Emer Higgins (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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514. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the financial supports in place to help community centres stay afloat during Covid-19. [3135/21]

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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I am aware of the challenges faced by many community centres and community organisations at this time and my Department has put a range of initiatives in place that provides supports to the community sector during the COVID-19 crisis.

My Department currently supports over 420 community organisations under the Community Services Programme (CSP) to provide local services through a social enterprise model. In response to the difficulties being experienced by organisations due to COVID-19, my Department developed a CSP Support Fund during 2020 totalling €4.75m which assists all CSP supported organisations to continue to retain their CSP supported employees on their payroll and also provides assistance for the Employers PRSI contribution, during this crisis period up to April 2021.

The 2020 Community Enhancement Programme (CEP) was launched in June 2020 with funding of €2m and provides small capital grants to community organisations. Separately, with funding from the July stimulus package, my Department launched a €5m fund under the CEP for repairs or upgrades to community centres and community buildings. While it is now closed for 2020, it is hoped to run the CEP again in 2021.

More recently my Department launched a €1.7m COVID-19 Emergency Fund, which local community and voluntary groups can apply for by contacting the Local Community Development Committee in their area. This follows on from a previous €2.5m round of this fund.

In 2020, my Department launched the €45m COVID 19 Stability Fund for organisations in the Community and Voluntary Sector, Charities and Social Enterprises. Funding of €44m has been approved to just under 600 organisations to date and the payment processes for this funding remain ongoing. The Stability Fund is now closed for further applications.

My Department will continue to work with relevant stakeholders, including the Community and Voluntary sector, Local Authorities and Local Development Companies, to support community organisations across the country as they deal with the ongoing and emerging challenges presented by COVID-19. I would encourage all groups to engage with their Local Authority and Local Development Company so that they are aware of funding opportunities as they become available.

Information on all funding available through my Department can be found on my Department's website.