Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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936. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the supports available to an organisation in County Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37561/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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There are a number of schemes within my Department for which funding may be available to support the type of project referred to within the Deputy’s correspondence i.e. improved access to a facility. The schemes include LEADER, the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) and the CLÁR Programme.

The LEADER programme has for many years supported community facilities, and improved accessibility to such facilities, once they are compatible with the Operating Rules and the Local Development Strategy for the relevant LEADER area. It should be noted that works that normally come within the remit of local authorities and/or are included in the development plan of a local authority are ineligible for LEADER funding.

LEADER projects are selected and approved by the Local Action Group (LAG), and my Department has no role in approving projects. Prospective applicants can discuss a potential project for the community with their LAG, through their Implementing Partner. I can inform the Deputy that the Implementing Partner for the Kerry LAG in the Derrynane region is South Kerry Development Partnership CLG who can be contacted by phone 066-947 2724 or by e-mail info@skdp.net.

The CLÁR programme provides funding for small-scale projects in designated rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population over a defined period. It supports a wide range of community facilities and amenities. While the deadline for CLÁR 2025 has now passed, details for the next iteration of the scheme will be published on my Departments website and that of Kerry County Council.

LIS supports the improvement of non-public rural roads and laneways that are not typically maintained by local authorities. The scheme has eligibility criteria in place regarding the ownership, use and access to the roads which would need to be met by the Deputy’s constituent.

The LIS and CLÁR Programme are administered by local authorities, I would therefore advise the Deputy’s constituent to contact Kerry County Council for further information regarding the potential eligibility of the project for these schemes and to explore any other available options.

Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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937. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht for a progress report in regard to an urgent matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37713/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Funding of €15,000 was approved in June 2022 to enable Nascadh Uíbh Ráthaigh to prepare a language plan for the area of Uíbh Ráthaigh that lies outside the official Gaeltacht boundaries and outside of the Gaeltacht Service Town of Cahersiveen. Funding was approved to prepare a plan on an exceptional basis, taking into account the specific circumstances of the area.

Foras na Gaeilge is responsible under the Gaeltacht Act 2012 for supporting organisations that are preparing and implementing language plans outside the Gaeltacht. I recognise the efforts being made within the Uíbh Ráthaigh area to strengthen and promote the language within the community. I therefore asked Foras na Gaeilge to contact Nascadh Uíbh ‏‏Ráthaigh to discuss possible supports for the organisation’s work.

I understand from Foras na Gaeilge that a meeting was held between Foras na Gaeilge's language planning unit and representatives from Nascadh Uíbh Ráthaigh during Oireachtas na Samhna in Killarney in November 2024. Various issues relating to language planning and the promotion of the Irish language were raised at that meeting and Nascadh Uíbh Ráthaigh was asked to provide further information regarding its current activities in the area.

Following on from discussions between Foras and my own Department on 10 December 2024, Foras na Gaeilge wrote to the Uíbh Ráthaigh co-operative outlining the timeline for applying for the Irish Language Networks Development Scheme, which could be applied for as an initial step towards the area being recognised as an Irish Language Network. Details were also provided regarding other relevant Foras na Gaeilge support schemes and they were informed that they could, if necessary, avail of support from the Foras na Gaeilge language planning co-ordinator to assist them in their efforts.

Seán Fleming (Laois, Fianna Fail)
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938. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the reasons which prevent organisations combining Leader and Sports Capital Programme on a single project notwithstanding there can be different phases and stages in projects and separate funding might be required for each of these stages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37718/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The LEADER Programme supports a broad range of private enterprises and community groups in delivering projects across rural Ireland. The Programme is delivered by a network of Local Action Groups (LAGs) selected to implement Local Development Strategies for their respective geographical areas.

In line with the LEADER Operating Rules, when evaluating project applications the LAGs should primarily focus on supporting projects where LEADER is the main funding source. For LEADER funding to be considered eligible by the LAGs to work in tandem with other public funding streams such as the sports capital funding, separate projects, or parts of projects, should be identified at the outset to be supported through each of these public funds. The project or the part of the project being considered for LEADER funding must be stand-alone and operable in its own right in order to be deemed eligible. Therefore while LEADER funding cannot be used with the sports capital to fund the same part of a project, it can work in tandem with other public funding streams. The Operating Rules are in place to underpin assurance and value for money in the expenditure of public funds, and to ensure that appropriate governance is also in place to effectively manage the EU co-funding which is central to the LEADER programme.

Prospective applicants should, in the first instance, contact their relevant LAG, through its Implementing Partner, to discuss the eligibility of the project and the funding that may be available. The list of all LAGs, their Implementing Partners and contact details, is available on the Department's website: www.gov.ie/LEADER.