Written answers
Tuesday, 5 April 2022
Department of Rural and Community Development
Departmental Funding
Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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959. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the first funding allocations will be made from the new Community Centres Investment Fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18024/22]
Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I recently announced details of a new Community Centres Investment Fund, this capital fund, with a budget of €15m is to support community groups, particularly in disadvantaged areas, with the upgrade and refurbishment of existing Community Centres. This is an investment in both rural and urban communities across the Country. The fund will assist with projects such as:
- Energy retrofitting projects that reduce an organisation's carbon footprint;
- Works to address safety concerns, including as a result of fire safety audits;
- Works to improve disability access;
- Works to improve communal facilities such as kitchen and toilet facilities; and
- Essential maintenance.
I expect applications to open shortly. Guidelines and application forms will be available on my Department’s website at www.gov.ie/drcd. When the assessment of applications is complete later in the year, allocations will be made from the Fund, details of which will be also made available on the same website.
Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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960. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if consideration will be given to widening the Community Centres Investment Fund to include a strand specifically for communities to establish a community centre when none currently exists; if her Department has identified the locations that might benefit from this; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18025/22]
Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Community Centres Investment Fund will support community groups, particularly in disadvantaged areas, with the upgrade and development of their existing community centre facilities. This fund is not intended for the construction of new buildings.
However, my Department provides a number of other funding streams which can be used for the improvement and development of Community Centres throughout the country.
The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) provides funding for the development and construction of large scale capital projects in towns and villages and rural areas across Ireland. I announced the fourth call for Category 1 applications in December 2021, with a closing date for applications of 29 April 2022.
Funding for community centre projects may also be available through the LEADER Transitional programme. This covers the period 2021-2022, and came into effect on 1 April 2021 for new project applications. The LEADER programme is administered by Local Action Groups (LAGs) in each of the 28 LEADER sub-regional areas around the county.
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