Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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244. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth further to Parliamentary Question No.538 of 13 February 2024, what progress has been made since that reply by his Department regarding the purchase of a hotel (details supplied) to become a community hotel; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20056/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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A whole of government humanitarian response to the war in Ukraine and the increase in those seeking International Protection is ongoing, and a range of measures have been put in place to respond to local need and the potential pressures on services.

At a sectoral level, individual departments have put in place processes to ensure there are systems to allow an appropriately targeted response to increased demands at local level.

There are also a number of supports in place which fall under the responsibility of my colleague, the Minister for Rural and Community Development. For example, the Community Recognition Fund is currently open for applications, which seeks to support community-led projects in areas that have accommodated significant levels of new arrivals. Roscrea was also funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development (DRCD) to develop a Town Centre First Plan to address the key priorities for the sustainable development of Roscrea. This Plan specifically recognises the importance of the issue of the Grant’s Hotel property, and the DRCD is in ongoing consultation with the local authority in this regard.

In addition, at a local level, I understand that Tipperary County Council has identified a funding source, the EU Just Transition fund (administered by Fáilte Ireland), to progress opportunities for Roscrea.