Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 April 2023
63. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when local authorities in counties Laois and Offaly can expect to receive funding from the Ukrainian refugee Community Recognition Fund. [19281/23]
View answer79. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when she will announce successful projects under the community recognition fund in County Louth; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19144/23]
View answer89. Deputy Frankie Feighan asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when she will announce the successful projects under the community recognition fund in counties Sligo and Leitrim; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19140/23]
View answer93. Deputy Emer Higgins asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when she will announce successful projects under the community recognition fund in Dublin mid-west; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19236/23]
View answer98. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she will provide an update on the roll-out of the community recognition fund; if the fund is on track to allocate the target of 60% of funding in 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19345/23]
View answer109. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when community recognition fund projects will be announced: if she will provide a list of the applicants nationwide and amounts sought; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19135/23]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 63, 79, 89, 93, 98 and 109 together.
In January I launched the Community Recognition Fund which aims to support the development of community infrastructure and facilities in recognition of the contribution being made by communities across the country in welcoming and hosting significant numbers of arrivals from Ukraine and other countries.
The funding is specifically targeted at projects that are located in communities, towns and villages that are hosting the beneficiaries of Temporary Protection and/or International Protection applicants.
The Fund will support the development of facilities that will be used in the future by all members of the community. It is separate in its objectives and scope to any other public funding streams which aim to support the development of public service needs arising from the significant number of arrivals from Ukraine.
The Community Recognition Fund is being administered at a local level by the relevant local authority. A funding proposal, comprising of projects selected and prioritised locally, was submitted to my Department by each local authority for final approval.
A key principle of the Fund was the need for local authorities to engage with impacted communities. The funding proposals submitted by each local authority were developed based on direct engagement with impacted communities and in consultation with the Municipal Districts, Local Community Development Committee and the local Community Response Fora.
I am happy to confirm that over 830 proposed projects are included in the funding proposals received from local authorities, with the full €50 million being applied for. I would like to thank all those who were involved in the consultations and the development of these proposals in communities all across Ireland. It was important to me that the projects were developed in consultation with communities so that the best value for money could be achieved in a way that ensures clear impacts and benefits for those communities.
The Fund is structured on a 2 year basis, and the applications received from local authorities reflect this structure. This means that some projects will be delivered this year, and others in 2024. €30m of this Fund will be allocated for those projects to be delivered in 2023, with the remaining €20 allocated for projects to be delivered in 2024.
The funding proposals are under consideration in the Department and I expect to make an announcement on them shortly as I am aware that local authorities and communities are anxious to commence work on projects. As part of that announcement all the successful projects will be published on my Department’s website.
