904. Deputy Shane Moynihan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the main policy achievements of his Department since 22 January 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50808/26]

Since 22 January 2025, my Department has delivered significant policy and programme achievements across rural development, community development, and the Gaeltacht and the Islands.

The Programme for Government includes a commitment to publish a successor to the Our Rural Future policy. After an extensive consultation processes, and a review of the previous policy by the OECD, work on a successor policy is nearing completion. The successor will be a whole of Government policy, led by my Department. I look forward to bringing this to Government in due course.

Work is also ongoing on a successor strategy for the community and voluntary sector, again with extensive consultation taking place. My Department is also currently developing a new National Volunteering Strategy, which will also fulfil a commitment in the Programme for Government. The second strategy will build on the progress already made – ensuring that support for and recognition of the value of volunteering is sustainable into the future.

With regard to the Gaeltacht area, Government approved the Action Plan for Irish Language Public Services 2026-2028 earlier this year, and the Údarás na Gaeltachta (Amendment) Bill was, just this week, signed into law.

In addition, implementation is ongoing across other policies, including:

• Town Centre First Policy (2022)

• Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors (2023 – 2027)

• Ár nOileáin Bheo (2023 – 2033)

• Trading for Impact (2024 – 2027)

• The Library is the Place (2023 – 2027)

• The National Philanthropy Policy (2024 – 2028)

• The 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language (2010 – 2030) and associated five-Year Action Plan

• The Digital Plan for the Irish Language (2023 – 2027)

• The Strategy for Irish Language Based Arts (2024-2027)

• The National Plan for Irish Language Public Services (2024 – 2030)

This framework of policies has seen the delivery of significant funding to rural, urban and Gaeltacht communities in 2025 and to date in 2026. Some important examples of this funding over the period include;

• €159 million was secured in Budget 2026 for the Gaeltacht, Irish Language and Islands Programme, an increase of over €36 million;

• Over €74.5 million was secured in Budget 2026 to support the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme and similar supports.

• An investment of €35.7 million was announced under the NDP for the development of Inis Oírr pier;

• Increased funding for both Gaeltacht Support Schemes and Irish Language Support Schemes;

• €26 million was approved for over 100 projects under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme;

• €25 million to support 284 outdoor recreation projects – the largest approval to date under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme;

• €26 million has been announced to support improvements to 369 community centres under the Community Centre Investment Fund;

• €32.5 million under the Community Recognition Fund supporting communities welcoming new arrivals and bringing total approvals under the CRF to €100 million.

• €20.5 million under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund for 30 projects nationwide;

• €17.5 million was announced for Local Authorities to upgrade rural roads and laneways under the Local Improvement Scheme,

• Increase of €4 million for the Community Services Programme, with its annual allocation increasing from €55.4 million to €59.4 million. A new Open Call for Applications to join the Programme was announced on 30th March; and

• €27.8 million just announced under the Scheme to Support National Organisations 2026-2029.

The above demonstrates that my Department is making strong progress on our commitments within the Programme for Government, across both policy and programmes objectives.