Parliamentary questions

113. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the success that has been achieved in reaching the over 150 commitments in the Our Rural Future document; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38410/26]

114. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht for an update on the number of working hubs operating in Cork as part of Connected Hubs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37548/26]

115. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil den Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht cad é méid iomlán an mhaoinithe a chuirfear ar fáil do Scéim na bhFoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge i 2026; conas atá an maoiniú sin ag teacht le cuspóirí Straitéis 20 Bliain don Ghaeilge; agus an bhfuil tuilleadh infheistíochta beartaithe aige don earnáil i mBuiséad 2027. [38370/26]

116. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if he will expand the My Open Library programme; if he will support the development of libraries as inclusive third spaces; if he will provide funding to enhance sensory-friendly facilities in public libraries in Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37314/26]

117. Deputy Michael Cahill asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht for an update on the regeneration schemes his Department is funding in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38144/26]

118. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the engagement he has had with other Departments and State agencies to support hotels in rural communities and small towns. [37795/26]

119. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the funding allocated to Cavan and Monaghan County Councils for lane improvements works under the local improvement scheme in each year 2020 to 2025 and the proposed allocations for 2026. [37794/26]

120. Deputy Darren O'Rourke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht in relation to the LEADER programme, the measures that have been funded for climate change mitigation and adaptation; the funding allocated to LEADER in budget 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37330/26]

121. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the level of funding provided for the local improvement scheme in 2026; if further consideration will be given to the provision of additional funding in 2026 for this scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38301/26]

122. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if he will provide an update on the work being carried out by his Department to ensure the viability of community centres and community and voluntary organisations in County Louth, through the provision of capital and non-capital funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38263/26]

123. Deputy Albert Dolan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the steps he is taking to address vacancy and dereliction in towns and villages across Galway East, including the expansion of the town and village renewal scheme and support for community-led regeneration projects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38279/26]

124. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht when details of the next outdoor recreation investment scheme will be announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38300/26]

125. Deputy John Paul O'Shea asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht for an update on the publication of Our Rural Future 2026–2030; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37547/26]

126. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht when he will open the next phase of town centre first applications. [38217/26]

127. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht to provide an update on the Town Centre First policy; if he believes it is achieving its stated aims; the evidence he would point to suggest this; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38221/26]

128. Deputy Emer Currie asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht to expand the town and village renewal scheme to support suburban Dublin villages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38003/26]

129. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if consideration is being given to establishing a dedicated annual maintenance and operational support fund for volunteer-led rural community centres in recognition of the growing cost of maintaining community infrastructure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38265/26]

130. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if consideration is being given to introducing a cost-escalation or inflation support mechanism for approved community projects under schemes such as the Community Centre Investment Fund and CLÁR where projects face significant increases in construction and material costs between approval and delivery;…

131. Deputy John Clendennen asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht his Department’s response to the findings and recommendations of the OECD Review of Rural Development in Ireland, published in February 2026; the specific actions being considered to address these recommendations in County Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38302/26]

132. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht to provide an update on the development of a new RAPID (Revitalising Areas through Planning, Investment and Development) programme, which was allocated €5 million in capital funding in budget 2026; when it is likely that the programme will be launched; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [382…

133. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht to outline whether his Department intends to extend supports similar to the recent funding provided to men’s sheds to sister sheds groups; to indicate the way in which the Department assesses community demand and eligibility for such supports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38371/…

134. Deputy Catherine Callaghan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if he will expand the CLÁR initiative to recognise the challenges faced by hospitality providers in CLÁR areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38297/26]

135. Deputy Liam Quaide asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht whether his Department uses population growth, demographic need, deprivation, disability access, public transport access and existing amenity deficits when assessing applications under community and rural development funding schemes; whether any formal weighting is applied to large and growing towns th…

136. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the supports available for capital development of men’s sheds projects around the country. [37830/26]

137. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht to confirm when Our Rural Future 2026–2031 policy will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38266/26]