Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North-Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

104. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if he will provide details of the budget allocations to the community centres investment fund in 2024 and 2025; the total drawn down to date; when the next round will be announced; if consideration will be given to expanding the capital investment in new-build measures for green-brown field sites; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37186/25]

Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Since its establishment in 2022, the Community Centre Investment Fund (CCIF) has provided approximately €110 million for refurbishment of existing community centres and the construction of new centres.

Over €45.8 million was approved for the refurbishment of 861 community centres under CCIF 2022. To date over €43.6 million has been drawn down in respect of these projects.

In 2024, funding of over €30 million was approved for the construction of 12 new community centres covering nine counties as part of the 2023 new builds measure. These are large scale projects that take a number of years to develop, and it is expected that the drawdown of funds will commence later this year as projects complete planning and design phases..

Under the 2024 scheme, over €33 million was approved for over 770 refurbishment projects nationwide during 2024 and early 2025. €7 million has been drawn down in respect of these projects.

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

Séamus McGrath (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

106. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to consider additional funding supports for community and voluntary organisations to assist with regular running costs, such as utility bills and so on, considering that the vast majority of current grant schemes are for capital works or the purchase of items. [38238/25]

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am aware of the challenges facing community groups in relation to running costs, such as utility bills.

Since 2018 the Local (Community) Enhancement Programme has provided funding for community and voluntary groups. Although mostly capital in nature, a number of the iterations over the years included a current element of funding. The Local Enhancement Programme (LEP) 2025 included €1 million in current funding to provide support and assistance to community and voluntary groups around the country towards their utility bills, rental/lease costs, insurance costs etc..

Additionally last year, Pobal rolled out a Business and Financial Sustainability Training Programme for the Community Services Programme (CSP), with the overall aim to provide organisations with the skills and knowledge to help them devise business plans that will help them to remain financially viable in the short to medium term.

At present, I do not have any plans to introduce additional funding supports for community and voluntary organisations to assist with regular running costs. I would, however, encourage all community and voluntary organisations to check my Department’s website www.gov.ie/drcdg , and to engage with their Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs), Local Development Companies and Public Participation Networks (PPN), to ensure they are aware of all existing funding opportunities.