Michael Lowry (Tipperary, Independent)
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283. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if her Department has received a valid application from a community organisation (details supplied) in County Tipperary under the community centres investment fund; when is it expected that applications will be validated and funding allocated to successful applicants; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47646/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Community Centres Investment Fund is a €15m capital fund to support community groups, particularly in disadvantaged areas, with the upgrade of their community centre facilities.

The application closing date was Thursday,14th July 2022 and the appraisal process is currently ongoing. All applications will be subject to a competitive assessment process based on the assessment criteria as set out in the fund guidelines.

Due to the high level of applications to the fund, it is expected to be quarter 4 of 2022 when applicants are notified of the outcome of the application and appraisal process.

My Department has not received an application from the group referred to by the Deputy under the Community Centres Investment Fund. However, I understand that an application to the 2022 Town and Village Renewal Scheme has been received in respect of the aforementioned group.

The Town and Village Renewal Scheme is one of a number of measures designed to rejuvenate rural towns and villages throughout Ireland. The programme is funded under Project Ireland 2040 as part of "Our Rural Future- Ireland's Rural Development Policy 2021 - 2025".

All applications received under the Scheme are subject to a competitive assessment process based on the assessment criteria as set out in the Scheme guidelines. I expect to be in a position to announce the successful applicants later this year.