I propose to take Questions Nos. 717 to 735, inclusive, together.
Our Rural Future, Ireland's Rural Development Policy 2021 – 2025, represents the Irish Government’s blueprint for the development of rural Ireland. It sets out a range of actions for delivery across Government, and sets the strategic framework for the delivery of capital investment under my Department's Rural Development Investment Programme. Details in relation to projects awarded funding are regularly published by my Department. The information requested by the Deputy in relation to specific counties is currently being collated by my officials and will be forwarded directly to the Deputy at an early date. In the meantime, the links to the published information across all counties and schemes are set out below for the information of the Deputy.
The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) is a key capital investment scheme which directly supports the objectives of Our Rural Future and the Town Centre First policy. The RRDF provides funding for the development and construction of capital projects in towns, villages and rural areas across Ireland. To date, 215 projects have been approved for RRDF funding of €415 million. The detail in relation to the projects awarded funding in each county is available on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/7be140-test/
The Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS) was introduced in 2016 and is one of a number of measures designed to rejuvenate rural towns and villages throughout Ireland. Since the launch of the scheme over €156 million has been allocated to more than 1,700 projects across Ireland. I expect to be in a position to announce the successful projects under the 2023 scheme shortly. The detail in relation to the projects awarded funding in each county is available on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/0012f5-town-and-village-renewal-scheme/
The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) provides funding for the development and enhancement of outdoor recreational infrastructure such as walking trails, cycleways and blue ways throughout rural Ireland. Since the launch of the scheme in 2016, funding of almost €109 million has supported over 1,550 projects across the country. The detail in relation to the projects awarded funding in each county is available on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/90a66b-approved-funding-for-outdoor-recreation-projects/.
The CLÁR Programme provides funding under a number of different measures for small-scale infrastructural projects in designated rural areas that have experienced significant levels of depopulation over a defined period. Since the CLÁR programme was reintroduced in 2016, funding of over €70 million has been approved for almost 2,400 projects. This includes supports for a vast array of projects that will benefit people of all ages and abilities such as playgrounds, sensory gardens, outdoor cinemas, walking tracks, and community gyms. The detail in relation to the projects awarded funding in each county is available on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/policy-information/91ba52-clar/#2020-clar-measures
Under the 2022 Community Centre Investment Fund, over €45.8 million was committed for the improvement and refurbishment of existing community centres across Ireland. There was a huge uptake of this funding and over 860 different projects are seeing improvements to the fabric of their community centres as a result of this initiative. The detail in relation to the projects awarded funding in each county is available on my Department’s website at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/3a8bd-community-centre-investment-fund-successful-projects/
In 2023, the focus of the Community Centres Investment Fund moved to new builds. The successful projects under this iteration of the Fund were announced on 20th April and the list of those projects is available at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/press-release/db086-minister-humphreys-announces-over-30-million-to-build-12-new-community-centres-across-rural-ireland/
The LEADER 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. LEADER funding is provided to the Local Action Group (LAG) in the sub-regional area it represents and each LAG is responsible for selecting and awarding LEADER funding to projects within their geographical area. Details in relation to projects approved by individual LAGs are available at the following link:
www.gov.ie/en/publication/b849be-local-action-groups-approved-projects-2014-2020/
Finally, Our Rural Future also recognises the opportunity for rural rejuvenation that remote working presents and commits to establishing a comprehensive and integrated national network of 400 remote working hubs by 2025. €14 million has been invested in almost 200 projects via the Connected Hubs fund between 2021 and 2022, enabling successful applicants to add additional capacity to existing remote working infrastructure in digital hubs and Broadband Connection Points throughout the country. Details in relation to the projects awarded funding in each county are set out at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/collection/49822-2021-connected-hubs-fund-successful-applicants/
