Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
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43. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht whether his Department has evaluated the administrative burden placed on voluntary and community groups applying to multiple overlapping funding schemes; and if he will outline any plans to streamline application, reporting and compliance processes. [23003/26]

Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
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58. To ask the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht the extent to which funding schemes administered by his Department are coordinated under a single strategic framework; the steps being taken to address fragmentation across multiple short-term funding streams; and whether consideration is being given to multi-annual funding models for community development. [23000/26]

Jerry Buttimer (Cork South-Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 43 and 58 together.

The Government’s strategy to support the community and voluntary sector, Sustainable, Inclusive and Empowered Communities, published in 2019, set out a long-term vision for our communities in Ireland and provided a strategic framework across Government for engagement with the sector and support through a wide range of programmes and initiatives. My department is currently developing a successor strategy that will build upon the achievements, structures and programmes established under the previous strategy whilst also responding to new challenges and contexts.

Last year, my Department’s new Statement of Strategy for the period 2025-2028 was published. Contained within this is a framework for the ambitious programme of work to be undertaken within this timeframe which will in turn support the implementation of the priorities set out in the Programme for Government 2025 – Securing Ireland’s Future.

Its accompanying mission statement is to ‘Support the development of sustainable, inclusive and resilient communities throughout Ireland, including in rural, island and Gaeltacht areas, embracing their unique cultural, linguistic and environmental features.” At the core of that mission are four important strategic goals, including the goal to support inclusive, engaged and resilient communities, empowered to contribute meaningfully and participate fully in society, underpinned by a thriving community and voluntary sector.

Across the community development area of my department, funding of €260 million is being provided in 2026. Consistent with the commitment in the strategy for the community and voluntary sector, the most significant funding programmes such as the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), the Community Services Programme (CSP) and the Support Scheme for National Organisations (SSNO), all provide support on a multi-annual basis.

The new Social Inclusion & Community Activation Programme (SICAP) began on 1 January 2024 and will run until the end of 2028. €74 million is being allocated to the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) and other social inclusion supports in 2026.

The Community Services Programme (CSP) currently supports 445 services nationally via 426 community organisations through a social enterprise model focusing on urban and rural communities where public and private sector services are lacking, either through geographical or social isolation or because of demand deficits. The total funding for current year is €59.4m and is delivered through multi-annual funding contracts with the supported organisations.

The Scheme to Support National Organisation (SSNO) currently provides multi-annual funding towards core costs of national, community and voluntary organisations delivering services and supports. The current SSNO commenced in July 2022 and will conclude at the end of June 2026. Under this iteration, approximately €28 million will be provided to 82 national, community and voluntary organisations. A new three-year period of funding will commence later this year.

Separately, my Department oversees the LEADER Programme which also operates on a multi-annual basis and allows for local action groups (LAGs), which incorporates not for profit organisations, to claim a maximum of 25% of their expenditure towards their running and operational costs. A total of €180m is available for the programming period from 2023-2027.

The PEACEPLUS programme 2021-2027 is a €1.14 billion cross-border funding programme and is a partnership between the EU, the Irish Government, the United Kingdom, and the Northern Ireland Executive. The contribution required from this Department is €96 million. The PEACEPLUS allocation in 2026 is €11.13 million.

Additionally, my Department supports a broad range of targeted programmes and initiatives under its Rural Development Investment Programme so that it can continue to respond to the differing needs of rural communities.

Each of these funding schemes and arrangements have distinct and specific objectives, eligibility criteria and conditions regarding outputs, reporting, EU legislative requirements and audit. Many of these requirements are consistent across schemes and also enable the department to meet its obligations under public spending rules. My Department is aware of the challenges facing the community and voluntary sector in meeting the compliance and reporting requirements of our funding schemes, as recognised in the previous strategy for the sector. This will continue to be addressed under the successor strategy to be approved by Government later this year.