Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 November 2023
629. Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the way in which other State or local authority funds can be used in conjunction with community centres investment funding to carry out works; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [49724/23]
View answerThe focus of the 2022 Community Centres Investment Fund was the improvement and refurbishment of existing community centres across Ireland. Over €45.8 million has been committed to this important refurbishment work.
This year the focus of the Fund moved to new builds. I want to assist community groups striving to build their own community centre to service local needs. In March, I was delighted to announce a €20 million Fund to support communities with ‘shovel-ready’ projects on green or brownfield sites to build new community centres.
The minimum grant funding available from the Fund is €1 million and the maximum is €6 million. The Fund will provide up to 90% of the total project value to a maximum of €6 million with at least 10% to be provided in matching contributions by the applicants. A minimum of 5% of the matching contributions element must be in cash.
The match funding may include a combination of wider public sector expenditure, local authority investment and/or land, community investment, philanthropic contributions, private sector investment (where appropriate), or other asset contributions. Funds secured from existing Department of Rural and Community Development schemes or programmes are not eligible to be used as matched funding.
