Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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1339. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the position regarding certain grant applications (details supplied) made to her Department; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45148/24]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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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.

In June this year, I was delighted to announce a further round of funding to support community groups to upgrade and refurbish the community facilities in their areas. The Community Centre Investment Fund 2024 will provide funding of between €10,000 and €100,000 towards capital costs for the refurbishment of existing community centres.

The window for applying for the scheme closed in early September. I understand that over 1,060 applications were received under CCIF 2024. I can confirm that the organisation referred to by the Deputy has submitted an application under Category 2 of the Community Centre Investment Fund 2024. All applications are currently being assessed and I expect to begin announcing successful projects before the end of the year.

The Dormant Accounts Fund Growing Social Enterprise Scheme 2024 will provide funding of between €1,500 and €100,000 to social enterprises in order to help them increase capacity or develop new avenues of trading. Pobal administer this scheme on behalf of the Department and are currently appraising the applications received. I can also confirm that the organisation referred to by the Deputy has submitted an application under the Growing Social Enterprise Fund. It is expected that the list of successful organisations will be announced later this year.