The communal facilities grants scheme funded via the National Lottery, is for facilities to assist residents of supported housing delivered via the Capital Assistance Scheme. Facilities supported under the communal facilities grants scheme can include communal dining and kitchen areas, activity rooms, laundries, accommodation for therapy or treatment, or other facilities reasonably required to improve the residents’ living conditions.
Given its particular target of improving the living conditions of the residents of supported housing, it is not within the scope of the communal facilities grants scheme to fund facilities whose primary intention is for broader based community use, which may be the preferred outcome for the proposal referenced in the Question. At the same time, while the communal facilities grants scheme is for residents of supported housing, there is no barrier to such facilities being availed of by broader community interests.
My Department will be considering the levels of funding available under the communal facilities grants scheme as part of the Estimates process ahead of Budget 2025 later this year.
