James O'Connor (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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54. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development her plans for the next round of the Community Activities Fund [27824/22]

Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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In November 2021, the €9m Community Activities Fund was launched to support community groups impacted by COVID-19. 

The fund supports groups, particularly in disadvantaged areas, with their running costs such as utility or insurance bills, as well as with improvements to their facilities. 

Groups were also be able to use the funding to carry out necessary repairs and to purchase equipment within their community, such as tables and chairs, tools and signage, laptops and printers, lawnmowers, canopies and training equipment. 

The once-off fund is administered locally by the Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs). The Community Activities Fund is now closed to applicants. Details of successful projects from each LCDC will be available on the Department’s website at www.gov.ie/drcd. 

The Community Activities Fund was allocated under the Department’s Community Enhancement Programme (CEP).  This programme provides small grants to community groups to enhance facilities in disadvantaged areas. The 2021 CEP is now closed and it is hoped to run another CEP later in 2022, however, details of this programme are not yet confirmed.

I encourage all organisations to check my department’s website www.gov.ie/drcd and to keep in touch with their Local Community Development Committee for information on funding opportunities.