Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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890. To ask the Minister for Rural and Community Development the discussions his Department officials have had with officials from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage or the Land Development Agency regarding the funding of community facilities and spaces in proposed housing or community regeneration schemes in the Dublin 8, 10 and 12 areas. [13432/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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My Department supports community facilities and spaces across the country through a range of interventions, particularly the Community Centre investment Fund, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, the Community Recognition Fund and the LEADER programme.

Based on information provided to my officials by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, I understand that local authority development plans will stipulate what is required for housing or community regeneration schemes based on community and social audit and other development plan requirements.

In Dublin City Council for example, developments of 50 units or more require a community and social audit to assess the provision of community facilities and infrastructure within the vicinity of the site and identify whether there is a need to provide additional facilities to cater for the proposed development.

The Dublin City Council Development Plan also stipulates that large scale developments above 10,000 sq. m. in total area must provide at a minimum for 5% community, arts and culture spaces including exhibition, performance, and artist workspaces.

Certain developments such as those targeted to older persons or those within regeneration areas may request additional community facilities in order to support the management and functioning of the facility.

The local authority must make a case for the additional requirement which will be considered by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage. In proposing these facilities, the local authority must give consideration to how these facilities are owned, managed, maintained and optimally used over time.