Written Answers Nos. 602-605
602. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the funding allocated and drawn down for remote working hubs in County Waterford in each year 2020 to 2025; and current occupancy levels, in tabular form. [3011/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraOur Rural Future, the Government's Rural Development Policy, recognises the importance of remote working and committed to establishing a comprehensive and integrated national network of 400 remote working hubs by the end of 2025. I was delighted to announce at the National Hub Summit recently that we have reached that key target. As of the 5th of January, there are 406 hubs on-boarded to the Connected Hubs platform including 10 in County Waterford.
My department has invested significantly in the establishment and development of remote working facilities through the range of schemes which make up my Department's Rural Development Investment Programme. This includes funding under schemes such as the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund and LEADER. For example, in recent years funding has been allocated to develop remote working facilities in Dunmore East, Dungarvan and Villierstown in Co Waterford. Many such projects are multi-functional and encompass multiple services e.g. youth centre, community centre, remote working space within the same facility such that it is not possible to determine the specific cost attributable to remote working. My department also implemented targeted schemes (Connected Hubs Calls) in 2021 and 2022 to support the development of facilities in remote working hubs across Ireland. These calls funded additional desk spaces and improved related services, such as privacy booths, technical equipment, meeting facilities and access controls. Almost €14 million was allocated across 200 projects under these schemes, which included €240,890 to hubs in County Waterford. This funding was allocated and fully drawn down in 2021. In addition, the Connected Hubs Voucher Scheme was implemented in 2022 to raise awareness of the Connected Hubs platform and to encourage greater usage of hubs. Given the range of public and private ownership models in place for member hubs, my department does not have a direct role in day to day operational matters such as occupancy in individual hubs. It is also of note that not all hub bookings are via the connected hubs platform. However, the Western Development Commission engages with hub owners and managers on a range of operational and strategic issues. These engagements indicate an average usage rate of 78% of desk space nationally, although usage patterns do differ across locations and time of the year. I intend to publish a first National Hubs Strategy shortly, developed jointly with the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment and the Western Development Commission. The strategy is abed on stakeholder consultation and will present a coherent approach to the future development of remote working hubs and measures to underpin the sustainable development of the Connected Hubs network as well as supporting balanced regional economic development and digital services for rural communities.
603. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the initiatives his Department is undertaking to incentivise professionals to relocate to rural and commuter towns, with the goal of addressing dwindling populations, boosting local economies, and revitalizing communities. [2981/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraSince its launch in 2021, Our Rural Future has delivered vital investment and supports, strengthened local economies, and improved quality of life across rural Ireland. According to the OECD, rural remote regions in Ireland recorded the highest population growth of all OECD countries between 2001 and 2021 and CSO figures show a 7% increase in highly rural remote areas between 2011 and 2022. Within this context, however, I am aware that there are variations across rural areas within these overarching figures, and the sustainability of all rural areas remains a key focus for Government. Measures delivered through Our Rural Future which can be seen to support our aim of increasing the population in rural areas include improvements in rural transport, broadband provision, support for rural enterprise, and ongoing support for the agri-food sector. Within my own Department, there have been significant funding increases in recent years across the range of capital investment schemes including the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme, the CLÁR Programme and the Local Improvement Scheme. Budget 2026 committed the largest allocation of funding to my Department since its establishment. The Rural Development programme will total €192 million this year, continuing the sustained investment of recent years and supporting the range of schemes that are key to the delivery of Our Rural Future.These schemes continue to provide vital supports to rural communities, and I have witnessed first hand the very real and tangible impacts that these projects can have in rural towns and village all across the country.The target of establishing a network of 400 Connected Hubs has been achieved, giving people access to flexible, digitally enabled workspaces across the country. These hubs are anchoring jobs and innovation locally, ensuring rural Ireland can compete in an increasingly digital economy and enabling people to pursue quality careers while living in rural communities.The Programme for Government includes a commitment to publish and implement a new Our Rural Future policy and the process of developing this strategy is well advanced. Informed by extensive public and stakeholder consultation throughout 2025, the key themes and priorities for the new policy include promoting balanced regional development to support local economies and strengthening the resilience and sustainability of rural communities.This new policy will build on the progress already achieved and will set out a renewed vision for the years ahead. It will provide the framework for the Government's ongoing commitment to rural Ireland, supported by clear and practical actions and backed by substantial investment targeted at securing a more sustainable and resilient future for our rural communities.
604. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the funding schemes administered by his Department which a club (details supplied) could apply to for support the redevelopment of a clubhouse; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3080/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has a wide range of grant supports which are available to community groups across the country. While my Department does not have a scheme specifically for the redevelopment of sports club facilities, there may be an avenue of support available for elements of this project under LEADER or the Community Centre Investment Fund (CCIF).The LEADER programme has a strong focus on community facilities, with funding available under themes such as rural infrastructure and social inclusion. In order for a project to be eligible for LEADER funding, the proposed activity must be compatible with the actions outlined in the approved LEADER Local Development Strategy for the area and it must comply with the EU Regulations and Operating Rules.LEADER projects are selected and approved by the Local Action Group (LAG) in each area, and my Department has no role in approving projects. Prospective applicants can discuss a potential project for the community with their LAG. The LAG for the Kinvara region is Galway Rural Development who can be contacted by phone at 091- 844335 or by e-mail at [leader@grd.ie] Regarding the CCIF, this fund was introduced to provide high quality, accessible, community spaces that are available to all groups in all communities in both rural and urban areas. Some €110 million has been allocated since 2022 for the enhancement and refurbishment of existing community centres and the construction of new centres. I am committed to delivering further iterations of the scheme in the coming years in line with the commitment in the Programme for Government for this to become a permanent rolling fund. I expect to deliver the next round of CCIF early this year, which will focus on refurbishment work in existing community centres. The details in this regard are currently being finalised. I would encourage groups to check my Department’s website where details will be published.
605. Deputy Eoghan Kenny asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the amount his Department, or agencies under its remit, spent on advertising on a social media platform (details supplied) in each of the years 2024 and 2025 respectively; to outline any expenditure on verification or premium accounts on the platform in those years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3109/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has not incurred any expenditure on advertising or verified / premium accounts on the social media platform X in each of the years 2024 and 2025 respectively. The information requested by the Deputy in relation to the agencies under the aegis of my Department is set out in the table below. There are eight agencies under the remit of my Department: An Coimisinéir Teanga, Foras na Gaeilge, Údarás na Gaeltachta, the Ulster-Scots Agency, the Charities Regulator, Water Safety Ireland, Pobal and the Western Development Commission. They all are independent legal entities responsible for their own operational matters.
|
Agencies |
Advertising Spend on X |
Any Expenditure on verification or premium accounts |
|
|
|
|
2024 |
2025 |
2024 |
2025 |
|
Western Development Commission |
€160 |
Nil |
€168
The WDC had a premium subscription account at a cost of €168/yr for 2 years (Nov 2023 to Nov 24, and Nov 2024 to Nov 2025). It was cancelled in June 2025, the premium service continued until that annual subscription ended in November 2025.
|
€168
|
|
Pobal |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
|
Water Safety Ireland |
Nil |
Nil |
€206.64
Water Safety Ireland uses a paid subscription to verify the account and post more information than it would otherwise be allowed on the platform, this is important when explaining water safety advice to the public.
|
€395
|
|
Charities Regulatory Authority |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
|
Údarás na Gaeltachta |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
|
Foras na Gaeilge |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
|
The Ulster-Scots Agency |
Nil |
Nil |
£60.48
The Ulster-Scots Agency did opt for a premium account to allow access to analytical data.
|
£84.00
|
|
Oifig an Choimisinéara Teanga |
Nil |
Nil
|
Nil
|
Nil
|
