Departmental Schemes

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 25 April 2024

Thursday, 25 April 2024

Questions (359, 360)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

359. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the number of valid applications received under the new build module set up to deliver new-build community centres in Rural Ireland under the Community Centre Investment Fund; the number of these granted funding to date; whether the applications not funded under this round of funding will be considered for funding under further funding rounds of the scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18625/24]

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

360. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the scoring system that was applied to the evaluation of applications under the new build module set up to deliver new-build community centres in rural Ireland under the Community Centre Investment Fund; if unsuccessful applications will be debriefed on the score their application achieved and the lowest score of any successful application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18626/24]

Written answers

Minister for Rural and Community Development

I propose to take Questions Nos. 359 and 360 together.

Under the range of capital investment schemes implemented by my Department I have prioritised in recent years the development and enhancement of community centres across the country as they are a vital resource for any community.

Under the 2022 Community Centre Investment Fund in particular, over €45.8 million was committed for improvement and refurbishment works on over 860 existing community centres across Ireland.

Last year I announced a new fund to support communities with shovel-ready projects on green or brownfield sites for the construction of new community centres. Following the closing date, a total of 22 applications were received covering 14 counties and seeking funding of over €59m.

All applications were initially assessed for minimum eligibility taking account of a number of requirements including readiness to commence, ownership/lease status, evidence of matching/bridging finance and the completion of a Public Spending Code financial analysis. 

Following this, applications were subject to a competitive assessment against the following criteria: Collaboration (100 marks), Financial Sustainability (100 marks), Capacity (100 marks), Demonstration of Need (150 marks), Value for Money (150 marks), Additionality (50 marks), Sustainability/Climate Action (50 marks). There were 700 marks in total.

I was very pleased to recently announce approval of twelve new build community centres in nine counties with a total fund of €30 million. This is well in excess of the anticipated 4 to 6 centres that were initially anticipated. The lowest of the successful applicants received a score of 360.

My officials are available to discuss any elements of an unsuccessful project with the applicant body. Applicants not shortlisted for funding are of course free to apply for other funding streams provided by my Department and indeed to reapply in the event of any future iteration of the Community Centre Investment Fund.

I will, of course, now give consideration to the need for further rounds of funding and any conditions that might be attached to any future iterations of the scheme in the context of available funding.