Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 October 2019
292. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the degree to which he expects to be in a position to address the socioeconomic needs of rural areas nationally in the coming year, including issues such as isolation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44126/19]
View answerI am satisfied that my Department delivers an effective package of supports which strengthen rural communities across the country, including dealing with the issue of isolation, and that this will continue into the coming year. Funding priorities are reviewed and monitored on an ongoing basis to ensure our supports remain targeted at those most in need socially and economically.
Initiatives such as the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme, the Community Services Programme, LEADER Programme, the Community Enhancement Programme and other funding for community groups and social enterprises provide supports that are addressing the requirements of rural communities and areas facing disadvantage and issues of isolation.
In addition, the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund will provide €1 billion over the next 10 years for rural towns and villages, while the Town Centre Living Initiative, a pilot programme aimed at testing approaches to the revitalisation of towns and villages, was launched in six towns in October 2018.
My Department also continues to develop policy that can assist with the effective targeting of future funding. We are developing a new Government rural development policy to follow on from the Action Plan for Rural Development, a cross-Government plan to support economic and social development in Ireland’s rural areas, while the Strategy for the Community and Voluntary Sector and Ireland's first National Social Enterprise Policy have both been published in recent months.
