Brian Leddin
Question:33. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the position regarding the new fund for community centres; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4906/22]
View answerCommunity Development Projects
Questions (33)
Written answers
A new capital fund for the upgrade of community centres was referenced in the National Development Plan and an indicative budget of €5m has been secured for this under Budget 2022.
It is envisaged that the capital fund will support the upgrade and refurbishment of existing community buildings in urban and rural areas.
The fund could provide for:
- Energy retrofitting - projects that reduce an organisation's carbon footprint.
- Works to address safety concerns, including as a result of fire safety audits.
- Works to improve disability access.
- Works to improve communal facilities such as kitchen and toilet facilities.
The details of this capital scheme are currently being developed within my Department. It will be launched in Q1 2022, with further details being announced in due course.
Question No. 34 answered with Question No. 29.
Rural Schemes
Questions (35)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:35. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when is it intended to seek applications under category 2 of the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7976/22]
View answerWritten answers
The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund provides investment to ambitious and strategic projects that support rural renewal, strengthen and build resilience in rural communities and assist in the regeneration of towns and villages with a population of less than 10,000 and outlying areas. To date, 191 projects have been approved for funding of €277m for projects costing a total of €375m.
Calls for applications to the Fund are sought under two categories – Category 1 and Category 2. Category 1 relates to large scale ambitious capital projects with all necessary planning and other consents in place and which are ready to proceed. Category 2 provides funding to enable the development of project proposals suitable for future calls for Category 1 applications.
In December, I announced the fourth call for Category 1 applications to the Fund. The closing date for applications is 29th April 2022 and an application form and guidance document is available on my Department’s website for those seeking further information.
A fourth call for Category 2 applications is provisionally scheduled to open in Q3 2022, with a closing date likely in Q4 2022.
Departmental Policies
Questions (36, 69, 78)
Matt Carthy
Question:36. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the intended timeline for introducing an effective rural proofing model as committed to in Our Rural Future: Rural Development Policy 2021-2025. [7837/22]
View answer
Claire Kerrane
Question:69. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide information on the development of a rural proofing mechanism as outlined in the Our Rural Future: Rural Development Policy 2021-2025; the scope of the consultation provided to external consultants; the way she plans to integrate this with regard to the strategy workplan for 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8609/22]
View answer
Holly Cairns
Question:78. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the development of a rural proofing mechanism to support the Our Rural Future Strategy. [8661/22]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 36, 69 and 78 together.
Our Rural Future is the most ambitious and transformational policy for rural development in Ireland for decades.
The policy contains 152 measures for delivery across the whole of Government, with the underlying theme of economic, environmental and societal sustainability. The policy has a vision of ensuring vibrant and thriving rural towns and villages, with a key objective to maximise opportunities for individuals, communities and businesses in rural areas. It recognises that rural areas play an integral role in the economic, social and cultural recovery and wellbeing of the country.
The policy commits to developing an effective rural proofing model. This will aim to ensure that all departments fully consider the effects of new proposals on rural communities, the need to better target the particular challenges and opportunities facing rural areas, and to identify impacts that may arise.
Following a competitive tender process, my Department has engaged independent consultants to fully examine the issue of rural proofing in Ireland. Their work will include consideration of rural proofing initiatives internationally so as to inform our approach based on the experiences of others. The consultants are expected to provide their report in late March/early April 2022, presenting a series of recommendations on approaches to rural proofing to my Department.
Urban Development
Questions (37)
Richard Bruton
Question:37. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if the new rapidly growing neighbourhoods developing around cities will be eligible for the town centre first initiative; if they will require a different toolkit from that appropriate to well-established towns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8534/22]
View answerWritten answers
The Government recently published Town Centre First - A Policy Approach for Irish Towns. This publications represents a major new policy that aims to tackle vacancy, combat dereliction and breathe new life into our town centres. It contains 33 actions which will give our towns the tools and resources they need to become more viable and attractive places in which to live, work, socialise and run a business.
This policy is primarily aimed at towns rather than areas within our cities, and specifically towns which have a population of more than 400 people (of which there are over 500). The largest of these towns include the five Regional Growth Centres of Athlone, Drogheda, Dundalk, Letterkenny and Sligo identified in the National Planning Framework (NPF). The remaining towns can be divided into Medium-Large Towns of 5,000-20,000 population and Small Towns in the category of 400 to 5,000 population. However, the principles incorporated in the Town Centre First policy, and elements of the Toolkit developed, will equally apply in smaller villages, and also to parts of cities.
Given the number of towns in Ireland, all with varying populations, challenges and opportunities, many more advanced than others in terms of regeneration, there will be some targeting and prioritisation required at Local Authority level to ensure that the impact of this Policy is optimised.
Offshore Islands
Questions (38)
Alan Dillon
Question:38. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the provision of a helipad on Inishturk island; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8779/22]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy will be aware, the construction of the helipad on Inishturk is being undertaken by the relevant Local Authority, Mayo County Council, with financial assistance from my Department. Officials from my Department have been in ongoing contact with the relevant officials in the County Council to progress this development.
My Department provided the Local Authority with funding for the purchase of land for this project in late 2020. The Local Authority subsequently submitted an initial design; however, the Department required amendments and I understand that a revised design has now been agreed.
I also understand that the Local Authority is currently preparing tender documents for the project. My Department is expecting to receive an updated progress report from the Local Authority in the coming weeks and it is hoped that the tender process can commence shortly with a view to having the construction completed in 2022.
Question No. 39 answered with Question No. 30.
Departmental Policies
Questions (40)
Denis Naughten
Question:40. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the mechanism to be deployed to deliver on the commitments in Our Rural Future: Rural Development Policy 2021-2025; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8289/22]
View answerWritten answers
‘Our Rural Future – Rural Development Policy 2021-2025’ is the most ambitious development policy for rural Ireland in decades.
It was published in March 2021 and contains over 150 commitments across the whole of Government, for both short-term recovery and longer-term development.
The policy has a five-year timeframe, with updates on delivery provided by a series of Progress Reports.
My Department is preparing to publish the First Progress Report imminently, which outlines updates on 216 actions contained in the 2021 Work Programme.
Further Progress Reports will be produced every six months thereafter, as per the commitment in the Policy.
The 2021 Work Programme contains actions which advance the delivery of more than 80% of commitments in the Policy.
Annual work programmes allow for the review and revision of priorities contained in the measures for delivery, as well as the addition of further measures over the lifetime of the Policy to adapt to the evolving needs and opportunities in rural areas.
My Department has continued to consult and engage with key stakeholders since the publication of the Policy, through events such as the Rural Ideas Fora, the first Rural Youth Assembly and bilateral discussions with relevant Departments. This engagement will inform the development of the 2022 Work Programme, which I anticipate will be published in the coming weeks.
I am delighted with the level of activity across Departments in recent months to deliver on the Policy’s ambition in areas such as investment in local transport and active travel, remote working facilities and digital connectivity, and huge levels of support for important projects under my Department’s Rural Development Investment Programme.
Seirbhísí Farantóireachta
Questions (41)
Pearse Doherty
Question:41. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Pearse Doherty den Aire Forbartha Tuaithe agus Pobail cén stádas atá ag an gconradh le haghaidh seirbhís farantóireachta ghasta atá le riaradh idir Toraigh agus an mhórthír; an dtig léi sonraí a thabhairt faoin gconradh seo, mar shampla cén dáta a thosóidh an tseirbhís nua seo; agus an ndéanfaidh sí ráiteas ina thaobh. [8291/22]
View answerWritten answers
Tá sé mar chuid lárnach de pholasaí na Roinne seo a chinntiú go bhfuil teacht ag pobail oileánda na tíre ar sheirbhísí farantóireachta, lastais agus aeir ar féidir brath orthu.. Cuirtear na seirbhísí seo ar fáil do oileánaigh ó cheann ceann na bliana ar phraghas atá réasúnach, rud a chuidíonn go mór leis na pobail sin leanúint orthu ag maireachtáil ar na h-oileáin.
Tá an t-seirbhís farantóireachta gasta ó Oileán Thoraigh go dtí an mórthír áirithe mar cheann dos na seirbhísí sin. Mar is eol don Teachta, reáchtáil mo Roinn trí chomórtas soláthair poiblí ar mhaithe leis an t-seirbhís sin a chur ar fáil do phobal Thóraigh. Tá athbhreithniú breithiúnach iarrtha ag duine dos na forthairgeoirí ar thoradh an chomórtais is deireanaí a ritheadh i 2019. Tá an cás fós os comhar na h-Árd Chúirte agus go dtí go dtiocfaidh deireadh leis an bpróiseas sin, tá cosc ar an Roinn an conradh a bhronnadh.
Tá an t-athbhreithniú breithiúnach ag tógáil níos faide le réiteach nár mar a ceapadh ag tús an phróiseas. Tuigeann an Roinn an cruatan a bhíonn ar phobal Thóraigh, go hairithe le linn an Gheimhridh, nuair nach bhfuil fáil ar an t-seirbhís seo. Dhá réir, tá mo Roinn ag fiosrú na féidearthachtaí a bhaineann le comórtas poiblí eile a reáchtáil ar mhaithe le conradh eatramhach farantóireachta gasta a chuir in áit do phobal Thóraigh. Tá an obair seo dhá dhéanadh faoi láthair agus tá súil agam go mbeidh toradh dearfach air go luath.
Flexible Work Practices
Questions (42)
Pádraig O'Sullivan
Question:42. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will report on the steps that have been taken to support remote and hybrid working in urban areas of County Cork given the positive impact for communities and the reduction in commuter traffic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8395/22]
View answerWritten answers
Our Rural Future, Ireland’s Rural Development Policy 2021-2025, recognises the opportunity for rural rejuvenation that remote working presents and commits to establishing a comprehensive and integrated network of remote working hubs over the lifetime of the policy to 2025.
A number of funding streams operated by my Department directly support this commitment. For example, the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund and the Town and Village Renewal Scheme both support the establishment of new digital hubs. Under last year's schemes, projects that bring vacant properties in town centres back into use as remote working hubs were eligible to apply for funding. Projects that repurpose existing community or publicly owned buildings in town or village centres to facilitate remote working were also eligible.
In addition, last year I awarded almost €9 million in funding through the Connected Hubs funding stream to add capacity to remote working infrastructure in digital hubs and broadband connection points throughout the country. Details of successful applications, including those in County Cork, are available on my Department's website.
Last May I launched the National Connected Hubs network together with the connectedhubs.ie platform. The platform offers a suite of booking and hub management applications to members of the Network. There are currently 189 hubs live on the platform this number growing on an ongoing basis - 17 of these are located in County Cork.
The National Hub Network includes a diverse range of hubs, services and facilities. The Network can thus facilitate a wide range of users, including individual users as well as companies of different sizes with varying requirements. Notwithstanding the clear benefits to individuals and families in terms of quality of life indicators, remote working from hubs will also support local economies, reduce carbon emissions and may arrest or reverse the depopulation of certain areas.
The development of a national hubs network is a key commitment in Our Rural Future and I am committed to continuing my Department's support for the development of remote working hubs in recognition of the vital role that they can play in our post-Covid recovery.
Digital Hubs
Questions (43)
Alan Farrell
Question:43. Deputy Alan Farrell asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the steps that have been taken to ensure that areas such as Fingal, County Dublin and other areas relatively close to large urban centres have remote working hubs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8758/22]
View answerWritten answers
Our Rural Future, Ireland’s Rural Development Policy 2021-2025, recognises the potential of remote working hubs as key economic assets for our rural towns and villages. Notwithstanding the clear benefits to individuals and families in terms of quality of life indicators, remote working from hubs will also support local economies, reduce carbon emissions and may arrest or reverse the depopulation of certain areas.
My Department operates a number of funding schemes that focus on projects supporting remote working through the development of hubs and Broadband Connection Points as long-term, digitally-enabled community assets. To date, approximately €100 million has been provided by my Department through various funding streams to support the development of digital hubs and remote working facilities across Ireland
My Department also supports the development of the Connected Hubs Network - connectedhubs.ie, - the platform offers a suite of booking and hub management applications to its members. There are currently 189 hubs live on the platform, with this number growing every week. 30 of these hubs are located in County Dublin.
Last year I awarded almost €9 million in funding through the Connected Hubs funding stream to applicants across all regions. This included funding for a number of initiatives throughout County Dublin to add capacity to their remote working infrastructure, including the following remote working hubs - M-Space and The View in Malahide, Digital HQ and The Glasshouses in Dun Laoghaire, Ace Enterprise Park in Clondalkin and the Terenure Enterprise Centre in Terenure.
The development of a national hubs network is a key commitment in Our Rural Future and I am committed to continuing my Department's support for the development of remote working hubs across Ireland.
Urban Development
Questions (44)
Joe Carey
Question:44. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide an update on the expenditure of the town centres first funding that was recently allocated by her Department. [8480/22]
View answerWritten answers
On 9 December 2021 I announced €2.6 million in funding to deliver Town Centre First Plans in 26 towns across the country. The development of these 26 plans will feed into the Government’s overall Town Centre First Policy which was launched on 4 February last.
The policy includes 33 actions aimed at creating town centres that function as viable, vibrant and attractive locations for people to live work and visit, while also functioning as the service and cultural hub for the local community. Promoting the development of Town Centre First Plans is one of the actions outlined in the policy.
The €2.6 million funding will support each local authority, working with a collaborative Town Team, to develop a bespoke Town Centre First plan to guide the development of each town. As part of the initiative, each local authority will be provided with €100,000 to support the development of a unique vision for the town which will also outline specific interventions required to deliver on this vision. Further phases of funding for Town Centre First plans will be announced as the policy is rolled out.
Local authorities have been provided with the first tranche of this funding in order to deliver on the Town Centre First Plans. The Local authorities have been requested to develop and finalise plans, and to utilise the funding provided, within an 18 month period.
Rural Schemes
Questions (45)
Holly Cairns
Question:45. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the steps she is taking to increase the amount of funding for communities available under the LEADER Programme 2023-2027. [8662/22]
View answerWritten answers
An indicative budget of €180 million is allocated for the LEADER Programme for the period 2023-2027. With the €70 million already provided for 2021 and 2022 under the Transitional LEADER Programme, a total of €250 million will be made available for the 2021 - 2027 period, thus maintaining the level of funding provided for the 2014-2020 programming period.
The LEADER Programme is one of the key interventions of Our Rural Future, the Government’s policy for rural development launched last year. This policy also sets out to deliver on a range of actions for our rural communities into the future.
It is of note that recent years have seen record levels of investment in rural development initiatives and schemes. A range of new and targeted schemes have been implemented, such as the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, the Walks Scheme and the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme.
Budget 2022 also saw increases secured across all my Department's rural schemes and the National Development Plan (NDP) outlines a clear commitment to a continuation of investment in Rural Ireland as a matter of priority. Capital funding allocations for my Department have seen an increase from €88m in 2018 to €205m in 2025 under the NDP.
This level of funding, combined with the LEADER indicative allocation for 2023-2027, will continue to support and further develop our rural communities and businesses and to deliver on the vision for rural Ireland set out in Our Rural Future.
Local Development Companies
Questions (46)
Rose Conway-Walsh
Question:46. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if local action group status will be returned to local development companies as committed to in the programme for Government; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8777/22]
View answerWritten answers
LEADER is a multi-annual programme for rural development co-funded by the EU through the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The programme is based on a community-led approach to rural development and plays an important role in supporting communities and enterprises in progressing job creation, social inclusion and environmental projects at local level.
The Programme for Government contains a number of commitments in relation to the LEADER Programme, including commitments to deliver a Rural Development Programme that is led by independent Local Action Groups and supported by Local Community Development Committees and to promote the role of independent Local Action Groups (LAGs), while ensuring that strong accountability and transparency mechanisms are in place to protect taxpayers’ money.
The preparations for the design and delivery of the next LEADER programme are underway. This includes ongoing engagement by my officials with relevant stakeholders.
Decisions in relation to the delivery model for the new LEADER programme will have regard to the provisions of the EU Regulations governing the structure of future Local Action Groups, the commitments in the Programme for Government and the outcome of consultations with all relevant stakeholder groups.
Departmental Bodies
Questions (47)
Catherine Connolly
Question:47. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the status of the national oversight advisory group in relation to the town centre first policy; the membership of the group; the terms of reference of the group; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8498/22]
View answerWritten answers
The Government recently published Town Centre First - A Policy Approach for Irish Towns. This publication represents a major new policy that aims to tackle vacancy, combat dereliction and breathe new life into our town centres. It contains 33 actions which will give our towns the tools and resources they need to become more viable and attractive places in which to live, work, socialise and run a business.
Ensuring support from across Government departments and agencies is important to deliver a whole-of-Government approach. In this regard, a National Oversight and Advisory Group will be established to monitor and guide the delivery of the policy, and provide a shared forum for engaging with Government departments and national stakeholders. The work of the group will be underpinned by Annual Implementation Plans and a commitment to review the policy at three-year intervals.
The policy notes that the group may include Government departments, the Local Government sector, agencies central to supporting towns, other experts, and sectoral business and community representatives, as appropriate. The exact membership and terms or reference of the group will be finalised once the proposed National Town Centre First Office has been established.
The Local Government sector will play a key role in delivering this national office and discussions with my Department are at an advanced stage in this regard.
Departmental Reports
Questions (48)
Thomas Pringle
Question:48. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the actions that her Department has taken to implement recommendation number 4 contained in the 2020 report entitled Focused Policy Assessment: Local Improvement Scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8659/22]
View answerWritten answers
The Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service (IGEES) is an integrated cross-Government service. It seeks to enhance the role of economic evaluation and value for money analysis in public policy making.
The Focussed Policy Assessment report to which the Deputy refers was conducted by IGEES staff in my Department. Recommendation No.4 of the report was to estimate the scale of the relevant non-public road network in Ireland, which is the focus of works under the Local Improvement Scheme
This recommendation, along with the other recommendations in the report, are being considered by a working group comprising members of the Local Government sector and officials from my Department.
My officials have discussed a range of possibilities with Ordnance Survey Ireland on how to develop a better understanding of the potential scale of the non-public road network. There are clearly challenges in accurately estimating the scale of the non-public road network from the data available but my officials will continue to explore how to achieve this aim.
As part of 'Our Rural Future', the Government is committed to ensuring that the Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) is funded into the future. This reflects the important contribution which the scheme makes to connectivity in rural Ireland. The funding allocations for each Local Authority under the 2022 scheme will be announced shortly.
Digital Hubs
Questions (49)
Pádraig O'Sullivan
Question:49. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the position on advancing remote working hubs across County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8394/22]
View answerWritten answers
Our Rural Future, Ireland’s Rural Development Policy 2021-2025, recognises the opportunity for rural rejuvenation that remote working presents and commits to establishing a comprehensive and integrated network of remote working hubs over the lifetime of the policy to 2025.
A number of funding streams operated by my Department directly support this commitment. For example, the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund and the Town and Village Renewal Scheme both support the establishment of new digital hubs. Under last year's schemes, projects that bring vacant properties in town centres back into use as remote working hubs were eligible to apply for funding. Projects that repurpose existing community or publicly owned buildings in town or village centres to facilitate remote working were also eligible.
In addition, last year I awarded almost €9 million in funding through the Connected Hubs funding stream to add capacity to remote working infrastructure in digital hubs and broadband connection points throughout the country.
Last May I launched the National Connected Hubs network together with the connectedhubs.ie platform. The platform offers a suite of booking and hub management applications to members of the Network. There are currently 189 hubs live on the platform, with this number growing on an ongoing basis. 17 of these hubs are located in County Cork.
The development of a national hubs network is a key commitment in Our Rural Future and I am committed to continuing my Department's support for the development of remote working hubs in recognition of the vital role that they can play in our post-Covid recovery.
Urban Development
Questions (50)
Niamh Smyth
Question:50. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the way the town centre first policy will support towns such as Bailieborough and Carrickmacross, County Monaghan to regenerate vacant and derelict buildings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8600/22]
View answerWritten answers
The Government recently published Town Centre First - A Policy Approach for Irish Towns. This publication represents a major new policy that aims to tackle vacancy, combat dereliction and breathe new life into our town centres.
The policy contains 33 actions which will give our towns the tools and resources they need to become more viable and attractive places in which to live, work, socialise and run a business. It will support Town Teams to develop their own Town Centre First Plans to chart the future direction of their towns and to address issues of vacancy and dereliction. Some 26 towns have already been allocated funding of €1000,000 to produce their Town Centre First Plans, including Carrickmacross in Monaghan. Additional towns will be supported to develop plans as the policy is rolled out.
The implementation of the actions in these plans will be underpinned by significant levels of public investment spread across major Government schemes such as the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF), the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF), the Croí Conaithe (Towns) Fund and the Town and Village Renewal Scheme. This will include funding through these schemes to address the regeneration of vacant and derelict buildings as identified in the Town Centre First plans.
The policy includes a range of other actions to embed the Town Centre First process nationally and support towns such as those referred to by the Deputy. This includes funding for new Town Regeneration Officers who will support Town Teams and local stakeholders to implement Town Centre First and tackle vacancy and dereliction challenges.
The local Town Team drawn from local community and business representatives will work with local stakeholders to progress drafting of the plans and to identify challenges, actions and integrated responses across a number of themes (business/commercial; community/cultural; housing; built environment; heritage). A key area of focus will be on vacant and derelict buildings.
Rural Schemes
Questions (51)
Rose Conway-Walsh
Question:51. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the anticipated changes that will be made to the level of funding for LEADER programme 2023-2027; the impact of same on County Mayo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8778/22]
View answerWritten answers
The LEADER Programme is one of the key interventions of Our Rural Future, the Government’s Policy for rural development launched last year.
The programme is based on a community-led approach to rural development and plays an important role in supporting communities and enterprises in progressing job creation, social inclusion and environmental projects at local level.
An indicative budget of €180 million is allocated for the LEADER Programme for the period 2023-2027. With the €70 million already provided for 2021 and 2022 under the Transitional LEADER Programme, a total of €250 million will be made available for the 2021 - 2027 period, thus maintaining the level of funding provided for the 2014-2020 programming period.
My officials are continuing to engage with key stakeholders in relation to the new LEADER Programme. Decisions relating to all aspects of the programme including the distribution of funding, will form part of the new programme design phase which is currently underway in my Department.
It is also of note that recent years have seen record levels of investment in rural development initiatives and schemes. A range of schemes have been implemented in recent years, such as the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, the Walks Scheme, and the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme.
Budget 2022 also saw increases secured across all my Department's rural schemes and the National Development Plan (NDP) outlines a clear commitment to a continuation of investment in Rural Ireland as a matter of priority. Capital funding allocations for my Department have seen an increase from €88m in 2018 to €205m in 2025 under the NDP.
This level of funding, combined with the LEADER indicative allocation for 2023-2027, will continue to support and further develop our rural communities and businesses and will help to deliver on the range of actions for our rural communities into the future as set out in the Rural Development Policy - Our Rural Future.
Rural Schemes
Questions (52)
Paul Kehoe
Question:52. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department plans to fund a local improvement scheme in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8481/22]
View answerWritten answers
The Local Improvement Scheme (LIS) supports the improvement of rural roads and laneways that are not normally maintained by local authorities. As part of 'Our Rural Future', the Government is committed to ensuring that the LIS is funded into the future. This reflects the important contribution which the scheme makes to connectivity in rural Ireland.
I launched the 2021 Scheme with an initial budget of €10.5 million. I was very pleased to source additional funding during the year and allocated a further round of funding to bring the total for 2021 to €21 million.
I was also pleased, as part of Budget 2022, to announce an increase in the base funding for LIS from €10.5 million in 2021 to €11 million this year. I expect to launch this year's scheme in the coming weeks.