Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I thank the committee for the opportunity to present this request for substantive and technical Supplementary Estimates for the Department of Rural and Community Development. The substantive Estimate comprises: an additional €10 million in funding for the local improvement scheme; an additional €2 million in current funding for social inclusion supports, through the community connection project and an additional €218,157 for payroll within the Department and its agencies, to reflect costs from the recent pay agreement.

The proposed technical Estimate covers the following: a movement of €6 million to fund demand under the community centre investment fund, with this fund moving from the community recognition fund; the movement of €3 million into the Leader programme, to meet demand, with €2.125 million from libraries capital and €875,000 from the community recognition fund; the movement of €2 million in capital funding to the dog control area, with this coming from the rural regeneration and development area. This funding is essential for improvements to dog-pound facilities. I am also seeking to move €1 million in islands' funding from capital to current, given the costs for transport services to the islands. Similarly, under the first part, I am seeking to move €1.45 million from capital to current expenditure. In the context of the Dublin north-east inner city initiative, there is a requirement to move €1.42 million from current to capital.

The substantive Supplementary Estimate totals approximately €12.2 million and the technical Supplementary Estimate totals approximately €14.78 million. The additional €10 million in funding for the local improvement scheme allowed me to announce a funding package of €40 million for 2024 and 2025 in April of this year. This will see more than 1,000 roads improved across the country. This is a record level of funding for a scheme which I have supported very strongly in recent years. The additional €2 million in funding enabled the community connection project, which has seen 30 community link workers employed in local development companies. Their role is to help build community resilience against misinformation and prejudice, by working with local communities before, during and after the arrival of international protection applicants.

The technical Supplementary Estimate is necessary to manage different levels of demand and delivery over the year since the original Estimates were brought forward. Delays in delivery of some library projects have resulted in a saving that I can use for the Leader programme. Delivery under the community recognition fund has also been a bit slower than I had hoped for. Therefore, I am using funds allocated for that area to meet additional demand under the Leader programme and the community centre investment fund. This reallocation does not impact on the level of approvals and expenditure under the community recognition fund, with the remaining bills for the first call under the fund having to be paid in 2025, as they arise.

The movements allow us to best manage spending across the different schemes. I am also allocating €2 million in capital funding to the dog control area for improvements to pound facilities and dog control infrastructure, with the funding moving from rural regeneration and development. I have put a strong focus on this policy area over the last couple of years and this funding will help to support the local authorities in implementing the new regulations on XL bully dogs.

Overall, 2024 has been another year of very strong delivery by the Department, with these movements of funds representing only very small adjustments to a budget of more than €430 million. These movements, along with some movements between capital and current, will allow my Department to put its resources to best use in supporting rural and urban communities around the country.

I thank the committee for taking the time to consider the Supplementary Estimates and I am happy to answer any questions that might arise. My colleague the Minister of State, Deputy Joe O'Brien, is taking a Private Members' motion in the Dáil Chamber at present.