Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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117. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht when Scéim na mBóithre Áise will be re-established; the amount of funding that will be allocated for 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55940/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The current Programme for Government includes a commitment to the re-establishment of Scéim na mBóithre Áise. Discussion is underway in my Department to decide the best approach to implementing this commitment going forward.

In the meantime, funding is available under the Department's Local Improvement Scheme to assist local authorities with improvement work on non-public roads and roads which are not normally publicly maintained. In addition, I announced in August that further funding of €5.8m was being provided under this scheme to counties with Gaeltacht areas for upgrade works on country roads and lanes.

Cathy Bennett (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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118. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will report on his engagements regarding the LEADER programme under the next EU budgetary cycle. [54972/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The development of the post-2027 Common Agriculture Policy or CAP and the new National and Regional Partnership Plans are matters of significant importance to my Department and for the Government as a whole.

I am working closely with my colleagues Ministers Heydon and Byrne to ensure that the LEADER programme forms part of a well funded package of supports for rural Ireland under the negotiations. I will also be liaising closely with my colleagues in the EU Commission and the EU Parliament as the process develops.

To facilitate the current negotiation process, the Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine has established a CAP Consultative Committee, which includes representation from my Department. As part of this committee, my Department will continue to advocate for the LEADER programme to remain a core intervention of the new CAP and for the continued prioritisation of rural development measures.

Furthermore, my Department is inputting into the review of the draft regulations relating to the National and Regional Partnership Plans. While the draft regulations provide for the continuation of the LEADER Programme, ring-fenced EU funding remains a key area for negotiations.

I want to reiterate my commitment to this negotiation process and the wider Multiannual Financial Framework process, which impacts not only on the LEADER Programme, but also a number of other measures supported under my Department including the PEACE Programme and European Social Fund measures.