Vol. 1074 No. 2
82. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the total funding available for the CLÁR programme in 2026, the funding available for each measure under the programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55960/25]
As the Minister is aware, because he represents a rural county, like the two rural counties I have the privilege to represent, the CLÁR programme has been particularly important since it was first initiated by our former Oireachtas colleague, Éamon Ó Cuív. It has been particularly important for ensuring the provision of community facilities and for enhancing public facilities such as schools. I hope the Minister has a good allocation for the forthcoming year to continue the good work of recent years that was undertaken through CLÁR funding.
The CLÁR programme is an important funding stream for many of our most rural areas. In recent years, it has funded a vast array of community amenities, including community centres, sporting facilities, playgrounds, sensory gardens and walking trails. It has also provided funding for vehicles used to transport people with disabilities to access vital cancer services among others. Since 2020, over €53 million has been approved for almost 1,300 projects nationwide under the programme. I launched the 2025 programme in April inviting applications under three measures. Measure 1 of the programme supports the development of community facilities and amenities. Measure 2 provides support for the provision of vehicles to transport people with mobility issues or for cancer treatment, for community first responders and for meals on wheels. Measure 3 aims to support communities on our offshore islands in line with the Department’s policy for the development of our inhabited offshore islands, Our Living Islands. Last month I announced funding of €1.7 million under measure two for the provision of 32 vehicles to support first responders, meals on wheels and mobility transport providers.
We are concluding the assessment of applications received under measures one and three, and I look forward to announcing successful projects across these measures before the end of 2025. We are pleased to have secured an additional €1m as part of the budget for CLÁR 2026. This will bring the 2026 allocation to €12 million, which is a doubling of the CLÁR budget over the past five years. The Minister of State and I will review the measures to be included under CLÁR 2026, and the associated levels of funding. We will launch the programme for 2026 in quarter 1 of next year.
I thank the Minister for his response. I know of his commitment to this programme, both from serving in opposition as a spokesperson and government, where he has continued his good work. I also recognise the work of my former constituency colleague, Heather Humphreys, in enhancing the CLÁR programme. I am sure the Minister will continue to enhance that programme. We all know that the provision of facilities nowadays for communities or small schools is costly, be they playgrounds or other much-needed facilities. The CLÁR grant scheme is essential for enabling the smaller populated communities to put in place amenities and some sporting and recreational facilities. It is a vote of confidence in those communities. In the past, those communities were losing population. Thankfully, most of those communities are growing their population and we need to have facilities in place to ensure people living locally can have proper amenities and community facilities to avail of.
I agree with the Deputy. We have made changes to CLÁR since I took office. I increased the maximum payable grant for a successful measure one project from €50,000 to €65,000. For two measure 1 applications, local authorities can apply for an increased level of funding of €100,000. I have provided for an extra application by local authorities that have Gaeltacht areas in their counties, so those areas can be supported. As the Deputy stated, the emphasis of CLÁR is on supporting infrastructure to assist communities in being resilient and the development of communities. The recent announcements on transport included €41,000 for Cavan local development and for meals on wheels. In all, 62 CLÁR projects have been approved in Cavan since 2020 to the value of €2.72 million. There have been 71 in Monaghan to the value of €2.78 million. It includes sensory gardens, sports facilities, community halls and a teenage hangout area in Ballybay.
With regard to Storm Éowyn, many of the services that were put in place, such as meals on wheels and the provision of vehicles, as well as a community facility and some of the hubs that were used during the storm, would not have been there were it not for CLÁR grant assistance. The Minister will often have heard me speak in this House and within the party about the importance of cross-Border funding, the former INTERREG programme and the current PEACEPLUS programme.
I want to record my sincere appreciation of the Minister's work, along with that of the chief executive of the Special EU Programmes Body, Gina McIntyre, in advancing an application by Cavan County Council, the county board of the Cavan GAA and the Royal School Cavan to develop a major regional sports campus in Cavan town. I am delighted that formal approval of €15 million has come through this morning for this very exciting project. As the Minister knows from discussions I have had with him, it is a project I have worked with from the outset. I have been very glad to support Cavan County Council, the county board of the GAA and the Royal School in their very ambitious plan for a major regional sports campus. Thankfully, today, we have €34 million of public money in place - €19 million from the sports capital programme and €15 million through the Special EU Programmes Body. Those types of investments are critical in rural areas. The Minister’s help in advancing that application, along with that of Gina McIntyre, is much appreciated.
CLÁR has been an exemplary programme. It is focused, and we want to keep that focus. We have a programme for Government commitment to look at the expansion of CLÁR areas, and we are finalising that at the moment. Maynooth University has prepared a report for us, which we are looking at.
I join with the Deputy in welcoming this morning's announcement for Cavan, as will the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, who has responsibility for PEACEPLUS. It is a fantastic project. It is linked to the town and is an enormous game-changer for that town. I thank the Deputy for his work and advocacy on it. I know all three organisations, along with the Special EU Programmes Body, will ensure it is delivered and makes an impact. I look forward to visiting it in the near future, perhaps for a game.
CLÁR is focused on providing those services. In a previous iteration, CLÁR also used to provide funding towards group water schemes, where local contributions were hard to match. That is certainly something I would like to look at getting back to. It also invested in putting in power infrastructure for small businesses when, back in the day, three-phase electricity was a big issue. Where there are infrastructure deficits, we will try to provide support.
84. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if he will outline the future funding plans for the community recognition fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55894/25]
The community recognition fund has been used by Louth County Council and many others for very worthwhile projects, including in relation to the return of old council land to parkland. I know a number of projects did not get through the gap, and I would like to think they will have an opportunity in the future.
The community recognition fund was introduced to recognise the contribution being made by communities all over the country in welcoming new arrivals into our cities, towns and villages. It was originally introduced as a €50 million fund in 2023 to develop community infrastructure in areas that were hosting beneficiaries of temporary protection and-or international protection applicants. This fund differs from other schemes operated by my Department in that each local authority was provided with a set funding allocation based on the number of new arrivals located in its area.
Some 900 projects were approved funding of €50 million in 2023. Following that, over 800 projects are now complete and fully drawn down, with approximately 100 still to be completed. The funding was subsequently doubled in 2024, with a further €50 million allocated to the local authorities. Under the 2024 round of funding, 569 projects were approved, bringing the total number of projects that have been awarded under the fund to over 1,450 in just over two years.
My current emphasis under the CRF is to ensure that all these projects are delivered in the coming months, so we can ensure communities get the benefit of the facilities. We have changed the emphasis within the Department to prioritise other schemes. For example, the budget for the community centre investment fund will increase by €3 million to €20 million in 2026. I am focused on growing this suite of schemes that support community infrastructure and amenities across the country.
For any of the groups to which the Deputy referred, there are other supports available to them. I had the chance to meet with the Deputy in the summer, when we saw some of the projects in action. I commend the officials of Louth County Council, not just in relation to the CRF, but across all of the schemes they are implementing efficiently and ambitiously in the county.
The emphasis has to be on the delivery of projects because there is not much point in having very good applications but not seeing the outworkings. The Minister visited a number of the play parks and pieces of work that have been done, which were well enough steered by Louth County Council. It is great to see that level of improvement. We are talking about parks that have been incredibly well done. The community recognition fund was a very good vehicle, and it filled a gap that was necessary to fill from the point of view of the enhancement of community facilities. However, we need to ensure there will be funding streams, for example, with regard to the community gardens at Muirhevnamore and other projects. They need to have the facility to apply and they need to have a good chance of getting the necessary funding. These are very good projects that are operated by people who are putting in a huge level of volunteerism and engaging with the local authority and others on delivery.
The budget for the CRF for 2026 is €10 million. We want the local authorities to draw down and complete projects, and that is going to be the focus for 2026. We also have other projects, such as community centre investment. As we have just discussed with Deputy Brendan Smith, there is also the CLÁR programme. The Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, worked hard to secure funding for SICAP, particularly the positions in SICAP that are working with new communities across the country to put boots on the ground and identify the kind of facilities that are needed and can be funded. I am sure the Deputy will agree that these facilities need to have a long-lasting impact or legacy impact. My preference for any kind of investment is that it is permanent, infrastructure-based and makes a difference to the facilities available in a community. That will be the emphasis of our funding going forward. Some of the initiatives funded under the CRF may not have a permanent legacy or permanent use, but the emphasis going forward is on community infrastructure to support community activity.
I would agree. The preference has to be to put in place infrastructure that can be used in the future. I think we would all agree on that. At the same time, there may have been some projects that were beneficial from a community point of view that had made applications, and I would make an argument about their long-term continuity. I know the St. Patrick’s Day parade had looked for what was probably a small enough offering, with the idea of getting materials that would have been used over multiple years. Again, we are talking about something that had huge engagement and support from all the other stakeholders within the community sector and all the agencies.
The project I spoke about specifically was the community gardens in Muirhevnamore. This needs to be looked at. I ask the Minister to provide details in this regard. I agree that this is about delivery of what has already been applied for but it is also about ensuring that communities have the facilities. The community recognition fund filled a necessary hole. There was a need for it. We need to make sure that these community facilities will still have the option in the future. If the Minister could come back with detailed written information, I would be grateful.
I can assure the Deputy that there is a range of supports within the Department to fund community infrastructure, in particular, physical infrastructure, such as centres and hubs. Through SICAP, under the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, community supports are also available. We will continue to make those available as they are very important.
Regarding the project referenced by the Deputy, the local enhancement programme might be the avenue to fund ongoing costs, including less heavy infrastructural costs. My Department funds the programme in partnership with the local authorities, including Louth County Council. There will be avenues within the Department throughout 2026, due to our increased budget, for communities to get improved infrastructure and to improve physical infrastructure in more rural areas, as we have just discussed. In relation to the towns, next year we will be looking at a new style of RAPID focused on direct urban investment in towns.
There will be an emphasis on the kinds of projects I have spoken about with the Deputy.
85. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the steps his Department is taking to promote the Irish language in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51547/25]
Scríobh Charles Dickens an abairt "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times". Is féidir an méid céanna a rá mar gheall ar an nGaeilge. Tá go leor fuinnimh sa Ghaeilge ag an mbomaite, go háirithe ar na meáin shóisialta. Tá sé feicthe ag daoine gach lá. Tá go leor suim ag daoine óga inti. Mar gheall ar an Oireachtas, tá go leor fuinnimh ann an bhliain seo freisin ach tá go leor de na rudaí tábhachtacha - an líon daoine atá ag labhairt na Gaeilge sa Ghaeltacht, an líon páistí atá ag déanamh Gaeilge le haghaidh na hardteistiméireachta agus an méid seirbhísí atá le fáil sa Ghaeltacht - ag titim. Tá fadhbanna ollmhóra ann. Cad atá an Rialtas ag déanamh chun é sin a athrú?
Aontaím go bhfuil fuinneamh iontach i gcúrsaí Gaeltachta agus Gaeilge ag an bpointe seo. Tá sé sin iontach le feiceáil. Táimid díreach tar éis an méadú is mó le blianta a thabhairt don bhuiséad don Ghaeltacht agus do chúrsaí Gaeilge le haghaidh an chéad bhliain eile, 2026. Bhí comhrá agus plé agam leis an Teachta Ó Snodaigh maidir le sonraí an mhéadaithe sin ag tús an tseisiúin cheisteanna seo. Táimid ag cur béime ar chúrsaí pleanála teanga agus ag obair leis an struchtúr atá ann. Tá airgead breise ag dul chuige sin le haghaidh na ndaoine atá ag obair air, na hoifigigh pleanála teanga. Tá airgead breise ag dul chuig an údarás le haghaidh cúrsaí caipitil.
Tá airgead breise ag dul go trí thogra thar a bheith tábhachtach do mhuintir na Gaeltachta agus don Ghaeltacht. Ina measc sin, tá áras Gaeilge anseo i gcathair Bhaile Átha Cliath ag Uimh. 6 Sráid Fhearchair, foirgneamh a bhfuil stair iontach aige maidir le cúrsaí Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta agus atá i lár an fhuinnimh atá sa Ghaeilge at the moment. Beidh obair mhór déanta ar an bhfoirgneamh sin. Mar a bhí molta le haghaidh cúrsaí oideachais i gConamara, beidh áras nua le haghaidh daoine óga i gConamara. Táimid ag dul le tender le haghaidh an togra sin ag Coláiste Lurgan. Tá Cé Inis Oírr thar a bheith tábhachtach. Is é sin an togra is mó i stair an Roinn nua seo. Cosnóidh sé beagán níos mó ná €30 milliún. Tá sé sin tábhachtach freisin.
Tá spriocanna agus fuinneamh ann agus tá muidne i Roinn na Gaeltachta ag obair i dtreo na spriocanna sin. Táimid ag obair leis an Roinn oideachais freisin chun go mbeidh plean láidir againn ó thaobh oideachas sa Ghaeilge lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht. Tá an-suim agam sa chóras réamhscoile le haghaidh páistí atá ag dul go pre-school. Táimid ag obair ar chlár le haghaidh na bpáistí sin chun go mbeidh siad in ann tús a chur lena dturas oideachais sa Ghaeilge ag an aois óg sin.
I slí amháin, tá an ceart ag an Aire. Tá dea-scéalta ann anseo agus ansiúd ach, nuair a fheiceann tú an pictiúr iomlán, tá fadhbanna móra ann. Tá an tAire ag caint faoi airgead. Ba mhaith liom maoiniú an Arts Council a chur i gcomparáid leis an airgead a théann go dtí an Ghaeilge. Thar na blianta, mhéadaigh an t-airgead a théann go dtí an Arts Council go mór ach níor choiméadadh an Ghaeilge ar an gcéim chéanna leis. Má chuireann tú Údarás na Gaeltachta i gcomparáid le Fiontar Éireann ná an IDA, feicfidh tú go bhfaigheann siadsan go leor airgid cé nach bhfaigheann an t-údarás ach giota beag airgid. Maidir le cúrsaí oideachais, tá sé dochreidte go bhfuil an líon páistí atá ag freastal ar Ghaelscoileanna ag titim. Tá 25% de thuismitheoirí ag iarraidh a gcuid páistí a sheoladh go dtí Gaelscoil ach níl ach 5% ag freastal orthu. Tá an Stát ag cur brú ar thuismitheoirí agus páistí dul isteach i scoileanna lán-Bhéarla. Tá an t-éileamh ann ach níl an Rialtas ag cur an tsoláthair ar fáil. Tá sé sin dochreidte. Tá 25% de thuismitheoirí ag iarraidh Gaelscolaíocht le haghaidh a gcuid páistí ach tá an Stát ag cur áiteanna scoile ar fáil do 5%. Nach bhfuil an locht ar an Rialtas mar gheall ar an bhfadhb sin?
Tá athrú ag tarlú ar na figiúirí sin. Sa bhuiséad do 2026, tá ardú 22% ar mhaoiniú do chúrsaí Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta. Is féidir é sin a chur i gcomparáid le hardú 7% nó 8% ar chaiteachas Stáit go ginearálta. Is ceann de na harduithe is mó le haghaidh aon rud sa Rialtas in 2026 é sin. Tá an Roinn oideachais díreach chun plean nua le haghaidh oideachais taobh istigh agus taobh amuigh den Ghaeltacht a fhoilsiú. Tá an Roinn ag díriú isteach ar an bplean sin. Tá m'oifigigh i Roinn na Gaeltachta ag obair le hoifigigh sa Roinn oideachais chun díriú isteach ar na dúshláin a leag an Teachta amach. Tá dúshláin ann ó thaobh scoileanna nua a thógáil mar gheall ar chostais, ach tá airgead breise tugtha don Roinn oideachais chun scoileanna nua a thógáil sa phlean forbartha náisiúnta. Mar a dúirt mé, táimid ag tabhairt airgid do Thuismitheoirí na Gaeltachta chun plean do pháistí beaga réamhscoile a ullmhú chun go mbeidh siad in ann tús a chur le cúrsaí oideachais sa pre-school. Tá sé sin an-tábhachtach freisin.
Tá an chuid is mó de na naíonraí sa Ghaeltacht ag feidhmiú trí Bhéarla ag an mbomaite. Tá sé sin dochreidte. Nuair a théann páistí go dtí an chéad chéim, bíonn brú orthu an Béarla a labhairt. Mar gheall ar an rud is tábhachtaí, tá titim ar an líon daoine atá ag labhairt na Gaeilge taobh amuigh den chóras oideachais bliain i ndiaidh bliana. Is teip ollmhór ó thaobh an Rialtais é sin. Tá clanna atá ag iarraidh a chuid páistí a thógáil sa Ghaeltacht ag iarraidh teach a bheith acu sa Ghaeltacht ach níl siad ann. Tá an feachtas BÁNÚ atá ag gearán, mar is ceart, nach bhfuil tithe le fáil sa Ghaeltacht. Luaigh mé an plean a bhí agam le Ráth Chairn cheana. Tá go leor daoine san Uaimh, i nDroichead Átha agus i mBaile Átha Cliath ag iarraidh a chuid páistí a thógáil i nGaeilge. Dá mbeadh eastát tithíochta istigh i Ráth Chairn, bheadh siad sásta bogadh ann. Ciallódh sé sin go mbeadh níos mó tithe saor le fáil sna bailte eile. Ba cheart go mbeadh an Rialtas ag déanamh iarrachta an eastát tithíochta sin a thógáil. Is í an fhadhb atá ann ná go bhfuil éileamh amuigh sa phobal mar gheall ar an nGaeltacht ach tá baic fós ann agus níl an Rialtas ag déileáil leo mar is cuí.
Before the Minister responds, I am sure he will want to welcome all the students in the Public Gallery. It is good to have them all here and listening to our debate as Gaeilge. They are all very welcome.
Cuirim fáilte roimh na daltaí sin. Tá súil agam go mbeidh lá iontach acu. I hope they have a great day and enjoy it. Sular tháinig an Teachta Tóibín isteach, bhí plé agam leis an Teachta Conor McGuinness maidir le cúrsaí pleanála agus tithíochta sa Ghaeltacht. Táimid ag déileáil leis sin in éineacht leis an Roinn tithíochta. Maidir le cúrsaí oideachais, táimid ag tabhairt airgid do Ghael Linn i leith na scéime Gaelbhratach le haghaidh scoileanna atá ag úsáid na Gaeilge agus ag tabhairt cumhachta do na daltaí sa mheánscoil agus sa bhunscoil an Ghaeilge a úsáid sa bhaile. Tá an scéim teanga tí á soláthar ar Glór na nGael; tá Fondúireacht Sheosaimh Mhic Dhonncha á reáchtáil ag Cumann Lúthchleas Gael; agus tá an gradam Gnó le Gaeilge ar fáil do ghnólachtaí, gnólachtaí beaga san áireamh, a úsáideann an Ghaeilge lena gcustaiméirí. Ó thaobh cúrsaí pleanála, tá airgead breise tugtha do na hoifigigh pleanála teanga áitiúla le haghaidh cúrsaí gnó chun go mbeidh daoine in ann an Ghaeilge a úsáid ina saol gach lá agus spreagtha chun é sin a dhéanamh i siopaí agus gnólachtaí beaga.
Ní fheicim aon systemic change mar gheall ar na rudaí sin.
86. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the supports made available by his Department to address rural vacancy and dereliction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55943/25]
I thank the Deputy for his question and his ongoing interest in this area. We launched the town centre first policy in 2022. It a major cross-Government policy to tackle vacancy and combat dereliction, and in doing so to breathe new life into town centres. Town centre first complements other policies, including Our Rural Future and Housing for All as well as the national planning framework, which also aims to tackle vacancy and dereliction.
Town centre first also seeks to achieve balanced regional development and support local communities. We have aligned major funding streams with town centre first, including the rural regeneration and development fund, the town and village renewal scheme, the urban regeneration and development fund and the THRIVE scheme. The rural regeneration and development scheme is a major capital investment programme supporting large-scale, ambitious projects delivering sustainable economic and social development in rural areas. The town and village renewal scheme, introduced by my Department in 2016, is designed to rejuvenate rural towns and villages throughout Ireland. A range of other support funding has also been put in place by Government. Town centre first was developed in conjunction with the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage. Bringing Back Homes details over 20 incentives, funded measures and grants that seek to address vacancy and dereliction. Supports include the vacant property refurbishment grant under the croí cónaithe initiative, the repair and leasing scheme, the buy and renew scheme, and the living city initiative.
I am fully committed to the success of the town centre first policy and to working with our town teams across the country, with colleagues in the Oireachtas and with the local authorities. I would also encourage the local authorities to make greater use of the powers they have available to them to address dereliction in town and village centres and to address every building that can be addressed through existing powers. Any building that is taken out of dereliction rejuvenates a town and there needs to be a lot more proactivity on the part of local authorities in doing that.
I thank the Minister for his response. While I appreciate the great work of the Department in supporting rural communities and the great work that both the Minister and the Minister of State are doing, vacancy and dereliction in our towns and villages remains a real concern. I appreciate that the Department of housing is the main Department tasked with tackling this problem but it is important for Departments to continue to engage directly with each other on vacancy and dereliction in order to properly address it, to actively encourage footfall and to drive local economies. I acknowledge that the Department's rural regeneration and development fund plays a major role in this regard. It encourages the reuse of vacant, derelict and heritage buildings. Given its importance, is the Minister considering any expansion of the RRDF?
As the Deputy knows, last week we announced €20 million in rural regeneration and development funding for 30 projects across Ireland, including in his home town. I thank Deputy McCarthy for his work in lobbying for that. Fermoy will see the €772,000 development of a derelict site. This is something that the Deputy and the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, worked closely with me on. That is the kind of project we need. It will allow Avondhu to promote and get ready for a major application. That is what our RRDF announcement last week was about. It will allow the preparatory work to be done for the submission of a major funding application, some in two years and others before then. The RRDF is beginning to have a major impact right around the country.
I mentioned earlier that I was in Athy on Friday visiting the Shackleton Experience which involved the refurbishment of a 300 year old historic building in the middle of the town. It is now a state-of-the-art, 21st century visitor experience that is driving development in Athy. A food hub is also being developed in Athy through the RRDF to support the promotion of local enterprise. Athy is a really good example of what is possible and I would encourage any community around the country to visit Athy to see the RRDF in action.
I thank the Minister for the rural regeneration and development funding for Fermoy. It was very welcome and I thank both the Minister and the Minister of State for their support on that. While several factors contribute to rural vacancy and dereliction, one important issue is the lack of community facilities which may discourage people from moving to a particular area. In this context, what work is the Department doing to encourage the establishment of rural community halls or facilities in existing vacant or derelict buildings?
My Department has funded 26 town centre first plans which are focused on existing facilities and buildings within town centres. They are concerned with what we call the public realm and aim to enhance the town centre experience. I make the point regularly, and did so again when I spoke at a national conference in Leitrim on Monday, that we have to come up with new reasons for people to visit towns. As people move away from the traditional retail space and go online, we need to re-equip and refurbish our towns to make them even more attractive for leisure and recreation, as well as for commercial and retail purposes. If we improve leisure and recreation opportunities, that will support existing retail businesses.
In Cork under town centre first we have invested over €259,000 and right across the country there are 70 towns with town centre teams that are working with their local authorities to identify spaces such as those Deputy McCarthy has just identified. Then, through community centre investments, CLÁR or other programmes, my Department can fund specific adaptations of existing buildings for community spaces.
87. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if he will consider increasing the LEADER allocation for County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54825/25]
Will the Minister consider increasing the LEADER allocation for County Galway? As he might be aware, there are concerns about the allocation for east Galway in particular, relative to other areas. Galway Rural Development is the local development company. I ask the Minister to outline whether this is something he is considering.
As the Deputy knows, my Department is responsible for the existing LEADER programme which is part of Ireland’s CAP strategic plan covering 2023 to 2027. It is co-funded by the EU and the Exchequer. The LEADER programme is administered by local action groups on behalf of my Department and has been at the heart of rural development in Ireland for over 30 years. It plays a vital role in supporting local projects to bring renewed life, jobs and services to our rural communities, including those in County Galway.
As Deputy O'Hara is aware, €180 million of funding has been committed to the 2023 to 2027 LEADER programme. LEADER funding is allocated to local action groups at the beginning of each LEADER programme to provide them with greater flexibility in selecting and approving projects which will have a meaningful impact. Since 2021, County Galway received a LEADER allocation of €12.6 million, comprising €3.6 million for the 2021 and 2022 transition period and €9 million for the current programming period of 2023 to 2027. Projects continue to be approved under Galway's €9 million allocation, with projects to the value of €1.66 million being approved to date. There are no plans to increase the allocation under the current programme but I look forward to seeing the outcomes of the current programme emerge in the coming months and years. I anticipate that we will see a big increase in expenditure over 2026 but especially in 2027 and 2028. We are also working hard with the Minister for agriculture, Deputy Heydon, and the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, to ensure that there will be LEADER funding in the next multi-annual financial framework, MFF, and that we will have access to co-funding from the EU. I join Deputy O'Hara in paying tribute to Galway Rural Development which is a fantastic exemplar of a local development company, not just in LEADER but in all of the work it does. I had the pleasure of meeting members of the organisation on a number of occasions in relation to Tús, RSS and the CE programme and of joining them in Mountbellew when they hosted an international event, Shearfest, in June.
I want to outline the current situation with regard to LEADER funding. East Galway is receiving €37 per person which compares very unfavourably with all of our neighbours. Roscommon receives €97 per person, Offaly gets €76 per person while in Mayo, the figure is €64. This really restricts what our local development company can do because it has such a limited amount of funding. It means that our communities miss out on investment and new facilities. We all know of the fantastic impact that LEADER has had in all of our communities and how they have benefitted from it. We are not asking for special treatment here but there certainly should be equal treatment for east Galway. We are not a wealthy part of the State by any means and I ask the Minister to revisit this to ensure a more equitable split in the allocation, based on the appropriate socioeconomic data, in future rounds of LEADER and in any interim Exchequer-funded programme.
Under the current LEADER programme, Galway has an allocation of €9 million. Approximately €5.5 million of that is allocated to Galway East for both projects and administration costs. A number of factors are considered when deciding on the funding allocations. These include providing a minimum allocation of €3 million to each sub-regional area. The remaining funding is distributed based on population density and the level of deprivation in the area. The minimum allocation of €3 million at sub-regional level accounted for €84 million of the overall allocation. Of the remaining €96 million, €48 million is distributed based on population density of the county compared to the national average.
The remaining €48 million is distributed based on the deprivation index. There is quite a formula for it to try to ensure targeted investment in communities. It is also cofunded through the European Union, so we are very focused on ensuring that cofunding will continue beyond the current MFF. We are very focused on LEADER and want to see it deliver. I want all companies to deliver in the way that GRD is doing. I commend the work that it is doing. There are also other sources of funding so we were delighted to be able to fund the provision of a new building in Gort last year under RRDF. There are other sources funding within the Department for initiatives in Galway East.
I understand it is a complicated formula but there is clearly a discrepancy between our area and other parts of the State. Will the Minister take a look at it and engage with the local development company on it? We feel very hard done by in Galway. We are not just missing out on the LEADER allocation. Our local authority is very underfunded and is not receiving the same funding per capita as other counties. The Government as a whole needs to take a look at this. I also want to ask about the plan for LEADER in the longer term. The Minister's predecessor, Heather Humphreys, slashed the budget for this programme, something that will be remembered by a lot of people next week when they go to the polls.
I ask the Deputy not to make remarks about the election.
There are serious concerns about CAP. It seems the onus is now going to fall on the Government to ensure there is a sufficient budget to maintain the work that local development companies do. Will the Minister outline the Government’s plan for the future of the programme and give assurances that the budget will be protected and increased?
The former Minister, Healther Humphreys, did not slash any budget. Within the 2023 to 2027 programme, 38 projects have been funded across all the LAGs in Galway, the vast majority of which - 24 - are actually in Galway East. I have spoken about the work that is under way with the Minister, Deputy Heydon, as Minister for agriculture, but also with the Minister of State, Deputy Thomas Byrne, and I have met with both Ministers to ensure LEADER will be part of the MFF going forward. It will fall to us during our Presidency to move on a lot of these but I have ensured from our Department that LEADER will be a core ask in the context of a new EU budget. That cofunding is absolutely vital. Equally, however, we have to look at the overall allocation to my Department in terms of the Government's commitment to rural development and to schemes that are making a difference right across rural communities on a daily basis, which are making a difference capital-wise. We do not get as much attention for these schemes but we also have to look at the current expenditure that is under way, led by the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, to companies such as Galway Rural Development in terms of community support workers, community development workers and people who are enhancing and strengthening communities in their day-to-day activities.
89. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if he will provide an update on his Department’s plans to streamline and accelerate the approval process for local improvement scheme and outdoor recreation infrastructure scheme applications, particularly in areas such as Galway east, where shovel-ready projects with local match funding are awaiting sanction; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55758/25]
I welcome both Ministers to the House for this worthwhile debate that we are having. Will the Minister for Rural and Community Development and Gaeltacht provide an update on his Department's plans to streamline and accelerate the approval process for local improvement schemes and outdoor recreation infrastructure scheme applications, particularly in areas such as east Galway where some shovel-ready projects with local match funding are awaiting sanction? Will he make a statement on the matter?
I thank the Deputy for his question. As part of the ongoing process of co-ordinated scheme delivery across my Department, schemes such as the outdoor recreation infrastructure scheme, ORIS, involve a well-established process of issuing calls for applications, project evaluation and project selection. In general, my Department's schemes are administered on a competitive basis, which underpins the delivery of value for money and the selection of high quality projects. Applications for ORIS are administered, prioritised and submitted by each local authority and by local development companies to my Department for assessment. The process, while reviewed and refined ahead of each funding iteration, is well-embedded across the local authorities and local development companies.
ORIS provides funding for the development and enhancement of infrastructure such as walking trails, cycleways, water-based recreation sites and mountain trails. It is typically opened every 18 months across a number of different measures. I have already announced the successful projects under measure 1 and the project development measure of the 2024-25 scheme. The successful projects under measures 2 and 3 will be announced before the end of this year.
Since 2020, almost €5 million has been approved for 58 projects across Galway under ORIS. The local improvement scheme, LIS, is one of the key supports to rural communities in that it improves non-public rural roads and laneways that are not typically maintained by local authorities. While my Department provides funding for the scheme, it is fully administered by local authorities. Local authorities are responsible for the selection and the prioritisation of those roads, as well as the management of applications and waiting lists. Following my approval in August of additional allocations under the scheme, Galway County Council’s 2025 allocation is now €2.1 million, which is an increase of €843,000 on its original 2025 allocation, and the council has indicated to me that its full allocation will be utilised by year end. Significant levels of investment have been delivered under my Department's rural development investment programme in recent years and I am absolutely committed, along with the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, to ensuring that this funding continues to be utilised in an efficient and effective manner.
I thank the Minister. First, I am a great advocate, as I am sure many others are, for investment in the infrastructure developments he mentioned such as walkways, greenways and cycleways. We are living in an area where the population, thankfully, is increasing. I am also mindful that people are craving those kind of recreational opportunities, particularly people who want to seek outdoor recreational exposure for childhood obesity, mindfulness or people who are struggling with mental health issues. I am sure anything the Minister can do in promoting and supporting that is a really welcome departure.
Right across every county the LIS has proved to be a very essential component or element. There are people who are building their first home in little laneways who apply for those scheme and it is a really great saviour when they can have that.
I could not agree with the Deputy more on outdoor recreation. The focus of the ORIS scheme is to support outdoor recreation infrastructure. It funds projects such as walkways, cycleways, blueways, water and cycle trails, mountain-access routes and open water amenities of bogs, rivers, lakes and beaches, including tidal pools. Projects are generally located in the countryside under the scheme. However, we will examine projects that might link a town or a village to an existing outdoor recreational facility in the countryside. We try to align some of the principles of ORIS with the national outdoor recreational strategy, Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors, to also maintain and improve existing trails. While we build new ones, existing trails are equally as important.
LIS is extremely important and is a major focus for me. I am delighted to be able to tell the Deputy that in 2024 Galway County Council was one of the top six performing local authorities. It had minimal underspend. It is crazy to be able to say that there were local authorities that did not spend their LIS allocation and returned money. I cannot understand that and I am sure, as I look around the Chamber here, none of us can understand that as Deputies who know communities who need that LIS expenditure. That will not happen again.
I can certainly attest to the fact that any moneys that Galway County Council get will be spent very wisely and very prudently. It has quite a comprehensive list of infrastructure that it wishes to develop under these schemes. One of the things I ask about passionately is that the Department continues to invest in these schemes, particularly in outdoor recreation. It is a game-changer for many communities. Certainly, in east Galway, in my neck of the woods, I would welcome any investment in that regard.
We funded 59 projects in Galway since 2020 under ORIS with an investment of €4.944 million. There are some really good ones, including the Creggs mountain walk and the Glinsk Heritage Park, which are two really good examples.
In relation to the LIS, since 2020 we have funded 195 roads in Galway, an investment of €10.04 million. That is money well spent.
As regards ORIS, one of the few good things to come out of Covid was that people embraced the outdoors and, more importantly, their local outdoors. We see it in the increase in people using facilities. We see it particularly in our partnership with Coillte around recreational spaces and forests and where we make investments. There has been an extraordinary increase in people using existing forests where trails have been opened, access has been opened and investments have been made in infrastructure and facilities to draw people to forests. I was with the Leas-Cheann Comhairle in Kilkenny earlier in the summer opening up new facilities there. It is extraordinary to see how small investments can totally open up an area and allow people to make full use of their local infrastructure facilities.
I have a question about the LIS. The Minister stated that some counties are not spending their allocation. I come from the county of Longford, where we have huge waiting lists. We spend our entire allocation. I ask that any moneys not spent by a local authority be ring-fenced and sent back to those local authorities that are spending what has been allocated and have long waiting lists.
90. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the funding available for primary school children to attend the Gaeltacht; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55893/25]
Tá muid ag caint faoi chúrsaí Gaeltachta. Bhí fadhb ann roimhe seo idir an Roinn oideachais agus Roinn na Gaeltachta. Bhí imní ar na príomhoidí, na múinteoirí agus na páistí nach mbeadh siad in ann freastal ar chúrsaí sna Gaeltachtaí. Déantar é seo le blianta anuas i gColáiste Bhríde i Rann na Feirste. Téann páistí ó scoileanna i nDún Dealgan ann. Bhí fadhb ann. Is dócha nach bhfuil an fhadhb ann fós, ach táim ag iarraidh é sin a fháil amach agus a chinntiú go bhfuil an t-airgead ansin chun é seo a dhéanamh.
Le bheith soiléir, tá mé chun an cheist a fhreagairt as Béarla-----
Níl fadhb agam leis sin.
-----ionas nach mbeidh botún san eolas.
My Department provides a subsidy under scéim na bhfoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge which is payable to qualifying Gaeltacht households providing accommodation for those attending an Irish course in any of the 40 or so Irish-language colleges that operate under the scheme. The scheme was established over 50 years ago in order to foster language acquisition and enrichment opportunities in the Gaeltacht outside of the education system for learners of the language.
The sector caters to a broad demographic of learners from the age of ten years upwards and operates from January to December annually. The most widely identifiable learners, those we all know of, are those who attend summer college courses from June to August, which cater for young people aged ten - or from third to fifth class - to those aged 19 who are undertaking their leaving cert. The Department also recognises courses which are aimed at third level students, including individuals who are undertaking teacher training, and other adult learners, including public sector workers.
In keeping with the spirit of the current programme for Government, which includes a commitment to "Maintain and where possible enhance support for Mná Tí at Gaeltacht summer colleges", I announced an increase to the daily subsidy rate payable to recognised households in July of this year, which was backdated to 31 May. This subsidy is currently worth €14.50 per student per day for recognised households, which is equivalent to €304.50 per student for a three-week course, and €10.50 for recognised hostels or residential colleges. The increase follows the nearly 30% increase in the subsidy rate payable to households and a 90% increase in that paid to residential colleges and hostels since 2022. The subsidy benefits over 27,000 learners per year who stay in any of the 520 Gaeltacht households approved under the scheme. It represents a State investment of almost €6 million annually in the Irish summer colleges sector.
I appreciate the Minister's answer. I heard about this particular issue from a number of schools throughout Dundalk and then from those who organise some of the courses. My father always had a connection with Coláiste Bhríde in Rann na Feirste, which has had a huge Dundalk connection since an tAthair Ó Muirí set it up many years ago. There was a fear that there had been a misunderstanding between the Department of the Gaeltacht and the Department of education. I was sending correspondence and being bounced from one Department to another. Luckily, the walls did not fall in and the courses went ahead, but I want to make sure we do not have that problem again. I think there was a technicality in relation to a review process, which is absolutely necessary. We all need due diligence and so on done. However, it was a case of something that probably had not been done, and then there was a question mark as to why it had not been. Unfortunately, it was going to impact students and those running the courses but, obviously, the students are the people I was most worried about.
Absolutely. I want students to learn Irish and to enjoy the experience of attending a summer college. Tá scéim na bhfoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge bunaithe ar dhaltaí ag dul go dtí an Ghaeltacht chun taithí foghlama agus taithí chónaithe sa Ghaeltacht a fháil. Tá sé tábhachtach go bhfuil an Roinn oideachais páirteach sa phróiseas seo. The Department of education plays a very strong role in this. Generally, scéim na bhfoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge involves courses that are outside the school year. I think the Deputy may be talking about school courses that are within the school year laid down by the Department. The Department of education, in the context of the school year, would provide any recommendations to Roinn na Gaeltachta in terms of the courses that it deems are suitable to be recognised. Therefore, unless a course is recognised by an Roinn oideachais, mura dtugann an Roinn approval go dtí an cúrsa, nílimid in ann airgead a chur ar fáil faoi scéim na bhfoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge. Tá sé tábhachtach go dtosófar leis an Roinn oideachais agus ansin is féidir leis an Teachta teacht ar ais chugam.
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as sin. Tharla na cúrsaí seo. Sin an rud is tábhachtaí. Sílim go bhfuil siad ag caint lena chéile agus leis an dá Roinn faoin am seo. Caithfimid a bheith cinnte nach mbeidh an fhadhb ann ag deireadh na bliana nó a leithéid. As regards this problem that arose, I get it in relation to governance and so on. I do not think the courses had a particular issue with those running them around whatever level of governance. It was just that somebody suddenly asked if any of those inspections had happened. It became an over-and-back and then nobody wanted to take responsibility. As I said, it was sorted. I will send the Minister more detail in relation to it. It is just a check-up that basically everything is happening and that we do not end up at the end of the year with imní ar pháistí, ar na múinteoirí agus ar gach aon duine eile maidir leis.
Iarraim ar an Teachta na sonraí a chur chugam. Tá sé tábhachtach go mbaineann gach aon rud laistigh den scoilbhliain leis an Roinn oideachais. Nuair atá sé taobh amuigh den scoilbhliain, tá seans againn é a phlé. When it is inside the existing school year, the Department of education, I think we all agree, must have approval over that. We will work with everyone. If the Deputy wants to send me on the details, I ask him to do so based on that principle-----
Fadhb ar bith.
-----that anything within the school year is a matter for the Department of education initially, and if it approves, then we will examine it. Tá scéim na bhfoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge thar a bheith tábhachtach. Tá méadú mór déanta agam agus scéim nua agam an tseachtain seo le cinntiú go mbeidh daoine a bhí sa scéim roimh 2019 in ann leapacha agus mattresses nua a fháil ionas go mbeidh siad ullmhaithe don chéad bhliain eile agus daltaí eile le teacht go dtí a dtithe. Gabhaim buíochas leis na clanna, na mná tí agus fir tí atá chomh tábhachtach do scéim na bhfoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge agus a n-osclaíonn a dtithe i ngach cuid den Ghaeltacht gach bliain.
91. Deputy Micheál Carrigy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht when the announcement of allocation of funding under the LEADER programme will be; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55609/25]
My question is about the allocation of funding for the new LEADER programme from 2027 onwards. I have seen the success of the programme since it started in my county of Longford. We were successful in getting significant funding, all of which was drawn down for projects in the county. It has had a huge benefit and has improved communities throughout the county.
I have been involved in a number of the projects in my own local area, including community centre funding and playgrounds that have been developed with funding through the LEADER programme. Great work has been done by the staff in Longford Community Resources. Could we get commitments on what Government funding has been put forward to make sure we get a strong allocation in the next LEADER programme?
As the Deputy knows, the LEADER programme is a multi-annual funding programme. It is cofinanced by the European Commission under the Common Agricultural Policy, CAP. The current LEADER programme is operational across the country as we speak, with total funding of €180 million allocated across local action groups to cover the period 2023 to 2027.
When considering LEADER allocations for the post-2027 period, as the Deputy has discussed, the development of the post-2027 CAP and the new regional and national partnership plans is a matter of significant importance to my Department. Ireland has advocated and will continue to advocate for a well-funded and ringfenced EU funding programme that supports farm resilience, environmental ambition and rural development measures such as the LEADER programme.
Since its inception in 1991, the programme has empowered bottom-up, community-led rural development in rural communities across Ireland. It has supported thousands of local projects, revitalised rural communities and supported thousands of jobs and important services across Ireland. It is hugely important and as Minister, I am committed to ensuring that the LEADER programme remains a core element of any new CAP framework.
To facilitate the current negotiation process for the post-2027 period, 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 continues to advocate for the LEADER programme to remain a core intervention of the new CAP post 2027. I continue to work with Government colleagues, the Minister, Deputy Heydon, and the Minister of State, Deputy Thomas Byrne, to ensure the LEADER programme is well funded into the future and remains a key part of the next MFF. I acknowledge the support of the Minister, Deputy Heydon, and the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, to date with regard to our work. I will be travelling to the European Parliament in November to continue to lobby and work with our colleagues in the European Parliament on the importance of LEADER in the next MFF.
I thank the Minister for that strong commitment. As he said, it has a massive impact in communities throughout the country, from playgrounds to tourism products - you name it. It has left its impact and it is important that we, the local action groups, LAGs, and the local LEADER companies working on the ground know that the Government is going to put in the matched funding to make sure they are able to staff themselves and are ready to roll out to the new programme when it comes.
Absolutely. Since 1991, LEADER companies around the country have made a huge difference. LEADER projects have made a massive difference. It was the former Tánaiste and former Commissioner, Ray McSharry, and the former Minister of State and MEP Mark Killilea. Ireland's fingerprints are very much associated with LEADER and the success of LEADER to date. I will be working to ensure our LEADER funding going forward. There is going to be a very different EU funding environment post 2027 but we will have to work to protect LEADER.
Since LEADER came on board, we have made the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht. Outside of LEADER, we are continuing to invest substantial funding in rural projects and initiatives, funding that was not in place in the early days of LEADER. The Deputy can be absolutely assured that I am making a commitment that we will fight for a very comprehensive LEADER allocation going forward.
93. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the progress to date in the roll-out of the PEACEPLUS programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55959/25]
As the Minister knows, the PEACEPLUS programme is a successor programme to INTERREG and the various PEACE programmes. As we have discussed often in this House, they have been particularly important in bringing new facilities and amenities to and stimulating economic development in areas like my own along the Border, which suffered so much due to the Troubles over a protracted period of time. The PEACE programme goes back to the mid-1990s and I am glad that the Irish and British Governments, the European Union and the Northern Ireland Executive put together a major funding programme of €1.14 billion. I know the projects that have been approved for funding are very good projects that will add considerably to communities both near and far.
I thank Deputy Smith for the question and for his leadership and advocacy. The Deputy is right. The projects, facilities and amenities in his area in particular are bringing huge, profound and important change. I thank the Deputy for being cochair of the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly.
The PEACEPLUS programme, which runs until 2029, has a total value of €1.1 billion and funds projects across Northern Ireland and the Border counties of Ireland. PEACEPLUS is cofunded by the Irish Government, the European Commission, the UK Government and the Northern Ireland Executive. The project is managed by the Special EU Programmes Body.
Our Department, the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, is committed to providing 26% cofunding for eight of the 22 investment areas. This represents a total of €96 million in financing over the lifetime of the programme, with a net contribution, post recoupment of ERDF amounts, of €19.2 million. Grants are awarded by the Special EU Programmes Body following an agreed assessment process. As of 24 September, 108 projects with a total value of €947 million have been approved for funding, representing around 88% of the programme value.
PEACEPLUS provides funding across a diverse range of investment areas, including revitalisation of rural areas and community development. This funding will benefit people right across the programme area and there are multiple opportunities to benefit from the programme, which are available to all groups and organisations. All information is available online, as Members know.
I would also like to make a point about the change-maker funding element of PEACEPLUS, which will provide grants of between €10,000 and €100,000 to cross-Border or community projects. This funding programme is currently open. Information is available on the PEACEPLUS website under current funding opportunities.
Like the Minister, Deputy Calleary, I welcome the announcement regarding the Cavan regional sports project, which, as the Deputy said earlier, will provide a great facility to Cavan and the wider cross-Border region. Both the Minister, Deputy Calleary and I, look forward to travelling to Deputy Smith in Cavan. We might get to that match yet; you never know.
I thank the Minister. As I said here earlier, I appreciate the support of the Minister, Deputy Dara Calleary, in different meetings with me, and also the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, who has spoken about the importance of shared spaces and providing sport and recreation facilities. I appreciate the positive response of the Special EU Programmes Body to the Cavan regional sports campus application, with the €15 million approval this morning. It is great to work on a project and see a good conclusion to it.
I will make reference to the issue of the Cavan regional sports campus and give credit to Deputy Smith on that. This is about the reimagining of communities and investment in areas. It is a project that will bring, as the Deputy said, profound transformation to the area. It is a shared space. It represents a new type of modern Ireland and this facility, when it is developed, will be absolutely fantastic. What we are seeing here with PEACEPLUS is investment matched by human investment. It is all good for the people and the Border counties. I welcome our Department's involvement and both the Minister, Deputy Calleary, and I are very committed to the project. We look forward to working with all Members of the House.
96. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht his views on the merits of providing multi-annual funding for men’s and women’s sheds to allow them to plan longer term projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54869/25]
Tá ceist agam ná faoi na men's sheds agus an t-airgead atá curtha ar fáil dóibh. I ask about the value of multi-annual funding for men's sheds to give them certainty with regard to what they can do year on year, rather than depending on budget-to-budget and year-to-year decisions on funding. It would give them much greater certainty regarding what they can and cannot do and I would be grateful if the Minister could address that issue.
I thank the Deputy. The emergence of men’s sheds and women's sheds has been an enormously positive development for communities across Ireland. The Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, and I are fully committed to supporting men's and women's sheds in the valuable work they do.
My Department provides funding to men's and women’s sheds under various supports, including the local enhancement programme, the social inclusion and community activation programme and LEADER. Men’s and women's sheds can apply individually for all of these schemes. In addition to these schemes, my Department has channelled funding through the Irish Men’s Sheds Association, IMSA, to distribute directly to men’s sheds. I was pleased to announce a financial package with the IMSA this year, which will enable it to distribute up to €1 million in support to men's sheds across the country. It should also be noted that my Department provides multi-annual funding to the IMSA through the scheme to support national organisations.
We continue to engage with the men's sheds regarding the distribution of that money. The Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, and I are focused on ensuring that gets to the sheds. While I understand the desire for multi-annual funding, it would not be possible for my Department to provide multiannual funding to individual men's and women's sheds on an ongoing basis for a variety of reasons.
My Department works within the resources it has to provide the best supports possible at this time. Women's sheds do not currently operate under a national organisation. My Department is unable to provide funding similar to that provided to men's sheds. However, my Department and the Department of Health are working with the women's sheds of Ireland to support their efforts to form a national body, which would thereby allow the Minister of State and me to facilitate access for women's sheds to similar funding to the IMSA.
I acknowledge the work being done and the funding that has been made available. I agree with what the Minister said about the value of men's sheds and women's sheds. I do not really understand why we cannot put a multi-annual framework in place for funding for them. It would give them huge assistance in delivering and providing the services they do, which, we can all agree, are really positive for communities all over this country. I accept what the Minister has said about the lack of a national organisation or association for women's sheds. However, could the same level of money given to the Irish Men's Sheds Association not be provided over a series of years in the way we do in so many other areas from budget to budget, rather than asking them to depend from year to year on what they might be able to rely on? They can do so much more if they have certainty about what funding is available to them. Will the Minister outline the reasons that cannot be done?
Through the scheme to support national organisations, we do support the IMSA in its infrastructure and scaffolding so that it can distribute the funding. I have commitments and responsibilities in terms of the expenditure of money. I have to be sure the money is spent properly and appropriately and so, when we engage in multi-annual funding with any organisation, it is important for us to ensure it gets to the people we want it to get to. The Minister of State and I have spent a huge amount of our time engaging with this funding to ensure it gets to individual sheds across the country. I have confidence we will be able to do that. As recently as last week, there was a meeting with the facilitator around the women's sheds association to put in place a national framework that will allow us to fund directly. We have continued the funding to the men's sheds. We also have similar funding in place for agriculture shows across the country, which we fund through the Irish Shows Association. When we are making the investment, it is far more efficient to make it through a national representative organisation, which, in turn, can distribute it to local groups. The Irish Shows Association is the model I would recommend to any group.
I appreciate what the Minister has said. I understand the importance of making sure the money is spent correctly and appropriately. Nobody has any difficulty with that. I also appreciate what he said about the value of the associations and the value of an association that can act as an umbrella body. My suggestion is that where we provide multi-annual funding for various organisations in other areas of the budget, is it not open to us to make that multi-annual funding available to a particular association so that they might have some certainty for the programmes they offer, recognising the value of men's sheds to particular communities and what they do for people throughout this country, in every constituency represented in this House? Is there any path to provide that certainty, whether through multi-annual funding or through the association? Is there no pathway to give them certainty on what might be available to run the programmes they run?
Certainty is in what we have given to date. Funding has been provided over a number of years. There is certainty through the scheme to support national organisations and that gives the backup for the infrastructure. We work very closely with the IMSA. It has just finished a consultation process with local men's sheds as to what it will be looking for grant-wise. We want that process to be completed so that we will be in a position to fund them to get the money out to the local sheds. We are also putting money into women's sheds to ensure they set up a national organisation in a similar way. The example I gave, the Irish Shows Association, demonstrates it can be done efficiently on an annual basis. At this point I do not see any need for multi-annual funding. Certainty of funding is shown every year. The Irish Shows Association is a model that should be pursued.
