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

The Deputy will appreciate my focus is first and foremost on supporting rural communities. That is my priority as Minister for Rural and Community Development. Many of my Department's funding programmes, such as CLÁR and the rural regeneration fund, are specifically targeted at rural towns, villages and parishes. For the larger urban population areas the Government has the urban regeneration and development fund, URDF, under the Department of Housing, Heritage and Local Government. Some very significant projects across the country have been funded under the URDF. In my Department I have introduced the new community centre investment fund, which is available to all communities, be they urban or rural. Where there is population growth we want to ensure families have access to quality community facilities. I have already announced the small-scale grants of up to €25,000 under that fund and hope to announce the larger grants of up to €300,000 in the coming weeks. That funding is to support the upgrade and enhancement of existing community centres.

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