A budget package worth €472 million for 2025 for rural and community development was announced today (Friday, October 4) by Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys and Minister of State, Joe O’Brien.

The funding forms part of the government’s commitment to its development policy ‘Our Rural Future’, which has over €212 million in funding available.

These include the Rural Regeneration and Development Scheme, the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme and LEADER.

Additional funding will be provided for the Local Improvement Scheme, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and CLÁR, bringing their funding levels to €15 million, €20 million, and €11 million respectively in 2025.

A total of €260 million is available for the department’s Community Development Programmes, including the work of the Charities Regulatory Authority.

The two main schemes in this area, the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme, and the Community Services Programme, will have combined core funding of over €100 million for 2025.

Rural and community development

The funding will support the ongoing promotion of social inclusion measures and the provision of vital community services throughout the country.

The allocation for Community Development also provides funding of €22 million under the Community Centre Investment Fund– an increase of €1 million in 2025 – to support the upgrade, renovation and refurbishment of community centres across the country.

The department’s funding includes an additional €3.4 million for dog control work, including €1.4 million to promote responsible dog ownership, and once off capital of €2 million in 2025 to improve dog control infrastructure.

Minister Humphreys said: “There are now more people living in Rural Ireland, more people working in Rural Ireland and there is more investment in Rural Ireland than ever before.

“I have no doubt these positive developments will continue through the delivering of the investment secured as part of Budget 2025.”

Budget 2025 also provides €13 million to assist with the community response to the Ukraine crisis, for work to be completed under SICAP, the recently launched Community Connection Project and through volunteering supports.

This will help to assist and integrate arrivals from Ukraine and other countries into local communities throughout the country.

Separately, there is €25 million for projects approved under the Community Recognition Fund, which is a €100 million fund developed in recognition of the contribution being made by communities in welcoming arrivals from Ukraine and other countries.