Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

22. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the extent to which he expects to be in position to offer grant assistance to appropriately qualified groups throughout County Kildare in 2019 with particular reference to the community and voluntary sectors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43824/19]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

296. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the degree to which he can assist voluntary community groups throughout County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44130/19]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 22 and 296 together.

My Department funds a range of programmes and schemes that provide financial assistance and other supports to eligible community groups and organisations in urban and rural areas throughout the country, including in Kildare. These schemes provide much needed funding, support and assistance to communities at local level.

These include the €1 billion Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, the LEADER programme; the Community Enhancement Programme, the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme; the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP); the Town and Village Renewal  Scheme; and the Community Services Programme.

My Department has been provided with a gross budget of €291 million for  2019 and I intend to ensure that this money is fully allocated through these and other schemes under my Department's remit to the community and voluntary sectors.

I can confirm that, to date, more than €216 million of this budget has been allocated nationally, with €5.9 million allocated to projects and organisations in Co Kildare.

I am also happy to be able to continue and in many cases enhance the provision of these supports next year having secured an increase in my Department’s budgetary allocation for 2020 of €17 million, or 5.8%.

My  Department's Community Services Programme (CSP) supports community organisations and in 2019 provided funding of some €440,000 to  County Kildare.

Requests for assistance under particular programmes can be made at the appropriate time in respect of the application period for each programme, and these details, along with eligibility criteria and other information, can be found on the Government's website, gov.ie.

Decisions on any applications pending will be determined following their assessment under the various schemes, later in 2019.