William Aird (Laois, Fine Gael)
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82. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he will allocate funding to the community recognition fund for 2025. [14504/25]

William Aird (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I am asking for an extension of the community recognition fund in 2025. The community recognition fund was a major initiative designed to facilitate and support communities across the country that are hosting people from Ukraine and other countries around the world. The community recognition fund has been key to enhancing the social fabric of our communities, fostering inclusion and improving the quality of life for residents across Ireland. The initiatives supported by the community recognition fund have improved infrastructure, strengthened community networks, encouraged active lifestyles and supported local organisations.

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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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.

William Aird (Laois, Fine Gael)
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That is good news. I take it that the Minister is going to have the fund available in 2025. The aim is to complete and maintain community development initiatives and plan for future needs. The enhanced social cohesion measure was great for the community. The promotion of the health and well-being element was too. Numerous people and clubs have benefited from walking tracks. There has been a major benefit to the community. The empowerment of the local organisations that got involved was great for everybody.

In my native County Laois, the community recognition fund had a positive impact, through several key projects, in Portlaoise, Ballylinan and Rathdowney. The Minister will know of all the people who benefited in his county, Mayo. The successful projects in Laois are key examples of the benefits of the community recognition fund. Extending the fund to 2025 would ensure even more communities can benefit from financial support, leading to a stronger and more inclusive society. I thank the Minister for considering this vital extension to the fund, which has already proven it can enhance the well-being of communities across Ireland.

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Deputy Aird. As he said, there has been fantastic delivery in Laois through the community recognition fund, but that is coming from the communities themselves. Over €2 million was allocated across 2023 and 2024. There were 48 projects in 2023, 43 of which have been completed. Ninety-nine percent of the 2023 allocation has been drawn down. Under the fund for 2024, €1,012,996 was approved for eight projects. I look forward to the early drawdown of the funding for those projects.

As the Deputy said, the initiative is community led. It involves working with communities in the towns that propose projects in engagement with their local authorities. It involves very good expenditure and I want to make sure now that the money is all drawn down and the projects are delivered. I do not want to announce projects but not see them delivered on the ground. It is essential that they be delivered and that is going to be our focus now.

William Aird (Laois, Fine Gael)
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All the work in County Laois is near completion and the next round is awaited anxiously. At least seven or eight groups would be disappointed if they thought they would not be included, and that is why I am asking for such an important fund to be extended into 2025.

I support everything said about the local improvement schemes. They are most important to rural counties, and my county is a rural one, as the Minister knows. The Minister and Minister of State should both remember that the people who can benefit from local improvement schemes are those who are paying their household charges. They are entitled, at least, to have the roads done.

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Several groups of got funding under the community recognition fund, which is absolutely sound, but there is an issue in that two applications made by Louth County Council were refused. When I compare them with others, I am not entirely sure why they were refused. I ask that the Minister examine them. They relate to St. Patrick’s Day and Christmas. The council is involved in long-term festivals. Louth County Council decided that the applications were legitimate and submitted them. It saw amounts of money similar to what it required provided in other areas. This needs to be examined.

I ask that the community gardens project in Muirhevnamore be considered. It is for the next round. It involves an absolutely brilliant piece of work, in an urban setting, that allows people to have allotments and all those things we like and need to see a lot more of.

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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I am aware of the case. We have given feedback to Louth County Council on why the two applications could not proceed. However, the council has not lost any money as a consequence. It is important that it has been asked to submit alternative projects or further details on the proposed projects. The next project the Deputy mentioned, the community garden, is being assessed, and I will keep the Deputy informed about progress.

It is very important to note that no money is being lost by Louth County Council as a consequence of the two projects not proceeding. We have engaged with the council on why there is concern in the Department about the projects.