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Recreational Facilities Provision

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 12 December 2018

Wednesday, 12 December 2018

Questions (237, 238)

Clare Daly

Question:

237. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development his plans to introduce funding schemes in the Fingal area to address the rapid expansion of population and lack of facilities to accommodate the large scale growth of the adolescent population in recent years in view of the fact that many are turning to anti-social behaviour due to lack of facilities. [52301/18]

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Clare Daly

Question:

238. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development his views on the growing issue of anti-social behaviour displayed in adolescents residing within newly established areas due to a lack of facilities offered to them especially in areas such as Lusk and Fingal. [52302/18]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 237 and 238 together.

My Department provides supports to help identify the need for community facilities in specific areas, and provides some funding for these facilities.  It supports Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) who are responsible for the delivery of the community elements of their Local Economic and Community Plans (LECPs).  These plans are adopted in each local authority area, including Fingal.

Needs identified in the LECPs are funded from a range of sources including schemes and programmes provided by my Department.  For example, the Community Enhancement Programme (CEP) can contribute towards the renovation and development of community infrastructure.  In 2018, the Fingal Local Authority area received €477,189 under the CEP.  Small capital projects including CCTV installation for the monitoring of anti-social behaviour can be funded under the scheme.  My Department also provides capital funding under the LEADER programme, which can support the development of facilities outside of the five main cities, including some areas within Fingal.

Separately, the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government administers the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF), which was launched as part of Project Ireland 2040 to support the compact growth and sustainable development of Ireland’s five cities, regional drivers and other large urban centres.  The Fund has an allocation of €2 billion to 2027.

While a community facilities project alone is unlikely to be eligible for this funding, the URDF invites a range of proposal types, which must be in line with the assigned assessment criteria, including, inter alia:

- Whether the proposal forms part of an overall integrated vision for an area and is likely to be instrumental in the achievement of transformational, place-based change.

- The extent to which proposal co-ordinates with and/or contributes to evidence-based strategies for social, economic and physical/environmental development, including in particular Regional Social and Economic Strategies and City/County Development Plans.

- The need to leverage wider residential and/or commercial development.

A further call for proposals for 2020 funding will issue in 2019, with the aim to facilitate a greater focus on integrated urban projects, as such proposals require sufficient time for design, planning, procurement and construction to be advanced properly.  It will be open to Fingal County Council to submit suitable proposals for funding in respect of eligible parts of the Fingal area.  Further details can be found at

www.housing.gov.ie/urdf and www.gov.ie/urdf.

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