Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The funding for the community services programme is €48.89 million, which is the same as last year. I acknowledge an extra €2 million in funding was provided two years ago but it is staying static this year. I am concerned because of the increases in the cost of living we have had over in recent years. The increase in the cost of fuel has a knock-on effect for heating and other bills. It is acknowledged that many of these centres were closed for pretty much the entirety of the past two years and are only getting themselves up and running and on their feet again. Why has there not been an increase for them to reflect the increase in the cost of living?

The community enhancement programme is to be supplemented by a €5 million capital carry-forward. Does this mean that €10 million will go towards the community centres? Have the terms of reference for the allocation of the funding been announced? If not, how close are we to it?