David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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384. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development to outline the funding, if any, allocated under any scheme administered by her Department to a building (details supplied), from 2019 to 2024 inclusive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43604/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The provision of such buildings, and related services, as that referred to by the Deputy is primarily a matter for local authorities, under the Local Government Act 2001.

With specific regard to the building referred to by the Deputy, the following funding has been allocated by my Department, from 2019 to date:

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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385. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if funding is available to secure a new playground development (details supplied) to prevent damage; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43612/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department recognises the importance of playgrounds in communities throughout Ireland. Applications for the delivery and upgrade of playgrounds are welcome under a number of schemes operated by my Department such as the CLÁR Programme, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS), the LEADER programme, the Community Enhancement Programme (CEP) and the Community Recognition Fund (CRF).

The CLÁR programme provides funding for small-scale projects in rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population. Since the programme was relaunched in 2016, it has supported a wide range of measures, including investment in playgrounds.

I was very happy to make the recent announcement of the successful projects under measure 1 of the 2024 CLÁR programme. In total, funding of over €11.4 million was approved for 264 projects which are developing community facilities and amenities including playgrounds.

Support for playground facilities often forms part of applications for larger amenity projects under the TVRS. Successful projects under the 2023 TVRS were announced in April of this year with funding of €20.4 million allocated to 82 projects under the scheme. Funding for the refurbishment and development of existing playgrounds along with the creation of new playgrounds were some of the successful projects announced as part of this funding. The next iteration of the TVRS is due to open for applications in the coming weeks.

The LEADER Programme aims to deliver a range of actions to rural communities over the lifetime of the policy. Support under the LEADER programme is provided under a broad range of themes, including Rural Infrastructure and Social Inclusion. Funding for improvement works to playgrounds may be provided under this theme, and prospective applicants are advised to contact their Local Action Group, through their Implementing Partner in the first instance, to discuss a potential project. The Implementing Partner for the Roscommon area is Roscommon LEADER Partnership and can be contacted at 090 – 663 0252 or reception@ridc.ie.

The CEP provides capital funding to community groups in disadvantaged areas across Ireland, and can include funding for playgrounds. The CEP is administered locally on behalf of my Department by Local Community Development Committees across the country, with support from their local authority.

The CRF 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. To further support communities, a further €50 million in funding under the Community Recognition Fund was announced last March.

Applications under the current round of funding can be submitted by local authorities across three phases. The closing dates for receipt of applications under the final phase is January 31st, 2025.

Local authorities are required to engage and collaborate with communities to identify the most appropriate projects for support. 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 and in the context of previous funding supports and local needs. The CRF has supported a number of playgrounds across the country.

Further details on each of these funds can be found on my Department's website.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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386. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development if a top-up could be provided to an organisation to help complete a project that has increased in cost due to construction inflation (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43751/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Community Recognition Fund (CRF) 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. I was delighted to announce a further €50 million in funding under the Community Recognition Fund on March 15th last.

Under the first allocation in 2023, Kerry was allocated €4,403,073 which included an amount in respect of the project referred to by the Deputy.

Under the most recent announcement, a further €3,946,095 was allocated to Kerry bringing the total available to County Kerry under CRF to over €8.3 million.

I understand that the project referred to by the Deputy was funded at a rate of 100% based on the initial costs provided at application stage. I would encourage the group involved to engage with Kerry County Council, who are managing delivery of the programme locally, to discuss the nature of the cost increase and to explore options in that regard. I have also asked my officials to also explore the matter with Kerry County Council.