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

I thank the Deputy. He is correct. Sometimes there are many different funding streams and organisations are not sure which one to apply for. I will engage with local authorities and various other groups to give them briefings on the different funding streams and what they are targeted towards.

The first port of call for any community group applying for funding through my Department is the local authority. I have encouraged local authorities, through community officers and LEADER companies, to try to build capacity within communities to help them submit applications. The one place any organisation needs to go for funding is the local authority. We need a joined up approach. I will meet local authorities very soon and we will go through all of the different funding streams and explain in detail what they relate to so that there is no duplication in applications. Many of the applications we receive are for sports capital grants. Other funding is available for tourism projects, through Fáilte Ireland or the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. Local authorities should provide that joined up approach.

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