Parliamentary questions

44. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the role his Department can play in ensuring vital infrastructure is provided to the island communities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [65800/25]

45. Deputy Barry Ward asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the position regarding the work he is undertaking to support the creation of a national body of women’s sheds, similar to what is in place for men’s sheds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [66816/25]

46. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if he will report on their implementation of a rural proofing model. [68521/25]

47. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Mairéad Farrell den Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht an bhfuil sé i gceist aige daoine a fhostú i nGaeltacht Chonamara faoin gClár um Chumhachtú Pobal; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [68518/25]

48. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the reason Kildare, which is the fifth most populated county in Ireland, did not receive an adequate amount of funding from his Department in each of the tranches which have been announced in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68427/25]

49. Deputy Joe Neville asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the number of submissions Kildare County Council have submitted to his Department in 2025; the number of these submissions that have resulted in funding under the different schemes his Department distributes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68426/25]

50. Deputy Pádraig O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the funding available for community groups that are looking to construct capital facilities, particularly community centres; if consideration will be given to providing additional funding for community and voluntary organisations to assist with running costs as currently the grant schemes that ex…

51. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Louise O'Reilly den Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht cén cineál rannpháirtíochta atá aige leis na húdaráis áitiúla, leis an Aire Tithíochta, Rialtais Áitiúil agus Oidhreachta, agus leis an nGníomhaireacht Bainistíochta Rialtais Áitiúil (GBRÁ) maidir le stádas Oifigigh Gaeilge na n-údarás áitiúil. [68471/25]

52. Deputy Edward Timmins asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht regarding the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, the amount which has been allocated to and been spent to date on the scheme since its inception; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68488/25]

53. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht to report on the progress of negotiations regarding the next round of LEADER funding in the context of the EU Multi-Annual Financial Framework; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68341/25]

54. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the efforts his Department are making to encourage the public to utilise the asset of the public library network. [68346/25]

55. Deputy Paula Butterly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if, as a result of the introduction of auto-enrolment and the increase in the minimum wage that come into effect from January 2026, additional consideration and funding has been provided to all Departments responsible for community groups and/or organisations that rely on State funding, in response t…

56. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the reason for the cut in LEADER funding for 2026; and the breakdown of the reductions. [68472/25]

57. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht to provide an update on the progress of the national plan for the Irish language in the public service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67895/25]

58. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht when he intends to review the National map of CLÁR funding areas that designates who can apply for funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68307/25]

59. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht his plans to address funding issues in the community sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67641/25]

60. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh den Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht an bhfuil sé i gceist aige go mbeidh Bille Údarás na Gaeltachta (Leasú) 2024 achtaithe in am ionas go mbeidh na toghcháin eagraithe ar an dáta céanna leis an bhfo-thoghchán atá beartaithe do Gaillimh Thiar; agus an bhfuil sé i gceist aige cúramaí maidir le cúrsaí tithíochta a chur isteach s…

61. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if he will outline the achievements of the Community Services Programme last year; the outlook for next year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68147/25]

62. Deputy Conor D. McGuinness asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the planned 2025 funding allocation for the local improvement scheme (LIS); and if he will provide additional supports to local authorities with significant LIS backlogs. [68474/25]

63. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the provisions that have been made by Pobal and similar organisations under the remit of his Department, to ensure that organisations funded by them are sufficiently resourced to comply with the pension auto enrolment commitments for qualifying staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. […

64. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht for an update on the refurbishment of Mayfield Library and St. Joseph’s community centre. [67571/25]

65. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if he is considering a reintroduction of the RAPID programme in the coming year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68433/25]

66. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the number of applications received per year 2023-2024 and per county for funding under the Community Recognition Fund; the number that were successful and unsuccessful, respectively, in each county; the allocation that will be provided to each county in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matt…

67. Deputy Naoise Ó Cearúil asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht the measures being taken to ensure the long-term sustainability of organisations supported under the Community Services Programme, in light of increased funding allocations in Budget 2025 and Budget 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68389/25]

68. Deputy Paul Lawless asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht if he is satisfied that the €2 million increase for Foras na Gaeilge in Budget 2026 is sufficient to resolve the persistent North/South funding crisis which restricts the organisation’s operations; and the urgent steps that will be taken to ensure language organisations are not forced to impose further…