Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The community recognition fund was first introduced in 2023 to recognise the huge efforts made by communities in welcoming and supporting people coming to Ireland.

Through the 2023 allocation €50 million in funding was approved for some 900 projects. To further support communities a further €50 million in funding was announced under community recognition last March. The additional funding is specifically targeted at projects located in cities, towns and villages that are hosting beneficiaries of temporary protection or international protection applicants.

In August 2024 €16.4 million was approved to deliver 185 community projects across the country.

On 24 February, together with the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, I approved over €14 million to deliver 164 projects across the country for the second tranche. The closing date for the third and final tranche has now passed and officials in the Department have commenced the process of reviewing the proposals submitted by each local authority. We will be announcing the successful projects under the tranche in the coming months.

My immediate priority is to get the remaining projects approved and ensure the €100 million already allocated for the scheme is fully delivered to ensure all funded projects are completed as quickly as possible. To do that, we will continue to consider how we can further support towns and villages that are welcoming people. Any decision in respect of a further round of funding under the community recognition fund will be considered in the context of those deliberations and the annual budgetary process.

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