Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 May 2024
689. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development to outline the work being undertaken by her Department to support the further development of communities on the Beara Peninsula. [21214/24]
View answerMy Department operates a range of programmes and schemes that support economic and community development throughout the country, including communities on the Beara Peninsula.
The targeted investments and supports which my Department provides to regional, rural and local communities through a wide range of initiatives promote social inclusion, rural, town and village regeneration, outdoor recreation, facilitate new working opportunities, and foster regional enterprise growth.
Some of the work being undertaken by my Department to support the further development of communities on the Beara Peninsula include:-
• €300,000 in funding for the “Beara Breifne Way” project under the Rural Regeneration Development Fund (RRDF). The project was allocated funding in 2020 under the second call for RRDF funding. The RRDF is a key capital investment scheme which directly supports the objectives of Our Rural Future and the Town Centre First policy and provides funding for the development and construction of capital projects in towns, villages and rural areas across Ireland. This project will enhance the trail quality and visitor experience to make a positive economic and social contribution to local communities. The project will also develop an interpretation framework to develop a visitor experience and an enhanced trail standard for long distant trails.
• Funding of €226,490 for the "Beara Breifne Way" project and the "Beara Way" project under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme. The scheme provides funding for the development and enhancement of outdoor recreational infrastructure such as walking trails, cycleways and blue ways throughout rural Ireland. In 2021, €196,490 was allocated to the “Beara Breifne Way” project to extend the Beara bridleway and walking trail from Urhan to Ardgroom village and complete a loop in Teernahillane between Castletownbere and Allihies. In 2022, €30,000 was allocated to the “Beara Way” project at Tuosist that proposes to re-route 3.5km of the Beara way off-road, passing close to Drombohilly Stone Circle near Tuosist.
• €35,000 in funding was allocated for the improvement of the surface of the pitch at Beara United FC in Castletownbere, as part of the Community Recognition Fund . This scheme was first introduced in 2023 to support the development of community amenities and facilities in recognition of the contribution being made by communities across the country in welcoming and hosting significant number of new arrivals. Through the 2023 allocation, funding of €50 million was approved for some 900 projects in providing support to cities, towns and villages nationwide that have welcomed people from Ukraine and other countries. To further support communities, I announced a further €50 million in funding under the Community Recognition Fund on March 15th last. The additional funding is specifically targeted at projects that are located in cities, towns and villages that are hosting the Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection and/or International Protection Applicants. This allocation is being targeted at larger projects than in 2023, with a minimum of €50,000 per project, and will continue to support projects delivering a real and tangible benefit to communities. Applications under the current round of funding can be submitted by local authorities across three phases, so as to allow flexibility and adequate engagement and collaboration on larger projects. The first phase for applications from local authorities closes on 31st May.
• Funding of €25,000 was allocated to Urhan GAA Club to fund the upgrade of the community centre waste system and the provision of additional space for community use. This was under the Community Centres Investment Fund 2022 that provided over €45.8 million for the improvement and refurbishment works on over 860 existing community centres across Ireland. There was a huge uptake of this funding and communities are now enjoying the improvements to the fabric of their community centres as a result of this Government initiative.
My Department also offers various funding programmes that could be relevant to projects in the Beara Peninsula such as the LEADER Programme, CLÁR and the Local Improvement Scheme. Information on all of the funding and supports available through my Department are available online on the Gov.ie website.
I would encourage all groups to check my Department’s website and to engage with their Local Community Development Committees (LCDCs) and the Local Development Companies, to ensure they are aware of funding opportunities as they become available.
