Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 23 Apr 2002

Vol. 552 No. 3

Written Answers. - Departmental Funding.

Billy Timmins

Ceist:

150 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for the Environment and Local Government if there is a scheme in his Department whereby a community group can apply for funding to upgrade a local community hall or obtain funding for other community projects; if a contact or liaison person in his Department co-ordinates such an application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12495/02]

Minister for the Environment and Local Government (Mr. Dempsey)

The Local Government Act, 2001 provides broad powers for a local authority itself or in partnership with others to provide or support local community, social and cultural facilities and activities. Action in this field is a matter for this relevant local authority with whom direct contact should be made.

Under the regional operational programmes 2000-2006, funding is being provided by my Department to local authorities to implement a wide range of urban and village renewal projects, including, where appropriate, the provision of community facilities. Under the peace II operational programme 2000 – 2004, funding of €4.5 million is being made available by my Department this year to county council led task forces in the six Border counties for locally based regeneration, including, where appropriate, assistance towards the provision of community facilities. Applications for funding under this operational programme are made to the county council led task forces.

The provision of open spaces, recreational facilities, amenity areas, including community and child care facilities, specifically in new local authority housing schemes is a matter for individual local authorities in the first instance. However, facilities of this kind, related to the size and nature of individual schemes, may be funded as part of the overall cost of new and refurbished housing schemes from my Department's capital allocations. The social housing design guidelines issued by my Department contain guidance for local authorities in this regard. Under the voluntary housing schemes operated by local authorities, a grant of €5,800 per unit of accommodation being provided in a project is generally payable towards the cost of the provision of communal facilities in the project. As any such communal project is initiated at local level rather than in my Department, contract in this regard should be made into the local authority in the first instance.