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

There are many community centres around the country, which is why we opened this scheme to refurbish existing facilities. There is no doubt that some of them need a good bit of work. During the Covid period, they were not able to fundraise and carry out the type of annual work they do. We now have this fund in place and it is very popular. We got more than 1,000 applications, which, when one adds them all up, amount to a funding request of €72 million. That is a large amount. There is a lot of interest in it and I am delighted with that because it shows there is a need for the scheme. The money is going where it will be used and spent.

I am aware that there are areas that have had population growth and where a new community centre is badly needed. I am looking at a scheme for new centres. Deputies Grealish and Ó Cuív, Senator Kyne and the other Galway representatives, including Deputy Connolly, met with me to raise this issue very forcefully. There is one project in Galway that is shovel ready. I am looking at a scheme for new centres, which is all I can say to Deputy Stanton. Any support he can give me in getting a new stream of funding for new community centres would be most welcome.

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