Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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2101. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of applications received for the 2023 community centres investment fund; the details of all successful projects; her plans for any future rounds of the fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39220/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Community centres are the cornerstone of community life in many towns, villages and urban areas around the country. This Government recognises the important role they play in community life in Ireland, bringing people together and engaging with those who may be marginalised or disadvantaged.

With this in mind, I have put in place an integrated programme of supports for the establishment and development of community centres across schemes such as CLÁR, LEADER, the Community Support Fund, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, and of course the new Community Centres Investment Fund.

The 2022 Community Centres Investment Fund saw over €45.8 million being committed to the improvement and refurbishment of existing community centres across Ireland.

My aim under the 2023 round of funding is to support communities with shovel-ready plans to build new community centres.

I was delighted to announce a €20 million fund in March for ‘shovel-ready’ new build community centre projects on green or brownfield sites. The Measure was open to both urban and rural communities. The minimum grant funding available was €1 million with the maximum being €6 million. As the grant funding is substantial, and for the purposes of compliance with public financial procedures, the lead party to an application must be a State-funded body, for example a local authority, a local development company or a State agency.

Following the July 3rd deadline for applications, I can confirm that 22 applications have been submitted in relation to The Community Centre Investment Fund 2023 (New Build). These applications are currently being assessed by my Department and it is expected that successful projects will be announced in Quarter One of 2024.

Decisions in relation to any future rounds of the fund will be taken in the context of the upcoming annual budgetary process.

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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2102. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the details of any engagement she has had with the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform in the run-up to the coming budget with regard to increasing the funding allocation to the community centres investment fund in 2023, and in subsequent years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39221/23]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Community centres are the cornerstone of community life in many towns, villages and urban areas around the country. This Government recognises the important role they play in community life in Ireland, bringing people together and engaging with those who may be marginalised or disadvantaged.

With this in mind, my Department has put in place an integrated programme of supports for the establishment and development of community centres across schemes such as CLÁR, LEADER, the Community Support Fund, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, and of course the Community Centres Investment Fund which provides a specific funding line to support centres.

The focus of the 2022 Community Centres Investment Fund was the improvement and refurbishment of existing community centres across Ireland. Over €45.8 million has been committed to this important refurbishment work.

This year the focus of the Fund moved to new builds. I want to assist community groups striving to build their own community centre to service local needs. In March, I was delighted to announce a €20 million Fund to support communities with ‘shovel-ready’ projects on green or brownfield sites to build new community centres. This Measure will target areas which do not have an appropriate facility to meet the needs of their area. The deadline for receipt of applications was 3rd July and the assessment process has now commenced.

I am committed to ensuring that there is clear support in place for community centres across the range of schemes referenced above, and decisions in relation to any further iterations of the Community Centre Investment Fund will be taken in the context of the upcoming annual budgetary process.