Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the community centre investment fund. It was something I called for while I was a member of Fingal County Council, as well as something I called for in this House. I hope the Minister enjoyed her trip to Hartstown community centre. I again commend the centre management. The Minister saw the passion and joy on the faces there when this substantial amount of funding was awarded. It will secure Hartstown community centre for the future. I also welcome that Fingal County Council is going to take this centre on board and take ownership of it, while the management of and planning regarding this centre remains in the community. My point is that most local authorities have a substantial fund for their own community centres and have used these funds for many years. This has been done through their own capital funding. A specific group of the centres, though, those not owned by local authorities, do not have access to this type of funding. In future, then, as we move on, can we get a bit more targeting concerning these centres?

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