Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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2660.To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide clarity on a number of issues regarding the community recognition fund (details supplied). [30975/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Community Recognition Fund was first introduced in 2023 to recognise the huge efforts made by communities in welcoming and supporting people coming to Ireland.

Through the 2023 allocation, funding of €50 million was approved for some 900 projects in providing support to cities, towns and villages nationwide who have welcomed people from Ukraine and other countries. To further support communities, a further €50 million in funding was announced earlier this year under the Community Recognition Fund.

The additional funding is specifically targeted at projects which are located in cities, towns and villages that are hosting the Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection and/or International Protection Applicants.

The funding is allocated to each local authority area and is not specifically assigned to specific towns or electoral areas. The allocations were based on the number of new arrivals located there, taking into account both the level of new arrivals and the relative level of new arrivals vis a vis overall population in a local authority area. Local authorities are required to engage and collaborate with communities to identify the most appropriate projects for support from within their available funding. It is a matter for each local authority to identify the most appropriate locations for funding based on their analysis of the level of arrivals in each location, the need for investment in each area and in the context of previous funding supports.

Once the local authority has identified potential projects, it can submit funding proposals to my Department for consideration. These proposals can be submitted across three phases. The phased closing dates for receipt of applications are May 31st, September 30th and January 31st, 2025

I will be announcing successful projects under the the first phase in the coming weeks.