Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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708. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development when she plans to formally reopen the application process for the community services programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22851/21]

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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My Department's Community Services Programme (CSP) supports over 420 community organisations to provide local services through a social enterprise model. The CSP provides an annual co-funding contribution of €19,033 for each fulltime equivalent (FTE) position being supported, and, where warranted, provides €32,000 towards the cost of employing a manager. Qualifying organisations must be social enterprises capable of generating income from their activities in order to meet the full salary costs of the supported posts, for example, from income received from the public use of facilities and services.

In 2020, Indecon International Economic Consultants were engaged by my Department to carry out an independent review of CSP. The final report was published in late September 2020 and is available on my Department's website. My Department and Pobal have now commenced work on the restructuring of the Programme.

Pending the transition to the new restructured Programme, the scheme is closed to new applications through the Expression Of Interest process. However, it is anticipated that the Programme will open calls to address identified gaps in service delivery later in 2021.

As a first step in that regard, on 28 April, my Department, in collaboration with the Department for Transport, launched a three-year pilot initiative for the provision of high quality up-cycled bicycles and e-bikes for those on low incomes and/or those who are most marginalised and disadvantaged. Funding of €3m is being provided by the Department of Transport for this initiative over a three-year period and will be made available through my Department's Community Services Programme.

It is envisaged that the pilot will support up to 6 social enterprises in 2021. Organisations eligible to apply are those currently supported under the Community Services Programme or, alternatively, are in a Partnership/Consortium of which at least one member is currently a CSP supported organisation. The closing date for receipt of applications is noon on 28 May.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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709. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the funding applications that are available for those that wish to create and develop remote working hubs. [22962/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The move to remote working has the potential to transform rural Ireland. It will allow people to work from their own local communities, revitalise our town centres, reduce commuting times, lower transport emissions and most importantly, improve the quality of people's lives.

As part of Our Rural Future, my Department will deliver a number of funding options to develop new facilities and to support the development of existing remote working hubs.

My Department is investing in new hubs through both the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund and the Town & Village Renewal Scheme.

In April, I announced funding of €81m for 25 projects which were successful under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund. Many of the successful projects involve the regeneration of historic town centre buildings as Enterprise and Remote Working Hubs.

This year’s €15m Town & Village Renewal Scheme, which I launched on Monday 3rd May, will include support for new facilities that will bring vacant properties in town centres back into use or repurpose existing community or publicly owned buildings as remote working hubs.

My Department will also support the further development of existing remote working hubs and Broadband Connection Points as part of the National Hub Network under a dedicated €5million “Connected Hubs Fund”. Funding will be available for both expansion and upgrade of existing facilities through works such as the installation of privacy booths, access control and security systems, the conversion of existing open plan space to modular offices, and provision of enhanced audio visual, network and conferencing facilities.

Full details in respect of all of my Department's Schemes is available on the gov.ie website.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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710. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the financial assistance available for community centres and halls to cover running costs that are accruing while these centres are closed due to Covid-19 restrictions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23101/21]

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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The Government are aware of the challenges facing community and voluntary organisations and are committed to working closely with the sector in managing through these, recognising that it will require a whole of Government approach. To that end, Government and my Department have introduced a number of supports to assist sectors in dealing with the impact of COVID-19 and the social restrictions necessary in the interests of public health.

In 2020, my Department supported 600 organisations to continue to deliver vital services to the most vulnerable in our communities, through the COVID-19 Stability Fund for community and voluntary organisations, charities and social enterprises.

I am pleased to confirm that an allocation of €10m has been provided to the Stability Fund for 2021 as part of the revised Resilience and Recovery plan announced in February. Further details on how eligible organisations can apply for this funding will be available in the coming days.

Separately, my Department also intends to launch the 2021 Community Enhancement Programme (CEP) over the coming days. The CEP provides small grants to community groups and the 2021 programme will again give consideration to supporting groups in dealing with the specific challenges brought by COVID-19. This programme may be more relevant to smaller community groups and it is recommended that such groups monitor the Department’s website or stay in touch with the Local Community Development Committee (LCDC), who will be administering the programme in their area, for further details. The contact details for LCDCs can be found on my Departments website at the link below

In general, I would encourage all organisations to continue to engage with their Local Authority and Local Development Company, and to check on the Gov.ie website in order to be aware of funding opportunities as they become available.