Alan Dillon
Question:85. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development for an update on the Community Recognition Fund; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10376/24]
View answerTuesday, 5 March 2024
Questions (85)
Written answers
The Community Recognition Fund recognises the huge efforts made by communities in welcoming and supporting people coming to Ireland. Funding of €50 million for some 900 projects is supporting towns and villages nationwide that have welcomed people from Ukraine and other countries.
The Fund aims to support the development of facilities that will be used in the future by all members of the community. Through this initiative, communities are being assisted to develop projects such as large-scale multi-purpose sports facilities, walkways, cycle paths, playgrounds, equipment for sports clubs and community festivals. Support has also been provided to address transport needs in communities.
The Fund has been allocated across all local authorities based on the number of new arrivals located there. It follows an extensive consultation process by local authorities who submitted their individual list of projects for approval. The full €50 million was allocated in a single tranche with the aim of having all projects completed by the end of this year.
Local authorities are submitting funding drawdown requests to my Department in respect of these projects and my officials are assessing these for payment.
Over €12.4 Million has been paid out to over 440 projects, with approximately 220 projects now fully completed. A key priority now is to ensure that the range of projects approved across the country are delivered as quickly as possible.
I have also been discussing the implementation of the Community Recognition Fund with Government colleagues, including the potential to introduce a second iteration of the scheme to further assist impacted communities. I expect to make an announcement in this regard shortly.