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Covid-19 Pandemic Supports

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 December 2020

Thursday, 17 December 2020

Questions (673)

Paul Donnelly

Question:

673. Deputy Paul Donnelly asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if a source of fundraising will be available to non-local authority community centres in early 2021 due to Covid-19 impacting on their own fundraising via draws and collections and so on. [44458/20]

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Written answers

I understand that 2020 has been a very difficult year for fundraising across the community and voluntary sectors. My Department has been at the forefront of providing supports to community organisations to help them through this time.

A €50 million support package for the Community and Voluntary Sector, Charities and Social Enterprises was launched by Government and is administered by my Department. This funding was made available from the Dormant Accounts Fund and consists of the COVID 19 Stability Fund and the Innovate Together Fund.

My Department also funds the Community Enhancement Programme. The 2020 programme was launched in June with funding of €2m providing small capital grants to community organisations towards enhancing facilities. Separately, under the July stimulus package my Department launched a €5m fund for repairs or upgrades to community centres and community buildings. While both these programmes have recently closed it is hoped to run the CEP programme again in 2021.

More recently my Department launched a €1.7m COVID-19 Emergency Fund, which community and voluntary groups can apply for by contacting the Local Community Development Committee or Local Authority in their area. This follows on from a previous €2.5m round of this fund.

More generally, depending on the activities carried out in the facility, there may be different types of funding available from a range of Government Departments and agencies. I recommend that community organisations engage with both the Local Community Development Committee and the Local Development Company in their area for any updates in this regard.

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