488. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the assessment his Department has undertaken of the financial sustainability of community and voluntary organisations, particularly those facing increased insurance, energy, staffing and premises costs; and whether additional core funding will be made available in 2027 to support their ongoing operations rather than solely capital projects. [75091/26]

Last week my Department launched the Government's new five-year strategy to support the community and voluntary sector, Ar Scáth a Chéile.

The strategy was co-designed with the community and voluntary sector and builds on the previous Strategy.  It sets out a vision and mission to support inclusive and cohesive communities for the period 2026 to 2030 and reaffirms the Government's recognition that the sector is a fundamental part of the fabric of all communities.

The implementation of the strategy will be overseen by a new Cross-Sectoral Group on Local and Community Development which will support my Department in the prioritisation of objectives and actions to be progressed within the framework of annual workplans.

I am aware of the financial sustainability challenges facing community and voluntary sector organisations, particularly with regard to increased insurance, energy, staffing and premises costs.  My Department continues to provide ongoing financial support to community and voluntary organisations under a number of different programmes and schemes, with Budget 2027 allocating €628 million in funding for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, an increase on last years allocation, building on strong investment in recent years.

The Local Enhancement Programme (LEP) for 2026 provides €7 million in capital supports to many small community groups and organisations. Funding for the programme will include €2 million in 2027 to provide small current funding grants for community organisations to assist in easing the pressures of rising operating costs, such as insurance, energy and premises costs.

My Department recognises that volunteers play a critical role in local communities and across Irish society.  Ireland’s National Volunteering Strategy was published in 2020, with a new strategy to be launched in the coming months.  Initial funding of €3.1m in 2020 to implement the actions set out in the Volunteering Strategy has risen to €7.3m in 2026. This includes core funding for the 29 Volunteer Centres in Ireland.

€74 million was secured in Budget 2027 for SICAP and other social inclusion supports, contributing to administration costs associated with delivering the programme, including staff salary and pension costs.

The Community Services Programme (CSP) currently supports the delivery of 453 services nationally via 434 community organisations. The Programme provides an annual co-funding contribution towards each manager and/or full-time equivalent (FTE) position being supported. The Programme currently provides funding towards 1,723 Full-Time Equivalents and 355 manager positions with a budget of €64.4 million for 2027.

The Scheme to Support National Organisations (SSNO) provides multi-annual funding towards core costs of national, community and voluntary organisations. Under the current iteration, approximately €27.8 million is being provided to 92 national C&V organisations over the period of the scheme, to the end of 2029.

The New Solutions Social Innovation Fund, which is co-funded through the European Social Fund+ 2021-2027 (ESF+), allows for salary and pension costs for employees, subject to evidenced invoice payments.

In addition to those programmes, implementation of the Our Rural Future policy has delivered vital investment and supports across Government. Budget 2027 has provided a total of €208 million for the continued delivery of Rural Development schemes, which makes significant capital funds available to our local authorities and communities for projects that make towns and villages more attractive and vibrant places to live, work, and visit.

Finally, my Department’s Islands Unit provides support for the community development structures on the non-Gaeltacht islands through Comhar na nOileáin, which includes support for employing development officers.

Information on all schemes operated by my Department is available at www.gov.ie/drcdg