Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 April 2019
520. Deputy John Curran asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the reason for the significant drop in funding to the community enhancement programme for 2019, with €4.5 million being allocated compared to €13 million in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17851/19]
View answerIn 2018, I launched the Community Enhancement Programme with initial funding of €4.5m.
The programme helps community groups to improve facilities in their area. It supports a range of investment in all areas of communities, such as childcare facilities, playgrounds, recreational facilities, sports grounds, landscaping projects, and supports for the elderly.
In 2018, there was a huge level of interest in the programme right across the country following its launch. So I was delighted to be in a position to allocate additional once-off funding to the programme later in the year and the final amount allocated was €13 million. This included €0.5 million that was ring-fenced for Men's Sheds. Over 3,000 projects across the country were funded, all of them targeted at enhancing facilities in disadvantaged communities.
In March of this year, I launched the 2019 programme with funding of €4.5m, the same amount that was initially provided in 2018. If savings elsewhere in the Department are identified as the year progresses, I will consider additional funding for the Community Enhancement Programme.
