Paul McAuliffe
Question:624. Deputy Paul McAuliffe asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development for an update on the Empowering Communities programme and its implementation in Finglas south, Dublin 11. [41180/23]
View answerTuesday, 26 September 2023
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The Empowering Communities Programme (ECP) was launched on 2 June 2022. Funding of €2 million was secured to design and implement a new Empowering Communities Programme aimed at specifically targeting area-based deprivation through a community development approach.
The ECP focuses on augmenting the community development efforts within a number of small geographic areas identified as experiencing particular disadvantage where additional more intensive supports are required.
Dublin Northwest Partnership was allocated funding of €150,000 for the Electoral Division (ED), Finglas South B.
A Community Engagement Worker has been recruited in the Finglas area. The Community Engagement Worker is employed to develop and facilitate relationships between community stakeholders, community groups and statutory agencies and structures.
In responding to the presenting needs in the targeted area, a strong emphasis is placed on community consultation and collaboration with stakeholders in the community. A number of capacity building programmes have been established to respond to incidences of educational inequality and to the needs of one-parent families.
A community grant strand has been developed to support the Local Community Groups in the ECP catchment area. Among the successful applications for the community grant are Finglas West Active Retirement Group, Lakeglen Residents Association, Rivermount Football Club, Finglas Evening Sisters Shed and An Cosán (Early Years Education Centre) which delivers education in the Finglas and Cabra areas.