Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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922. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he is aware that funding to purchase a dedicated, fully accessible vehicle that would allow an organisation (details supplied) to safely transport disabled persons to educational programmes, recreational activities, social events, and other enriching opportunities, was recently refused, due to the failure to extend the areas designated under CLÁR in Donegal; and his plans in this regard. [57044/25]

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. I understand the application referred to by the Deputy was, unfortunately, unsuccessful in the 2024 iteration of the CLÁR programme as it was not in a designated CLÁR area.

The Programme for Government makes a commitment to carry out a comprehensive review of the eligible CLÁR areas. The statistical analysis for this review has now been completed and I am currently considering the content of the resulting report. It is intended that any changes to be introduced as a result of the review will be implemented before the next iteration of the scheme is launched next year.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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923. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will consider introducing a pilot scheme for community development volunteers similar to the basic income for the arts pilot scheme. [57046/25]

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael)
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The Government's five-year strategy to support the community and voluntary sector, Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities, was published in 2019. It is a whole of government strategy, led by my Department and it has been implemented collaboratively over the last five years in partnership with the sector. The Strategy has played an important role in strengthening the community development, local development and community and voluntary sectors generally over the past five years.

During the summer, my department commenced the public consultation process to prepare for the development of a successor strategy, which I expect will reaffirm the Government’s commitment to supporting the community development sector.

I am very aware of the important role community workers and volunteers play in the delivery of programmes that are funded through my department, many of which are based in very disadvantaged areas and provide vital services to communities.

The Programme for Government 2025 Securing Ireland’s Future commits the Government to develop a new National Volunteering Strategy and to promote volunteerism, however there are currently no plans under consideration by my department to introduce a pilot basic income scheme for the community and voluntary sector.

My officials are engaging with the community development sector throughout the consultation process for the new strategy and will consider all feedback received when finalising the successor to this incredibly important strategy. I want to reaffirm the Government’s commitment to supporting the sector, whilst also recognising the reality of finite resources and the need to ensure that available resources are focused on providing effective services.

Finally, I would encourage any community groups or individual volunteers to engage with their Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs), Local Development Companies and Public Participation Networks (PPN) to ensure they are aware of any funding opportunities as they become available.

I would also encourage all groups and individuals to visit my department’s website www.gov.ie/drcd to ensure they are aware of funding opportunities as they become available.

Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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924. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht for an update in relation to the ORIS schemes currently with his Department in counties Carlow and Kilkenny; when funding will be announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57047/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) is funded by my Department under Our Rural Future. ORIS provides funding under a number of measures for the development of new outdoor recreational infrastructure and for the necessary repair, enhancement or promotion of existing outdoor recreation infrastructure in countryside areas across Ireland. Such infrastructure includes for example trails, walkways, cycleways, blueways and bridleways in rural areas.

I was delighted to announce successful projects under measure 1 and the Project Development Measure (PDM) of the ORIS 2024/2025 programme in August of this year. My announcement for measure 1, which provides support for small scale infrastructure, included 2 projects in Carlow worth €75,753 and 9 projects in Kilkenny valued at €353,400. Included in the successful PDM announcement was 1 Carlow project valued at €49,500 and 2 projects from Kilkenny worth €99,500.

My officials are at an advanced stage of evaluating ORIS applications under measures 2 and 3 of the 2024/2025 scheme, which support larger scale infrastructure. This includes 1 project application from Carlow valued at €177,741 and 3 project applications from Kilkenny valued at over €839,425. I hope to be in a position to announce all successful projects in the coming weeks.

Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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925. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht for an update in relation to the town and village schemes currently with his Department in counties Carlow and Kilkenny; when funding will be announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57048/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS) was introduced in 2016 and is one of a number of measures designed to rejuvenate rural towns and villages throughout Ireland. The scheme, which sees local authorities work with communities throughout the country, primarily targets funding at rural towns and villages with populations of less than 10,000 people.

Since the launch of the scheme almost €184 million has been allocated to over 1,800 projects nationally. Of this, Carlow has been allocated funding of over €7.3 million for 68 projects with over €6.5 million allocated to 65 projects in Kilkenny. Details of all TVRS projects funded by the Department can be found on the Department's website.

The 2025 Scheme was launched in March 2025 and places particular emphasis on projects that have a renewed focus on town centre economic and social recovery and regeneration. The scheme included three funding streams under which project applications could be made, the Building or Land Acquisition Measure (BLAM), the Main Scheme and the Project Development Measure (PDM).

The BLAM closed for applications on 2 May 2025, and local authorities have been informed of successful applications. For reasons of commercial sensitivity, details of individual projects receiving support will released only after the conveyancing of the properties or lands in question has been completed.

The 2025 Main Scheme and PDM’s closed for applications at the end of July. I can confirm that applications were received from both Carlow and Kilkenny local authorities. The assessment of applications, which is undertaken on a competitive basis, is currently underway and I expect to be in a position to announce the successful projects later this year.

Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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926. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht for a breakdown of CLÁR funding applications currently with the Department in counties Carlow and Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [57049/25]

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. It includes funding for community facilities and amenities (measure 1) and also vehicles for community groups such as first responders, meals on wheels and those assisting people with reduced mobility or to accessing cancer care services (measure 2). There is also a specific measure for island communities. .

I was delighted to announce successful projects under measure 2 of the CLÁR 2025 programme in September of this year. Unfortunately, no applications were received from Counties Carlow or Kilkenny under measure 2 of the 2025 CLÁR programme.

My officials are at an advanced stage of evaluating CLÁR applications under measures 1 and 3 of the 2025 programme, including some 6 projects from Carlow valued at over €173,000 and 6 projects from Kilkenny valued at almost €365,000. I hope to be in a position to announce all successful projects in the before the end of the year.