Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 July 2021
3443. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the level of funding accessed in counties Cavan and Monaghan for the development and upgrading of playgrounds in 2020 and in first six-months of 2021. [40244/21]
View answerPlaygrounds are an important resource with positive impacts for communities.
Funding provided by the Community Enhancement Programme provides small grants to community groups to enhance facilities, including playgrounds, in disadvantaged areas. Funding is allocated by my Department to each Local Authority area, and the Local Community Development Committee, with support from their Local Authority, administers the funding in that area. There is total funding of €4.5m available under the Community Enhancement Programme in 2021.
Additionally, funding for playgrounds may be available through the €70 million LEADER Transitional Programme which I launched earlier this year. This funding supports locally-led projects which focus on delivering on the key themes of Our Rural Future, the Governments ambitious plan for rural Ireland - such as building capacity and empowering local communities, supporting remote working, developing our outdoor amenities and creating jobs in rural areas.
The LEADER programme is delivered through Local Action Groups (LAGs) in each of the 28 LEADER sub-regional areas around the country. €381,520.77 was accessed in Counties Cavan and Monaghan for the development and upgrading of playgrounds in 2020 and in first six-months of 2021.
Finally, the CLÁR programme, with an allocation €5.5 million in funding in 2021, provides funding for small scale projects in designated rural areas. Measure 2 of the 2021 CLÁR Programme supports Outdoor Community Recreation Facilities including the enhancement of existing and/or the development of new accessible outdoor community recreation facilities including playgrounds, skateboard parks and Multi Use Games Areas (MUGAs). The closing date for receipt of applications for 2021 has now passed. The assessment of the applications received is ongoing and I expect to make an announcement on the approved projects in the coming weeks.
