Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 February 2022
347. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which she proposes to offer support to rural and community-based support services throughout the country in 2022 with a view to ensuring a quality of life and maximisation of job satisfaction regardless of job location; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8993/22]
View answer348. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which her Department can continue to transform the living and working circumstances of various communities throughout the country notwithstanding their rural isolation by replicating in such areas the highest standards of workplace technology and support in order to ensure a more even spread of the population throughout the entire country thereby making a major contribution to the quality of life and the availability of jobs in such rural areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8994/22]
View answer349. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which she has allocated funding over the past three years under the various headings available to her Department to assist rural communities or town centres; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8995/22]
View answer351. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of applications she has received for assistance under the various headings in her Department aimed at improving the quality of life in all areas throughout the country, urban and rural; the extent to which she expects to respond to these requests in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8997/22]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 347 to 349, inclusive, and 351 together.
A vital part my Department's mission is to support vibrant and sustainable communities across this country, and in doing so to deliver on a wide range of strategic interventions, funding programmes and policies to support urban and rural communities.
In the 2022 Revised Estimates, my Department was allocated €378 million. This funding ensures that we are in a position to further assist communities seeking funding and other supports for important local activities and projects. The amount allocated by my Department for urban and rural development and renewal purposes in the past years to-date was €314 million in 2020, and €329 million in 2021.
Details of funding allocations under specific schemes provided by my Department are available online at www.gov.ie/en/organisation/department-of-rural-and-community-development/.
The Programme for Government places a strong emphasis on balanced regional development through a range of measures. My own Department supports this commitment through targeted investment that supports rural regeneration, facilitates new working opportunities and fosters regional enterprise growth.
My Department will continue to invest in and support Rural Ireland and communities across the country - supported through the various schemes such as the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, LEADER Programme, Town and Village Renewal Scheme, Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme, Local Improvement Scheme, CLÁR Programme, Islands Capital Programme, Community Enhancement Programme, Connected Hubs initiative, Libraries Investment Capital funding, PEACE IV Programme and the PEACE PLUS Programme.
My Department is also responsible for a number of national policies containing measures to improve the lives of people throughout the country. These include the National Policy on Social Enterprise, and Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities: 5 Year Strategy to Support the Community and Voluntary Sector 2019-2024.
In March 2021 I launched Our Rural Future, a new whole-of-Government rural development policy. The policy is an ambitious blueprint for the social and economic development of rural Ireland over the next five years. It has the potential to have a transformative effect on rural communities and positive impacts on the lives of people living and working in rural areas. The policy is supported by 150 commitments across Government, which will address the challenges facing communities and deliver new opportunities for people living in rural areas.
All my Department’s policies are underpinned by extensive consultation with a wide range of stakeholders including rural and urban stakeholder groups, community groups, young people, Government Departments and State Agencies.
This engagement process provides important insights into issues impacting on rural and urban communities and in identifying areas for response which are relevant to the work of my Department. Ongoing dialogue is maintained by my Department with rural and urban stakeholders in order to identify and respond to issues impacting on individuals and communities.
I will also continue to collaborate with my Government colleagues and will monitor the issues which impact our urban and rural communities in order to respond to emerging needs.
