Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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958. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount of the €50 million community recognition fund that has been spent to date; the projects on which it was spent; and the counties in which the money was spent. [24067/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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On 18th May, accompanied by the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Minister Stephen Donnelly and Minister of State Joe O’Brien, I announced details of €50 million in funding for over 880 projects under the Community Recognition Fund

At its core, this Fund recognises the efforts of communities who have gone above and beyond during what has been a very challenging period for our country. It will support towns and villages nationwide that have shown such generosity in welcoming people from Ukraine and other countries.

It is right that communities that have welcomed large numbers of new arrivals from Ukraine and other countries are recognised in some tangible way. The Fund is separate in its objectives and scope to any other public funding streams which aim to support the development of public service.

Through this initiative, communities will be assisted to develop projects ranging from large-scale multi-purpose sports facilities to walkways, cycle paths, playgrounds, equipment for sports clubs and community festivals.

The Fund has been allocated across all local authorities based on the number of new arrivals located there. It follows an extensive consultation process with local authorities who submitted their individual list of projects for approval.

As the successful projects were announced on 18th May no monies have yet been spent. Full details of successful applications are available on my Department’s website.

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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959. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide an update on an application by a group (details supplied) for the community recognition fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24192/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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On 18th May, accompanied by the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Minister Stephen Donnelly and Minister of State Joe O’Brien, I announced details of €50 million in funding for over 880 projects under the Community Recognition Fund

At its core, this Fund recognises the efforts of communities who have gone above and beyond during what has been a very challenging period for communities. It will support towns and villages nationwide that have shown such generosity in welcoming people from Ukraine and other countries.

It is right that communities that have welcomed large numbers of new arrivals from Ukraine and other countries are recognised in some tangible way. The Fund is separate in its objectives and scope to any other public funding streams which aim to support the development of public service.

Through this initiative, communities will be assisted to develop projects ranging from large-scale multi-purpose sports facilities to walkways, cycle paths, playgrounds, equipment for sports clubs and community festivals.

The Fund has been allocated across all local authorities based on the number of new arrivals located there. It follows an extensive consultation process with local authorities who submitted their individual list of projects for approval.

I am happy to confirm the project referred to by the Deputy was one of the 880 successful applications announced. Full details of successful applications are available on my Department’s website.