Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 July 2022
2184. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development his Department's position on community gardens and community allotments; the funding options that are available for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40638/22]
View answerI am aware of the many cultural, environmental, social, and health benefits of community gardens and allotments. Accordingly, there are a number of possible funding options available for such initiatives.
The CLÁR programme provides funding under a number of different measures for small-scale infrastructural projects in designated rural areas. This year's programme was launched in February last with a total budget of €7 million. This represents an increase of €1.5 million on the budget for the 2021 CLÁR programme.
The measures being funded under CLÁR 2022 are:
- Measure 1: Developing Community Facilities and Amenities
- Measure 2: Mobility, Cancer Care and Community First Responders Transport
- Measure 3: ‘Our Islands’
Community gardens and allotments were eligible for funding under Measure 1 of CLÁR 2022.
The 2022 programme is now closed to new applications. I announced the successful Measure 2 and Measure 3 projects last month and these are published on my Department's website. Successful applications under Measure 1 will be announced in the coming weeks.
The LEADER programme is another key intervention implemented by my Department which will help to underpin the Government's rural development goals as outlined in Our Rural Future. The LEADER programme is delivered through 29 Local Action Groups (LAGs) across rural Ireland. A feature of the LEADER programme is that it is based on a community-led, bottom-up approach to rural development, and funding may also be available based on this approach. In order for a project to be eligible for LEADER funding, it must be compatible with the actions outlined in the approved Local Development Strategy for the relevant LEADER area and it must comply with the Operating Rules and EU Regulations in place for the programme.
Prospective applicants should, in the first instance, contact their relevant LAG, through its Implementing Partner, to discuss the eligibility of the project and the funding that may be available. The list of all LAGs, their Implementing Partners and their contact details, is available on my Department’s website.
