Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein)
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1672. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht for costings of setting up a fund to cover the capital costs of setting up social enterprise hubs similar to a named example (details supplied) in Tallaght. [29038/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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I would like to acknowledge the valuable work carried out by the organisation in question and the meaningful impact it has on the lives of people in their local community.

In July 2024, my department launched Trading for Impact the second national social enterprise policy. Trading for Impact has been designed to cultivate and sustain a strong and impactful social enterprise sector in Ireland that enriches the social, environmental, and economic wellbeing of our communities.

The policy details 57 concrete actions across five key objectives.

• Building Awareness of Social Enterprise;
• Growing and Sustaining Social Enterprise;
• Supporting the Green Transition;
• National and International Engagement; and
• Impact Measurement.

My department provides funding across a number of other schemes that social enterprises may be eligible for. These include the Community Services Programme (CSP), the Social Inclusion and Activation Programme (SICAP), and LEADER. Details of these schemes can be found at the links below:

CSP: www.gov.ie/en/service/f8f93d-apply-for-community-service-programme/.

Leader: www.gov.ie/en/service/87e09-leader-programme-for-rural-development/.

SICAP: www.pobal.ie/programmes/social-inclusion-and-community-activation-programme-sicap-2024-2028/.

There are also a wide range of business supports available to social enterprises through the Local Enterprise Offices, provided they operate on a commercial basis and meet the eligibility criteria of the scheme for which they wish to apply. The Deputy will also be aware of the National Enterprise Hub, which can be used by social enterprises and provides a centralised signposting service for over 250 government or agency supports from 29 different Departments and state agencies. Information and support can be accessed through the website www.neh.gov.ie.

I recommend that any social enterprise seeking supports should contact their nearest Local Development Company (LDC) for advice. LDCs can provide details of funding available across many government departments, and also provide details of training, mentoring and networking opportunities that may be available. A link to the Local Development Company Network, the representative body for LDCs can be found here: .

Other organisations such as Rethink Ireland () and Social Entrepreneurs Ireland (www.socialentrepreneurs.ie/) may also be able to provide advice, funding and training.

Finally, the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht maintains details of social enterprise supports and details of supports available are reflected in table below.

www.gov.ie/en/collection/89e63-social-enterprise-supports-tables/.

(Please refer to Appendix A for a version of this response with clickable links to the web resources mentioned above)

Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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1673. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the timings for the next round of the community recognition fund allocations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29092/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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On June 5th, I announced the latest round of funding of over €17 million for the delivery of 212 projects under the Community Recognition Fund covering all 31 local authority areas. That announcement brought the total number of projects that have been awarded funding under the fund to over 1,450 in just over two years. A significant number of projects approved under the Community Recognition Fund are now complete and communities are enjoying the benefits that this funding has delivered. No decision has been made to implement a further iteration of funding at this stage, and my immediate priority is to ensure the full delivery of all approved projects to date.

Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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1674. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the timings for the next round of the community centres investment fund allocations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29093/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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The Community Centre Investment Fund (CCIF) has provided in excess of €109 million since 2022 for the enhancement and refurbishment of existing community centres and the construction of new centres.

Over €45.8 million was approved for some 861 community centres nationwide under CCIF 2022. In early 2024, funding of over €30 million was approved for the construction of 12 new community centres covering nine counties.

In June 2024, a new round of funding was announced to support community groups to upgrade and refurbish community facilities in their areas providing funding of between €10,000 and €100,000 towards capital costs for refurbishment of existing community centres.

Under the 2024 iteration of the fund over €33 million has now been approved to support refurbishment works on over 770 projects nationwide.

I am committed to delivering further iterations of the scheme in the coming years in line with the commitment in the Programme for Government for this to become a permanent rolling fund, and a decision in relation to the timing of further iterations will be made in the context of the management of ongoing commitments under the scheme and the ongoing budgetary process.

My Department also supports community infrastructure through a range of other funding streams including through the CLÁR programme and the Town and Village Renewal Scheme. I would encourage organisations to check my Department’s website for information on funding opportunities and announcements.