Parliamentary questions

912. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the specific measures being explored to enhance access to finance, innovation supports, and market diversification for SMEs in light of global economic uncertainty (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14223/25]

913. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development ; his plans to scale up enterprise hubs, digital infrastructure, and rural SME supports to ensure local businesses can grow and create sustainable employment (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14224/25]

914. Deputy Peter Roche asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development his views on the vital role SMEs play in local economies; if the Government is committed to accelerating these supports; if so, the timeline envisaged for implementation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14225/25]

514. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if his Department offers financial support grants or programmes to community sports teams (details supplied) travelling abroad for training camps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12965/25]

515. Deputy Aidan Farrelly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the total number of copper communication lines within his Department currently in active operation and for which his Department is paying for on a monthly basis inclusive of ISDN, PTSN and copper-based lease lines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12992/25]

516. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the details of any secondments from consulting firms to his Department since 2020; the consulting firm involved; the purpose of the secondment; the durations of the secondments; who paid the salary of the individual seconded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13189/25]

517. Deputy Mark Ward asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the criteria for a community horse project to be included in Pobal funding; the programmes that Pobal can offer for a community horse project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13246/25]

518. Deputy Matt Carthy asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if his Department, or any agency under his Department’s remit, have, since 1 November 2024, entered any contract in respect of a hotel (details supplied) or have had any discussions, or received any offers, in respect of using this premises for any reason; the details of same; and if he will make a statement on the matt…

1935. Deputy Peter 'Chap' Cleere asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if a review has been carried out of the eligibility criteria for CLAR with a view to expanding the programme to rural areas which are currently ineligible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12353/25]

1936. Deputy James Geoghegan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he will outline his Department’s policy on illegal puppy farming; if he will provide an update on the progress made under this policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10631/25]

1937. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the total amount in local contributions from residents and landowners, per local authority, under the local improvement scheme since 2016; the number of roads improved in each of these local authority areas in the corresponding period; the total length/area of road completed, in tabular form; and if he will make a statemen…

1938. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amounts sought by each local authority and subsequently granted to each local authority under the local improvement scheme for each year since 2016, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10654/25]

1939. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if value for money reviews are carried out on local improvement scheme allocations to local authorities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10659/25]

1940. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the local improvement scheme allocation for each of the years 2020 to date in 2025; the number of outstanding local improvement scheme roads; the value of outstanding roads awaiting improvement; the amount initially sought by each local authority; if all the funding allocated from both tranches of funding was drawn; and if…

1941. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department has identified any circumstances in local authorities where funding was drawn down under the local improvement scheme in respect of roads that were not completed at the time of drawdown; if so, if she will identify the local authorities that were involved and list each such instancy; and if he will make a…

1942. Deputy Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development what plan his Department has to address the problem of dog attacks on sheep farms in south Wicklow, including expansion and resourcing of the dog warden system; if consideration has been given to the request from farm organisations that his Department take control of the entire dog control system; and if he…

1943. Deputy Ryan O'Meara asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the next round of CLÁR funding for developing community facilities and amenities grants will open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10804/25]

1944. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development for an update regarding the opening of the town and village renewal scheme for 2025. [10827/25]

1945. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when successful projects under category 2 of the Community Centres Investment Fund 2024 will be announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10830/25]

1946. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development for a list of men’s sheds in Dublin south west. [10976/25]

1947. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development to outline whether the Government intends to reinstate the annual men’s sheds grants of up to €3000 per shed per year for the next five years; if he is considering allocating resources to an organisation (details supplied) for the provision of essential services on the ground, on a regional basis to ensure the good gov…

1948. Deputy Louis O'Hara asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if funding will be provided for a new library in Athenry, County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11029/25]

1949. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if all persons that are recruited to work in his Department and all the related agencies of his Department are fully vetted before they are employed by his Department and or said agencies. [11090/25]

1950. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if his Department will engage with a community services group (details supplied) regarding its application to the community services programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11149/25]

1951. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he will outline the current and forthcoming streams of funding for new library buildings for the coming years. [11172/25]