The Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht () is a department of the Government of Ireland. It is led by the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht.
Departmental team The headquarters and ministerial offices of the department are on Leinster Street South, Dublin. The departmental team consists of the following: Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht: Dara Calleary, TD Minister of State at the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht with special responsibility for community development, charities, Gaeltacht and the islands: Jerry Buttimer, TD. Buttimer is also a Minister of State at the Department of Transport. Secretary General of the Department: Mary Hurley
Structure The department has the following divisions:
Corporate Affairs and Strategic Development Community Development Rural Development and Regional Affairs Gaeltacht and Irish Language
Aegis bodies The following bodies are under the aegis of the department:
Western Development Commission Údarás na Gaeltachta Foras na Gaeilge Ulster-Scots Agency An Coimisinéir Teanga Pobal Water Safety Ireland Charities Regulator
Schemes Rural: Town and Village Renewal scheme, Rural Recreation Infrastructure Scheme, Rural Walks Scheme, Rural Development Fund, CLÁR, LEADER programme, Tidy Towns competition, Dormant Accounts Fund (also supporting disadvantaged urban communities).
Community: Social Inclusion and Community Programme, Community Facilities Scheme, Revitalising Areas by Planning, Investment and Development (RAPID) Programme, Libraries Investment Programme, Seniors Alert Scheme, Community and Voluntary Supports Programme, National Organisations Supports Programme, PEACE Programme.
History The Department of Rural and Community Development was created by the Ministers and Secretaries (Amendment) Act 2017 as part of the reorganisation of governmental departments in the government of Leo Varadkar. The divisions had previously existed within the same department between 2002 and 2010 in the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs.
Transfer of functions Date Change19 July 2017Establishment of the Department of Rural and Community Development26 July 2017Transfer of Charities from the Department of Justice and Equality27 July 2017Transfer of Rural Affairs from the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs27 July 2017Transfer of Community Development from the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government1 January 2018Transfer of Community Services Programme from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection1 June 2018Transfer of Water Safety from the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government23 September 2020Transfer of Islands from the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht1 June 2025Transfer of Irish Language and the from the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media1 June 2025Transfer of Dog control to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine2 June 2025Renamed as the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht
References
External links