Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

50. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development her views on the very short application window for the community recognition fund 2023, launched on 14 February, with a closing date for submission of expressions of interest of 24 February 2023; how such a short timeframe is considered acceptable for applications to a fund offering a minimum of €25,000; her further views on whether such a short timeframe could be considered exclusionary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9276/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

On the 24th January 2023 I launched the Community Recognition Fund which aims to support the development of community infrastructure and facilities in recognition of the contribution being made by communities across the country in welcoming and hosting significant numbers of arrivals from Ukraine and other countries.

The funding is specifically targeted at projects that are located in communities, towns and villages that are hosting the beneficiaries of Temporary Protection and/or International Protection applicants. The Fund aims to support the development of facilities that will be used in the future by all members of the community. It is separate in its objectives and scope to any other public funding streams which aim to support the development of public service needs arising from the significant number of arrivals from Ukraine.

The Fund is being administered at a local level by local authorities who are developing funding proposals. Each funding proposal is developed based on direct engagement with impacted communities and in consultation with the municipal districts, Local Community Development Committees and the local Community Response Fora. The proposals must also demonstrate that the funding is targeted at and specifically invested in those communities, villages and towns where the highest level of new arrivals are located and where there is a clear need for investment identified.

I understand that some local authorities are allocating an element of the Fund through an open call for expressions of interest in the impacted areas, as well as allocating other elements of the Fund by engaging directly with communities.

The funding proposals are to be submitted to my Department by mid-March. This allows seven weeks for local authorities to engage directly with the impacted communities to develop quality proposals. My Department has made it clear to all local authorities that proposals which do not display adequate levels of community engagement and appropriate targeting of support will not be approved.