Written Answers Nos. 1-24
6. Deputy Grace Boland asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if additional funding streams are planned in 2026 to support community facilities, town centre renewal and rural infrastructure in the Dublin Fingal region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53137/26]
View answerMy department has a number of schemes which provide relevant supports in Fingal for community facilities, town centre renewal and rural infrastructure.
For example, the Community Centre Investment Fund provides funding towards high quality, accessible, community spaces. I announced the most recent call earlier this year and the assessment of submissions is underway. Almost €1.4 million has been allocated to 34 projects in the Dublin Fingal region under previous iterations of the fund.
The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme provides funding for outdoor recreational infrastructure such as walking trails and cycleways. Since 2020, funding of over €420,000 has been approved for 11 projects in the Fingal region. This year's scheme is currently open for applications.
The 2023-2027 LEADER programme provides support to rural communities under a broad range of themes, including Rural Infrastructure and Social Inclusion. €4.7 million is allocated to the Local Action Group in Dublin covering the rural areas of Dublin including eligible areas in Fingal.
The Town and Village Renewal Scheme supports the revitalisation of rural towns and villages. Since 2016 over €210 million has been allocated to over 1,900 projects, with funding of over €1 million approved for 5 projects across Fingal. I intend to launch the next iteration of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme later this year.
The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund supports large-scale projects, achieving sustainable economic and social development in rural areas. There is currently a call for proposals open under this Fund, and I would expect to be in a position to allocate funding towards the end of the year.
There are more funding opportunities now available for rural communities than ever before. I would encourage all rural communities to engage with their local authorities and to access the scheme information available on my department's website to see what funding stream might best suit their needs.
I am committed to ensuring that my department will continue to support high quality and transformational projects across rural Ireland in line with the objectives of Our Rural Future and the Town Centre First policy.
11. Deputy Barry Heneghan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if his Department has engaged, or plans to engage, with a company (details supplied) regarding the availability of the Irish language on the company's operating system as part of efforts to promote the use of Irish in digital services and technologies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53283/26]
View answerLast year I established the Advisory Committee on the Irish Language in the Digital Sphere to provide advice on the implementation of my Department's Digital Plan for the Irish Language and to consider matters relating to the use and development of Irish in digital technologies.
At its meeting in February 2026, the Committee agreed that it would be beneficial to engage directly with a number of major technology companies to discuss the opportunities and challenges associated with supporting Irish and other low-resourced languages in the digital sphere. The Department subsequently issued invitations to a number of companies to engage with the committee.
The company referred to by the Deputy was included in this correspondence, responded positively to this invitation and indicated its willingness to engage with the Committee. It is hoped that representatives from the company will attend a future meeting of the Advisory Committee to discuss matters relating to the Irish language and digital technologies. Arrangements for this engagement are currently being progressed through the Committee.
Separately, the Department – in collaboration with Údarás na Gaeltachta and the ADAPT Research Centre – is also preparing an international conference on low-resourced languages and digital technology. This conference entitled "Todhchaí na dteicneolaíochtaí teanga i ré na hintleachta saorga - Éagsúlacht teanga agus ceannasacht dhigiteach a thabhairt slán" / "The future of language technologies in the age of artificial intelligence - Safeguarding linguistic diversity and digital sovereignty” will take place in early November in Galway as part of Ireland's Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
The conference will bring together policymakers, researchers, language organisations and representatives from the technology sector to examine the opportunities and challenges facing low-resourced languages in an increasingly digital environment. As part of these preparations, the Department is engaging with a range of technology companies regarding potential participation in the conference and related discussions.
12. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht to outline his Department's efforts to tackle dereliction in rural towns and villages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52951/26]
View answerLaunched in 2022, the Town Centre First policy is a major cross-government policy, which aims to tackle vacancy, combat dereliction and breathe new life into our town centres.
The Town Centre First policy complements other policies including Our Rural Future, the national housing strategy ‘Delivering Homes, Building Communities', and the National Planning Framework, which also prioritise addressing vacancy and dereliction.
Town Regeneration Officers, funded by my Department, are a key link between the local authority, towns and villages and their communities. They work across multi-disciplinary regeneration teams in local authorities, including with Vacant Homes Officers funded by the Department of Housing, to develop and progress projects to renew and revitalise our communities.
A range of capital funding streams is available to support delivery on Town Centre First objectives. The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund or RRDF is a major capital programme that supports large-scale, ambitious projects that can achieve sustainable economic and social development in rural areas. To date, the RRDF has allocated €610 million for 270 projects across Ireland.
The Town and Village Renewal Scheme or TVRS places particular emphasis on projects that will bring derelict and vacant buildings and sites back into use as multi-purpose community spaces. Since its launch, TVRS has allocated over €210m to over 1,900 projects nationally.
The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, who holds joint responsibility for the policy, also implements a broad suite of schemes including the Towns and Cities Regeneration Investment Fund, the Vacant Property Refurbishment Grant under the Croí Conaithe initiative, and THRIVE - the TCF Heritage Renewal Scheme.
I am committed to ensuring that my Department will continue to support high quality and transformational projects across rural Ireland addressing the issues of vacancy and dereliction.
14. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the funding allocated to Cavan and Monaghan county councils for lane improvements works under the local improvement scheme in each year 2020 to 2025; and the proposed allocations for 2026. [53281/26]
View answerThe Local Improvement Scheme provides for the upgrading of non-public rural roads and laneways that are typically not maintained by local authorities.
The Scheme was reintroduced by my Department in 2017, and now forms a central element of my department's overarching Rural Development Investment Programme.
I am aware that the scheme continues to be very popular across the country, and since 2017 over €201 million in funding has been allocated to local authorities, with over 5,500 roads improved under the scheme.
I was pleased to launch the 2026 Local Improvement in February, with increased based funding of €17.55 million.
Within this overall allocation, Cavan County Council received €527,400, while Monaghan County Council was granted €385,880.
This brings the total amount allocated to Cavan County Council since 2020 to over €6.8 million, with Monaghan County Council allocated over €5.7 million.
I have appended the annual details requested by the Deputy to this answer.
My officials have engaged with local authorities who have submitted their priority road lists for 2026. All eligible local authorities have received approval to proceed with works. My officials will closely monitor scheme spending to ensure that funding is fully utilised and that as many road improvements as possible are completed under the scheme this year. I will also seek to ensure via the annual budgetary process that this important scheme continues to be well funded in the years to come.
Cavan County Council was allocated the following LIS funding for each of the following years:
2020: €269,254
2021: €1,119,389
2022: €1,273,457
2023: €1,741,411
2024: €690,084
2025: €1,181,974.
Monaghan County Council was allocated the following LIS funding for each of the following years:
2020: €250,000
2021: €1,326,223
2022: €932,889,
2023: €1,342,724
2024: €564,965
2025: €961,776
15. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht for an update on the local enhancement programme as recently announced; and if he has plans to expand the scheme. [53133/26]
View answerThe Local Enhancement Programme (LEP) provides small capital grants to community and voluntary groups for the improvement/refurbishment of their facilities and/or the purchase of equipment and is delivered in every county in Ireland. It is targeted towards supporting communities that are impacted by disadvantage, as identified in the Local Economic and Community Plan (LECP) of the relevant local authority. In general, support under the LEP is available to any not-for-profit community or voluntary group. Commercial organisations and individuals are not eligible for funding.
The fund is administered locally on behalf of the Department by Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) across the country, with support from their local authority. Decisions on project approvals are made by the LCDC.
The LEP for 2026 was announced on 5 December 2025 and provided €7 million in capital supports to many small community groups and organisations. The list of successful projects was announced on 2 July 2026. Therefore, the 2026 programme is now closed for applications.
This Department is currently considering a LEP for 2027 and all elements of the programme will be reviewed, including the potential to expand it. The Department would encourage all community and voluntary organisations to check the Department's website and also to engage with their LCDCs, Local Development Companies and Public Participation Networks (PPN), to ensure they are aware of all existing funding opportunities.
17. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the way in which the recently announced investment of over €5.3 million for Gaeltacht initiatives will support the intergenerational transmission of Irish and strengthen the use of the language as a living community language both within Gaeltacht areas and in recognised Irish-language communities outside the Gaeltacht; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53294/26]
View answerThe funding of over €5.3 million that I recently announced was allocated by my Department through the Language and Community Supports Programme to further support two long-standing Departmental schemes in our efforts to support intergenerational language transmission and strengthen Irish as a living community language.
The Language Assistants’ Scheme is an additional support for the language planning process. It is available within the Gaeltacht to every school, which participates in the Department of Education and Youth’s Gaeltacht Schools Recognition Scheme (GSRS). Outside of the Gaeltacht, the scheme is available to Gaelscoileanna and Gaelcholáistí located in the areas recognised as Gaeltacht Service Towns or Irish Language Networks. Grants totalling up to €4.02m have now been approved for the three lead organisations who will administer the scheme over a two-year period.
The long-standing Summer Camps Scheme supports community committees to run Irish-language camps for young people within the Gaeltacht. This scheme serves young people in all Gaeltacht areas, and around 165 camps are provided every summer to around 6,500 young people. Muintearas Teo administer the scheme and the recent announcement includes a grant increase for the first time in many years. A 3-year grant worth up to €1,308,039 or €436,013 per year has now been approved, and as part of that improved grant , an increase of €10 has been approved in the subsidy rate paid to committees for every participant, from €45 to €55 per participant for a weeklong camp.
It takes a language ecosystem to support intergenerational language transmission and the Language Assistants’ Scheme and the Summer Camps Scheme are important foundations in my Department’s efforts to develop that ecosystem. The Language Assistants’ Scheme undoubtedly plays a central role in the work to strengthen Irish as a community and family language both inside and outside of the Gaeltacht by supporting language acquisition and enrichment amongst students in Irish medium education. The main goal of the Summer Camps Scheme is to create social and educational opportunities for young people in the Gaeltacht through Irish. That ties in specifically with the objectives of the language planning process, and it is very important that these opportunities be accessible and affordable to families raising children with Irish in the Gaeltacht.
18. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht for an update on his Department's efforts to deal with rural isolation and loneliness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53307/26]
View answerLoneliness and social isolation are complex issues that can arise from a range of social, economic, and demographic factors and, therefore, relate to policy areas across many Departments. Issues such as access to transport, economic disadvantage or social exclusion can all contribute to isolation in rural areas. My Department works closely with colleagues across Government to ensure that rural communities in particular are not left behind in the provision of public services.
With regard to my own Department, both the 'Our Rural Future' and the 'Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities' policies recognise the importance of addressing loneliness and isolation. The next iteration of both policies will continue to focus on this important issue which impacts both rural and urban communities.
There are schemes and programmes operated by my Department which directly help to address this issue. Of particular importance with regard to capital funding is the Community Centre Investment Fund, LEADER, CLÁR and the Local Enhancement Programme which provides small grants to local community groups. With regard to current supports, the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme, the Community Services Programme, and the Senior Alerts Scheme all help support the engagement of specific groups with their communities.
My Department also supports Men's and Women's Sheds, Tidy Towns groups, Agricultural Shows and public libraries, all of which help to reduce loneliness and social isolation by providing outlets for people to engage with their communities.
Overall, the schemes and programmes in place are helping to provide suitable facilities and to support community groups so that opportunities exist for everyone to engage with their local communities.
20. Deputy Cathy Bennett asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if he will report on his engagements regarding the LEADER programme under the next EU budgetary cycle. [53300/26]
View answerThe LEADER Programme is funded as an intervention under the EU's Common Agricultural Policy, or CAP. Therefore, the development of the EU regulations relating to the post 2027 CAP and the new National and Regional Partnership Plan is of significant importance to my department.
The continuation of the LEADER programme within the draft regulations is welcomed. However, I acknowledge that the proposed changes to the funding structures of the CAP is leading to uncertainty.
Together with my colleague Minister Byrne, I held a meeting with LEADER stakeholders in recent weeks to ensure we are fully aware of the concerns on the ground. This engagement is in addition to the on-going involvement by my department in the CAP Consultative Committee which facilitates discussions with stakeholders regarding the post-2027 period.
As part of the on-going negotiation process, my department has consistently emphasised the importance of a ringfenced allocation for LEADER, to ensure the post-2027 programme can continue its vital role. I have raised this with my colleagues across government departments and at an EU level.
That said, many details remain to be finalised as part of the ongoing negotiation process and detailed discussions will continue through Ireland’s term holding Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
As part of the Irish Presidency, my department is also involved in co-organising a High-level Rural Policy Forum, which will take place in Ireland in November and which will provide an opportunity to highlight the value of the LEADER programme across Europe.
I can assure the Deputy that my department will continue to engage directly both domestically and at EU level to ensure that the LEADER programme is prioritised into the future.
21. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aindrias Moynihan den Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht cén dul chun cinn atá déanta le pleanáil teanga agus, go háirithe, leis na Bailte Seirbhíse Gaeltachta; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [53306/26]
View answerTá ag éirí go han-mhaith leis an bpróiseas pleanála teanga agus pleananna teanga faofa á gcur i bhfeidhm i 26 Limistéar Pleanála Teanga, 10 mBaile Seirbhíse Gaeltachta agus i 3 Líonra Gaeilge. Tá líon áirithe acu seo anois ag dul isteach sa dara timthriall den phróiseas agus réamhobair ar bun idir na páirtithe leasmhara chuige sin.
Maidir leis na Bailte Seirbhíse Gaeltachta, tar éis próisis chomhairliúcháin a rinneadh in 2014, aithníodh 16 baile mar Bhailte Seirbhíse Gaeltachta féideartha ag brath ar cheanneagraíocht a bheith ceaptha agus pleananna teanga a bheith aontaithe leis na pobail áitiúla de réir na gcritéir pleanála teanga atá leagtha síos faoi Acht na Gaeltachta 2012.
Tar éis dóibh a bheith ceaptha, tugtar tréimhse dhá bhliain do gach ceanneagraíocht chun plean a ullmhú le cur faoi bhráid an Aire lena fhaomhadh.
Tá ról suntasach ag Bailte Seirbhíse Gaeltachta maidir le seirbhísí poiblí agus áiseanna áineasa, sóisialta agus tráchtála a sholáthar don phobal sna limistéir phleanála teanga a bhfreastalaíonn siad orthu. Mar thoradh air sin, tá tionchar suntasach agus dearfach ag na bailte seo ar stádas na Gaeilge mar theanga pobail agus teaghlaigh i gceantair Ghaeltachta.
As na 16 Baile Seirbhíse Gaeltachta sin, tá 10 bplean teanga faofa go dtí seo, agus á gcur i bhfeidhm sna bailte atá i gceist. Tá pleananna teanga faofa ag na bailte seo a leanas agus tá siad aitheanta mar Bhailte Seirbhíse Gaeltachta:
• Leitir Ceanainn
• Daingean Uí Chúis
• Cathair na Gaillimhe
• An Clochán Liath
• Trá Lí
• Caisleán an Bharraigh
• Dún Garbhán
• Cathair Saidhbhín
• An Clochán
• Baile an Róba
Tá tús curtha leis an bpróiseas chun pleananna a ullmhú maidir le Béal an Mhuirthead agus Cathair Chorcaí.
I láthair na huaire, tá ceanneagraíochtaí pleanála teanga ag obair le Foras na Gaeilge chun pleananna teanga a ullmhú do na bailte seo a leanas: Baile Dhún na nGall, Maigh Chromtha, Baile Átha Buí agus An Uaimh.
Leithdháiltear buiséad suas le €30,000 ar Bhailte Seirbhíse Gaeltachta chun pleananna a ullmhú agus cuirtear buiséad bliantúil €96,000 ar fáil do na Bailte Seirbhíse Gaeltachta lasmuigh den Ghaeltacht agus €120,000 do na Bailte Seirbhíse Gaeltachta sa Ghaeltacht nó Bailte Seirbhíse Gaeltachta cathrach thar seacht mbliana chun tacú lena gcur i bhfeidhm.
22. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the position regarding supports provided at a local level in community centres targeted at addressing social exclusion; if he will consider increasing funding in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52702/26]
View answerThe Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), is our country’s primary social inclusion intervention programme overseen by my Department. This is a national programme that is delivered in both rural and urban areas by Local Development Companies (LDCs) to help those in the greatest need.
SICAP supports individuals and community groups who face disadvantage, providing targeted supports in areas such as employment, mental health, education, and community engagement and improving the quality of life of those facing social exclusion and inequality. The supports are provided by the staff of Local Development Companies in local communities across the country, often using community centres as their bases. SICAP funding is subject to the annual budgetary Estimates process. I secured an additional €1.5m in Budget 2026 and bringing the annual funding for SICAP to over €50m and I am committed to progressively increasing funding for SICAP, in line with the Programme for Government commitment.
My Department’s Community Services Programme (CSP) currently supports 434 community-based organisations, with a budget of €59.4 million in 2026, an increase of €4m from 2025, to provide 453 local social, economic, and environmental services through a social enterprise model. The CSP Programme provides an annual co-funding contribution towards each full-time equivalent (FTE) position being supported, and, where warranted, towards the cost of employing a manager.
Some 86 organisations delivering 89 services are currently supported through the CSP Programme, under the primary activity of Community Halls, Sports and Resource Centres. The Programme provides a funding contribution towards 57 manager positions and 331 FTE positions to this cohort. The total amount of funding allocated to these organisations over the Programme period (i.e. 2023-2027) is €36.772 million.
An Open Call for applications to join the CSP Programme closed for preliminary applications on 08 May, and all applications received are currently going through the various stages of the appraisal process. It is anticipated that organisations will be notified of the outcome of this Preliminary Application stage in the coming weeks. Subsequently, shortlisted applicants will be invited to submit a full application. Feedback will be provided to those organisations that have not been shortlisted. I hope to be in a position to announce the outcome of the process before the end of the year.
23. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht when it is intended that the town and village renewal scheme will open to communities for applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53271/26]
View answerThe Town and Village Renewal Scheme (or the TVRS) was introduced in 2016 and is one of a number of measures designed to rejuvenate rural towns and villages throughout Ireland. As such, it is a core component of my department's Rural Development Investment Programme.
Since the launch of the scheme over €210 million has been allocated to over 1,900 projects nationwide. TVRS is delivered in partnership with local authorities and primarily targets funding at areas with populations of less than 10,000 people. Applications for towns with populations of up to 15,000 people are also accepted where the project is of a high quality, displays good value for money and has the potential to significantly benefit the town.
I announced the most recent round of funding under the 2025 Scheme in December of last year, where €26.2 million was allocated to 116 projects. This included funding of €1.4 million for 8 projects in County Cork.
In April I announced a new call for proposals under the Building and Land Acquisition Measure of the Scheme. Assessment of these applications is currently ongoing, and local authorities will be informed of the outcome of this process shortly.
Priorities for the Scheme are reviewed and updated at the end of each scheme cycle. The details of the next iteration of the scheme are currently being developed, with a view to seeking further applications for funding later this year.
