Vol. 1071 No. 2
85. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the total amount of funding allocated to the social inclusion and community activation programme in Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38272/25]
I thank the Deputy. Our Department's social inclusion and community activation programme is our country’s primary social inclusion programme. SICAP is a national programme delivered locally in both rural and urban areas by local development companies. It supports those in the greatest need to address high and persistent levels of deprivation through targeted, locally-led initiatives and approaches. The programme encourages partnerships between people, community organisations, and public sector agencies to address diverse community needs. The current SICAP programme commenced in 2024 and will run until 2028. I thank the Deputy for the work he does in his own area, particularly in Blackpool. He will be aware that there are currently seven local development companies delivering the SICAP programme across the eight contract areas in Cork city, Cork county and the west Cork islands.
While SICAP is a multi-annual funding programme, it is subject to the annual budgetary Estimates process. The total SICAP funding allocations for last year and this year for the seven companies in Cork came to €8,183,430. The Department has also provided additional funding through SICAP since 2022 to local development companies to support Ukrainian beneficiaries of temporary protection and international protection applicants. A total of €1.91 million has been allocated to the local development companies in Cork for these supports this year and last year. There has been a positive trend of year-on-year increases in SICAP funding in recent years. The Minister and I are committed to ensuring this continues in line with commitments in the programme for Government.
The issue in relation to funding is about people living in disadvantaged communities, supporting people with disabilities and people with a criminal record who, as a result, have difficulty finding employment. I am concerned that there is a lack of structure for people discharged from our prisons in accommodation and in trying to get them back into the system. Will more work be done in that area? It needs to be done first when they are physically in prison, with co-ordination of their plan for when they get out. According to the records, on the north side of Cork city in particular, there are people whose only home in real terms is prison. While it is a small number of people, it is important. We need to do more in that area. Are there proposals to deal with that issue?
I thank the Deputy who is right to raise this matter. He has raised it previously. I have asked the Department to examine this issue. The Irish Examiner recently had an interesting profile of the north side of Cork city. It is an issue I am concerned about. We need to have a serious conversation about it. The Glen Resource Centre has a good programme for the families of those in prison. It has held a summer camp in the past few weeks. I am happy to sit down and discuss this with the Deputy because it is an important matter. Despite all the funding, outreach, activities and programmes, there is an issue we are missing somewhere. I commend the Cork City Partnership on its work, particularly in the Mayfield area. I will work with all involved to ensure we look at supports, in particular for those who have left prison to avoid that revolving door. A lot of work is being done. There are success stories but the Deputy is right to highlight the people being missed by the great programmes.
It is interesting the Minister of State mentioned the Glen Resource Centre. I have been involved going back to 1996 when there was nothing at all there. We got funding from Europe to start the centre. There are now 80 organisations using the centre. It is a fantastic development with fantastic staff. All of the organisations there are working hard, providing a good service for the community. Coming back to the issue, as we come into the winter months, people will offend because they have nowhere to go. The whole idea is they will end up in prison for the winter months. There is a problem in our prisons with inadequate accommodation. We should seriously look at how to help these people when they are in prison. We need to get community groups working with them at an early stage when they come back out. I ask for that issue be worked on over the next 12 to 18 months.
I thank the Deputy for the work he has done. I taught in St. Aidan's Community College; I am familiar with the area. I recognise the issue he has highlighted, despite the great work by a variety of community organisations and mentoring. There is an empowerment piece, training, retraining and engagement between agencies. There are a number of people who re-offend once they leave prison. We have an obligation, duty and responsibility to work with everybody to ensure those people and their families are given that opportunity. If the Deputy has suggestions, I am open to working with everybody to ensure we accomplish the aim he articulated so that we do not miss people. We as a Department and a Government are about tackling many issues in terms of disadvantage and the people in our criminal justice system. There are success stories. People have left prison and made new beginnings. The Glen Resource Centre is an example. I commend the Deputy again on his work on that. It shows that by working with families and children of the men and women involved, we can make it better.
84. Deputy Tom Brabazon asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the engagement his Department has had with Foras na Gaeilge to ensure the group has long-term funding into the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38163/25]
Tá Foras na Gaeilge ag freastal ar phobal na Gaelainne ar fud an oileáin ar fad. Tá an-bhuairt ar na heagrais éagsúla a bhfuil an foras ag freastal orthu nach bhfuil an maoiniú oiriúnach ar fáil dóibh. Cén teagmháil a bhí ag an Aire leis an bhforas go dtí seo chun a chinntiú go mbeadh an maoiniú oiriúnach acu?
Is í mo Roinn féin, thar ceann Rialtas na hÉireann, agus an Roinn Pobal ó Thuaidh thar ceann Fheidhmeannas Thuaisceart Éireann a chómhaoiníonn an Foras Teanga Thuaidh-Theas, ina gcumasctar Foras na Gaeilge agus Gníomhaireacht na hUltaise. Cuireann Rialtas na hÉireann 75% den bhuiséad Fhoras na Gaeilge ar fáil go bliantúil agus tagann an 25% eile ó Fheidhmeannas Thuaisceart Éireann de réir an chaiteachais a comhaontaíodh nuair a bunaíodh an Foras Teanga Thuaidh-Theas.
Déanann Comhairle Aireachta Thuaidh-Theas buiséad na n-institiúidí Thuaidh-Theas, lena n-áirítear an Foras Teanga, a fhaomhadh. Bhí mé i mo chathaoirleach ar chruinniú earnáil an fhoras teanga i mí Aibreáin, inar comhaontaíodh pleananna gnó agus buiséid 2025 d'Fhoras na Gaeilge agus do Ghníomhaireacht na hUltaise. Bhuaileamar freisin le cathaoirligh agus príomhfheidhmeannaigh gach gníomhaireachta ag an gcruinniú sin, tar éis dom bualadh le Foras na Gaeilge níos luaithe i mbliana ar mhaithe le plé a dhéanamh ar na dúshláin mhaoinithe os comhair na heagraíochta.
Áirítear sa mhaoiniú comhaontaithe do 2025 íocaíochtaí aonuaire de luach €630,000 ó Rialtas na hÉireann go Foras na Gaeilge maidir le costas pinsin stairiúla, rud a chuirfear ar chumas Fhoras na Gaeilge na ciorruithe a d'fhógair sé níos luaithe i mbliana a chur ar ceal. Cé gur chuir Rialtas na hÉireann méadú maoinithe ar fáil d'Fhoras na Gaeilge ina bhuiséad do 2025, ní mór cómhaoiniú a bheith ar fáil ón Roinn Pobal ó Thuaidh de réir chóimheas an chomhaontú maoinithe sular féidir borradh ar bith a chur faoi bhuiséad na ngníomhaireachtaí. Ina leith sin, tá athbhreithniú á dhéanamh faoi láthair ag an dá Roinn a thugann urraíocht le socruithe ó thaobh maoinithe a chur ar fáil don Fhoras Teanga. Mar sin féin, ní mór don dá Roinn a thugann urraíocht agus na Ranna airgeadais sna dlínsí teacht ar chomhaontú faoi rudaí áirithe agus a bheith soiléir an féidir é a chur faoi bhráid an CATT.
Is maith é go bhfuil an teagmháil á brú ar aghaidh ag an Aire. Tá buairt ar phobal na Gaelainne agus ar na heagrais éagsúla. Teastaíonn uathu a chinntiú go mbeidh maoiniú oiriúnach ar fáil do na heagrais ar fud an oileáin ar fad. Tuigim go bhfuil an Rialtas ó Dheas sásta a chuid mhaoiniú a chur ar fáil ach gurb amhlaidh go bhfuil an brú ag teacht ón bhFeidhmeannas ó Thuaidh agus nach bhfuil an DUP agus Sinn Féin ag cur a sciar den airgead ar fáil. Is é sin an áit a bhfuil an deacracht. An féidir brú a chur ar an bhFeidhmeannas ó Thuaidh, ar an DUP agus ar Shinn Féin a dhualgais a chomhlíonadh agus tacaíocht a thabhairt don fhoras agus do na heagrais Ghaeilge ar fud an oileáin ar fad?
Ní ghlacaim leis an léamh atá ag an Teachta Ó Muineacháin ar an gceist seo. Baineann an ghéarchéim seo le hAire amháin ón DUP san Fheidhmeannas ó Thuaidh atá ag cur srian ar mhaoiniú. Tá gach iarracht á déanamh ag na páirtithe eile san Fheidhmeannas. Mar a thuigeann an Teachta, ní gnáthRialtas é. Ní oibríonn sé sa tslí chéanna a n-oibríonn an comhrialtas sa dlínse seo.
Caithfimid dul i ngleic leis an bhfadhb seo. Tá sé níos measa ar an bhforas mar gheall ar na ciorruithe a tharla thar na blianta, go háirithe le linn na géarchéime eacnamaíche nach mór deich mbliana ó shin. Tá sé seo ag cur isteach ar líonraí, ar bhailte seirbhíse Gaelainne agus ar scéimeanna Gaelainne fud fad an oileáin seo. Caithfidh an Rialtas dul i ngleic leis agus níos mó maoinithe a chur ar fáil sa tslí chéanna ina gcuirtear ar fáil é do na forais chultúrtha eile atá maoinithe ag an Stát, an Chomhairle Ealaíon mar shampla an-láidir.
Gabhaim buíochas leis an mbeirt Teachta as sin. Tá sé an-tábhachtach dúinn teacht ar réiteach ach ní bheidh sé éasca. Nílim ag cur an mhilleáin ar aon duine go pearsanta. Tá na hoifigigh i mo Roinn ag obair go crua agus go dícheallach le hoifigigh na Roinne sa Tuaisceart. Tá siad fós ag déanamh na hoibre sin. Tá an obair sin ag leanúint ar aghaidh. Tá m'oifigigh ag rá go bhfuil siad ag leanúint ar aghaidh. Táimid ag pleanáil le haghaidh an fhorais don chéad dá bhliain eile. Nílimid ag plé cúrsaí airgeadais amháin ach cúrsaí cothroime freisin. Nílim féin in ann na ratios a athrú. Caithfimid a lán obair a dhéanamh air sin. Taobh amuigh den phróiseas sin, tá ardú mór tugtha d'Fhoras na Gaeilge ó thaobh cúrsaí airgeadais. In 2023, bhí €1.8 milliún ann. In 2025, tá €3.6 milliún ann. Tá an t-airgead sin ag teacht ó Rialtas na hÉireann go dtí an foras le haghaidh na n-eagraíochtaí. Beidh mé ag obair chun airgead breise a fháil sa chéad cháinaisnéis eile toisc go bhfuil sé tábhachtach go gcuidíonn muid agus go seasann muid leis na heagraíochtaí Gaeilge atá ag déanamh sáriarracht i ngach cuid den oileán.
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. Ar an gcéad dul síos, caithfimid díriú isteach ar riachtanais phobail na Gaelainne ar fud an oileáin ar fad. Más rud é nach bhfuil an Feidhmeannas ó Thuaidh ag freastal ar phobal na Gaelainne agus ag cur maoiniú cuí ar fáil - chonaiceamar anuraidh an tslí ina bhfuil sé ábalta maoiniú a chur ar fáil - an féidir an córas a athrú gan teacht salach ar Chomhaontú Aoine an Chéasta? An bhfuil slí eile chun é sin a láimhseáil más rud é nach bhfuil an Feidhmeannas ó Thuaidh in ann freastal ar phobal na Gaelainne? Tá sé fíorthábhachtach gan teacht salach ar Chomhaontú Aoine an Chéasta ach teastaíonn uainn a chinntiú gur féidir freastal ar phobal na Gaelainne ar fud an oileáin ar fad.
Bíonn slite eile ann i gcónaí. Táim ag coimeád súil ghéar ar an bhfadhb seo agus tá mo chuid oifigeach ag obair go dian leis na hoifigigh sa Tuaisceart. Comhoibríonn na hoifigigh sin an-mhaith le chéile. Beimid ag coimeád súile air sin. Caithfimid airgead breise a fháil. Táim chun é sin a phlé leis an Aire caiteachais phoiblí, go háirithe i gcomhthéacs an chéad cháinaisnéis eile. Ag an bpointe seo, i lár mhí Iúil, tá na cainteanna fós ar siúl. Leis na cainteanna seo, táimid ag réiteach don chéad dá bhliain eile le haghaidh Fhoras na Gaeilge. Tuigim an bhuairt atá ar na heagraíochtaí éagsúla. Bhíomar go léir ar an ócáid leis an gconradh an tseachtain seo caite. Tuigimid go léir na deiseanna atá ann don teanga má tá airgead breise le fáil.
86. Deputy Erin McGreehan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht for an update on the community centres investment fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38070/25]
I ask the Minister for an update on the community centres investment fund, and to make a statement on the matter. When will the next round be announced? It is a hugely important and successful scheme so I would like to hear an update.
I thank the Deputy for her question. Community centres are the cornerstone of community life in towns and villages around the country. The Government recognises the very important role these centres play in bringing people together and facilitating community services and events.
Since its establishment in 2022, the community centres investment fund, CCIF, has provided some €110 million for the enhancement and refurbishment of existing community centres and the construction of new centres in locations that were not adequately served. Over €45 million was approved for some 861 community centres nationwide under CCIF 2022. To date, over €43 million of this has been paid to these communities, with 760 of those projects now complete. Last year, funding of €30 million was approved for the construction of 12 new community centres covering nine counties. These projects are now beginning to move forward.
The most recent fund focused again on the refurbishment of existing community facilities. In March of this year, I was delighted to announce over €26 million for 369 community centres under category 2, which provides funding of up to €100,000. This was in addition to 405 projects approved in November with a value of €7.8 million under category 1, which provides funding of up to €25,000. This brings the total amount approved under the 2024 iteration of the fund to over €33 million for in excess of 770 projects nationwide.
I am totally committed, as is the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, to delivering further iterations of the fund in the coming years in line with the commitment in the programme for Government. Since the programme for Government was agreed, we have seen first hand the value of these community centres in responding to Storm Éowyn, and the value of the people who volunteer to provide these community centres. We will be looking at future rounds of the CCIF to ensure community centres are at the forefront of any future climate responses.
I thank the Minister for the very positive response. I want to highlight communities like my own community of Mullaghbuoy. Mullaghbuoy Community Centre was built by the community, including my parents and loads of other parents and my neighbours. They went around collecting £1 a week to make sure we had a community facility. It caters for everything from the cake sales to the céilís to making sure we have events for people in our communities. These centres have supported communities all around County Louth from St. Nicholas' GFC and St. Mel's Hall in Drogheda right up to Omeath District Development, which the Minister visited with us a couple of years ago. As he well knows, these had no ability to get funding for community centres. We have now seen huge positive investment, and community centres that were run down and had no money for refurbishment have come to life. We are seeing that investment in people in our communities. I really look forward to having the next iteration to support more community investment, and more communities in County Louth getting more access to the grants.
I want to take this opportunity, when we are discussing community centres, to make a request. This was a question I had in and it was moved to another Department but I am going to try and wedge it in here anyway. It concerns community childcare. When we are talking about community centres, we need to be looking at harnessing those buildings. We had a discussion on Storm Éowyn and the way in which it exposed some of the fragile infrastructure. Now that there is a lens on it and people are looking at that vital infrastructure, the Minister might consider and have community childcare and crèches as part of community centre redevelopment where it is happening. They are located, as Deputy McGreehan has pointed out, at the centre of our communities. They are the beating heart of our communities and are, very often, a very handy place for parents to get to and from. I ask that the Minister would keep community childcare to the forefront when he is discussing and considering community centres and investment.
I agree with the Deputy. Where we can colocate community facilities, it is much better for everybody. It is a more cohesive community. I know the Minister, Deputy Foley, who has responsibility under the building blocks scheme, has also expressed an interest in working with the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, and myself on this.
To come back to Deputy McGreehan, as I said, over €80 million has been approved for the refurbishment and enhancement of existing community centres since 2022. Last year, we funded over €30 million for 12 new community centres. My priority, at the moment, is to get those 12 projects up and running to get that money drawn down. We have over 770 projects completed and they are already delivering very real benefits, not just during storms. I am sure there are many community centres hosting summer camps as we speak, giving great relief to parents and guardians at this time of year.
That is being done by volunteers in many cases. It shows the value of it all-year-round. In relation to Mullaghbuoy, as the Deputy mentioned, €24,000 was approved in 2022 to improve the kitchen facilities and €19,000 in 2024 for energy security upgrades. Much of the focus has been on upgrading community centres that were built at a certain time when energy costs were not a priority. They now are. We are now assisting community centres to reduce their energy costs.
In relation to bringing childcare and that community and children focus, we have a fantastic facility in Cooley Kickhams which was also a recipient of the grant. We have a preschool there. My children went to it. It works well. It is the heart of the community and it is where our children should be and where they fit best. I absolutely support that.
87. Deputy Mark Wall asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if he will report on the progress of implementing the national public library strategy; the amount of funding allocated to the strategy; the current expenditure on the implementation of strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38316/25]
We have spoken about libraries before but I want to get an update on the public library strategy and maybe discuss one or two issues around that.
The public library strategy was published in July 2023. It contains 66 actions which will enable our public libraries to become multipurpose social and educational spaces for all members of the community to enjoy. As I said in response to a previous last question, our libraries are now transformed into places of community activity. They are no longer just for reading and studying; there are men's sheds, women's sheds and different varieties of activities going on there. The libraries development committee, comprising representation from members of the Local Government Management Agency, the County and City Management Association, city and county librarians and my Department, is responsible for monitoring the implementation of actions in the strategy.
Significant progress has been made to date on the implementation of the strategy. Examples of actions under way are a national skills for life programme of resources and activities which will see 684 events take place throughout the country this year, and the fact that age-friendly recognition has been achieved in every library. The My Open Library service continues to expand and is now available in 55 branches. A national public libraries open day took place this year and almost 1,350 new members were registered. Our Department continues to work with all the local authorities, the LGMA and all other partners and stakeholders to deliver on the ongoing actions.
I am delighted to support the strategy with continued investment. Since the launch of the strategy two years ago, our Department has approved expenditure of €28.3 million for libraries, including capital funding. A total of €8.3 million has been spent to date. In this context I would like to acknowledge the financial contributions made by local authorities from their own resources. I would also like to note the financial contributions made by various other stakeholders in the delivery of the strategy. The Minister, Deputy Calleary, and I are committed to developing the national library strategy.
I did not come in on Deputy McGreehan's question because I wanted to leave it until this one. I totally believe it is important to have multipurpose facilities. I want to raise an issue that has come up in respect of a couple of locations. We have derelict buildings, old former schools in rural areas. A number of people have come together to form book clubs and heritage and historical societies in those buildings. The query I have relates to that multipurpose function whereby a library or a history club can be developed and make use of that community building. Will the Minister support that? Can we see funding for it? It is a very good use of buildings. We have spoken previously about the major libraries in major towns and the amount of very welcome investment going in there. However, rural communities want to take over buildings, some of which are derelict, and form book clubs or heritage and historical societies. It is a great use of the building and a great fit for the library service as well to link in with those community buildings.
I was contacted recently by a student living in Balbriggan. He told me that he is there every morning 20 minutes before the library opens because there is a massive queue of people. That is a ringing endorsement of the work done by the people working in Balbriggan library and indeed all our libraries - I understand we in north County Dublin are not unique in that respect. Will the Minister give consideration to conducting a small survey, with reference to the previous point made, about utilising any existing capacity that might be within a town to expand that space? It is a really positive and good thing that people are actively trying to get into the library but it is unfortunate that sometimes they are turned away. We are in the middle of a housing crisis and many people live in very overcrowded accommodation. The library has never been more important in our towns, cities and villages. Will the Minister consider doing that survey to see where there might be a need for additional resources or additional capacity?
There is huge merit in those suggestions. I am certainly very open to that. Athy library was mentioned as an example. Birr library is another example. In other parts of the country refurbished buildings are, through a variety of means, being used. Our libraries are now community spaces. They are being used by a variety of people. Our traditional library has changed, thankfully, from a place where you cannot talk, just read, to one where there is an open door for communities. Our Department recognises the importance of public libraries in our communities. It is about community and about people. I recognise the significance of the capital investment. To answer Deputy O'Reilly, I am open to any suggestions because I am a big advocate for libraries. As a member of the local authority, long before I was elected here, I was involved in the Cork city library committee. As the Deputy said, the library is a place for people. It was the only place where people could get educated. They could get books. I remember going to the mobile library as a child and wondering when we would get a library in Bishopstown. I will happily sit down and talk to the Deputies about that. If we can improve the offering for people in communities, why not do it?
I thank the Minister of State for the positive reply. I want to mention two issues he brought up, namely, the age-friendly aspect and sensory rooms. They are important as part of our libraries. I welcome the fact that the Government has recognised that. I urge the Government to continue to invest in sensory rooms in particular. I know from visiting my local library and other libraries the importance of inclusivity. Having a sensory room means libraries are inclusive. Everyone can be part of the community.
The issue of turning rural buildings into mobile libraries facilitating book clubs and history clubs is something the Government should look at. I look forward to working with the Minister and the Minister of State on that because there are so many issues. Multipurpose buildings in communities are bringing a bit of life back into rural Ireland again. It is a positive reply and I look forward to advancing that.
In regard to the sensory room issue, I was in Ennis library last week, where there is a sensory space. There was a mum with two kids in the sensory space and their joy and contemplative ease was phenomenal. I commend the staff in Ennis library on that space. It was breathtaking to see the way in which they were able to take a piece of the library floor area and use it for people with autism or other disabilities to go in and be at ease and at peace. I was struck by that. It is about the age-friendly recognition and that community piece. It is about ensuring that, as part of the strategy, we deliver on the 66 actions. It is also about ensuring that our libraries are the focal point for people and for communities. We are blessed with the staff in our libraries. They are wonderful people. I was struck by the local archive and local history sections in a number of libraries I visited in Waterford and Dungarvan. In my own city of Cork we have a wonderful public library and I hope we can transform the central library on Grand Parade in time. We are very fortunate with our library service. It is a jewel in the crown.
89. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aindrias Moynihan den Aire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail, agus Gaeltachta cén dul chun cinn atá déanta chun scéim na mbóithre áise a chur ar fáil arís; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [38150/25]
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Leas-Cheann Comhairle. Nuair a bhí scéim na mbóithre áise ag feidhmiú cheana féin, bhí sí an-chabhrach do phobal na Gaeltachta. Déanadh athchóiriú ar bhóithre ar fud na nGaeltachtaí. Cén dul chun cinn atá déanta anois chun an scéim sin a oscailt agus a chur ar fáil do phobal na Gaeltachta arís?
Tuigim go mór cé chomh tábhachtach is a bhí scéim na mbóithre áise le haghaidh mhuintir na Gaeltachta. Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as ucht a cheiste fúithi. Mar a bhí luaite sa fhreagra i mí an Mhárta 2025, tá scéim na mbóithre áise curtha ar fionraí le roinnt blianta anuas. Faoin scéim sin, chuirtí airgead ar fáil do na húdaráis áitiúla ar mhaithe le hobair dheisiúcháin a dhéanamh ar bhóithre cáilithe faoi leith sa Ghaeltacht. Idir an dá linn, bhí agus tá maoiniú ar fáil faoin scéim feabhsaithe áitiúil, nó LIS, de chuid mo Roinne chun cabhrú le húdaráis áitiúla obair fheabhsúcháin a dhéanamh ar bhóthair neamhphoiblí agus ar bhóithre nach ndéantar cothabháil poiblí orthu sa ghnáthbhealach. Tuigtear dom go gcaithfidh an bóthar i gceist a bheith ag dul chuig árais chónaithe, talamh feirme nó suíomheanna taitneamhacha ar nós locha, aibhneacha nó tránna. Tá breis eolais le fáil ar shuíomh na Roinne.
Tá geallta sa chlár Rialtais nua go dtabharfar scéim na mbóithre áise ar ais. Níl aon mheicníocht chuige sin oibrithe amach go fóill, áfach. Beidh athbhunú na scéime ag brath, dar ndóigh, ar airgead a bheith curtha ar fáil chuige sin do na blianta amach romhainn trí phróiseas na Meastachán. Tuigfidh an Teachta nach bhfuil an idirbheartaíocht maidir le Meastachán 2026 tosaithe go fóill. Beidh plé ar bun idir na páirtithe leasmhara agus mo Roinn maidir leis an gcur chuige is fearr chun an scéim seo a athbhunú. Tuigim cé chomh tábhachtach do mhuintir na Gaeltachta is atá an scéim sin. Is é an rud is tábhachtaí, áfach, ná go gcabhrófar le bóithre áitiúla sna Gaeltachtaí.
Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire. Bhí an scéim an-úsáideach i gcomhair phobal na Gaeltachta mar rinneadh athchóiriú ar an chéad píosa den bhóthar ar a raibh siad ag tiomáint ar maidin agus an píosa deireanach sa tráthnóna ar a raibh siad ag taisteal agus iad ag filleadh abhaile. Tá sí dírithe ar bhóithre a bhí fágtha ar leataobh go minic ag an gcomhairle contae de bharr go raibh siad ag díriú ar bhóithre níos gnóthaí.
Tuigim nach mbeidh an scéim tosaithe thar oíche agus go mbeidh roinnt oibre sa chúlra i gceist. Cad iad na céimeanna atá tógtha go dtí seo chun an scéim sin a athoscailt? An bhfuil plé, mar shampla, le hÚdarás na Gaeltachta, le Roinn na Gaeltachta nó le comhairlí contae ar conas a dhéanfaí láimhseáil ar an scéim? Cad iad na céimeanna atá bainte amach go dtí seo cheana féin?
Tá obair bhunúsach déanta ag m’oifigigh sa Roinn. Tá muid ag scrúdú na meicníochta a bheidh muid in ann úsáid chun cuidiú leis na bóithre sin, go háirithe dóibh siúd a bhfuil cónaí orthu ar na bóithre sin nó a úsáideann iad le haghaidh obair feirmeoireachta. Mar a dúirt mé, tá an scéim feabhsaithe áitiúil ann agus tá mé ag cur béim ar an scéim sin chun airgead breise a fháil a thabharfaidh cuidiú breise do na húdaráis áitiúla ina bhfuil ceantar Gaeltachta. Tá muid fós beartaithe ar scéim na mbóithre áise a thabhairt ar ais mar tuigim cé chomh tábhachtach is atá sí ó scéal an Teachta. Tá sé ag cur brú orm. Tá Teachta Pat the Cope Gallagher ag crú brú orm freisin. Tuigim, agus tuigeann an tAire Stáit, an Teachta Buttimer, cé chomh tábhachtach is atá scéim na bóithre áise agus an scéim feabhsaithe áitiúil. Tá muid ag scrúdú na meicníochta is tapa agus éifeachtaí chun cuidiú le daoine agus na bóithre sin a fheabhsú.
Cloisim an méid atá á rá ag an Aire mar gheall ar an scéim feabhsaithe áitiúil, nó LIS, atá ann faoi láthair. Is scéim an-úsáideach í agus cabhraíonn sí le feabhsú bóithre ar fud na tíre. Tá sé fíorthábhachtach, pé dul chun cinn a dhéantar, go mbeidh scéim na mbóithre áise ag feidhmiú go chomhthreomhar leis an LIS agus go mbeidh deis breise ag pobal na Gaeltachta feabhas a chur ar na bóithre, seachas blas Gaeltachta a chur ar an LIS do phobal na Gaeltachta amháin agus go gcaillfidh siad amach ar an scéim eile. Tá sé fíorthábhachtach go mbeidh an dá rogha ar fáil do phobal na Gaeltachta agus gurb amhlaidh go mbeidh buntáiste do dhaoine a bhfuil cónaí orthu sa Ghaeltacht. Mar sin, teastaíonn uaim a chinntiú nach mbeidh scéim na mbóithre áise ag teacht in áit an LIS agus go mbeidh sí ag rith go comhthreomhar léi ionas go mbeidh an dá rogha ar fáil do phobal na Gaeltachta nuair a bheidh an scéim nua ann.
Nuair a thiocfaidh Roinn na Gaeltachta go dtí an Roinn caiteachais phoiblí, is é sin an rud a bheidh muid ag déanamh. Is mian linn go mbeidh deiseanna breise ar fáil do mhuintir na Gaeltachta agus muintir na n-oileán. Tá sé tábhachtach go mbeidh na deiseanna breise sin ar fáil do mhuintir na Gaeltachta amháin agus go mbeidh siad in ann iad a úsáid. Is é an rud is tábhachtaí ná go n-oibríonn muid amach scéim chun tacú agus cuidiú le muintir na Gaeltachta le haghaidh na mbóithre áitiúla a úsáideann siad, mar a dúirt an Teachta, ag tús agus deireadh an lae. Is é an rud is tábhachtaí ná go mbeidh scéim againn le cuidiú leis na daoine sin go díreach agus go tapa, agus go mbeidh an t-airgead ann le haghaidh an bhealaigh sin. Tá mé ag obair ar bhealach tapa chun airgead breise a chur i dtreo mhuintir na Gaeltachta.
90. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht for an update on his Department’s work to promote Irish as an official language of the European Union. [38068/25]
Tá an cheist seo bainteach leis an gcéim shuntasach a bhain muid amach cheana féin ag fáil stádais oifigiúil don Ghaeilge san Aontas Eorpach. Chomh maith leis an nGaeilge a bheith ag feidhmiú laistigh den chóras, an bhféadfadh an tAire a léiriú cén dul chun cinn atá á dhéanamh chun an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn san Aontas Eorpach?
Tacaíonn mo Roinn le raon tionscnamh chun an Ghaeilge a chur chun cinn mar theanga oibre agus oifigiúil de chuid an Aontais Eorpaigh agus chun a chinntiú go mbeidh soláthar leanúnach de dhaoine leis na cáilíochtaí agus scileanna cuí ar fáil do na seirbhísí teanga lena dtacaítear le húsáid na teanga in institiúidí éagsúla an Aontais Eorpaigh.
Airítear leis seo scéim intéirneachta a reáchtáil i gcomhpháirt leis an gCoimisiún Eorpach, Parlaimint na hEorpa, An Comhairle Eorpach, Coiste na Réigiún, Cúirt Iniúchóirí na hEorpa agus Oifig na bhFoilseachán. Sa scéim seo, tugtar an deis do dhaoine aonair triail a bhaint as saol oibre ar an Mór-Roinn, oiliúint a fháil, feabhas a chur ar a gcuid scileanna chun tabhairt faoi phróiseas earcaíochta iomaíochta agus páirt a ghlacadh sa phobal bríomhar Éireannach agus Gaeilge sa Bhruiséil agus i Lucsamburg. Glactar suas le 12 intéirneach ar feadh tréimhse naoi mí, a thosaíonn gach Deireadh Fómhair. Oibríonn na hintéirnigh seo in aonad Gaeilge mar aistritheoirí, profléitheoirí nó cúntóirí sna hinstitiúidí Eorpacha ábhartha.
Ní annamh go n-ofráiltear conradh lánaimseartha do chuid de na hintéirnigh mar thoradh ar an oiliúint faoin scéim seo. Is ionann an maoiniú bliantúil don scéim intéirneachta seo agus €305,000. Chomh maith leis sin, oibríonn mo Roinn le páirtithe leasmhara chun eolas a scaipeadh faoi deiseanna fostaíochta laistigh d’institiúidí an Aontais Eorpaigh dóibh siúd atá líofa sa Ghaeilge. I gcomhairle leis an gCoimisiún Eorpach, reáchtáiltear seimineár agus ceardlann phraiticiúil gach bliain ina gcuirtear béim ar na deiseanna seo atá dírithe go príomha ar mhic léinn tríú-leibhéil agus céimithe. Tá an chéad seimineár eile le tarlú an Eanáir seo chugainn i mBaile Átha Cliath.
Cuireann mo Roinn maoiniú ar fáil i gcomhair comhdhálacha bliantúla, arna eagrú ag Óstaí na Rí, ina gcuirtear deiseanna fostaíochta san Aontas Eorpach chun cinn do dhlítheangeolaithe, ateangairí agus gairmeacha gaolmhara. Tá an chéad chomhdháil eile le tarlú i mí an Mhárta 2026.
De réir an embassy, táthar den tuairim go bhfuil thart ar 15,000 Éireannach sa Bhruiséil faoi láthair. Is Gaeilgeoirí iad an-chuid acu. Mar shampla, chonaiceamar an clár teilifíse “La Vie sa Bhruiséil” ina léiríodh an pobal beo bríomhar atá inti. Mar sin, lasmuigh den chóras oifigiúil, is léir go bhfuil pobal Gaeilgeoirí ann. An bhfuil iarrachtaí á ndéanamh chun tacú le pobal na Gaeilge lasmuigh den chóras oifigiúil chun go mbeidh, mar shampla, Gaeilge le cloisteáil sa Bhruiséil nó aon áit eile sa tslí céanna is atá an Pholainnis nó aon teanga eile le cloisteáil?
Aontaím go mór leis an Teachta go bhfuil sár-iarracht ar bun, go háirithe le haghaidh na nGaeilgeoirí sa Bhruiséil. Is iontach a fheiceáil, in gach cathair san Eoraip, agus níos faide i gcéin, go bhfuil muintir na Gaeilge beo agus ag úsáid Gaeilge. Go háirithe sa Bhruiséil, tá dream iontach inti atá ag baint a lán úsáide as an nGaeilge. Eagraíonn siad Seachtain na Gaeilge gach Márta sa Bhruiséil agus oibríonn siad leis an bParlaimint agus leis an gCoimisiún. Bhí mé i láthair an tseachtain sin cuid mhaith blianta ó shin nuair a bhí mé i m’Aire Stáit sa Roinn fiontair ag an am.
Níl aon sonraí agam faoin saghas cuidithe. Gheobhaidh mé na sonraí don Teachta. Má táimid in ann oibriú agus cuidiú le haon duine a bhfuil spéis aige nó aici i gcúrsa Gaeilge, go háirithe chun a scileanna Gaeilge a úsáid san Aontas Eorpach, cuideoimid leo. Agus Uachtaránacht na hÉireann ar an Aontas Eorpach ag teacht an bhliain seo chugainn, táimid ag cur béime go mbainfimid úsáid as an nGaeilge i gcomhthéacs na hUachtaránachta.
Céim shuntasach a bhí ann chun an t-aitheantas don Ghaelainn a bhaint amach. Sa bhliain 2005, bhí an chéim ba mhó ann. Thug sé ardú meanman. Bhí foireann mhór ateangairí agus go leor eile ag teastáil chun a chinntiú go bhféadfaí é a chur i bhfeidhm sa chóras sa Bhruiséil. An bhfuil go leor daoine ar fáil? An bhfuil an fhoireann ann? Is dócha go bhfuil an Rialtas in iomaíocht le hateangairí sa tír seo chomh maith. An bhfuil céimeanna á dtógáil chun a chinntiú go mbeidh daoine breise, ateangairí agus aon duine eile atá bainteach leis an gcóras féin ina measc, ar fáil sa Bhruiséil agus sa tír seo?
Is é sin an rud is tábhachtaí faoin gceist seo. Tá dúshláin ann chun iarrthóirí a fháil a bhfuil na scileanna acu chun obair ar chaighdeán teanga an Aontais Eorpaigh. Tá an caighdeán sin tábhachtach. Tá oifigigh i mo Roinn i gcónaí ag obair leis na hinstitiúidí tríú leibhéil ionas go mbeidh na daoine agus na graduates leis na scileanna ann chun na scileanna sin a úsáid. Tá níos mó ná €1 milliún á chaitheamh ar an advanced Irish-language skills initiative ionas go mbeidh daoine réitithe le poist a fháil san Aontas Eorpach, agus go mbeidh na caighdeáin teanga a éilíonn an AE acu agus iad ag fágáil na n-institiúidí tríú leibhéil ina bhfuil an Ghaeilge á múineadh. Is traenáil speisialta í, go háirithe i gcúrsaí dlí agus aistriúcháin mar tá an caighdeán dlí agus aistriúcháin an-ard san AE. Is é sin an fáth go bhfuil an Rialtas ag déanamh na hinfheistíochta sin ionas go mbeidh na scileanna ann chun an Ghaeilge a úsáid.
91. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the strategies he has to develop long-term employment in rural Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38307/25]
Many people in Ireland commute to work and spend a long time in traffic. Many of these people's jobs are not conducive to working from home. This is a cost in terms of finance, time and family life. Rural employment must be supported. I welcome the successful roll-out of the national broadband plan, which is ahead of schedule and under budget. What strategies do the Minister and his Department have to deliver long-term employment in rural Ireland?
I thank Deputy Timmins for his question. Our Rural Future is the whole-of-government policy for sustainable rural development in Ireland. More than 170 measures are outlined to support sustainable economic and social development and environmental and cultural well-being across all our rural areas. The delivery of these measures is clearly based on a cross-governmental approach, with a range of Departments contributing to their own areas of responsibility.
Supporting employment and careers in rural areas by creating an environment that supports entrepreneurship and enterprise growth in rural areas is a key objective of that policy. In the main, enterprise policy and related commitments contained in Our Rural Future are the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Deputy Burke, working together with the relevant agencies under his remit. Significant progress continues to be made in this regard. For example, 64% of the new jobs created by Enterprise Ireland client companies last year were located outside the Dublin region, while 59% of Industrial Development Authority, IDA, investment was in the regional locations.
The role of the regional enterprise plans and local enterprise offices, LEOs, are crucial here also. In 2024, more than 7,000 new jobs were created by LEO supported companies, with 81% of these new jobs in businesses based outside of Dublin. Such interventions at local level, along with those at Údarás na Gaeltachta for muintir na Gaeltachta, are key to ensuring continued economic growth. I look forward to the development of the new round of regional enterprise plans next year.
Within my Department, the LEADER programme also focuses on supporting local economic development, helping to diversify the rural economy and create employment opportunities. Similarly, the delivery of the network of more than 380 connected hubs, supporting remote jobs in rural areas, and significant enhancements to our digital infrastructure, as the Deputy mentioned in his opening remarks, are helping to support rural enterprises and employment.
The programme for Government includes a commitment to publish and implement a new Our Rural Future policy, which will take effect from 2026. Public and stakeholder consultations are already well under way in respect of the new policy. They will continue throughout the summer. I hope to bring a final draft to the committee before the end of this calendar year.
Employment brings life to rural Ireland and helps support our unique culture, including things like the GAA and many other traditions that are part of our culture and such a positive part of our society. In particular, can the Minister look at ways of supporting the economic development sections of our county councils? Some have significant resources but many, including County Wicklow, have limited resources. We also need to be careful regarding the tourism sector and Airbnbs. Airbnbs bring tourists to parts of Ireland and parts of rural Wicklow that are not on the tourist map. In a recent poll carried out across the country, an average of 93% of Airbnb hosts cannot or will not release their property to long-term letting.
I cannot speak specifically to the Airbnb question. As I said, however, my Department has invested significantly in remote work and remote working facilities. We will be publishing a new national hub strategy, which will include measures to underpin ongoing sustainable development. As we discussed here previously, hubs in 2025 are different from what they were in 2020, and we need to make sure we keep up to date with them.
In terms of the local authority issue, local authorities and the enterprise units are centrally involved in the regional enterprise plans. I know from my former Ministry that there are regional enterprise plans that work extremely well because of proactive local authority involvement. I encourage every local authority to be proactive. I encourage every chief executive to ensure they have a well-resourced economic development unit and in particular that they have a well-resourced LEO. The local enterprise offices right across the country, which are based out of our local authorities, are superb at promoting rural enterprise, working with LEADER and other operations. A good LEO is invaluable to any local authority.
Much of small-town Ireland has a shortage of housing yet no house building. House building would provide valuable employment. Currently, it is not viable to build houses as the cost to build exceeds the selling price. This is never mentioned in discussions on housing. However, it means that much of Ireland has no house building and yet there is a demand. We must look at strategies to allow house building in these areas through increased affordable housing, and reduce the cost of building a house, such as through the development levy waiver and other measures.
I also want to mention pubs, coffee shops and small businesses in rural Ireland. These small businesses provide valuable employment and bring life to our rural communities. We need to reduce their cost base as many are not financially viable and will continue to close, resulting in a loss to the community.
Absolutely, I agree. The cost base of every business is of concern to the Government. With regard to the small rural regionally based builders, we made it very clear that they need to be given support from the banking system to allow them to make the kinds of developments in rural areas the Deputy has spoken about and that we all want to see.
The Minister, Deputy Browne, will be writing to every local authority in the coming weeks to ask them to reopen their development plans to designate more land specifically for housing. That, in turn, will create opportunities for smaller builders. There is a skills challenge, and the Ministers, Deputies Lawless and Browne, are working to address that skills challenge in terms of apprenticeships to ensure we have the skills to support those regionally based builders to build those houses we need.
We are working closely with the hospitality sector but, as I said, the development of things such as 300-odd hubs keep people working in local villages and towns who otherwise would not be able to do so and who can use those facilities for lunch, coffee, etc.
That is an invaluable provision.
92. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht for an update on Ballyvolane community centre. [38279/25]
Ballyvolane is a fabulous community. For decades it has been promised a community centre and for decades Government promises have failed to deliver. Will the Minister outline supports and when the community centre will finally be delivered for Ballyvolane?
The community centre investment fund, CCIF, is my Department's primary funding vehicle for new and existing community centres. It was first introduced in 2022 in recognition of the need for a dedicated funding stream to support investment in the hundreds of community facilities that are at the heart of both rural and urban communities.
In Cork, my Department has provided more than €8.9 million for the enhancement and refurbishment of 158 existing community centres in both the city and county. In early 2024, funding of €30 million was approved under CCIF for the construction of 12 new facilities covering nine counties. I can confirm that a project in Cork was successful under this fund, with Rylane community centre being awarded over €1.5 million for the construction of a new facility.
As regards Ballyvolane specifically, I understand that there has not been an application under any iteration of the community centre investment fund for a community centre there. I am committed to delivering further iterations of the fund in line with the commitment in the programme for Government. We are currently negotiating that in the context of the national development plan. This will provide an opportunity for any proposed project in Ballyvolane.
I am happy to work with all the Deputies and Senators from the area around this project, and to explore it further with the Deputy now.
I thank the Minister for his response but, unfortunately, once again there is nothing there for Ballyvolane. He made the point there has been no application. I have been hearing about a community centre in Ballyvolane for decades. I have attended meetings. How was a community centre not given funding or prioritised in all that time? Over 2,000 houses are planned for the Ballyvolane area on top of the hundreds of houses that are there already. How is it possible to build thousands of houses and not put in the infrastructure and resources at the time? Ballyvolane has been identified as an area for potential future population growth and the possibility of a new district centre under the Cork city development plan. Here we are talking about expanding Ballyvolane, building more houses and getting more people to live there and there is nothing for the children or the community. It has to be delivered.
I do not disagree with the Deputy. That is why we have invested in the community centre investment fund and why we have put money aside for new centres, new builds, in communities such as Ballyvolane. Twelve of those have been funded and Rylane in Cork is one, and that is why I hope to have another scheme next year for new builds. I am more than happy to work with the Deputies here and the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, on Ballyvolane but the application has to come in. I would put it back on the city council in this case to work with the Oireachtas Members and the local community, most importantly, to get that application together. I am more than happy to work with the Deputy and to keep him updated on the funding that may or may not be available for a scheme for either new builds or refurbishment. As I said, I have approved €30 million already for new centres. We want to build new centres. We had a discussion earlier on the value of community centres and the Deputy’s colleague Deputy O’Reilly highlighted the need for co-location of services such as childcare. That is what we want to do.
A new development is going up in Lahardane with hundreds of homes. There is to be a site there for a specific building for a community centre. You could not swing a cat in it, no disrespect. What we want is a proper community centre delivered for the people of Ballyvolane, for the existing residents and the new residents who will come there. We want to see services provided in the community. I was recently at a meeting with other TDs and councillors from the ward where it was outlined that a scoping exercise was going on. I am asking that when a plan is delivered by Cork City Council and the Ballyvolane community, the Minister and the Government give a commitment that the money will finally be there to deliver it. During the local election campaign, councillors and candidates from Government parties were out talking about the need for the community centre. Were these more false promises made at election time which are not then delivered? If an application is made by Cork City Council and the community, will the Minister commit to fund a new community centre in Ballyvolane?
I commend both the Minister and the Minister of State, who have committed to meeting me regularly. I have met the Minister of State in particular about this. As has been highlighted, the application is not in but I am very grateful for the €30,000 that was secured by me and colleagues for the scoping exercises to find the right site for Ballyvolane. I am acutely aware of the recent visit by the Minister of State, who committed to getting the project over the line and agreed it is overdue. He is dedicated to Cork, in fairness to him. I am working very hard with Leeds football club and other groups such as the men’s shed to secure the ideal location. As my honourable colleague has said, Ballyvolane will be doughnutted in the next couple of years. We accept that, but it is about finding the perfect location. Over ten years ago, the perfect location, to which money was allocated, was rejected by the community, which I think was a mistake. I thank the Minister for making the moneys available for Ballyvolane and I look forward to working with him and the Minister of State on securing them going forward.
It is clear that Deputy O’Flynn has done a lot of work. The Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, tells me he taught in the area so he knows it very well. I cannot give Deputy Gould a guarantee. Local authorities have to prepare plans but judging by the scoping work, site identification work and community meetings, it sounds as though they are doing the necessary preparatory work. It sounds like an area that needs it. With the Minister of State’s experience in the area, the Deputies will be pushing an open door. Nevertheless, that does not take away from the need for Cork City Council, working with the Deputies as Oireachtas representatives and with the local community, to have an adequately prepared application outlining the benefits that would be brought from it. This is very competitive - unfortunately, there are a lot of Ballyvolanes - but I hear Deputies Gould, O’Flynn, O’Sullivan and Burke and the Minister of State, who are all very loud in their support for this.
93. Deputy Michael Murphy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht whether he intends to provide additional funding in 2025 for the local improvement scheme, LIS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36845/25]
95. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if he will provide an additional allocation to Monaghan County Council for the local improvement scheme in 2025. [38304/25]
105. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the measures being taken to address the long wait time for applicants under the local improvement scheme in Cork North-West; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38149/25]
As I am sure the Minister will agree, the local improvement scheme, LIS, and the community involvement scheme are two critical supports at local level that are vital to the fabric and function of rural Ireland. Are there plans to provide any additional funding before the end of this year?
I agree that the local improvement scheme budget needs to be increased. I point the Minister to County Monaghan in particular, which is virtually at the bottom of the list of the 25 counties that receive LIS applications. Only one receives less than County Monaghan despite our probably having more private lanes than many others. Will the Minister increase the budget allocation to Monaghan County Council?
I propose to take Questions Nos. 93, 95 and 105 together.
The three letters most feared by my officials are LIS. We are actively reviewing the LIS, looking to make it more effective and to deliver more consistently. It is a key support to rural communities in improving non-public rural roads and laneways that are not typically maintained by local authorities. We reintroduced the scheme in my Department since 2017 following years of no funding, and since then we have provided almost €170 million to local authorities across the State.
In April 2024, €40 million in funding was announced for LIS across eligible local authorities to cover the period 2024 to 2025. Under the 2024-25 allocation, Tipperary received €2.52 million, Monaghan received €938,000, while Cork County Council received €2.78 million.
Earlier this year, my officials began the 2025 LIS works approval process. Priority lists were approved for eligible local authorities. Sanction has been given to all local authorities to begin the 2025 LIS roads programme. To date, local authorities have indicated that 378 non-public roads and laneways will be repaired in 2025. Each year, my Department seeks to ensure the approval process is completed early in the year so that repair works can be carried out as efficiently as possible. However, I am very aware that there are delays and lists around the country. I am actively seeking extra funding in the context of the national development plan review. I am aware of the need for the scheme to be supported. Since 2017, Monaghan has been allocated almost €6 million, with 153 roads completed.
Across south Tipperary, the condition of local and minor roads has reached breaking point. We are not talking about potholes or surface cracks; we are talking about roads that are effectively impassible and where families struggle to reach schools, farmers cannot move machinery safely and emergency services think twice before making a journey. As the Minister knows, both schemes provide essential upgrade to non-council roads. I again appeal to the Minister that if he has money up his sleeve there is no better value for money than the two schemes to which I have referred.
Minister, shake out your sleeves.
In 2024, Monaghan County Council received 273 new applications for LIS funding, yet the funding provided to Monaghan County Council for the scheme would allow for the resurfacing of eight roads in 2024 and nine roads this year. Even with the funding the Minister has indicated, and dealing solely with the applications received in 2024, it would take nearly 30 years to clear all of the roads. We need to bear in mind that the people who live on these lanes have to contribute to the cost of resurfacing their own roads on top of their road tax and ever increasing fuel costs. In the interest of fairness, I implore the Minister to ensure that the scheme is allocated additional funding.
As we are out of time, I ask the Minister to give a brief reply.
I agree with the Deputies. In the interests of fairness, we have provided €170 million for a scheme that was not funded prior to 2017. We are working with local authorities. Neither Monaghan nor Tipperary are offenders in this regard, but quite a number of local authorities have a cost per road that is way above the national average. Believe it or not, there are also local authorities which have underspends in the LIS scheme. We are working with local authorities to address that issue and to get extra resources and to ensure that when those resources are provided they are spent well.
While I welcome the increases in recent years, let us be honest. They are not nearly sufficient to address the scale and demand for the schemes. We need to double existing funding for the LIS and CIS schemes so that counties like Tipperary, in particular south Tipperary, gets its fair and equitable share.
Since 2021, 4,800 roads have been dealt with under LIS. I agree that we could do with extra funding. We are actively pursuing that and ensuring that people have proper access to their homes and farms.
