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

I often find it is good if communities talk to other communities that have been successful. I have seen over the years that some communities are better than others at completing application forms. There has to be capacity building, which I accept. Cork City Council submitted an application for a new-build community centre at Newton Heights, Boherboy Road, Cork city, and that was successful. The community were able to come together and work with the local authority, and they got the application in. I would say to the community in Fair Hill that they should take advice and have a conversation with the community in Boherboy, but also work with the local authority. This has to come through the local authority, which has a community section. The community need to engage with the local authority and work with it.

I will not be found wanting and I have not been found wanting in supporting community centres across the country. Some 680 projects were funded through the last fund and there were 30 grants for new-build community centres. It is successful. We will not be found wanting but they have to come together themselves and work with the local authority. That is the process.

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