Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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As Minister with responsibility for Rural and Community Development I am acutely aware of the issues faced by some communities and groups in applying for funding due to capacity issues and the administrative burden associated with the process. To address this issue, my Department provides support and guidance through for example, the ‘Rural Opportunity'information sessions currently being rolled out to raise awareness of the wide variety of supports available to rural communities from across Government Departments.

In addition, the  'Helping Hands'workshops will run in April and May next for community groups or groups who have had no, or limited, success so far in being awarded funding under national funding streams.

My Department's €1Billion, Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, (RRDF), was launched in 2018. The Department held aFeedback Workshop with lead partners who had submitted applications in order to provide them with information on the results of the call, and to build up their capacity to submit successful applications into the future.

The Local Development Companies that implement my Department's Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) provide support to help community groups develop so that they are in a position to submit good quality bids for competitive funding streams. This is done through providing direct supports such as capacity building work or the allocation of small grants up to a maximum of €1,500.

Project Development Officers employed by the Local Development Companies (LDC) provide assistance to prospective promoters in preparing their applications for funding under LEADER.

In 2018 Pobal, which  administers the Social Enterprise Measure of the Dormant Accounts Fund on behalf of the Department, organised an information session for prospective applicants, including community organisations.

My Department's capacity building supports enable community groups to submit good quality bids for competitive funding streams.