Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 June 2023
88. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of applications for community centre funding across all schemes operated by her Department in 2022; and the amount paid out to date, in tabular form. [28045/23]
View answerAt the core of my Department's remit is the mission to support vibrant and sustainable communities across the country. My Department provides targeted investment and supports in both rural and urban communities, which enables rural regeneration, facilitates new working opportunities and fosters regional enterprise growth.
Community centres, as their name makes clear, are places of amenity and opportunity run by and for local residents. They are venues for training, socialising, volunteering and a myriad of social and community services.
I am determined to support the sector to develop and to remain sustainable. In addition to the direct funding that my Department provides, I have also ensured that, where appropriate, community centres are at the heart of the numerous community development initiatives managed by my Department. For example, the overwhelming majority of Broadband Connection Points (BCPs) in the country are community centres, many of which now facilitate remote working and job skills training.
In 2022, my Department approved direct funding of €145m across a number of programmes to support 952 community centres or multi use community buildings. This figure does not include other supports provided to the sector, such as the Community and Voluntary Energy Support Scheme (CVESS) and the Community Support Fund.
The amount approved in 2022 and a breakdown of the number of approved applications for community centres across the various programmes is set out in the table below. Many of these programmes and schemes are multi-annual in nature, meaning that the distribution of approved funds may occur throughout the lifetime of the schemes.
It should also be noted that funding under the LEADER programme is focused on a thematic approach to rural development under the headings of Economic Development, Enterprise Development and Job Creation; Social Inclusion; and the Rural Environment. The Department does not, therefore, capture details of the amount of funding approved specifically for community centres under the LEADER programme.
|
Programme/Scheme |
No of applications approved in 2022 |
Funding approved in 2022 |
|
Community Centre Investment Fund - for the improvement and refurbishment of existing community centres across Ireland |
861 |
€45,886,337 |
|
Connected Hubs Call 2022 - to add remote working capacity in Ireland by upgrading existing hubs and Broadband Connection Points |
43 |
€718,546 |
|
Rural Regeneration and Development Fund - includes the redevelopment of vacant and derelict properties to provide community facilities. |
34 |
€96,584,111 |
|
Scaling Up Fund for Social Enterprise - designed to improve the impact and sustainability of social enterprises that address economic, social and educational disadvantage. |
6 |
€395,951 |
|
Town and Village Renewal Scheme - Building Acquisition Measure 2022, to support the enhancement of 8 community centres. |
8 |
€1,556,988 |
|
Totals |
952 |
€145,141,933 |
