Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 March 2025
904. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development to provide a list of policy initiatives, funding schemes and interventions intended to improve the economic and social development of rural and urban communities funded or administered by his Department. [13969/25]
Amharc ar fhreagra905. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development to provide a list of projects funded by his Department in the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council area. [13970/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 904 and 905 together.
Since its establishment, my Department has placed a strong emphasis on the development, publication and implementation of a range of strategic, stakeholder informed and evidence based policies. The development of a robust policy platform has focused the Department’s investment and drives progress in the areas of rural and community development.
The following policies are currently in place and being implemented:
• Our Rural Future.
• Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities.
• Ár nOileáin Bheo.
• Town Centre First.
• Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors.
• The National Hub Strategy (due 2025).
• Trading for Impact.
• The Library is the Place.
• The National Volunteering Strategy.
• The National Philanthropy Strategy.
My Department has developed a range of funding schemes and interventions, underpinned by these policies. Key programmes include:
• the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP).
• the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF).
• the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS).
• the Local Enhancement Programme.
• the Community Services Programme.
• the Community Centre Investment Fund.
• the Community Recognition Fund.
Programmes such as these are delivering real investment into communities all across the country.
Details of the thousands of individual funding allocations my Department has provided to communities, including those in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, and information on each scheme’s objectives is available on my Department’s website at www.gov.ie/en/collection/500c6-what-was-funded/.
