Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Harkin for her comments. I will make two points regarding community centres. We tried to fund them, where possible, through the Dormant Accounts Fund. That was not so much for the day-to-day running, because the community services programme does that where we pay for the manager and staffing. That is already there and we did not cut that back in any way. We have actually been very lenient concerning that scheme. Turning to repairs to community centres, a small fund exists. I came under pressure in this regard. It should not be me because it is the local authorities in some cases and voluntary groups in 90% of cases who own these centres. Some of these centres got into difficulty last year. I set up a small fund under dormant accounts where applications can be made for repairs but not for day-to-day running of the centres.

Regarding drawing down funding from the Covid-19 stability fund, I wanted to get an immediate reaction for groups in difficulty, particularly where their funding had been cut because they were not able to raise the funding as they did previously. That fund has now been set up and I am waiting for it to be adjudicated on. Regarding all of the other services, including the community enhancement programme, I gave €2.5 million to the local authorities so they could deal with local problems and especially with local services. There was one direction, and that was that any front-line services were to get priority. I let the local authorities make their own decisions regarding the community and I got that money out and delivered to them for that scheme and all the other schemes.

Regarding LEADER, the next Minister can make the decision as to how it will be administered. My concern now is that we get some funding, from Europe or central government, to cover the gap between the closing of this scheme and the opening of a new scheme. That is very important. Negotiations have been put on again for another year, and something has to be done in the meantime concerning getting some funding for those companies to continue. I will not get into the row. I think-----

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