Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. I will start with energy support.

We need to spend what we can this year. The bills are here now. We can look at it again next year, but we cannot spend the 2022 money next year. In fairness, we have been good at getting the money out. We encourage people to submit applications so that we can get the money out as quickly as possible. We cannot carry over money but we can look at it again next year. It should help next year. People need to get applications in quickly. Applications to Pobal for registered charities are open. Local authorities are rolling out the other process, which should not take them long because they previously rolled out supports to community centres, which got a small grant in the past, so they should have a system in place.

The community centres investment fund was a popular fund. It was so popular that on the closing date for applications, 14 July, we had 1,047 applications to the value of almost €71 million. Many of the applications were for energy upgrades. Community centres wanted to put in new windows and improve heating systems. That increases the efficiency of buildings. It was good to see that. In October, I announced 600 successful projects to the value of €12.5 million. There were ineligible applications among those 1,047. The appraisal process for categories 2 and 3 is ongoing and, in the next week or two, I will make an announcement.

In budget 2023, I secured a further €20 million that will be used to fund upgrades and improvements under the recent call for proposals. It should allow a future targeted scheme for new builds of community centres. I know there are communities that have nothing. We will look at a new builds of community centres. Details of the fund will be announced later. When they are announced, I will put them on the Department's website.