Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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91. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the enhanced Community Centres Investment Fund for the delivery of new build community centres, promised under Budget 2023, will be open for applications; the amount of funding that will be allocated for the building of new community centres; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [53791/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Government is aware of the challenges facing community and voluntary organisations and as a result, I am delighted to inform the Deputy that I have secured €20 million in funding under Budget 2023 for a 2023 Community Centres Investment Fund.

This builds on the €15 million which was announced under the fund in 2022. The huge interest in this fund shows how important community centres are for communities throughout Ireland. This Government is committed to providing funding to improve and upgrade these centres which will allow them to continue to provide services for communities to come together.

To date I have announced over €12.5 million for almost 600 projects under category 1 of the 2022 fund and I expect to announce further details of successful projects under Category 2 and 3 in the near future.

It is intended that the 2023 fund will be targeted for new build community centres as well as upgrades and improvements to existing centres. The details of this scheme are currently being developed by officials within my Department and further details will be announced in 2023.