Dara Calleary
Mayo · Fianna Fáil · Ireland
“Agriculture is the backbone. We have all been in the Mansion House today, or everyone has said they were anyway. Energy security is key and crucial. Everybody wants energy security but nobody wants wind energy. We have to strike a balance and get a real discussion, but food security is most important.”
“While we have gaps there, we are addressing them. The Minister, Deputy Carroll MacNeill, has announced the minor injury units, which will take the pressure off major hospitals and ensure services are available.”
“Recent figures from the CSO show that there is a 5.8% increase in the number of people living in rural areas between 2016 and 2022. In areas classified as highly rural and remote, the increase was 6.4%.”
“Enterprise Ireland is investing in Irish-owned, Irish-founded companies. Similarly, 59% of IDA investments were located outside the Dublin region. We will continue to work, looking at the progress we can make through the IDA, Enterprise Ireland and, as Senator O'Loughlin said, through supporting our local enterprise offices.”
“That is something we do daily and they are used where is necessary. The plan will be supported by ambitious, clear, practical and measurable actions. I have spoken to some of the funding programmes available within my Department.”
“Táim tar éis cuairt a thabhairt ar gach ceantar Gaeltachta chun plé fairsing a dhéanamh leis na pobail sin chun a fháil amach uathu féin cén cineál tacaíochta ar féidir a chur ar fáil dóibh chun cabhrú leo. Táim chun leanúint ar aghaidh leis an obair sin sa bhuiséad le teacht agus na buiséid eile.”
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“I am also increasing the base rate of the wage subsidy scheme to €7.50 per hour, which is a vital measure for employers when recruiting, and now retaining, people with disabilities. In the programme for Government, we have set out an ambitious goal to abolish the means test for carers over the life of the Government. In budget 2026, we are increasing the income disregard for a single person by €375 a week to €1,000. That is an increase of 60% and means that a single person who provides full-time care but does some part-time work can earn just over €54,000 per year from that work and receive a full carer’s payment. In parallel, I am also increasing the income disregard for a couple by 60%, or €750, to €2,000 per week.”
“A key issue is encouraging their employers to adapt their workplaces to help those employees stay in work. The wage subsidy scheme, which provides a wage subsidy to employers who employ disabled people of between €6.93 and €9.45 per hour, is currently only available when an employer hires a new worker who is currently in receipt of a disability payment. From next year, the subsidy will be available to people who are already in work and who acquire a disability that would qualify them to move onto a disability payment. This addresses a critical issue of supporting employers to hold on to their workers who become disabled. The worker will be able to qualify for a partial capacity benefit payment and the employer will be able to receive a wage subsidy.”
“Other measures announced by the Minister on budget day, but which do not require primary legislation in the Social Welfare Bill, include a range of improvements to the payment and eligibility to the fuel allowance scheme. The rate of payment will increase by €5 per week to €38 per week during the fuel season. The fuel allowance scheme will be extended to families in receipt of the working family payment, and people on disability allowance and blind pension payments who find employment will be able to keep their fuel allowance payment for five years even after they take up the job. This is important in preventing cliff-edge losses and in reassuring people with disability they will not lose out if they take up employment. Many people acquire an illness or a disability while in work.”
“For pensions, the increase is about 3.5%. The back-to-work family dividend scheme, which allows people to retain their child support payment on taking up a job, will be extended to people on disability allowance and the blind pension. This change will mean that parents who are on a disability payment will continue to receive a full payment of their child support payments for up to four children for the first year and half that amount for the following year. This change is being made now to ensure that families who depend on disability payments have the same income security and support as those on other working age payments when they transition from welfare to full-time employment. The Bill also provides for an increase in the employer PRSI threshold, which reflects the increase in the national minimum wage.”
“The increases will bring the payments up to €58 per week for a child under 12 and €78 per week for a child aged 12 and over, which will directly benefit about 330,000 children whose parents are in receipt of a social welfare payment. There is also an increase in the income threshold for the working family payment by €60 per week for all family sizes. There are about 50,000 families, with over 100,000 children, in receipt of this payment. An increase of €20 per month in the domiciliary care allowance, to €380, will directly benefit about 60,000 households and 70,000 children. There is an increase in the weekly personal rates of payment by €10 per week, with proportionate increases for qualified adults. The increase of €10 in the personal rate is equivalent, this year, to about 4.1% compared to inflation of about 2.7%.”
“The social welfare budget package prioritises measures to support children, which reflects the Government's, the Taoiseach's and my commitment to reduce child poverty over the lifetime of this Government. In total, the social welfare package in budget 2026 contains over €320 million in targeted measures to tackle child poverty. This is a significant investment and is on top of other cross-government child-related measures that are contained in budget 2026. Specifically concerning social protection, the measures included in the Bill provide for the largest ever increase in the child support payment, increases of €8 per week for children under 12 and €16 per week for children aged 12 and over.”
“I move: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time." As colleagues know, Standing Order 174A provides that pre-legislative scrutiny is not required for a social welfare Bill which gives effect to budget measures. This Bill provides the legislative basis for the key social welfare budget measures. It also provides for some technical amendments to the Automatic Enrolment Retirement Savings System Act in advance of the system going live in January, a few short weeks away. Looking first at the social welfare budget measures, the total social protection budget for 2026 is €28.9 billion, an increase of 7.4% on budget 2025. This includes over €1.15 billion in new measures on top of an underlying increase of €930 million for the existing level of service.”
“However, there is no sense in us passing legislation unless it can actually work on the ground, and unless, when somebody needs that service, the service is available to them at the point at which they need it. A transport service is essential for many when they make that decision. Senator Ryan spoke about Cork North-West. I want to make sure that when people need it, it is there and it works. That is why I reiterate my intention to engage with Senator Stephenson and, most importantly, with Cuan and the providers in this space, so we can provide a system that works when somebody needs it. If it is not there, if we provide the entitlement and it is not there when somebody needs it, that would be a worse situation.”
“I want to work with the Senator and the providers in this space. I want to work especially with Cuan. We have already tasked a senior officials’ group of the Government to look at the Bill and get working on it. I am working with the Minister, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, in the Department of Transport, which has been assigned responsibility for this within the domestic violence strategy. I have not worked with Senator Stephenson before. The Senators in the House who have worked with me know that I will not tell you I can do it if I cannot do it. If I am saying it is a timed amendment, I am not saying that I am not going to talk to the Senator for 12 months. The work is getting under way as to how we make this happen and action this, but I share the Senator’s intent and ambition.”
“Those payments are available through the community welfare officers. We are moving many of our services online to give people that confidential option of seeking that service online and not having to engage with somebody they may know in their community to seek those supports. Through mywelfare.ie , that kind of support will be available to give the person further confidence in this regard. We often use additional needs payments to assist victims of domestic violence. Travel supplements are being paid in exceptional circumstances where a person has a recurring travel expense but does not have sufficient resources. Those supports are available. I will provide a summary of the supports to all Senators so they have access to that information. I assure the Senator that I am not opposing this Bill in its intent. I want to make it practical.”
“This model may work for a free travel option but, in fact, it may be possible to introduce a simpler approach that does not require multiple handovers, where the service providers themselves can issue a free travel card. I want to take the time to explore this option further, and I had discussions this afternoon with officials as to how that might look and work. It could be done relatively quickly as opposed to establishing a whole new scheme and entitlement. We will engage with Cuan and the Senator on that. I want to make it very clear that my door is always open for engagement pre-legislation and post legislation. Any of our engagements will involve the Senator and the colleagues in her group. We continue to provide additional needs payments as part of the supplementary welfare allowance.”
“As part of the protocol, the accommodation needs of victims of domestic violence are met through a joined-up service delivery model provided by Cuan, with the close involvement of the various housing authorities nationwide. In that case, as officers in my Department are not qualified to adjudicate on domestic violence cases, we have established a protocol based on a referral system by Cuan, or by prescribed and State-funded service providers authorised by Cuan. This provides victims of domestic violence with a fast-track approval and screening process, with a simplified means test to get immediate access to rent supplement, so they are not prevented from leaving their home because of financial concerns. In this case, my Department is involved because it funds and provides the rent supplement.”
“Many Senators have spoken about the lack of refuge services in many areas. We want to make sure that, when somebody makes this incredibly brave and very difficult decision, transport will be there if they need it. That is the kind of work I want to do. The timed amendment is 12 months but I assure the Senator that we will have a lot of work done quickly on this. We are engaged with senior officials’ groups, and we will engage with Cuan and a number of providers as to how we can quickly move this on. While we do that, my Department continues to support initiatives to help victims of domestic violence. Easier access to the rent supplement scheme is available to victims of domestic violence. A protocol to assist victims of domestic violence in accessing the rent supplement was introduced in August 2020.”
“We want to engage with Local Link operators as to how we can provide services that would be needed urgently in these areas. I assure the Senator of my support for the Bill but I need time to work through the logistics. I assure her it is not being put on the long finger. This is an urgent situation for those seeking to flee. They need support and confidence that the support is there. It is most important that we do not make supports available only for them not to work when a person needs them, often at very short notice. We accept the principle of the Bill but I want to make sure that, when we expand this service, it will work and that, when a woman needs it urgently, she will know it will be there for her. There is no sense in giving the benefit if we cannot provide an accessible service. I want to make sure that happens on the ground.”
“As I have said, services for victims of domestic violence are co-ordinated by Cuan and, regardless of where and who we reach through front-line providers, Cuan will be centrally involved in my work on this matter. Senator Harmon spoke about the scheme in Northern Ireland. I want to look at that scheme and to incorporate elements here to ensure there are no differences between the schemes. We must also look at transport providers. A number of Senators who spoke are from rural constituencies. We know the difficulties there are in accessing rural transport rapidly. Taxis are not necessarily available in rural areas in the way they are in cities. Every other service is timetabled. However, the new TFI Anseo service is being trialled in a number of places. This provides a daily service for much longer.”
“The entitlement is not separately assessed but is automatically enabled once a person is in receipt of the underlying payment. The free travel functionality is attached to the card and is integrated into the tap-and-pay terminals of most transport operators. What Senator Stephenson is proposing is essentially a short-term travel card option that is not associated with a welfare payment. Entitlement conditions would have to be established and eligibility to access this free travel entitlement would be assessed by a competent provider. It is not clear whether this would be best delivered by the Department of Social Protection rather than a service provider supported by Cuan.”
“That is why I am putting forward a timed amendment. It is not about opposing or delaying the Bill. We want to do this in the best way possible. The timed amendment will allow time to explore options with all of the relevant service providers and stakeholders to ultimately provide the best solution we can. In putting forward the timed amendment, I note that what is proposed in the Bill is a short-term scheme linked and limited to specific domestic violence offences. The scheme the Senator is proposing is very different from the free travel scheme that is funded and operated by the Department of Social Protection. That scheme is designed to support recipients of long-term social welfare payments and is provided as a service feature on the qualifying persons public services card. It is not time-limited.”
“Budget 2026 has allocated over €80 million to Cuan and other services that are supporting victims and survivors of gender-based and domestic violence. While it may seem simple to add a short-term free travel option for victims of domestic violence onto one of the existing free travel schemes, for example, the scheme for recipients of long-term social welfare payments, it may be more appropriate and speedier and provide a better solution for those victims of domestic violence to offer this option as part of a package of services and supports provided through Cuan. This would mean service users seeking support with transport costs could do so through the existing service providers supported by Cuan. These providers are experts in the field of domestic violence and are already helping victims with accommodation and other services.”
“I assure the House that this is a priority for the Government but I want to make sure it is practical and can be implemented meaningfully and rapidly. We already provide a range of services and supports for victims of domestic violence through a number of Government Departments. The most important thing is that we integrate any new services such as this in an effective manner. Cuan was established as a response to those who looked for a joined-up service. It was established by the Minister, Deputy McEntee, to tackle and reduce domestic and gender-based violence. It has been given the very specific remit of delivering services and supports to victims of domestic violence. Since its establishment, it has been working hard to deliver on that remit.”
“Gabhaim buíochas leis na Seanadóirí. Déanaim comhghairdeas leis an Seanadóir Stephenson as an mBille seo. Nílimid i gcoinne an Bhille. Táim an-soiléir faoi sin ach tá a lán obair le déanamh againn. Those who know me will know I am not in the business of putting things on the long finger. I want this to work but I want to make sure it is workable and practical. That is why we have proposed a timed amendment. We have a work plan as part of that. This is not kicking the can down the road and saying that no work will be done for 12 months. I will go through that with the Senators. I commend Senator Stephenson and congratulate her on her first Bill. I welcome her colleagues from the Lower House. I look forward to working with her on a lot of issues.”
“Absolutely. I assure the Senator of my commitment to the LIS. I am engaging with officials on it. There are disparities in the funding per km across local authorities and I want to get a national standard on that. If we get a national standard, that will result in more roads being done in the counties that are delivering. I am also looking at the level of expenditure. Sometimes we gold-plate roads, as it were, when that is not necessary. We need to give a workable surface that people can travel on; we do not need gold-plating. If we can come to an agreement on the standard that is safe and efficient but not gold-plated, we will cover an awful lot more roads and give people a lot more access to their homes, farms and property.”
“I assure the Senator his suggestion in relation to that is something I will keep very much alive. This is a very important scheme. I have made it a priority in the Department since my appointment in January. The officials in the Department know this is a priority for me. The money we were able to allocate in August was money that resulted in savings from other schemes within the Department. I was determined to ensure this money would be invested in the LIS. I continue to keep the scheme under review and to support the counties that spend the money efficiently and on time and do not return LIS funds to the Department.”
“While my Department provides funding for the scheme, it is administered by local authorities. They are responsible for managing the waiting lists and scheme applications and for determining the eligibility of roads. My officials are engaging closely with Kerry County Council. While in previous years, a small number of local authorities, not including Kerry, did not spend their full allocations and returned the money, I have insisted to colleagues in local government that this must not happen again. To try to limit this happening and to maximise works completed, my Department officials are engaging with each local authority to understand where full spending may not occur and the potential to redistribute funds to local authorities that will be in a position to utilise them.”
“Last August, I was delighted to be able to provide an additional round of funding to local authorities for 2025. It was almost double the previous allocation committed. It saw the 2025 budget increase to €30 million. As the Senator has said, Kerry County Council was given €1.2 million in additional funding, bringing the total funding for Kerry in 2025 to over €2.2 million. The council has confirmed that it is utilising this funding to make good approximately 38 roads in the county this year. Since 2017, Kerry has been allocated some €11.6 million in LIS funding. I am committed to ensuring the scheme continues to be well funded in the coming years. As part of budget 2026, my Department has received €17 million in LIS funding for the scheme next year. This represents an increase on the base funding announced in recent years.”
“I thank Senator Kennelly for raising this issue. As he knows, the LIS is a programme for improvement works on small private or non-public roads in rural areas that are not normally maintained by local authorities. The scheme is funded by my Department but administered through the local authorities. It is important to note that the focus of the scheme is supporting the continued improvement of non-public rural roads and laneways that would not normally be regularly maintained by local authorities. As we both agree, these roads are vital pieces of infrastructure for rural residents. The scheme was reintroduced in 2017, and since then the Government has allocated almost €184 million allocated to local authorities. The programme for Government commits to the provision of additional funding for the LIS.”
“Certainty is in what we have given to date. Funding has been provided over a number of years. There is certainty through the scheme to support national organisations and that gives the backup for the infrastructure. We work very closely with the IMSA. It has just finished a consultation process with local men's sheds as to what it will be looking for grant-wise. We want that process to be completed so that we will be in a position to fund them to get the money out to the local sheds. We are also putting money into women's sheds to ensure they set up a national organisation in a similar way. The example I gave, the Irish Shows Association, demonstrates it can be done efficiently on an annual basis. At this point I do not see any need for multi-annual funding. Certainty of funding is shown every year.”
“We have continued the funding to the men's sheds. We also have similar funding in place for agriculture shows across the country, which we fund through the Irish Shows Association. When we are making the investment, it is far more efficient to make it through a national representative organisation, which, in turn, can distribute it to local groups. The Irish Shows Association is the model I would recommend to any group.”
“Through the scheme to support national organisations, we do support the IMSA in its infrastructure and scaffolding so that it can distribute the funding. I have commitments and responsibilities in terms of the expenditure of money. I have to be sure the money is spent properly and appropriately and so, when we engage in multi-annual funding with any organisation, it is important for us to ensure it gets to the people we want it to get to. The Minister of State and I have spent a huge amount of our time engaging with this funding to ensure it gets to individual sheds across the country. I have confidence we will be able to do that. As recently as last week, there was a meeting with the facilitator around the women's sheds association to put in place a national framework that will allow us to fund directly.”
“Women's sheds do not currently operate under a national organisation. My Department is unable to provide funding similar to that provided to men's sheds. However, my Department and the Department of Health are working with the women's sheds of Ireland to support their efforts to form a national body, which would thereby allow the Minister of State and me to facilitate access for women's sheds to similar funding to the IMSA.”
“I was pleased to announce a financial package with the IMSA this year, which will enable it to distribute up to €1 million in support to men's sheds across the country. It should also be noted that my Department provides multi-annual funding to the IMSA through the scheme to support national organisations. We continue to engage with the men's sheds regarding the distribution of that money. The Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, and I are focused on ensuring that gets to the sheds. While I understand the desire for multi-annual funding, it would not be possible for my Department to provide multiannual funding to individual men's and women's sheds on an ongoing basis for a variety of reasons. My Department works within the resources it has to provide the best supports possible at this time.”
“I thank the Deputy. The emergence of men’s sheds and women's sheds has been an enormously positive development for communities across Ireland. The Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, and I are fully committed to supporting men's and women's sheds in the valuable work they do. My Department provides funding to men's and women’s sheds under various supports, including the local enhancement programme, the social inclusion and community activation programme and LEADER. Men’s and women's sheds can apply individually for all of these schemes. In addition to these schemes, my Department has channelled funding through the Irish Men’s Sheds Association, IMSA, to distribute directly to men’s sheds.”
“The Deputy can be absolutely assured that I am making a commitment that we will fight for a very comprehensive LEADER allocation going forward.”
“Absolutely. Since 1991, LEADER companies around the country have made a huge difference. LEADER projects have made a massive difference. It was the former Tánaiste and former Commissioner, Ray McSharry, and the former Minister of State and MEP Mark Killilea. Ireland's fingerprints are very much associated with LEADER and the success of LEADER to date. I will be working to ensure our LEADER funding going forward. There is going to be a very different EU funding environment post 2027 but we will have to work to protect LEADER. Since LEADER came on board, we have made the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht. Outside of LEADER, we are continuing to invest substantial funding in rural projects and initiatives, funding that was not in place in the early days of LEADER.”
“I continue to work with Government colleagues, the Minister, Deputy Heydon, and the Minister of State, Deputy Thomas Byrne, to ensure the LEADER programme is well funded into the future and remains a key part of the next MFF. I acknowledge the support of the Minister, Deputy Heydon, and the Minister of State, Deputy Byrne, to date with regard to our work. I will be travelling to the European Parliament in November to continue to lobby and work with our colleagues in the European Parliament on the importance of LEADER in the next MFF.”
“Since its inception in 1991, the programme has empowered bottom-up, community-led rural development in rural communities across Ireland. It has supported thousands of local projects, revitalised rural communities and supported thousands of jobs and important services across Ireland. It is hugely important and as Minister, I am committed to ensuring that the LEADER programme remains a core element of any new CAP framework. To facilitate the current negotiation process for the post-2027 period, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has established a CAP consultative committee, which includes representation from my Department. As part of this committee, my Department continues to advocate for the LEADER programme to remain a core intervention of the new CAP post 2027.”
“As the Deputy knows, the LEADER programme is a multi-annual funding programme. It is cofinanced by the European Commission under the Common Agricultural Policy, CAP. The current LEADER programme is operational across the country as we speak, with total funding of €180 million allocated across local action groups to cover the period 2023 to 2027. When considering LEADER allocations for the post-2027 period, as the Deputy has discussed, the development of the post-2027 CAP and the new regional and national partnership plans is a matter of significant importance to my Department. Ireland has advocated and will continue to advocate for a well-funded and ringfenced EU funding programme that supports farm resilience, environmental ambition and rural development measures such as the LEADER programme.”
“-----that anything within the school year is a matter for the Department of education initially, and if it approves, then we will examine it. Tá scéim na bhfoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge thar a bheith tábhachtach. Tá méadú mór déanta agam agus scéim nua agam an tseachtain seo le cinntiú go mbeidh daoine a bhí sa scéim roimh 2019 in ann leapacha agus mattresses nua a fháil ionas go mbeidh siad ullmhaithe don chéad bhliain eile agus daltaí eile le teacht go dtí a dtithe. Gabhaim buíochas leis na clanna, na mná tí agus fir tí atá chomh tábhachtach do scéim na bhfoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge agus a n-osclaíonn a dtithe i ngach cuid den Ghaeltacht gach bliain.”
“Iarraim ar an Teachta na sonraí a chur chugam. Tá sé tábhachtach go mbaineann gach aon rud laistigh den scoilbhliain leis an Roinn oideachais. Nuair atá sé taobh amuigh den scoilbhliain, tá seans againn é a phlé. When it is inside the existing school year, the Department of education, I think we all agree, must have approval over that. We will work with everyone. If the Deputy wants to send me on the details, I ask him to do so based on that principle-----”
“Therefore, unless a course is recognised by an Roinn oideachais, mura dtugann an Roinn approval go dtí an cúrsa, nílimid in ann airgead a chur ar fáil faoi scéim na bhfoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge. Tá sé tábhachtach go dtosófar leis an Roinn oideachais agus ansin is féidir leis an Teachta teacht ar ais chugam.”
“Absolutely. I want students to learn Irish and to enjoy the experience of attending a summer college. Tá scéim na bhfoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge bunaithe ar dhaltaí ag dul go dtí an Ghaeltacht chun taithí foghlama agus taithí chónaithe sa Ghaeltacht a fháil. Tá sé tábhachtach go bhfuil an Roinn oideachais páirteach sa phróiseas seo. The Department of education plays a very strong role in this. Generally, scéim na bhfoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge involves courses that are outside the school year. I think the Deputy may be talking about school courses that are within the school year laid down by the Department. The Department of education, in the context of the school year, would provide any recommendations to Roinn na Gaeltachta in terms of the courses that it deems are suitable to be recognised.”
“This subsidy is currently worth €14.50 per student per day for recognised households, which is equivalent to €304.50 per student for a three-week course, and €10.50 for recognised hostels or residential colleges. The increase follows the nearly 30% increase in the subsidy rate payable to households and a 90% increase in that paid to residential colleges and hostels since 2022. The subsidy benefits over 27,000 learners per year who stay in any of the 520 Gaeltacht households approved under the scheme. It represents a State investment of almost €6 million annually in the Irish summer colleges sector.”
“The most widely identifiable learners, those we all know of, are those who attend summer college courses from June to August, which cater for young people aged ten - or from third to fifth class - to those aged 19 who are undertaking their leaving cert. The Department also recognises courses which are aimed at third level students, including individuals who are undertaking teacher training, and other adult learners, including public sector workers. In keeping with the spirit of the current programme for Government, which includes a commitment to "Maintain and where possible enhance support for Mná Tí at Gaeltacht summer colleges", I announced an increase to the daily subsidy rate payable to recognised households in July of this year, which was backdated to 31 May.”
“-----ionas nach mbeidh botún san eolas. My Department provides a subsidy under scéim na bhfoghlaimeoirí Gaeilge which is payable to qualifying Gaeltacht households providing accommodation for those attending an Irish course in any of the 40 or so Irish-language colleges that operate under the scheme. The scheme was established over 50 years ago in order to foster language acquisition and enrichment opportunities in the Gaeltacht outside of the education system for learners of the language. The sector caters to a broad demographic of learners from the age of ten years upwards and operates from January to December annually.”
“There has been an extraordinary increase in people using existing forests where trails have been opened, access has been opened and investments have been made in infrastructure and facilities to draw people to forests. I was with the Leas-Cheann Comhairle in Kilkenny earlier in the summer opening up new facilities there. It is extraordinary to see how small investments can totally open up an area and allow people to make full use of their local infrastructure facilities.”
“We funded 59 projects in Galway since 2020 under ORIS with an investment of €4.944 million. There are some really good ones, including the Creggs mountain walk and the Glinsk Heritage Park, which are two really good examples. In relation to the LIS, since 2020 we have funded 195 roads in Galway, an investment of €10.04 million. That is money well spent. As regards ORIS, one of the few good things to come out of Covid was that people embraced the outdoors and, more importantly, their local outdoors. We see it in the increase in people using facilities. We see it particularly in our partnership with Coillte around recreational spaces and forests and where we make investments.”
“I am delighted to be able to tell the Deputy that in 2024 Galway County Council was one of the top six performing local authorities. It had minimal underspend. It is crazy to be able to say that there were local authorities that did not spend their LIS allocation and returned money. I cannot understand that and I am sure, as I look around the Chamber here, none of us can understand that as Deputies who know communities who need that LIS expenditure. That will not happen again.”
“I could not agree with the Deputy more on outdoor recreation. The focus of the ORIS scheme is to support outdoor recreation infrastructure. It funds projects such as walkways, cycleways, blueways, water and cycle trails, mountain-access routes and open water amenities of bogs, rivers, lakes and beaches, including tidal pools. Projects are generally located in the countryside under the scheme. However, we will examine projects that might link a town or a village to an existing outdoor recreational facility in the countryside. We try to align some of the principles of ORIS with the national outdoor recreational strategy, Embracing Ireland’s Outdoors, to also maintain and improve existing trails. While we build new ones, existing trails are equally as important. LIS is extremely important and is a major focus for me.”
“Local authorities are responsible for the selection and the prioritisation of those roads, as well as the management of applications and waiting lists. Following my approval in August of additional allocations under the scheme, Galway County Council’s 2025 allocation is now €2.1 million, which is an increase of €843,000 on its original 2025 allocation, and the council has indicated to me that its full allocation will be utilised by year end. Significant levels of investment have been delivered under my Department's rural development investment programme in recent years and I am absolutely committed, along with the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, to ensuring that this funding continues to be utilised in an efficient and effective manner.”
“ORIS provides funding for the development and enhancement of infrastructure such as walking trails, cycleways, water-based recreation sites and mountain trails. It is typically opened every 18 months across a number of different measures. I have already announced the successful projects under measure 1 and the project development measure of the 2024-25 scheme. The successful projects under measures 2 and 3 will be announced before the end of this year. Since 2020, almost €5 million has been approved for 58 projects across Galway under ORIS. The local improvement scheme, LIS, is one of the key supports to rural communities in that it improves non-public rural roads and laneways that are not typically maintained by local authorities. While my Department provides funding for the scheme, it is fully administered by local authorities.”
“I thank the Deputy for his question. As part of the ongoing process of co-ordinated scheme delivery across my Department, schemes such as the outdoor recreation infrastructure scheme, ORIS, involve a well-established process of issuing calls for applications, project evaluation and project selection. In general, my Department's schemes are administered on a competitive basis, which underpins the delivery of value for money and the selection of high quality projects. Applications for ORIS are administered, prioritised and submitted by each local authority and by local development companies to my Department for assessment. The process, while reviewed and refined ahead of each funding iteration, is well-embedded across the local authorities and local development companies.”