Rural and Community Development | The action in hand by her Department to address the issue of rural isolation

QUESTION

To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the action in hand by her Department to address the issue of rural isolation; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development her plans for interaction with local community groups dedicated to improving their respective locations in urban and rural areas nationwide; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which she envisages her Department engaging in a supportive role to communities seeking assistance nationally for the remainder of the year; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which the various programmes run by her Department have benefited individual rural communities, by county; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which she continues to interact with urban and rural communities, with a view to identifying ways in which positive interaction can take place, with particular reference to urban and rural isolation and its effect on communities; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

REPLY

My Department operates a range of programmes and schemes that support and assist urban and rural community groups throughout the country, benefiting individual communities as well as their broader regions and catchment areas.
Groups and projects supported by my Department deliver on a range of objectives. Some groups and projects work to address societal issues such as isolation and deprivation, while others aim to enhance local lives and livelihoods with material improvements to their areas through local and community development activities. Targeted investments and supports offered by my Department fund a wide range of initiatives that help promote rural regeneration, town and village regeneration, outdoor recreation, regional enterprise growth and, social inclusion.
Capital schemes including the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, LEADER, the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, the Local Improvement Scheme, the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme, the Community Recognition Fund and the Community Centre Investment Fund are delivering projects throughout the country.
The emphasis of the 2023-2027 LEADER programme, which builds on the many successful previous programmes, will include the continued development of the rural economy. There will also be a strong focus on building the capacity of marginalised and new communities, particularly in areas that have not benefited from LEADER financial support in the past.

Organisations like Men’s Sheds and Women’s Group are vital in addressing isolation for many people. Late last year I was pleased to announce €1 million in funding to Men’s Sheds. Under the initiative, grants of up to €3,000 have been provided to 435 Men’s Sheds across the country.

Earlier this month, I announced funding for almost 500 Women’s Groups nationwide. The funding is being delivered as part of The Local Enhancement Programme (LEP) 2024.

The LEP allocated €6 million in capital supports for community groups and organisations across every county in Ireland, with funding of €1 million being ring-fenced for women’s groups.
I believe that Community Centres are the cornerstone of communities all over Ireland and provide people, young and old, with a place to meet, learn, play and participate with the community as a whole.
Only last Friday I was delighted to announce a further €20 million in funding to support our community groups to upgrade and refurbish the community facilities in their areas.  The ‘Community Centre Investment Fund 2024 – Refurbishment’ will provide funding from €10,000 up to a maximum of €100,000 towards capital costs. This allocation brings the total amount of funding announced to support the development of community centres to over €95 million since 2022.

Current funding supports such as the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) and the Community Services Programme (CSP) are helping to tackle social exclusion, unemployment, promote social cohesion and support thriving communities.
In relation to isolation and marginalisation, SICAP addresses high and persistent levels of deprivation through targeted and innovative, locally-led approaches in both urban and rural communities. SICAP supports disadvantaged communities and individuals including unemployed people, people living in deprived areas, people with disabilities, single parent families, people on a low income, members of the Traveller and Roma community and other disadvantaged groups. SICAP funding has increased by €8.3 million over 3 years, totalling €51 million in 2024.
Budget 2024 provided my Department with a gross allocation of €431 million. This funding will allow me to maintain the excellent supports in place throughout this year, and to provide some targeted increases.
I will continue to engage with rural and urban stakeholders to identify issues impacting on communities and respond to emerging needs.
I am confident that the funding supports and policies provided by my Department will continue to deliver tangible benefits for both urban and rural communities and I encourage all groups to engage with their local structures like their Local Community Development Committee (LCDCs), their Public Participation Network (PPN), their Local Development Company and to regularly check www.gov.ie/drcd to ensure they are aware of funding opportunities as they become available.