Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 October 2023
370. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when she intends to launch the 2024 digital innovation fund; if the new round of funding will include supports to enable scale up to national level of projects which have been successfully trialled at county level (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43342/23]
View answerOne of the key focuses of Our Rural Future:, the Government's Rural Development Policy 2021 - 2025 is optimising digital connectivity to support vibrant, sustainable rural communities. I want to close the digital divide between rural and urban communities and ensure that those living in rural communities are provided with the same opportunities for remote working, online trading and for education as those in larger urban areas. I am working to achieve this ambition by providing significant funding and support through my Department.
My Department runs a number of schemes, projects and funding programmes to support rural digital development. These programmes are designed to impact communities across the country, from the most rural areas and offshore islands, to villages and regional towns.
Between 2018 and 2021, my department provided €2m under the Digital Innovation Program to trial innovative technologies across rural Ireland to support local authority led projects that offer digital solutions to local issues, or address digital deficiencies. These projects established the viability and efficacy of a number of technologies, not least in the areas of rural tourism and public safety.
My Department is currently examining options to continue to provide funding for digital development in rural areas and to support Local Authorities in scaling up successful digital projects.
