Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Senator. Again, this new community centre investment fund, which was launched by the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, in March of this year, is so important. It gives communities an opportunity to develop brand new facilities that can offer a wide range of services to members of the community for decades to come be it for adult education, news service, book clubs, meeting rooms, sporting facilities, remote working facilities or community centres, and we did not mention the odd social events at night-time that take place in all these organisations.

What is great about this new scheme in particular is that we all know villages and small towns around the country that had old disused community centres that were not in great condition and which benefited from great refurbishment grants. There are areas that did not have a facility to start with, however, and this is aimed specifically at them.

As the Minister has indicated, she will complete the assessment in the first quarter of 2024. On her behalf, I would again like to take the opportunity to wish all the applicant communities the best of luck with their projects. I look forward to seeing the results of the substantial investment coming to fruition. It is an investment that will lead to tangible benefits for the local communities in these areas. On behalf of the Minister, I thank Senator Kyne for raising this matter.