Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

82. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will conduct a review of the way increasing inflation, fuel and energy costs are affecting community groups throughout the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45112/22]

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

We might as well talk about Galway now after Tipperary. I raise the issue of the increase in costs that community groups are suffering under at the moment. With the increasing fuel and insurance costs coming home to roost for every community group, they are going to find it very hard to continue providing their services in community areas unless there is recognition by the Department that additional funding is required. The object of the exercise is to make sure they continue to provide the services.

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am acutely aware of the increase in the cost of living and rising costs in recent months, especially increasing energy prices. Given this, the supports provided by the Department to assist communities are more important than ever. The Department was allocated €378 million for 2022, which will enable continued delivery of a wide range of measures to support communities and address emerging needs. Last November, we launched the €9 million community activities fund under the community enhancement programme. This fund allowed groups in disadvantaged areas to apply for funding for their running costs, such as utility or insurance bills. Groups could also apply for funding to carry out repairs and to purchase equipment within their communities. It is hoped to run another programme later this year. I also refer to the expansion of the community services programme support fund, which I announced last week. An additional €1 million was added to that for the remainder of this year. We have in excess of 400 community services programme projects throughout the country.

A key part of the Department's mission is to support social enterprises, and the €1.5 million scaling up scheme for social enterprise was launched by the Minister, Deputy Humphreys in July. It will provide some much-needed capital to social enterprises nationwide, including those operating in the circular economy. This will enable them to grow their operations and strengthen their impact on the communities they serve. In addition, the Department continues to provide a wide range of supports to communities, including, among others, the community and voluntary supports programme, the empowering communities fund and the scheme to support national organisations. I am confident these funding supports and policies provided will continue to deliver tangible benefits for all communities. The Department continues to engage with rural and urban stakeholders to identify and respond to issues that are having an impact on communities. I will also continue to collaborate with my Government colleagues to monitor issues that have an impact on communities in order to respond to emerging needs.

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State and acknowledge that a lot of support has been going into community groups over the years. It is important this continues. With the unprecedented level of increase that is happening in trying to keep community groups and facilities open and running between heating, lighting, insurance and the cost of buying materials to maintain these facilities, it is important that additional funding is made available as part of the cost-of-living element of the upcoming budget. This would ensure these community groups can continue to put on the lights and heat, run the card games in their facilities, cut the grass and keep the places looking well, as well as providing additional resources within the community facilities when they have them. Oftentimes the easiest part of a community group's action is to provide or build a facility. The biggest problem is maintenance and sustainability going forward. Right now there is a crisis. I am hoping additional funding will be provided.

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy. That case was made when I was in Galway and Ballinasloe last week. Galway Rural Development made the case very well. I also had a good meeting in the Connacht Hotel with a group of 60-plus community employment supervisors. They certainly made the case around costs and made some good suggestions about what we could do in terms of materials grants as well. That is not a matter for this Department but it is relevant to the wider community and voluntary sector which they work with on a community-wide basis throughout the country. To give wider assurance, I and the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, have discussed this issue. It has an impact on other Departments as well. There is live consideration being given to the broader issue that is facing the community and voluntary sector in terms of the increased costs they are going to have this winter.

Seán Canney (Galway East, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for the encouraging words. I will state again the importance of what the Department of Rural and Community Development has been doing for community groups throughout the country. It has been the backbone of the revival of a lot of parishes where they had facilities but did not have the wherewithal to get them running and back into use. We now see a lot of that. I have seen it right across my own constituency, where pristine facilities are now in place, and the question is how we keep them going and keep them up to the standard that was created with the help of the Department. I acknowledge the work that was carried out by the previous Minister, Deputy Ring in making sure communities throughout the country received the support they deserve. They appreciate it as well, which is the important thing. We want to make sure they are protected through this phase of the crisis we have at the moment.

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I agree with the sentiment. It is a good opportunity for me to mention another avenue in respect of cost issues such as lighting and heating, namely, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland, SEAI. On energy generation projects, the climate action plan sets a clear goal for renewable energy delivered through local community-based projects. These projects will be delivered through the dedicated community category in the renewable electricity support scheme, as well as through microgeneration and small-scale generation schemes. These are real options for community groups as well. Only last night in Skerries in my own constituency I attended a meeting of the Skerries sustainable energy community. They are working with the SEAI to do an assessment of the energy needs and energy consumption of the whole town. They are working with community and sports groups in the town to see what needs to be done to upgrade their facilities, and they will do so in a cost-effective way by doing it collectively. I flag the opportunity for community groups to work with the SEAI to improve the running of their facilities and their costs overall in the medium to long term.