Keira Keogh (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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3492. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht for an update on the strategic development plan for the piers on Inishturk, Clare Island and Roonagh pier; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43836/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware, Mayo County Council is responsible for the maintenance and development of piers on Inishturk and Clare Islands and also Roonagh pier which serves these islands year round.

Access between the islands and the mainland is the most fundamental requirement for those living on our offshore islands and is a lifeline for island communities. Access impacts on every aspect of island life, including health and welfare services, education, employment, social and family life, and business.

Physical connectivity to the mainland depends on the availability of safe harbours both on the islands and on the mainland. Notable improvements have been made over the years through State investment in major pier construction projects, though work is needed on other piers over the coming years.

The Government has given a commitment in Our Living Islands - the national islands policy and action plan to continue to invest in piers serving our islands.

My Department has provided funding to Mayo County Council to undertake preparation of a strategic development plan for the piers on Inishturk and Clare Island along with Roonagh Pier on the mainland. The Department is awaiting an update from Mayo County Council in this regard.

In addition, my Department continues to fund an annual programme of minor capital works on the islands to be delivered in conjunction with the relevant local authorities. This work programme includes, amongst many other works, investment in piers and repairs to slipways. The Department will continue to engage with Mayo County Council on key islands projects.

Finally, it is my intention to travel to Clare Island later this week and meet the community and hear the key issues and views of those living on the island.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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3493. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will outline the allocation to the Leader Programme; by programme from 2007 to date in 2025; the average expenditure by year across each programme, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44002/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The LEADER programme is co-financed by the European Commission under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), through the European Agriculture Fund for Rural Development. It is a multi-annual programme, with allocations being linked to a programming period set at EU level, rather than an annual basis.

Table 1 below provides a breakdown of the final LEADER allocations for the porgramming periods in the time span specified by the Deputy. The funding allocations for each sub-regional area were provided to Local Action Groups (LAGs) at the outset of each programme to provide them with greater flexibility managing their budgets over the programming period. Funding is then paid out by my Department as costs are incurred and claims for payment are submitted

Table 2 below sets out the annual outturn in relation to LEADER based on the Department’s Appropriation Accounts up to 2023, and a provisional figure for 2024. This expenditure reflects the total programme cost, including a range of elements such as project costs, LAG administrative and animation costs, and the costs of strategy preparation and development in each LAG area. Given the structure of the LEADER programme, it is expected that the pattern of expenditure would not be evenly spread over each year, that certain years can include expenditure in respect of more than one programming period, and that the bulk of the current programing period expenditure will occur in the coming years.

Table 1: LEADER Programme Allocations

Table 2: LEADER outturn

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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3494. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will outline the allocation to counties Cavan and Monaghan from the Leader Programme in each year since 2007, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44003/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The current LEADER Programme, which runs to 2027 is operational across the country. It supports a broad range of enterprises and community groups to develop projects which improve the quality of life and economic activity in rural areas. It is delivered through Local Action Groups across rural Ireland, facilitating a community-led, bottom-up approach to rural development.

The LEADER programme is co-financed by the European Commission under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), through the European Agriculture Fund for Rural Development. The budget for the CAP for the period 2021-2027 forms part of the Multiannual Financial Framework, or the EU Budget for that period. It is therefore a multi-annual programme, with allocations being linked to a programming period, rather than an annual basis.

The total amount of funding allocated to LEADER for the period of 2021-2027 is €250 million. This funding is made up of €70 million for the Transitional LEADER programme for the years 2021 and 2022, and €180 million for the 2023-2027 LEADER programme , maintaining the level of funding at €250 million for the 7 year period, in line with the previous 2014-2020 LEADER programme. Prior to this, the programming period covered 2007-2013. The original allocation of €399.9 million for that period was revised to €376.7 million on foot of the agreement with the EU Commission of a formal amendment to the 2007-2013 Rural Development Programme

Table 1 below gives a breakdown on the LEADER allocations for Cavan and Monaghan for the programming periods requested. It is noted that LEADER funding for the 2007-2013 programming period was not allocated based on county boundaries but to individual Local Action Groups (LAGs) on completion of the Local Development Strategy process. Cavan and Monaghan’s allocation is combined during this programming period. The allocations for Cavan and Monaghan LAGs are separated for succeeding programmes.

The funding for the LEADER programme should be considered in the context of the expanding capital allocations which have been made available across the range of rural development schemes and supports under my Departments Rural Development Investment Programme in recent years.

Table 1 – Breakdown of Cavan and Monaghan Allocations under the LEADER Programme from 2007

Conor Sheehan (Limerick City, Labour)
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3495. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if the community centre investment fund will be accepting applications this year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44094/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Community Centre Investment Fund (CCIF) has provided approximately €110 million since 2022 for the enhancement and refurbishment of existing community centres and the construction of new centres.

I am committed to delivering further iterations of the scheme in the coming years in line with the commitment in the Programme for Government for this to become a permanent rolling fund. A decision in relation to the timing of further iterations and the measures to be included will be made in the context of the management of ongoing commitments under the fund and the annual budgetary process.

My Department also supports community facilities with enhancement works through a range of other funding streams including through the CLÁR programme, LEADER and the Town and Village Renewal Scheme. I would encourage organisations to check my Department’s website for information on funding opportunities and announcements.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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3496. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when the CLÁR funding awards will be made. [44392/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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My Department's CLÁR programme provides funding under a number of different measures for small-scale infrastructural projects in designated rural areas.

The closing date for receipt of applications under CLÁR 2025 has now passed for all measures.

My officials have begun assessing the applications received, I would expect to announce allocations in respect of Measure 2 in the coming weeks with remaining measures to follow later in the year.