Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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144. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he will report on the national community weekend; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23020/19]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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'The Big Hello', the National Community Weekend, took place over the recent May public holiday weekend. The event aimed to support communities to host events in their local area in order to strengthen community ties and help tackle the issue of social isolation.

The event was organised by my Department in partnership with a number of representatives of community and voluntary organisations.

€10,000 was allocated to each Local Community Development Committee to support local events, with many local authorities providing additional funding from their own resources.

The Big Hello proved to be a great success, with 800 events taking place as well as 1,100 Street Feasts who are one of my Department's partners in this initiative. A report on the impact of the initiative is being compiled and will be submitted to me shortly.