Seanad debates

Friday, 12 March 2021

An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business

 

10:30 am

Photo of Seán KyneSeán Kyne (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Beanachtaí na Féile Phádraig daoibh go léir. I also mention the excellent news of €62.5 million of investment announced under the urban regeneration development fund by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Deputy Darragh O'Brien, this morning. This fund was put in place a number of years ago by the then Minister, Deputy Eoghan Murphy, and this is the second call for funding. It is certainly welcome news and a massive boost for walking and cycling facilities, with approximately €23 million being spent, including €11 million on the new cycleway over the abutments of the Galway to Clifden railway line and a further €12 million for the city cycle network. Funding is so important as it will make the city safer for pedestrians, cyclists and public transport users, as well as drivers, as part of the Galway transport strategy, supported by both city and county councillors.

There are many funding streams available through Departments for community, sport and leisure. They are funded by taxes, such as VAT, corporation tax and rates levied on businesses and citizens. There is also funding from the European Union. I speak of funds such as LEADER, the sports capital programme, CLÁR, Pobal, the rural recreation fund, the urban regeneration development fund, the rural regeneration development fund, the town and village schemes, local authority grants, Roinn na Gaeltachta grants, education and training board and sports grants. I am sure there are many more.

One of the groups in the community I have difficulty advising are those looking to build a sports or community centre. Many of the smaller projects can be funded under LEADER but for the larger projects valued at between €3 million and €5 million, there is no one Department to go to. Some of the more well-off local authorities may be able to fund such a project through a rates base or whatever but many communities cannot do this. Senator Pauline O'Reilly and I, among others, are dealing with the community in Newcastle in Galway city and the Moycullen community in my area and no one Department is dealing with this.

I have spoken with the Tánaiste about this and it is time for a single fund administered or applied by local authorities to a Department, possibly the Department of Rural and Community Development, for community centres. This could be confined to scheduled towns, cities or areas where there is a town plan because there would be a demand. It is something that is needed and vital. These are costly projects and built to such high specifications with environmental and sustainability concerns in mind. There are also costs arising from health and safety measures. Communities cannot deal with such projects without a single government fund. I hope we can engage with the Government to provide such a fund.

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