Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 23 February 2023
2. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the scheme for funding new community centres will be open for applications, given that the scheme has now been announced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9206/23]
View answerNow that a scheme to fund new community centres has been announced, will the Minister outline when it will open for applications?
I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. Community centres are the cornerstone of community life in towns, villages and parishes across the country. Since my appointment, I have placed a key focus on the development of these important facilities. In 2022, I launched the new community centres investment fund, with grants of up to €300,000 available for the upgrade and renovation of existing community centres. The types of work that are eligible for funding include upgrades to kitchen and toilet facilities, energy retrofitting, including the provision of new windows, doors and heating systems, works to improve disability access, and other essential maintenance work such as fire safety improvements, repair to roofs and floors etc.
There was significant demand for the scheme, with more than 1,000 applications received. All applications were subject to a competitive assessment, following which I was pleased to announce €45.5 million in funding for 858 successful projects.
In addition to upgrading existing centres, I am aware that there are several areas which would love to have new facilities for their communities to enjoy. I am fully committed to doing all I can to support them. The Deputy has raised this matter with me on several occasions. In this regard, I was delighted to secure €21 million in budget 2023 for a new round of the community centre investment fund which will be targeted specifically at new-build community centres. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that details of the 2023 scheme are currently being developed. I hope to issue a call for applications in March.
I thank the Minister for her reply. As she stated, there are many communities in cities, towns and villages throughout Ireland that do not have a community centre or centralised location in which to gather and meet. I very much welcome the introduction of a new scheme that will enable communities across the country to build and refurbish community centres.
As I stated previously in the House, Newcastle in Galway city is an area with no community facilities. It is home to almost 6,000 residents. A committee got together under the chairmanship of Seamus Davey and raised more than €200,000. It acquired a site and secured planning permission for a much-needed centre for the area. It has the unanimous support of all public representatives. This is an excellent proposal to provide facilities for this area of Galway city. I hope the Newcastle project will be successful in its application to secure funding under the new scheme the Minister will be announcing shortly and opening in March.
The project in Newcastle has been brought to my attention by the Deputy. I have met him and his Oireachtas colleagues to discuss the matter. I fully understand and appreciate the need to support new communities. We need these facilities because communities are very much at the heart of areas. It is important that they have community centres in which they can meet, engage in sporting activities and so on.
We are targeting areas of population growth and will be looking for shovel-ready projects. Those applying to the scheme will need to have planning permission in place. I am not going to allocate money and then wait two years for planning permission to be obtained. That is not where we want to be. We need to have planning in place, as well as matched funding. I am looking for shovel-ready projects.
I thank the Minister for her support. She has met me and other Oireachtas Members since we first raised this issue with her. I acknowledge the support of Oireachtas colleagues in Galway for the project.
I very much welcome the introduction of this much-needed scheme that will unite communities and keep them active. Community centres are often the backbone of communities but, unfortunately, there are areas where no community facilities exist. Newcastle in Galway city is one such area. Of the residents of the area, 60% are retired. They have absolutely no facilities, either community, commercial or otherwise. As the Minister noted, the Newcastle Combined Community Association has advanced plans. The project is shovel ready and set to proceed once funding is secured. I look forward to welcoming the Minister to Galway to turn the sod on this much-needed facility in Newcastle if funding can be approved.
I thank the Deputy. As I stated, I met the Oireachtas Members to discuss the issue. The project in Newcastle seems to tick a lot of boxes but it has to go through a competitive assessment process. I am sure there will be plenty of demand for this fund of €21 million. As we all know, it costs a lot of money to build a community centre. It will be competitive. I knew there was an interest in community centres but €75 million in applications came in for the previous scheme. It was unbelievable. Helping communities is the right thing for us to do. There are volunteers out there who are trying to raise money by shaking buckets and holding all sorts of events. We want to help them. I wish Newcastle well. I will be launching the scheme in March. The most important thing is for the group in Newcastle and groups in other areas to get their applications in, but I want applications in respect of projects that are shovel ready.
