Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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402. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the steps he has taken to fulfil the Programme for Governments commitments to launch an urban communities initiative to revitalise disadvantaged city areas; to consider suburban areas in Dublin as suitable for such an initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21602/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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My Department is responsible for a range of initiatives tackling deprivation and revitalising communities in both rural and urban areas. Key programmes include the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), the Empowering Communities Programme and providing funding for the Dublin North East Inner City initiative. My Department is making significant progress in revitalising communities through the ongoing work of these programmes and is well placed to play its part in the development of new initiatives for our urban communities, both in Dublin and elsewhere.

The commitment in the Programme for Government regarding an Urban Communities Initiative is included in the section on Rejuvenating our Capital City Centre, which also refers to the Dublin North East Inner City initiative. My Department is currently examining ways in which this commitment could be delivered in the context of our role in community development in urban areas. I am also keenly aware that many suburban areas beyond the city centre, in Dublin and other cities, that would benefit from supports and I want to assure the Deputy that substantial work is underway in those areas as well.

SICAP is our country’s primary social inclusion intervention - a national programme that is delivered in both rural and urban areas by Local Development Companies, helping those in the greatest need to address high and persistent levels of deprivation through targeted, locally-led approaches. €48.9m in funding has been allocated for SICAP delivery in 2025. The programme encourages partnerships between individuals, community organisations, and public sector agencies to address diverse community needs.

My Department's Empowering Communities Programme was developed in line with Government commitments to expand the Dublin North East Inner City approach to other areas. It focusses on smaller areas experiencing significant disadvantage, identified using the Pobal HP Deprivation Index. Commencing in 2022, 17 projects are supported under the Empowering Communities Programme, with annual funding totalling €2.3 million. Additional funding of €1 million has been allocated to this programme in 2025, and my officials are currently working to identify how best to utilise this funding under the initiative.

Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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403. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he will consider expanding the Programme for Government’s commitment to invest in key regional tourism projects under the rural regeneration and development fund to also include projects located within the Dublin metropolitan area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22870/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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In line with its remit, the Department operates a Rural Development Investment Programme delivering a range of capital schemes which are targeted at rural areas outside of our metropolitan locations.

Administered by my Department, the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) is a major programme which seeks to support large-scale, ambitious projects which can achieve sustainable economic and social development in rural areas. To date, the Fund has allocated €588 million for 243 projects across Ireland. The scheme can, and has, supported large scale projects that support tourism and I can confirm that this will continue under future RRDF Calls for Proposals.

Broadly the objective of the RRDF is to assist in revitalising our rural towns and villages, in line with Our Rural Future and the Town Centre First Policy. This is through planned and sustainable regeneration that will drive greater economic activity and footfall, address vacancy and dereliction and ensure the re-use of heritage and other existing buildings. This will help to provide the necessary facilities and infrastructure, which will in turn assist in attracting people back to live in rural areas.

The Programme for Government recognises the importance of investing in our rural towns and villages through schemes such as the RRDF, and contains commitments to both increase the Fund, and to continue to invest in regional tourism projects under the Fund.

It should be noted that the RRDF operates in parallel with the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) which is delivered via the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. The URDF has application across the five cities and larger towns and makes funding available to ensure our urban areas become attractive and vibrant places in which to live, work, visit and invest.