Departmental Funding

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 March 2018

Thursday, 8 March 2018

Ceisteanna (655, 656)

James Browne

Ceist:

655. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the funding which has been set aside in each of the past five years to address the issue of loneliness and social isolation; if his Department or agencies under the remit of his Department have funded research on the topic of loneliness and social isolation; if his Department or agencies under the remit of his Department have projects planned which would address the issues of loneliness or social isolation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11252/18]

James Browne

Ceist:

656. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government if funding has been provided to local authorities to deal specifically with the issue of loneliness and social isolation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11253/18]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government

I propose to take Questions Nos. 655 and 656 together.

While my Department’s mission includes strategic goals that are cornerstones of daily life, such as ensuring that the planning and development of our regions is sustainable, providing for the efficient delivery of well-planned homes and effective local government, my Department has no prescribed role in relation to loneliness or social isolation. Neither does my Department provide any funding to local authorities to specifically deal with this issue.  

The Government's Action Plan for Rural Development includes a range of measures which will contribute significantly to addressing isolation and social inclusion in rural areas and I understand that six-monthly progress reports on the implementation of the Plan are available from the Department of Rural and Community Development.