Written answers
Tuesday, 26 September 2023
Department of Rural and Community Development
Community Development Projects
Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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87. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 2101 of 11 September 2023, the details of the State-funded bodies in respect of whom applications for the 2023 community centres investment fund were received by her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41373/23]
Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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This Government recognises the important role that community centres 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 was warmly welcomed the length and breadth of the country. Over €45.8 million has been committed to the improvement and refurbishment of existing community centres across Ireland.
Following on from this, I wanted to assist community groups striving to build their own community centre to service local needs, so this year the focus of the Community Centres Investment has moved to new builds.
In March, I announced 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.
I am happy to confirm that 22 applications were received to my Department and a list of all the State Funded Bodies that have acted as lead parties to the applications are below. Applications are currently being assessed by my Department and it is expected that successful projects will be announced in quarter one 2024.
Lead Party/State Funded Bodies
Carlow County Council
IRD Duhallow
Cork City Council
Fingal County Council
Galway City Council
Údarás an Gaeltachta
Galway County Council
Kerry County Council
Kildare County Council
Mayo North East Partnership
Meath County Council
Monaghan County Council
Offaly County Council
Sligo County Council
Waterford City & County Council
Wexford County Council
Wicklow County Council
Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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88. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the steps being taken to deal with the retention of staff in community development projects in view of the fact that large numbers of staff are leaving to take up employment in statutory organisations; if there is a plan to introduce pay parity to encourage more people to join the sector; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41242/23]
Joe O'Brien (Dublin Fingal, Green Party)
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The Government's five-year strategy to support the community and voluntary sector, Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities, was published in 2019. This is a whole of government strategy led by my Department, which is implemented collaboratively with the sector through the Cross Sector Group on Local and Community Development.
This Strategy plays an important role in seeking to strengthen the community development, local development and community and voluntary sectors generally. It reaffirms the Government’s commitment to supporting the sector, whilst also recognising the reality of finite resources and the need to ensure that available resources are focused on providing effective services.
The strategy includes a commitment to develop a sustainable funding model to support the community and voluntary sector. Specific actions included in this strategy are the promotion of multi-annual funding approaches by Government departments and Agencies, appropriate cost recovery models to cover the costs of compliance, support for autonomous community and local development organisations and sustainable funding models to support community and social enterprises.
My Department is aware of the challenges facing organisations in the Local and Community Development sectors around the recruitment and retention of staff. Community and voluntary organisations are funded by a wide range of Government Departments and agencies through different funding schemes and programmes.
While my Department provides funding to some community and voluntary organisations, there is no national pay agreement for the Community and Voluntary sector as a whole. The Department of Rural and Community Development does not have a mandate to set pay rates for what is a wide array of diverse and independent organisations, most of which get funding directly from other government Departments.
Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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89. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the support her Department is providing for the Tullow Road Community Hub in Carlow; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41337/23]
Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The 2022 Community Centres Investment Fund was warmly welcomed the length and breadth of the country. Over €45.8 million has been committed to the improvement and refurbishment of existing community centres across Ireland through this fund.
Following on from this, I wanted to assist community groups striving to build their own community centre to service local needs, so this year the focus of the Community Centres Investment Fund has moved to new builds.
In March, I announced 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 can confirm that Carlow County Council has submitted an application in relation to the Tullow Road Development, with €4,135,178 being sought from the fund. This application is currently being assessed by my Department and it is expected that successful projects will be announced in quarter one 2024.
Alan Dillon (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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90. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development to consider establishing a dedicated grant scheme for the maintenance and upgrading of community playgrounds; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [41419/23]
Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department recognises the importance of playgrounds in communities throughout Ireland and, as such, applications for the delivery and upgrade of playgrounds are welcome under a number of schemes operated by my Department. In addition, I am aware that my Department indirectly supports the maintenance and upgrading of many playgrounds, parks and other public amenities through the assistance we provide to local community groups.
The CLÁR programme provides funding for small-scale projects in designated rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population over a defined period. Since the programme was relaunched in 2016, it has supported a wide range of measures, including investment in playgrounds. Measure 1 of the 2023 CLÁR programme focuses on developing community facilities and amenities, with applications currently being assessed. The Departments Town and Village Renewal Scheme also provides funding avenues, with playground facilities often forming part of wider amenity projects put forward for funding.
Support under the LEADER programme is provided under a broad range of themes, including the Social Inclusion Theme in the current LEADER programme or the Rural Infrastructure & Social Inclusion theme in the 2023-2027 programme. Funding for playgrounds may be available under these themes. In order for a project to be eligible for LEADER funding, it must be compatible with the actions outlined in the approved Local Development Strategy in the sub-regional area concerned, and it must comply with the Operating Rules and EU Regulations in place for the programme. Prospective applicants should, in the first instance, contact their relevant LAG, through its Implementing Partner, to discuss the eligibility of the project and the funding that may be available. The list of all Local Action Groups, their Implementing Partners and their contact details, is available on my Department’s website.
Under the Community Recognition Fund, my Department approved €50 million to over 880 projects in May this year. This Fund 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 will support the development of facilities that will be used by all members of the community. The proposals range in scale of less than €1,000 to €1 million and include large scale multi-purpose sports facilities, upgrades to community facilities, equipment for sports clubs, walks, playgrounds, community buses and equipment for festivals.
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