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Departmental Funding

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 5 December 2019

Thursday, 5 December 2019

Questions (374)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

374. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the next tranche of grant aid will be awarded; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51078/19]

View answer

Written answers

My Department delivers a variety of programmes that provide grant aid to community groups and organisations.

The application periods for these programmes vary and full details of all relevant dates and deadlines can be found on the Government of Ireland website, gov.ie. Funding announcements are made following the processing and evaluation of applications in accordance with the criteria set out in respect of each programme.

Recent announcements of approved funding include:

- Last month I announced €62 million in funding for 26 projects under the second call to Category 1 of the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, bringing the total approved from the Fund to date to €148 million. I will be announcing a second call for Category 2 applications to the Fund before the end of 2019, and the third call for Category 1 application will be announced early in 2020.

- €15 million to 156 projects under the 2019 Town and Village Renewal Scheme.

- €1.8 million to 109 projects under Measure 1 of the 2019 Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme. I expect to be able to make announcements in respect of Measures 2 and 3 of the scheme in the coming weeks.

- I also expect to announce the projects funded under the €1m Small Capital Grants Scheme for Social Enterprises, and the €800,000 Training and Mentoring for Social Enterprises Pilot very shortly.

In addition, the following grant schemes are currently accepting applications:

- Decisions to approve projects, or otherwise, under the LEADER Programme are a matter for the Local Action Groups (LAGs) which administer the programme in each LEADER area. Interested applicants should, in the first instance, contact the relevant LAG through its Implementing Partner(s) to discuss the funding that may be available. Contact details for all LAGs are available on the gov.ie website.

- The Community Services Programme supports around 400 community organisations, with funding provided as a fixed annual contribution to the cost of a manager and an agreed number of full-time equivalent (FTE) positions. Expressions of Interest are accepted on an ongoing basis throughout the year, with funding for new organisations considered, in light of available budgets, during the year and subject to their suitability with the programme criteria.

Details of the application processes for the 2020 editions of programmes run by my Department, including the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, Community Enhancement Programme, CLÁR Programme and Local Improvement Scheme, will be announced when the schemes are launched by me in the new year.

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