Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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84. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will outline the future funding plans for the community recognition fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55894/25]

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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The community recognition fund has been used by Louth County Council and many others for very worthwhile projects, including in relation to the return of old council land to parkland. I know a number of projects did not get through the gap, and I would like to think they will have an opportunity in the future.

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The community recognition fund was introduced to recognise the contribution being made by communities all over the country in welcoming new arrivals into our cities, towns and villages. It was originally introduced as a €50 million fund in 2023 to develop community infrastructure in areas that were hosting beneficiaries of temporary protection and-or international protection applicants. This fund differs from other schemes operated by my Department in that each local authority was provided with a set funding allocation based on the number of new arrivals located in its area.

Some 900 projects were approved funding of €50 million in 2023. Following that, over 800 projects are now complete and fully drawn down, with approximately 100 still to be completed. The funding was subsequently doubled in 2024, with a further €50 million allocated to the local authorities. Under the 2024 round of funding, 569 projects were approved, bringing the total number of projects that have been awarded under the fund to over 1,450 in just over two years.

My current emphasis under the CRF is to ensure that all these projects are delivered in the coming months, so we can ensure communities get the benefit of the facilities. We have changed the emphasis within the Department to prioritise other schemes. For example, the budget for the community centre investment fund will increase by €3 million to €20 million in 2026. I am focused on growing this suite of schemes that support community infrastructure and amenities across the country.

For any of the groups to which the Deputy referred, there are other supports available to them. I had the chance to meet with the Deputy in the summer, when we saw some of the projects in action. I commend the officials of Louth County Council, not just in relation to the CRF, but across all of the schemes they are implementing efficiently and ambitiously in the county.

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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The emphasis has to be on the delivery of projects because there is not much point in having very good applications but not seeing the outworkings. The Minister visited a number of the play parks and pieces of work that have been done, which were well enough steered by Louth County Council. It is great to see that level of improvement. We are talking about parks that have been incredibly well done. The community recognition fund was a very good vehicle, and it filled a gap that was necessary to fill from the point of view of the enhancement of community facilities. However, we need to ensure there will be funding streams, for example, with regard to the community gardens at Muirhevnamore and other projects. They need to have the facility to apply and they need to have a good chance of getting the necessary funding. These are very good projects that are operated by people who are putting in a huge level of volunteerism and engaging with the local authority and others on delivery.

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The budget for the CRF for 2026 is €10 million. We want the local authorities to draw down and complete projects, and that is going to be the focus for 2026. We also have other projects, such as community centre investment. As we have just discussed with Deputy Brendan Smith, there is also the CLÁR programme. The Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, worked hard to secure funding for SICAP, particularly the positions in SICAP that are working with new communities across the country to put boots on the ground and identify the kind of facilities that are needed and can be funded. I am sure the Deputy will agree that these facilities need to have a long-lasting impact or legacy impact. My preference for any kind of investment is that it is permanent, infrastructure-based and makes a difference to the facilities available in a community. That will be the emphasis of our funding going forward. Some of the initiatives funded under the CRF may not have a permanent legacy or permanent use, but the emphasis going forward is on community infrastructure to support community activity.

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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I would agree. The preference has to be to put in place infrastructure that can be used in the future. I think we would all agree on that. At the same time, there may have been some projects that were beneficial from a community point of view that had made applications, and I would make an argument about their long-term continuity. I know the St. Patrick’s Day parade had looked for what was probably a small enough offering, with the idea of getting materials that would have been used over multiple years. Again, we are talking about something that had huge engagement and support from all the other stakeholders within the community sector and all the agencies.

The project I spoke about specifically was the community gardens in Muirhevnamore. This needs to be looked at. I ask the Minister to provide details in this regard. I agree that this is about delivery of what has already been applied for but it is also about ensuring that communities have the facilities. The community recognition fund filled a necessary hole. There was a need for it. We need to make sure that these community facilities will still have the option in the future. If the Minister could come back with detailed written information, I would be grateful.

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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I can assure the Deputy that there is a range of supports within the Department to fund community infrastructure, in particular, physical infrastructure, such as centres and hubs. Through SICAP, under the Minister of State, Deputy Buttimer, community supports are also available. We will continue to make those available as they are very important.

Regarding the project referenced by the Deputy, the local enhancement programme might be the avenue to fund ongoing costs, including less heavy infrastructural costs. My Department funds the programme in partnership with the local authorities, including Louth County Council. There will be avenues within the Department throughout 2026, due to our increased budget, for communities to get improved infrastructure and to improve physical infrastructure in more rural areas, as we have just discussed. In relation to the towns, next year we will be looking at a new style of RAPID focused on direct urban investment in towns.

There will be an emphasis on the kinds of projects I have spoken about with the Deputy.