Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 11 and 13 together.

The community enhancement programme helps community groups to improve facilities in their area. The allocation of funding is weighted towards those communities in most need. It supports a range of investment in all areas of communities, including childcare facilities, playgrounds, recreational facilities, sports grounds, landscaping projects and supports for the elderly.

In 2018, I launched the programme with initial funding of €4.5 million allocated to it in the Vote. As there was significant interest in the programme, I was delighted to be in a position to allocate additional once-off funding to the programme later in the year, with the final amount allocated being €13 million. This included €500,000 that was ring-fenced for men's sheds and women's sheds. More than 3,000 projects across the country were funded, all of which were targeted at enhancing facilities in disadvantaged communities.

There is funding of €4.5 million for the 2019 programme, the same amount that was initially provided in 2018. If savings are identified elsewhere in the Department as the year progresses, then, as a result of its success of last year, I will consider additional funding for the community enhancement programme.

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