Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 9 November 2021
733. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount as a percentage and in euro of the National Development Plan which was allocated to development outside of Dublin; and the amount as a percentage and in euro of Budget 2022 which was allocated to projects, schemes and developments outside of Dublin. [54105/21]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that last month the renewed National Development Plan 2021 – 2030 was launched. It is the largest National Development Plan in the history of the State - €165 billion - with a focus on priority solutions to strengthen housing, climate ambitions, transport, healthcare, jobs growth in every region and economic renewal for the decade ahead.
While the Plan is a whole of Government approach, Chapter 8: Strengthened Rural Economies and Communities sets out details that will be delivered and administered by my Department. In March I was delighted to launch Our Rural Future, the Rural Development Policy 2021-2025, and the NDP will support the achievement of the ambitious objectives set out in that policy.
The budget for my Department in 2021 is €351m, a 50% increase in the gross budget since the first full year of the Department’s existence in 2018. Regarding capital funding, this includes €87m for our Rural Regeneration and Development Programmes, €44m for the LEADER programme and €16m in other rural supports, all of which are vital to the economic and social wellbeing of rural Ireland.
Over the life of the NDP my Department’s Capital allocation will grow from €169m this year to €192m next year, €196m in 2023, €200m in 2024 and €205m in 2025 with subsequent years to be added on a rolling basis.
While the exact allocations for programmes will be decided as part of the annual budgetary process, this level of funding will ensure increased investment levels for all of the Department's schemes, building on the strong success of these schemes in recent years. I can, however, confirm to the Deputy that in 2021 the allocations under programme expenditure to September, 88% or just over €235m was outside Dublin.
