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Thursday, 7 May 2026

Written Answers Nos. 595-601

Departmental Funding

Questions (597)

Catherine Callaghan

Question:

597. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if he will provide a list of all capital projects including those delivered under LEADER, the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, CLÁR, the town and village renewal scheme, the outdoor recreation infrastructure scheme and Údarás na Gaeltachta programmes which have been completed on time and within budget in Kilkenny in each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33912/26]

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Written answers

My Department implements a wide range of schemes that have supported thousands of individual capital projects throughout the country in recent years.

Details in relation to supported projects are available on my department’s website.

Across these schemes, projects are delivered by a range of lead bodies who have responsibility for the day-to-day management and delivery of projects. My department is in ongoing engagement with lead bodies to support efficient and effective delivery of projects. These lead bodies include local authorities, local development companies, and LEADER Groups.

For CLÁR, the Town & Village Renewal Scheme, and the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme, the scheme terms and conditions generally set out indicative completion dates of around 18-24 months. However, the Department works with lead bodies, to monitor delivery and shows flexibility where it is needed to ensure projects are delivered for communities.

For these schemes, funding approvals are generally granted in the form of maximum agreed grant amounts, with any cost overruns beyond the final agreed amount either met by the applicant or through agreed changes to the project that reduce costs to remain within the agreed amount without significantly impacting the project.

Under the LEADER programme, Local Action Groups (LAGs) receive a multi-annual funding allocation to support projects in their own LEADER area. Grant contributions towards individual projects are approved and monitored by LAGs in each area, and no additional funding is provided by the Department above the approved project allocations.

The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) supports large scale and ambitious capital projects.it is typically expected that approved projects would have a lifecycle of up to 5 years from funding application, through the design and planning process and to construction completion.

The details requested by the Deputy in relation to the schemes referenced are listed in the attached tables. The tables cover the years 2021-2025 and any project completions submitted to my department to date in 20226.

Please note, there were no projects delivered by Údarás na Gaeltachta in Kilkenny.

Kilkenny Tables.

Departmental Funding

Questions (598)

Tony McCormack

Question:

598. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the total amount of funding allocated under the town and village renewal scheme, by county, since 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33925/26]

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Written answers

The Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS) introduced in 2016, was designed to rejuvenate rural towns and villages throughout Ireland. TVRS is administered through local authorities, who work closely with local communities and businesses to develop proposals that will bring long-lasting, positive impacts to rural towns and villages.

The attached table provides the cumulative funding allocated to each local authority since 2020.

Details of all projects funded under Departmental capital schemes, including TVRS, are available on the Department’s website.

PQ 33925 26.

Departmental Funding

Questions (599)

Tony McCormack

Question:

599. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the total amount of funding allocated under the outdoor recreation infrastructure scheme, by county, since 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33926/26]

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Written answers

The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme, or ORIS, is funded by my Department as part of the Rural Development Investment Programme.

It is an important contributor to “Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors”, our national outdoor recreation strategy. The scheme provides funding for the development and enhancement of outdoor recreational infrastructure such as walking trails, cycleways, blue ways, mountain access routes and open water facilities at rivers, lakes and beaches.

I have attached a table outlining the total amount of funding allocated under ORIS by county since 2020.

Details of all ORIS approvals by my Department since its establishment is available in tabular form on my Department’s website at Funding allocated by the department.

Oris Allowances.

Departmental Funding

Questions (600)

Tony McCormack

Question:

600. Deputy Tony McCormack asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the total amount of funding allocated under the CLAR Scheme, by county, , since 2020, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33927/26]

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Written answers

The CLAR programme provides funding under a number of different measures for small-scale infrastructural projects in designated rural areas. Last year I approved over €14 million for 238 projects under the programme, with funding being provided for community facilities and amenities, community vehicles and specific support for island communities.

I was pleased to launch of the 2026 CLAR programme on 10th March this year with a record budget of €12 million.

I have attached a table outlining the total amount of funding allocated under the CLÁR programme by county since 2020.

Details of all CLÁR approvals by my Department since its establishment is available in tabular form on my Department’s website at Funding allocated by the department.

Clar Allowance.

Departmental Staff

Questions (601)

Micheál Carrigy

Question:

601. Deputy Micheál Carrigy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the number of civil and public servants employed by his Department in each of the past ten years, in tabular form. [33957/26]

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Written answers

The Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD) was established in 2017 and following a transfer of functions in June 2025, the Department became the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht (DRCDG). As a result, DRCDG has had a significant increase in staff numbers in 2025. The information requested is set out below. Staff numbers for each year are as at 31st December of each year, in line with accounting practices. The 2026 figure relates to the current number of staff in the Department. From 2025 the figures include 13 staff in Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga.

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

Staff Numbers

162

151

153

160

175

192

192

203

296

310

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