Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. To answer Deputy Gould's initial question about contact with our Department, my Department has not had a direct approach from Ballyvolane residents in relation to the building of a community centre in the area, although I am informed there were meetings between the residents and Cork City Council on the matter.

In terms of the supports we provide, the community centres investment fund, which was recently announced by the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, will be launched shortly. This will support community groups, particularly in disadvantaged areas, with the upgrade and development of their existing community centre facilities. This fund is not intended for the construction of new buildings, however.

My Department also runs a number of smaller capital schemes such as the community enhancement programme, which provides small grants to enhance facilities in disadvantaged areas. Funding is allocated by my Department to each local authority area. Further details of the programme can be found on my Department's website.

Other capital supports available from my Department, such as the LEADER programme and rural regeneration and development fund, have more rural areas as their focus. The urban regeneration fund, covering areas with larger populations, is available within the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, further details of which are available from that Department.

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