Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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594. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she can confirm receipt of a request for an extension of the community centre investment fund project allocation from (details supplied) for six months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5077/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Community Centres are the cornerstone of community life in towns and villages around the country. This Government recognises the important role that these centres play in bringing people together and facilitating community services and events.

I have prioritised the development and enhancement of Community Centres across the country to improve access and provide suitable places for social gatherings in communities.

With this in mind, my Department has developed an extensive range of funding streams that are available to support communities and community facilities. Under the 2022 Community Centre Investment Fund in particular, over €45.8 million was committed for improvement and refurbishment of existing community centres across Ireland. There was a huge uptake of this funding and over 860 different projects are seeing improvements to the fabric of their community centres as a result of this Government initiative.

I understand that in excess of 140 of these projects are now complete and that good progress is being made on the remaining approvals.

I can confirm that the extension request referred to by the Deputy has been received and processed by my officials. An extension up until the end of July 2024 has been agreed. I would encourage the committee in question to update my officials regularly on their progress.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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595. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development for details on grant aid for capital projects such as building community centres; if she will list the various schemes, deadlines and capital available for each; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5200/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I have put in place an integrated programme of capital funding supports for the development of infrastructure in rural areas and the development of community facilities right across the country as outlined below.

RRDF

The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) provides funding for the development and construction of capital projects in towns and villages and rural areas across Ireland. Since the Fund was established in 2018, a total of 215 projects have been approved for funding of €414 million for projects costing €570 million to develop and deliver projects, many of which include restoring and building community facilities. Calls for applications to the Fund are sought under two categories – Category 1, which relates to large scale ambitious capital projects with all necessary planning and other consents in place, and which are ready to proceed, and Category 2, which provides smaller grant funding to enable the development of project proposals suitable for future calls for Category 1 applications. I recently announced a new call for applications under the RRDF and the closing date for applications is 12pm on the 8th of February 2024.

CCIF

Under the 2022 Community Centres Investment Fund (CCIF), over €45.8 million has been committed to the improvement and refurbishment of existing community centres across Ireland. In 2023, the focus of the Community Centres Investment Fund moved to new builds. Last year, I announced a €20 million Fund to support communities with ‘shovel-ready’ projects on green or brownfield sites for the construction of new community centres. In total, twenty-two applications for new build community centres were received by my Department. The assessment of these applications is almost complete and I expect to announce the successful projects shortly. The Community Centres Investment Fund is not currently open for applications.

CLÁR

My Department also funds the CLÁR programme. 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. In total, funding of almost €13 million was provided for over 300 projects under CLÁR 2023. It included supports for a vast array of projects that will benefit people of all ages and abilities such as playgrounds, sensory gardens, outdoor cinemas, walking tracks, and community gyms. I expect the 2024 iteration of the CLÁR programme to be launched in quarter one of this year.

Town and Village Renewal Scheme

The Town and Village Renewal Scheme was launched in 2016 and is one of a number of measures designated to rejuvenate rural towns and villages throughout Ireland. The 2023 Scheme is designed to support the revitalisation of rural Ireland through a renewed focus on town centre economic and social recovery and regeneration. The deadline for applications under this scheme was 10 November 2023 and I expect the announcement of successful projects by the end of quarter one 2024. The next iteration of the scheme will be opened later in the year.

ORIS

The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) provides funding for the development and enhancement of outdoor recreational infrastructure such as walking trails, cycleways and blue ways throughout rural Ireland. The scheme provides funding under different measures for amounts ranging from €30,000 to €500,000. The 2023 scheme is now closed to applications and the applications received are currently being assessed by my Department. I expect to make an announcement on the successful projects in quarter 1 of this year. The next iteration of the scheme will be opened later this year.

Local Enhancement Programme

The Local Enhancement Programme (LEP) 2024, with capital funding of €6 million, aims to provide supports essential for small community groups and organisations, particularly those who serve disadvantaged areas. There is a particular focus on small capital works/improvements, and the purchase of equipment for community use. The funding may be used, but is not limited to; improved access for persons with a disability; enhancing community participation for disadvantaged and marginalised groups, and improving energy efficiency of community facilities to reduce ongoing costs.

The Local Enhancement Programme is administered on behalf of my Department locally by Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) across the country, with support from their Local Authority. Each LCDC is advertising the fund and I would encourage all groups to engage with their LCDC directly for details on how to apply.

LEADER

The LEADER Programme is a key intervention of 'Our Rural Future', the Government’s Policy for rural development which aims to deliver a range of actions to rural communities over the lifetime of the policy. It supports a broad range of activities which aim to respond to the diversity of the local needs of our rural areas.

It is delivered through Local Action Groups (LAGs) across rural Ireland. A feature of the LEADER programme is that it is based on a community-led, bottom-up approach to rural development. In October 2022 funding for the 2023 - 2027 LEADER programme of €180 million was announced. This is in addition to the €70 million in funding allocated for the transitional period 2021 to 2022 maintaining the level of funding of €250 million provided for the 2014-2020 programming period.

Funding under the 2023-2027 LEADER programme is not targeted at any particular group or sector in rural communities. It is, rather, focused on a thematic approach to rural development under the headings; Economic Development and Job Creation, Rural Infrastructure and Social Inclusion, Sustainable Development of the Rural Environment and Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation. Funding for activities such as that referenced by the Deputy may be available under one of these themes.

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. Information on each of the areas referenced above is available on my Department’s website and I would encourage the Deputy to monitor the website for upcoming launches and funding announcements.

Community Recognition Fund

The Community Recognition Fund recognises the huge efforts made by communities in welcoming and supporting people coming to Ireland. Funding of €50 million for some 900 projects is supporting towns and villages nationwide that have welcomed people from Ukraine and other countries.

The Fund aims to support the development of facilities that will be used in the future by all members of the community. Through this initiative, communities are being assisted to develop projects such as large-scale multi-purpose sports facilities, walkways, cycle paths, playgrounds, equipment for sports clubs and community festivals.

Discussions are ongoing with regard to introducing a second iteration of the scheme to further assist impacted communities. My officials are advancing this work with the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery & Reform and, subject to the outcome of that process, I expect to make an announcement shortly.

Libraries Capital Programme

The Libraries Capital Programme, under my Department, will invest €33.1m over the 2023-2027 period in new and refurbished library buildings, mobile library vehicles, My Open Library services, ICT infrastructure, and small scale works. This funding complements funding provided towards library developments under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF). A call for proposals for major library infrastructure projects and next generation library vehicles was launched in 2023 with a closing date of June 16th^hlast. 33 infrastructure projects proposals and 15 library vehicle proposals were received and announcements of successful projects will be made in the coming weeks.

Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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596. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if there are funding applications with her Department specifically relating to a building in Castleblayney (details supplied); if her Department has had any discussions on this derelict structure; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5210/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) provides funding for the development and construction of capital projects in towns and villages and rural areas across Ireland. To date, 215 projects have been approved for funding of €414 million for projects costing €570 million.

Calls for applications to the Fund are sought under two categories – Category 1 and Category 2. Category 1 relates to large scale ambitious capital projects with all necessary planning and other consents in place, and which are ready to proceed. Category 2 provides smaller grant funding to enable the development of project proposals suitable for future calls for Category 1 applications.

My Department has not received an application for funding in respect of Hope Castle itself under previous rounds of the RRDF. However, I was delighted to officially open the new Castleblayney Library on the 10th of November. This project was funded by my Department under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund and has seen the complete transformation of the previously derelict Hope Castle Gate Lodge Building. I also announced a new call for applications under the RRDF on the day and the closing date for applications is the 8th of February 2024.

The application process under the RRDF is competitive in nature and applications can be made by State-funded bodies i.e. local authorities, local development companies, State agencies, other Government Departments etc. Lead parties to applications are encouraged to partner with other organisations, including communities, to put forward proposals. An application form and guidance document are available on my Department’s website for those seeking further information.