Niamh Smyth (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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44. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development for an update on the community centre fund when it comes to existing centres getting investment for refurbishment/renovation; when the fund is likely to open for applications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26358/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Community centres are a vital resource for any community. They are at the heart of so many of our towns and villages. That is why I have placed a central focus on improving our existing community centres and also delivering new facilities where they are needed.

Under the 2022 Community Centre Investment Fund, over €45.8 million was committed for improvement and refurbishment works on over 860 existing community centres across Ireland. In April, I approved funding of €30 million for the construction of 12 new community centres across nine counties.

On Friday last, I was delighted to announce a further €20 million in funding to support our community groups to upgrade and refurbish the community facilities in their areas. The Community Centre Investment Fund 2024 will provide funding from €10,000 up to a maximum of €100,000 towards capital costs for the refurbishment of existing community centres. This allocation brings the total amount of funding announced to support the development of community centres to over €95 million since 2022. This is an unprecedented level of investment in our community centres.

The funding can be used for a range of different investments from essential maintenance work to new kitchen facilities or energy upgrades. A series of information sessions about the scheme, and how to apply for it, will be held over the summer months. Interested applicants can now register on the online application portal in advance of the application process opening. The window for applying for the scheme will open on July 29^th and groups can apply for funding up to August 29^th . Full details can be found on my Department’s website.

I look forward to my Department receiving applications from community groups across the country and to announcing the successful projects from the end of the year on. I am confident that this new investment will build on the record levels of funding in recent years.