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

The Letterkenny cathedral quarter group is working hard on the ground to develop the quarter for the town’s community, tourism and employment, but its members do not believe it is fitting into any of the boxes that would help it get grants and other funding. The Department has provided funding under the rural regeneration fund to purchase derelict properties in rural towns, but there is no similar funding stream for large urban towns. My understanding and that of the group is that the only stream for urban areas is given to local authorities, not community groups.

Just across the Border, funding has been granted under the shared island programme for the purchase of derelict properties in the Fountain area of Derry on behalf of the New Gate Arts and Culture Centre. Will the Minister consider this funding stream or create a new one for groups like the one in Letterkenny? What that group is looking for does not fit into the urban scheme, with local authorities instead getting funding for local areas.

See this speech in context