Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 May 2021
735. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount of funding allocated for the provision or improvement of community facilities between 2010 and 2020, by county. [26026/21]
View answerMy Department was established, in July 2017, to, inter alia, bring a renewed focus to rural and community development throughout the country, in so doing it funds a range of programmes and schemes to assist in rural and community development which are available to eligible community groups and organisations throughout the country.
In the present COVID environment the supports provided by my Department to assist communities are more important than ever to assist the economic and social recovery of these areas.
My Department has been allocated €341 million in the 2021 Revised Estimates, this ensures that we are in a position to further assist communities seeking funding and other supports for important local activities and projects.
Some of the funding streams available from my Department which contribute to improvement of community facilities are set out below, with links to further information on funding allocations:
The €4.5 million Community Enhancement Programme aims to streamline funding to communities in need. The programme is administered by Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) in each Local Authority area. Its mission is to provide funding to improve facilities available to communities. The funding is allocated to each Local Authority area by a methodology that reflects deprivation levels in each area.
https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/1e973a-community-enhancement-programme-projects/
The Community Services Programme currently supports 420 community organisations to provide local social, economic and environmental services through a social enterprise model. CSP funding is provided as a contribution towards the cost of employing staff in these organisations. It meets local service gaps and provides services and facilities that would not be available otherwise. Some €49million is available to support community organisations under the programme in 2021.
https://www.gov.ie/en/service/f8f93d-apply-for-community-service-programme/
The Dormant Accounts Fund provides funding for community initiatives and supports, including support for Social Enterprises.
https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/769773-dormant-accounts-fund-annual-action-plans-and-reports/
The Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) provides funding for the development of new and existing outdoor recreational infrastructure in rural areas such as cycleways, walking trails, blueways and mountain access routes.
https://www.gov.ie/en/collection/90a66b-approved-funding-for-outdoor-recreation-projects/
CLÁR is an investment programme for small-scale infrastructural projects in depopulated rural areas. CLÁR supports the development of identified areas by attracting people to live and work there.
https://www.gov.ie/en/policy-information/91ba52-clar/
My Department provides funding to supplement investment by local authorities in their library services. Funding is provided, for example, as a contribution towards the cost of developing library buildings, technological capacity and resources, book-stock and other areas of activity that enhance local library services. Responsibility for the delivery of public library services is generally a matter for each local authority in its capacity as a library authority under the Local Government Act 2001.
Other funding streams available to communities from my Department.
The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund was established as part of Project Ireland 2040 and will support a coherent suite of capital investment schemes so that rural towns (with populations of less than 10,000), rural villages and outlying areas can benefit from investment over the coming years. The four headings funded through the Rural Regeneration and Development allocation are (i) RRDF major projects (ii) RRDF Seed Funding (iii) Town and Village Renewal and (iv)the Outdoor Recreational Infrastructure Scheme.
The Town and Village Renewal Scheme covers a range of projects to support and rejuvenate rural towns and villages. It is administered by Local Authorities on behalf of my Department and projects are developed in consultation with town/village community and business interests.
Funding can be provided for a wide range of interventions including public-realm projects, town centre enhancements, encouraging town centre living, and economic development projects. Applications for funding are submitted to DRCD by local authorities. The scheme has an annual budget of €15m, with €25m made available in 2020 due to an additional €10m from the July Stimulus Package.
LEADER Programme: Under the LEADER Programme, €250 million in grant aid is available to rural communities and businesses. This is provided to projects focused on economic and enterprise development, job creation, social inclusion and supporting the rural environment. Funding is allocated to 28 sub-regional areas based on administrative or county boundaries.
All schemes are open to applications from eligible groups during the application timeframes set for each scheme or programme. Further information on all schemes and funding programmes available through my Department can be found online at https://www.gov.ie/en/organisation/department-of-rural-and-community-development/
