Cathal Crowe (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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1048. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the main policy achievements of his Department since 23 January 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38761/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will note, the current administration is approaching it’s first six-months in existence following on from the 2024 General Election, subsequent Government formation negotiations and agreement of a new Programme for Government (PfG) – Securing Ireland’s future.

Securing Ireland’s Future contains many commitments across all Government Department’s and Agencies to be implemented over the lifetime of this Government. One key policy commitment for my own Department was to strengthen it’s remit with the addition of the Gaeltacht function. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that following legal and administrative procedures, the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht came in effect from 2 June 2025 meeting a key commitment under the PfG. My officials are currently finalising our 2025-2028 Statement of Strategy and this will be published in due course.

Under the Driving Balanced Regional Development & Supporting Rural Communities heading of the PfG, a commitment was made to address the disjointed approach to dog control issues. S.I. No. 238/2025 - Dog Control Order 2025 came into effect on 1 June 2025 which transferred all related legislation held by the Department of Rural and Community Development to the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine to address this.

Other ongoing priorities are also continuing in 2025 such as:

• All provisions of the Official Languages (Amendment) Act, 2021) have now been commenced and 2025 will be a significant year in terms of strengthening the use of the Irish language across the public sector.
• As part of the PfG, the Government is committed to protecting and promoting the Irish language, a number of initiatives have been introduced since 23 January, these include;
  • €1.1m to support the development of the Historical Dictionary of Irish,
  • agreement at the North South Ministerial Council for 2025 funding levels for Foras na Gaeilge and the Ulster Scots Agency
  • €1.5 million to increase awareness among young people of Irish language job opportunities
  • €2 million was announced to support the teaching of Irish in universities across Europe
  • the Údarás na Gaeltachta (Amendment) Bill was brought through Committee Stage during the current Dáil term.
• The PfG also includes a commitment to publish and implement a successor to the Our Rural Future policy. The process of developing this successor policy has already begun, with significant consultations taking place, and we will continue our whole-of-Government approach as we develop this next phase of Ireland’s rural development policy.
• Significant commitments around supporting communities have also been delivered since January;
  • A total of €31 million has been announced under the Community Recognition Fund supporting communities welcoming new arrivals.
  • €21 million has been announced to support improvements to 369 community centres under the Community Centre Investment Fund
  • €4 million to support social enterprises under the Grow Social Enterprise Scheme
  • €7 million for over 5,400 small community grants under the Local Enhancement Programme
• The PfG commits to tackling town vacancy and dereliction. The Town and Village Renewal Scheme 2025 launched for applications in March 2025 with a focus on this issue, including funding for the Building and Land Acquisition Measure.
• New contracts for ferry services to islands were announced, along with funding for small capital works and community development companies on islands.
• Rural Tourism and outdoor recreation is a key aspect of the PfG. In May an expansion of the Walks Scheme was announced with 22 new trails added, bringing the number to 164. Funding of €465,000 was also announced to upgrade 49 walking trails across the country.
• The PfG commits to triple the number of My Open Library facilities and to enhance library sensory spaces for inclusive community use. The My Open Library service was made available in five additional library branches to date in 2025, bringing the total number to 55 library branches nationwide.
• My Department is currently in the initial stages of developing a new National Volunteering Strategy, to fulfil the commitment in the PfG as well as working on the development of a new strategy to support the community and voluntary sector.
• In relation to the National Philanthropy Policy 2024-2028, the Department published the first annual update of the policy in March 2025 which highlighted key developments and progress delivered in 2024.