Naoise Ó Cearúil (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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443. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development his plans to increase the rural regeneration and development fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27921/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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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. It forms part of my Department's Rural Development Investment Programme, and has allocated €588 million to 243 projects across Ireland to date.

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. I will continue to seek increased funding for the Rural Development Investment Programme as part of the annual budgetary process.

As assessment of applications process is ongoing following an RRDF Call for Proposals which closed in March of this year. I anticipate an announcement of successful projects will be made in Quarter 3 this year. I anticipate a further Call for Proposals would then issue in Quarter 4 of this year.

I am committed to ensuring that the RRDF can continue to support high quality and transformational projects across rural Ireland in line with the objectives of Our Rural Future.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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444. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development to outline the specific funding streams and resource allocations are currently being made available to rural communities supporting vulnerable populations (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28156/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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My Department supports both rural and urban communities across the country with significant levels of funding. Budget 2025 secured a 9% increase in my Department’s allocation to €472 million, giving it additional resources to support communities. This record allocation is providing €212 million for rural development and €260 million for community development.

With reference to the details supplied by the Deputy, the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), is our country’s primary social inclusion intervention. SICAP is a national programme that is delivered in both rural and urban areas by Local Development Companies to help those in the greatest need. It targets and supports those who are disadvantaged in Irish society and less likely to use mainstream services. North East West Kerry Leader Partnership Teoranta (NEWKD) delivers SICAP supports in many areas in Kerry including the specific area referenced. People with disabilities are one of the target groups of SICAP. The SICAP allocation for NEWKD for 2025 is €1,298,565 with an additional €299,391 allocated for targeted supports to beneficiaries of temporary protection and international protection applicants.

The Community Services Programme (CSP) with a budget of €55.4m in 2025, supports 428 community-based organisations to provide local services through a social enterprise model. The programme currently supports 15 organisations to deliver 17 services across Co. Kerry, with funding of €2,049,690 being provided towards the cost of supporting nine managers and 67.7 full time equivalent staff in 2025.

My Department also recognises the vital role that community centres play at the heart of each community in bringing people together, engaging with those who may be marginalised or disadvantaged, and building stronger, more coherent communities. In that regard, the Community Centres Investment Fund (CCIF) is the largest ever capital investment in community centres. I recently allocated funding to County Kerry for 19 Category 2 projects including €100,000 for the community centre in the area referenced.

The Community Recognition Fund (CRF), first introduced in 2023, has supported a range of community infrastructure and transport projects, which recognises the huge efforts made by communities in welcoming and supporting people coming to Ireland. Under the CRF 2023 and 2024, a total of €100 million in funding has been made available to communities across Ireland, of which Co Kerry has been allocated over €8.3 million. Under the CRF, my Department has supported five projects with combined funding of €356,525 in the area mentioned. This includes upgrades to the community centre and playground, and funding for the local sea and cliff rescue.

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 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 €10,000 each for 68 towns, including the area mentioned, to support establishment of Town Teams and data collection and research (for example, the preparation of a town Health Check).

Finally, my Department’s LEADER programme, which runs to 2027, allocated €8.18 million to Kerry’s Local Action Group to support community-led rural development projects. Under the previous 2014-2022 LEADER Programmes, a total of €13.2 million was allocated to Kerry, of which €70,750 was granted across nine projects in the specific area referenced.

I am confident this funding is making a significant, positive impact in the area referenced and is supporting the communities in need.

My Department's website provides details of the range of funding and supports available to communities.