Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 January 2024
1876. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the total amount of funding allocated to respective local authorities in 2023 for all rural schemes provided by her Department, including the town and village renewal scheme, CLÁR, LEADER, LIS, outdoor recreation and rural regeneration, by county, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1946/24]
View answerThe details requested by the Deputy regarding funding allocated by my Department to local authorities under rural schemes in 2023 are outlined in the attached table. The table sets out a breakdown of funding allocated to respective local authorities in 2023 in respect of the following rural schemes:
• Town & Village Renewal Scheme
• LEADER
• CLÁR
• Local Improvement Scheme (LIS)
• Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS)
• Community Recognition Fund
• Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF)
Given the structure and timing of the schemes in question, allocations made in 2023 and reported in the table may not include all the allocations from a particular iteration of a scheme. Further detail in this regard is set out in the explanatory notes to the attached table. It is also important to clarify that LEADER funding is not allocated to the local authorities. LEADER funding is provided to the Local Action Group (LAG) in the sub-regional area it represents. Each LAG is responsible for selecting and awarding LEADER funding to projects within their geographical area. In general these sub-regional areas are aligned to the administrative county boundaries, except in the case of Dublin and Cork. The figures provided in the table provided refer to LEADER funding approved by LAGs for projects in 2023, broken down by county. Details in relation to projects allocated funding across the schemes directly implemented by my Department are available on my Department’s website.
* Town & Village Renewal Scheme – The funding allocated in 2023 and set out in the table relates only to the Building Acquisition Measure, which is delivered under the umbrella of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme. The main 2023 Town and Village Renewal Scheme opened for applications in July of 2023 and applications are currently being assessed. Allocations in respect of these applications have thus not been made in 2023. Allocations in respect of the 2022 scheme were made in 2022.
**LEADER – The figures in the table reflect the value of projects approved by LAGs in each area as funding is not allocated to LEADER areas on an annual basis. As 2023 was the final year for project approvals under the 2014-2020 and Transitional LEADER programmes, and the amount of funding available to be allocated by the LAGs was reducing, the level of approvals was lower than in previous years.
***CLÁR - Funding of €4.7 million was allocated to local authorities in 2023 under the 2023 CLÁR Programme. This related to the first tranche of allocations under Measure 1 of the Programme. A second tranche of allocations under Measure 1 and allocations under Measure 3 of the 2023 CLÁR Programme were announced on January 12th, 2024 and are not included in the above 2023 figures. Details are available on the Department’s website in relation to these recently approved projects.
****ORIS - Funding of €2.1 million was allocated under the Project Development Measure of ORIS in 2023. Allocations under all of the other measures opened for applications in 2023 will be made in Quarter 1 of 2024.
***** RRDF – The figures included in the table refer to additional allocations for projects over and above the indicative amount identified at initial approval stage for these projects previous to 2023. It should be noted that projects which emerge as successful from calls for applications to the Fund are initially approved for funding in principle and then progress through a further comprehensive approval process before the final confirmation of funding is provided by my Department. At each stage of this approval process, the project is reviewed by my Department to ensure it continues to meet its stated objectives, including financial sustainability. Outside of the figures included in the table, €115m was allocated to 23 RRDF Category 1 Projects in November 2022, while a further call for applications is currently open for applications.
