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

I thank the Deputies. I think Deputy Gould will appreciate this as well. I visited his area last year. The residents of Fairhill also have a need in this regard. We can be supporters; we cannot be first movers in this situation. This is primarily a competency for the local authority, which, if it moves forward and has a plan, we are happy to support through the various funds we have available.

I would also mention the community activities fund, under which Cork City Council was allocated €307,000 last year. That was a fund to support community and voluntary funds affected by Covid-19 but it also supported its community centres' running costs, insurance bills and utilities as well as improvements to facilities. It can provide the funds necessary for repairs and the purchasing of equipment as well. I absolutely take the Deputy's points, however. We are happy to meet at a support level but not as a first mover on this.

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