Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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977. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the Community Centres Investment Fund will be launched; the type of projects that will be eligible; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18235/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I recently announced the Community Centres Investment Fund. This new capital fund, with a budget of €15m, will 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.

Funding will be available under 3 Strands, with grants of between €10k and €300k available:

- Strand 1: Small scale projects/improvements to facilities €10,000 - €25,000.

- Strand 2:Larger scale projects - €25,001 to €100,000.

- Strand 3:Major projects. €100,001 to €300,000.

I expect the fund to be open to applications shortly. Guidelines and application forms will be available on my Department’s website at www.gov.ie/drcd.

Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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978. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if more details on the empowering communities fund will be provided; the areas that are likely to be eligible for funding; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18236/22]

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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Funding of €2 million was secured to design and implement a new Empowering Communities Programme (ECP) in 2022 aimed at specifically targeting area-based deprivation through a community development approach.

This initiative, in part, stems from a Programme for Government commitment to expand the Dublin North East Inner City model and will be informed by other initiatives such as the Community Development Pilot Programme, the Place-Based Leadership initiative and the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme which operates across the country.

The ECP will focus on augmenting the community development efforts within a number of small geographic areas identified as experiencing particular disadvantage. The ECP is currently in development and the detail, including on the areas selected, has not yet been finalised. Further information will be shared once it is available.