Budget 2024: €431 million for Rural and Community Development

A budget package worth €431 million has been allocated for Rural and Community Development for 2024.

Over €205 million in funding has been allocated to the department’s Rural Development programme. This will support a host of schemes, including Town and Village Renewal, LEADER and the Rural Regeneration Development Fund.

This includes additional funding for the Local Improvement Scheme and CLÁR, bring their funding levels to €13 million and €8.7 million respectively.

It also provides funding increases for the continued provision of lifeline transport services to our offshore islands and for capital investment on our islands.

Over €225 million has been secured for the department’s Community Development Programmes. The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme, and the Community Services Programme, will have combined core funding of over €100 million.

These schemes support individuals and communities in both rural and urban areas, promoting social inclusion and supporting the provision of vital community services throughout the country.

Budget 2024 also provides €11 million to assist with the community response to the Ukraine crisis, under SICAP and through volunteering supports.

This will fund work to assist and help integrate arrivals from Ukraine into local communities throughout the country.

Funding of €10 million is also being provided to capital projects approved under the Community Recognition Fund, which was developed in recognition of the contribution being made by communities in welcoming and hosting significant numbers of arrivals from Ukraine and other countries.

The allocation for Community Development also provides funding of €21 million to support the Community Centre Investment Fund in 2024 – delivering upgrades to existing centres and allowing investment in new centres where they are needed, in both rural and urban areas.

Budget 2024 will allow for continued strong implementation of Our Rural Future, the whole-of-government policy for rural Ireland, through:

1. Significant capital investment in rural areas through the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (€60 million), the LEADER programme (€44 million), the Town and Village Renewal Scheme (€19 million), CLÁR (€8.7 million), the Local Improvement Scheme (€13 million), and the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (€16 million).

2. Current funding supports which include ongoing support for areas such as the walks scheme; additional funding of €2 million to enable continued support for Tidy Towns and Agriculture Shows, and; an additional €500,000 to promote remote working through the connected hubs initiative.

3. Funding for lifeline transport services and the maintenance and upgrade of essential island infrastructure is increasing from €14.2 to €15 million.

The Community Development funding of over €225 million will allow for:

1. €21 million in funding for the Community Centres Investment Fund – providing funding for upgrade and improvement of existing centres and to support new centres where they are needed, in both rural and urban areas.

2. Combined funding of over €110 million for the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) and the Community Services Programme, including €10 million of supports under SICAP for new arrivals from the Ukraine.

3. Increased supports for a range of community development areas, including an additional €1.5 million for Social Innovation Supports (increasing from €1 million to €2.5 million), an additional €1 million for Local Community Development Committees (increasing from €2 million to €3 million), €500,000 to promote responsible dog ownership, and an additional €400,000 to support Water Safety Ireland (increasing from €1.4 million to €1.8 million).