Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 June 2018
5. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if he will address the need for a new community centre for the north fringe of Dublin city; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24892/18]
View answer45. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the way in which his Department supports local parish and community centres in urban areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24891/18]
View answerAs the Minister is aware, the north fringe is a vast new urban district which was started nearly 20 years ago but was stopped for nearly ten years. Up to 20,000 people live there in areas such as Clongriffin, Belmayne, the coast and Burnell, yet we do not have many of the key services one would expect in such a big district such as education, health, sport and recreation. People believe it would be beneficial to have a multifunctional community centre in the heart of the area, namely, in Clongriffin. My question is whether the social inclusion and community activation programme, SICAP, could be used. The Minister could become one of the stakeholders in such a project.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 5 and 45 together.
My Department supports the local community development committees which are responsible for overseeing local and community development funding and identifying local needs through the local economic and community plan, LECP, process. Dublin City Council's LECP includes as a strategic goal the provision of a range of public, safe and affordable amenities, activities and facilities that are accessible to people of all ages and abilities. In line with this strategic goal, a community centre was recently established in Clongriffin, on the north side of Dublin city. The centre is leased by Dublin City Council and the amenity has been available to local community groups since its official launch on 14 May last.
My Department provides a range of supports to communities and community centres nationwide, in both urban and rural areas, by helping citizens to participate in the development of their communities and by providing funding to improve facilities. The public participation networks enable citizens to have a greater say in local government decisions which affect their own communities. These networks are represented on the local community development committees. In addition, the community enhancement programme which I launched last month can contribute towards the renovation of community centres. My Department also provides funding under the Leader programme, which can support the development of community centres outside of the five main cities.
Separately, once a community centre is in place, the community services programme supports community businesses to provide local services and create employment opportunities for disadvantaged people. Under the programme, my Department can provide a contribution to the cost of a manager and an agreed number of full-time equivalent positions.
The Minister mentioned Leader and the other programmes. It seems that this significant new urban district is falling between the cracks. We had the opening of a new hub, which essentially is a small space. We have a very vibrant community in Clongriffin and the adjoining districts. Besides the local "Dubs" and people from all over Ireland, including the Minister's county, we also have up to 40 different nationalities. People have seen what is done in other areas. Unfortunately, we are not a strategic development zone but we have seen a major new multifunctional community centre placed beside the secondary school in Phibblestown in the Taoiseach's constituency and in a number of other areas, thereby creating a centre for the area.
We have also seen developments in many comparator cities, for example Stockholm, which also has a major new urban district on the north of the city but where key services were put in at the start, whereas Dublin City Council, Fingal County Council and main developers such as Gannon and Kearns have been incredibly slow to put in the key services that are required. We campaigned for ten years for a railway station. I welcome what the Minister outlined and I urge him to consider becoming a stakeholder in the area. I know the energy the Minister has put into looking after the urban spaces in Westport, Ballina and Castlebar in his constituency.
I agree with Deputy Broughan's sentiments. I have visited some of the communities in Limerick and Dublin and in some rural areas. We have the community enhancement programme, the RAPID programme and the community facility programme. I joined two of the schemes together because the grant aid provided was small. Local community development committees, LCDCs, community groups, elected representatives and chambers of commerce can identify the areas most in need of grant aid. I accept that the amount of grant aid available is not significant.
The inner city is not Deputy Broughan's area of Dublin but we provided €3.5 million for it given the level of need and demand. Cherry Orchard received funding last year because of the problems associated with the area. The community had raised its own funds. It has a large hinterland and it had no centre. I agree with what Deputy Broughan has said. I want to see communities such as the one he has spoken about supported. Now that the economy is beginning to lift I want to see places like that getting the same opportunity. A total of €190 million is available under the SICAP programme over five years. I want to target disadvantage in communities on an individual basis and help the citizens who might not have got a chance in recent years. Many people have been targeted through the SICAP programme in particular in recent years and they have set up their own businesses. Some of them have accessed further education. We are now creating jobs for them. We must give them the opportunity and the supports.
There is a tremendous community spirit among the residents and many local community activities but people feel the need of a multifunctional community centre. The area was developed on the basis that it would be the size of Waterford city which means up to 50,000 people. I accept that Waterford will expand in the future. It is a huge new urban district.
People feel it is at a critical point in its development. If we do not come in with community facilities in the next year or two we could lose the area and would then be facing remedial measures, which we do not want. The indicative cost is about €6 million or €7 million. It would be important for the Department to be one of the stakeholders or pillars to allow this to be done. Part of the problem is that we have two county councils doing opposite things on the other side of the border, with smaller community spaces. We need to have everybody together in a multifaceted effort to create a community.
In respect of pastoral centres founded by different religious organisations but belonging to the whole community, is the Minister in favour of supports for them as well?
I would be supportive of anything that is good for community. It does not matter what religion, colour or creed - I want to support communities like that.
There is a scheme I urge the Deputy to investigate himself and to talk to Dublin City Council about. It is a new €2 billion urban regeneration fund that will be opening some time in June. The Deputy might look at making an application with the city council under that fund. These are the kind of projects that should be supported. Maybe the county council and other State agencies would assist the Deputy and the community to make an application. Applications will be open in June, announcements will be made in November and there will be a second round next year. This and all the existing schemes are there to support communities.
Deputy Ó Cuív had a question about the communities programme. We provide funding for staff and managers to support them. The social inclusion and community activation programme, SICAP, and all the other schemes are there. I urge the Deputy to look at that urban regeneration scheme. I want to see areas of disadvantage getting an opportunity to draw some funding out of this as well. It does not always have to be where we want to create jobs. We also have to create a society and give people an opportunity.
