy/.

The new Programme for Government commits to resourcing the Town Centre First model. My Department will continue to work closely with colleagues in the National TCF Office, local authorities and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage to deliver on the goal of revitalising rural towns and villages.

The table below provides a detailed breakdown of funding awarded and drawn down to date per town in Laois to support the implementation of the Town Centre First policy.

** Drawdown required by 30 September 2025.

William Aird (Laois, Fine Gael)
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198. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of each individual project approved under the town and village renewal scheme in County Laois in 2024, the grant approved for each project, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26244/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS) was introduced in 2016 and 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. Of this more than €7 million has been allocated to 72 projects in County Laois.

In April 2024, funding of €20.4 million was announced to support 82 successful TVRS projects, of which County Laois was allocated a total of €968,119 for 3 projects.

Additionally, in 2024 a series of TVRS supported measures were launched under the Town Centre First Suite of Supports to regenerate town centres. This included funding under the TCF Project Development Measure (PDM) which was announced in August 2024 with funding of €2.6 million to support 53 successful projects. County Laois was allocated €100,000 for a PDM projects in Rathdowney and Mountrath.

The table below provides a breakdown of the funding allocated to County Laois under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme in 2024.