Written Answers Nos. 563-567
563. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht whether there is a grant available for the purchase of equipment that could be shared between a number of tidy town organisations (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50419/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Supervalu TidyTowns competition is a unique volunteer-led programme that makes a hugely positive contribution in communities across Ireland. It is abundantly clear that our support for the TidyTowns competition has delivered very tangible and visible benefits in towns and villages all over the country.
I am very conscious of the work undertaken by our TidyTowns groups and direct financial supports are in place for groups to support the costs which can arise. Last year, I announced funding of €1.5 million to support TidyTowns groups in their initiatives for the 2026 competition. This funding brings the total allocation by my Department since 2017 to over €12.5 million in direct funding to over 1,000 TidyTowns groups.
Depending on the population size of the TidyTowns group, funding of between €1,000 and €4,000 is available. It is intended to assist groups in preparing for this year's competition, as well as focussing on projects with a sustainability and biodiversity focus.
Further financial support is available to TidyTowns groups through the Local Enhancement Programme (LEP) of my Department. This programme 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. It provides small capital grants to community and voluntary groups for the improvement/refurbishment of their facilities and/or the purchase of equipment. In general, support under the LEP is available to groups including Parish Halls, Community Centres, Local Development Associations, TidyTowns groups, and Men’s and Women’s Sheds.
I also encourage TidyTowns groups to engage with their local authority or local development company to explore what other funding sources may be available to support the valuable voluntary work they are providing for their local communities.
564. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the grants available for community centres/halls; the grants that may be availed of later in the year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50506/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Community Centre Investment Fund (CCIF) was introduced to provide high quality, accessible, community spaces that are available to all groups in both rural and urban areas. It provides funding for community centres/halls that are open to and used by the wider community and meet the requirements of the scheme.
Through the CCIF, some €112 million has been approved for the enhancement and refurbishment of existing community centres and the construction of new centres where such a need has been identified.
I was delighted to launch the latest round of funding under CCIF 2026 on the 26th March for enhancement and refurbishment of existing community centres. The fund will be delivered across 2 categories with maximum funding levels of €25,000 and €100,000 respectively.
The online application process opened on May 29th?and the fund is open for applications until July 13th. I hope to announce all successful projects before the end of the year.
Full details on the scheme and available supports are available on my department's website.
My Department also supports community facilities with enhancement works through a range of other funding streams including through the CLÁR programme, LEADER and the Town and Village Renewal Scheme. I would encourage organisations to check my Department’s website for information on funding opportunities and announcements.
565. Deputy John Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the progress made in the development of a new programme to tackle urban disadvantage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50600/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department is responsible for a range of initiatives tackling deprivation and revitalising communities in both rural and urban areas. Key existing programmes include the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), the Empowering Communities Programme and providing funding for the Dublin North East Inner City initiative.
SICAP is our country’s primary social inclusion intervention - a national programme that is delivered in both rural and urban areas by Local Development Companies, helping those in the greatest need to address high and persistent levels of deprivation through targeted, locally-led approaches. Funding of €50.4m is allocated for SICAP delivery in 2026. The programme encourages partnerships between individuals, community organisations, and public sector agencies to address diverse community needs.
My Department's Empowering Communities Programme (ECP) was developed in line with Government commitments to expand the Dublin North East Inner City approach to other areas. It focusses on smaller areas experiencing significant disadvantage, identified using the Pobal HP Deprivation Index. Commencing in 2022, 17 projects are currently supported under the Empowering Communities Programme.
My Department is making significant progress in revitalising communities through the ongoing work of these programmes and is well placed to play its part in the development of new initiatives for our urban communities, both in Dublin and elsewhere. I know that other urban areas outside Dublin city would also benefit from a programme that tackles urban disadvantage. In this regard, my Department is currently examining ways in which this commitment could be delivered in the context of our role in community development in urban areas.
The Programme for Government commits to the establishment of a new communities initiative, similar in style to the previous RAPID (Revitalising Areas by Planning, Investment and Development) programme, where all state agencies work together to implement community development and town-centre rejuvenation. The original RAPID programme was established in 2001 and closed in 2011. It was an area-based approach to disadvantage, representing a focused initiative by Government to target the most concentrated areas of disadvantage in the country. Capital Funding of €5 million was secured in Budget 2026 for the introduction of the new programme.
My Department is currently examining the potential formulation of this programme. Considerations have informed the development of the new programme include, but are not limited to, the changed demographic and socio-economic landscape since the previous programme, potential geographical areas to be considered for targeted support and the levels of funding already available through other schemes in my Department. I expect to launch the new programme shortly.
566. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Seán Kyne den Aire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail, agus Gaeltachta cad é an scéal is déanaí maidir le hobair feabhsúcháin agus sábháilteachta ar Ché an Chóra, Inis Meáin [50733/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraTá Comhairle Contae na Gaillimhe freagrach as cothabháil agus forbairt bhonneagar na gcéanna ar na hOileáin Árann, lena n-áirítear obair fheabhsúcháin agus shábháilteachta ag Cé an Chóra, Inis Meáin.
Thug mo Roinn cead do Chomhairle Contae na Gaillimhe i mí na Nollag 2024 dul ar aghaidh le ceapachán innealtóirí comhairleacha, mar thoradh ar chomórtas oscailte soláthair poiblí, chun an Réamhchás Gnó, lena n-áirítear Measúnú Straitéiseach, a fhorbairt do roghanna feabhsúcháin infreastruchtúir mhara ar Inis Meáin.
Bhuail oifigigh mo Roinne lena gcomhghleacaithe i gComhairle Contae na Gaillimhe arís an tseachtain seo chun an t-abhar a phlé. Tuigim go bhfuil obair mhór déanta ag na hinnealtóirí comhairleacha chun roghanna éagsúla a fhorbairt, a thástáil agus a mheasúnú ar mhaithe le aghaidh a thabhairt ar na hábhair éagsúla a ardaíodh leo mar chuid den phróiseas comhairliúcháin phoiblí a reáchtáladh anuraidh le pobal an oileáin.
Is riachtanas don Mheasúnú Straitéiseach é go ndéanfaí anailís ar gach rogha chun réiteach a fháil ar aon fhadhb feabhsúcháin agus sábháilteachta nó easnamh eile a aithnítear, lena n-áirítear infheistíocht chaipitil san infreastruchtúr, infheistíocht reatha sna seirbhís iompair, nó meascán d’infheistíocht chaipitil agus reatha go bhféadfaí a dhéanamh thar thréimhse.
Tuigim go bhfuil aiseolas agus soiléiriú tugtha ag mo Roinn do Chomhairle Contae na Gaillimhe le déanaí ina leith seo, le cinntiú go bhfuil an riachtanas sin á chomhlíonadh ag na hinnealtóirí comhairleacha neamhspleácha atá i mbun na hoibre seo.
I ndiaidh don phróiseas seo a bheith críochnaithe, cuirfear tuarascáil ar fáil don Roinn le breithniú agus le go bhféadfaí moladh a dhéanamh maidir leis an gcur chuige is tairbhí don oileán ina iomláine.
567. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht to provide a breakdown of the cap ex and op ex funding drawn down for LIS schemes in each of the years 2020 to date, broken down by local authority [50769/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) supports the upgrading of non-public rural roads and laneways, which are usually not maintained by local authorities. Reintroduced by my Department in 2017, the scheme provides capital funding as part of the Department's Rural Development Investment programme. The scheme has allocated over €201 million to local authorities for improvement works.
While the Department provides funding for the scheme, local authorities manage it and are responsible for selecting and prioritising roads. This includes processing applications, prioritising eligible roads, scheduling works, and maintaining waiting lists.
The arrangements for the Local Improvement Scheme 2026 are set out in the Scheme Outline, which is published on my Department's website. Under these arrangements, a local authority may claim up to 10% of a road project's net cost to defray a portion of the operational costs associated with the scheme. The ‘net cost’ comprises the cost of labour, materials, and equipment. This operational cost is included in funding drawdown requests from each local authority. The Department does not maintain reporting on this element of LIS funding.
The attached tabular statement provides details of LIS expenditure by each local authority from 2020 to 2025. Since 2023, the Local Improvement Scheme has included a ringfenced allocation for counties with inhabited offshore islands (Cork, Donegal, Galway, Mayo and Sligo). This allocation is included in the total expenditure figures for these counties.
Local Improvement Scheme Spend by county from 2020 to 2025
|
County |
2020 Spend |
2021 Spend |
2022 Spend |
2023 Spend |
2024 Spend |
2025 Spend |
|
Carlow |
€249,753 |
€463,172 |
€942,733 |
€566,032 |
€569,749 |
€689,747 |
|
Cavan |
€269,240 |
€1,109,320 |
€1,213,778 |
€1,661,412 |
€689,949 |
€1,137,191 |
|
Clare |
€480,811 |
€828,528 |
€1,230,495 |
€1,330,270 |
€1,218,106 |
€1,718,476 |
|
Cork |
€896,693 |
€1,410,172 |
€1,173,997 |
€2,580,961 |
€1,618,457 |
€2,301,827 |
|
Donegal |
€644,541 |
€1,186,370 |
€1,708,228 |
€1,961,214 |
€1,705,606 |
€2,444,230 |
|
Galway |
€856,959 |
€1,554,615 |
€1,673,487 |
€1,958,371 |
€1,777,912 |
€2,064,736 |
|
Kerry |
€648,306 |
€1,185,874 |
€1,349,878 |
€1,461,143 |
€1,747,653 |
€2,289,706 |
|
Kildare |
€249,181 |
€466,720 |
€420,328 |
€216,296 |
€440,115 |
€332,718 |
|
Kilkenny |
€264,194 |
€778,682 |
€610,499 |
€633,522 |
€765,604 |
€861,022 |
|
Laois |
€217,537 |
€526,202 |
€854,420 |
€1,219,958 |
€635,509 |
€970,441 |
|
Leitrim |
€250,000 |
€503,830 |
€1,075,925 |
€1,135,725 |
€634,212 |
€901,568 |
|
Limerick |
€377,009 |
€1,488,946 |
€921,482 |
€1,127,643 |
€992,052 |
€1,381,304 |
|
Longford |
€220,544 |
€386,892 |
€403,581 |
€584,702 |
€564,961 |
€687,634 |
|
Louth |
€250,000 |
€417,821 |
€439,780 |
€415,742 |
€555,533 |
€729,788 |
|
Mayo |
€777,434 |
€1,354,390 |
€597,570 |
€1,397,019 |
€1,345,787 |
€1,575,968 |
|
Meath |
€322,563 |
€801,533 |
€536,436 |
€929,161 |
€736,954 |
€834,999 |
|
Monaghan |
€250,000 |
€1,326,223 |
€932,889 |
€1,342,724 |
€564,965 |
€953,225 |
|
Offaly |
€278,865 |
€542,962 |
€662,104 |
€692,114 |
€726,979 |
€1,048,830 |
|
Roscommon |
€349,691 |
€437,906 |
€571,758 |
€357,470 |
€662,205 |
€503,832 |
|
Sligo |
€254,581 |
€443,236 |
€558,030 |
€886,086 |
€666,789 |
€810,755 |
|
Tipperary |
€599,969 |
€715,371 |
€1,125,638 |
€1,864,526 |
€1,489,621 |
€1,812,526 |
|
Waterford |
€233,777 |
€866,236 |
€336,083 |
€761,016 |
€682,451 |
€1,143,362 |
|
Westmeath |
€242,178 |
€627,675 |
€656,781 |
€483,578 |
€668,723 |
€955,932 |
|
Wexford |
€312,893 |
€653,786 |
€781,027 |
€1,030,935 |
€850,436 |
€1,179,192 |
|
Wicklow |
€277,655 |
€741,635 |
€636,248 |
€777,488 |
€723,814 |
€853,833 |
|
Total |
€9,774,374 |
€20,818,098 |
€21,413,176 |
€27,375,106 |
€23,034,142 |
€30,182,841 |
Note: Since 2023, the Local Improvement Scheme has included a ringfenced allocation for counties with inhabited offshore islands (Cork, Donegal, Galway, Mayo and Sligo). This allocation is included in the total expenditure figures for these counties.
