Mairéad Farrell (Galway West, Sinn Fein)
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726. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht if Ros Muc and Ceantar na nOileáin will be considered for funding through the empowering communities programme, given that they are both categorised as 'disadvantaged' or 'very disadvantaged' by the Pobal HP Deprivation Index; if the Minister will outline when decisions will be made on funding for the upcoming year; and the number of areas in the state which will be selected as part of the programme in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [67507/25]

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael)
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The Empowering Communities Programme (ECP) is funded by my Department and commenced in 2022 initially providing funding for 14 projects. At present, there are 17 projects supported under the programme.

The programme, with the support of the relevant Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) and Local Development Company (LDC), aims to enhance community access to key services and empower local communities to develop their own responses to area-based poverty, social exclusion and the resulting consequences.

As part of this programme, the local development company is supported to engage a Community Engagement Worker in each of the selected areas, to develop and facilitate relationships between community stakeholders, community groups and statutory agencies and structures.

Community Engagement Workers engage with the supported community and reinforce community development values and principles. They assist the community to take ownership of, and address the issues that are most important to them and facilitate and create positive change.

The areas selected for funding under the ECP are ones that are experiencing significant disadvantage, identified using the Pobal HP deprivation index.

My Department has engaged an external consultant to undertake an evaluation of the impact of the ECP and the final report is due in early 2026. Any decisions with regard to the expansion of the ECP will be made based on the outcome of the evaluation and subject to available resources.

I would encourage all persons or groups seeking funding 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 relevant funding opportunities as they become available.