James Bannon (Fine Gael)

I thank the Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, Deputy Noel Ahern, for taking this matter. I wish to impress on him the need to clarify the position on once-off funding for Kenagh community centre, County Longford, which was built at a cost of €662,000 in a small rural parish of approximately 700 people. They are finding it difficult to pay the outstanding loan of €240,000 on this valuable community amenity and are seeking funding from the Government to pay half of the loan amount.

Between 2000 and 2003, the Kenagh community centre committee worked hard to raise funds and sought to put in place a first-class facility for sport, recreation and entertainment, a place for the community to meet and grow. This type of facility has been provided in Kenagh and in other communities throughout the country to combat the drug and drink culture which we all know is responsible for an upsurge in violence, killings and carnage on our roads. Such a centre is the heart of any local community and an invaluable asset. This facility is now in place alongside Kenagh football club and the two complement each other very well. Kenagh GAA club gave the site to the community on a 99-year lease, a very generous gesture that was much appreciated.

As with all such ventures, goodwill and funding are of greatest importance. The goodwill in the area was evident from the start and local support for fund-raising has been more than generous. However, funding at national level is required to support the outstanding voluntary effort.

The Kenagh community centre cost €662,000 to build. The sports hall has a maple floor that cost €44,000 to install. The committee received a grant of €114,000 from the national lottery fund, €38,000 from the Leader II programme and €10,000 from Longford County Council. In effect, the local community has received approximately one quarter of the total cost, leaving three quarters for it to find itself. This is hardly an equitable situation, given the current national prosperity and considering the benefits that have accrued to the community from this project.

The parish of Kenagh has a mere 240 families, which amounts to approximately 700 people. The community relies heavily on the catchment area for the use of this facility but this does not help it to pay off the loan, which amounts to €240,000 over a 15-year period. Last year the community centre committee laid a tarmacadam surface which cost €40,000 and installed an electric timer in the sports hall. The committee applied for a national lottery grant but was turned down because it was not considered a high priority, but these improvements were very necessary to the centre.

The Kenagh committee is seeking a once-off allocation, with no matching funding, and would be happy with an amount equal to half of the outstanding loan. Perhaps the Minister of State will consider this, given that small rural communities do not have large enough populations to finance projects such as this, which bring enormous benefits. I plead with the Minister of State to give the matter his consideration and ensure that the committee will be granted half of the €240,000 loan that is still outstanding. The local community will pay the remainder, if the Minister of State is generous with funding.