Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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3463. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the up-to-date position with his Department in dealing with rural isolation and loneliness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42416/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has a wide range of schemes in place that to help address loneliness and social isolation in rural areas and communities across the country.

Of particular importance is the Local Enhancement Programme (LEP). Just last month I announced that the €7 million provided for this scheme in 2025 will support almost 4,500 community groups delivering over 5,400 individual projects. A huge variety of community groups which provide social opportunities for many, including social clubs, choirs and sports clubs, are supported under the scheme. The scheme also supports Men’s and Women’s Sheds, which play an important role in reducing isolation. In addition to the support under the LEP, I announced €1 million in funding for Men’s Sheds in May, with this funding providing grants of up to €3,000 for sheds across the country.

The Community Centre Investment Fund (CCIF) is another important scheme which helps to ensure communities have the spaces they need for community groups and activities. In March of this year, I was delighted to announce funding of €26.1 million under the CCIF, which will deliver enhancement and refurbishment works on 369 community centres nationwide. In excess of €110 million has now been approved under this fund since 2022.

The Community Recognition Fund (CRF) is also supporting investment in a wide range of projects that include upgrades and enhancements to sports facilities, community centres, parks, walking trails, and playground - all of which help to ensure facilities for people to engage with their communities. Most recently, in June, I announced funding of €17 million for 212 community projects across the country through the CRF. This announcement brought the total funding approved under the CRF to €100 million, with over 1,450 projects approved for funding.

The Senior Alerts Scheme, provides grants for personal emergency alarms for older people. This scheme is supporting thousands of older people around the country to live in their own homes and communities with confidence.

Other supports such as those for Tidy Towns groups, Agricultural Shows, Public Libraries, the Community Services Programme and the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme all help to ensure that our communities are inclusive places to live and that communities are supported to help reduce social isolation and loneliness.

I would also note that my Department launched an online public survey to inform the development of the successor to Our Rural Future earlier this year, with addressing social isolation a specific topic of the survey. The survey has now closed and all responses will be considered in informing the new policy. I will continue to engage with rural communities to identify issues impacting on them and respond to emerging needs, including with regard to helping address rural isolation and loneliness.